Cotillion Hall, 1917

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Cotillion Hall, on the southeast corner of West Burnside and 14th Avenue, has been the home to many forms of music since its 1914 opening. It’s better known today as the Crystal Ballroom, with Ringlers Pub, named for original owner Montrose Ringler, now replacing the garage on the ground floor. The exterior is virtually unchanged in almost a century.

A2000-003.40 survey 27 crystal ballroom 1917(City of Portland Archives)

9 thoughts on “Cotillion Hall, 1917”

  2. At one time the large wooden sign for Cotillion Hall was hanging in Cassidy’s restaurant around the corner. I haven’t been in there for a long time, so I’m not sure if it’s still there. Hopefully the McMenamins were able to bring it back to it’s original location.
    It’s such a great building. We are lucky it was saved.

  3. That is a great shot. Mike– Bob Cassidy was kind enough to give the sign to McMenamins when the ballroom reopened in 1997. It hangs on the east wall of Ringlers Pub. In this photo, the sign– which originally read Ringlers Cotillion Hall– had been repainted for the music academy. After the music academy moved out, the original lettering of the sign was restored. By the way, Hal Webber was a renowned Portland musician and music instructor of the early 1900s. He formed a youth string orchestra that toured the country. Webber’s prestigious music academy was housed in the ballroom’s second-floor’s offices and rehearsal hall space from about 1915 to 1920.

  5. Yay! More horse apples in the street! I love the little reminders of our pre horseless carriage days…

  6. I remember taking 35mm pictures of this when it was abandoned! Someone had graffitied the front door with the date of the Grateful Dead concert. I’m glad this place has been preserved & new life breathed into it.

  7. Do you realize Tina Turner & Marvin Gaye have both performed there, among many other talents!

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