The growing popularity of ballroom dancing and swing prompted the opening of numerous ballrooms around Seattle. Seattle-born photographer Al Smith took many photographs in and around the jazz clubs.

Once known as the Gala movie theater at East Madison Street and 22nd Avenue in Seattle's Central District, the building shown here later claimed fame as a dance and supper club. Ray Charles, Ron Holden, Jimi Hendrix and others played there. By 1941 it was known as the Savoy Ballroom, then it was revamped as the Eastside Hall, and finally between 1955 and 1964 it was the home of the Birdland Supper Club.

Caption information source: "East Madison Street (Seattle) by Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org Essay no. 20893