On June 14th 1934, 500 attended the grand opening of Peacock Gardens, in Grovania (Between Bloomsburg & Danville)
"NIGHT OPEN THURSDAY Floor Show And New York Orchestra Will Feature First Night. With a floor show and orchestra from New York City as its opening attraction the Peacock Gardens, this section's newest night club, will open Thursday night at Montour Park in the remodeled dance pavilion.
Several months have been devoted to turning the spacious building into the most beautifully decorated restaurant and dancing space in this part of Pennsylvania. Lester Herr, of Bloomsburg, brother of Max Herr, Mill street, women's apparel merchant, is proprietor
. The grove surrounding the building has also been equipped with tables and converted into an attractive garden for refreshments. The ceilings and wall of the building have been repainted and papered and the floors sanded. New furniture and equipment have been installed, and a modern kitchen and grill installed. Dressing rooms for the members of the floor shows, and sleeping quarters for employees, have been provided.
The enterprise gets its name from main decorating motif, which consists of large paintings of peacocks about the walls. The orchestra pit has been decorated, a large crystal ball suspended from the ceiling and individual lights placed on each table. Sea food will be a specialty. No reservations will be made for the opening night, the management said, but arrangements will be made to give prompt service to all comers" - The Danville Morning News, June 13 1934
Nearly 500 were turned away on opening night, for lack of space. The entertainment that night was Buddy Harrison's Radio Band.
The club featured live peacocks in the garden, and many paintings of peacocks inside.
A 14 foot mechanical peacock, covered in light gauge wire and lavishly painted in yellow and lavender, was used to promote his club.
Mount Carmel December 1930
The venue was open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for dinner and dancing, and was a popular venue for weddings, class reunions, and banquets.
Herr sold his peacocks to a farmer, and closed his club in 1942.
September 1944
Location:" Just off route 11, north of Danville, on the left as you turn to go over Grovania Hill To Catawissa."
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There was also a game farm named "Peacock Corners". Located outside of Lightstreet, there were bears, deer, exotic birds, and other wild animals.
Danville News June 1934
August 4th 1939
Her also ran the cafeteria for Kennedy Van Saun
October 1942
Where exactly was the building? Closer to Rt. 11 or at the intersection up the hill?
ReplyDeleteWondering if there are any remains of the original building still visible today.
ReplyDelete