Savoy Ballroom

A large ballroom for music and public dancing, located in Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. "The Savoy," as it was often referred to, operated from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. The 1000 sq. ft. ballroom could hold up to 4,000 people and had a double bandstand that could hold one large and one medium sized band. "Battles of the Bands" or "Cutting Contests" began there in 1937 and were popular performances. Stompin' at the Savoy, a 1934 Big Band song and jazz standard recorded by Chick Webb, was named after the ballroom. The Savoy was opened and owned by white entrepreneur Jay Faggen and Jewish businessman Moe Gale; it was managed by African-American real estate businessman Charles Buchanon. Unlike many ballrooms, such as the Cotton Club, the Savoy always had a no-discrimination policy. The Savoy was called the “World’s Finest Ballroom,” and Black poet Langston Hughes called it "the Heartbeat of Harlem" in Juke Box Love Song.