Oct
8
All Under One Roof
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The month of October is busy with football, Breast Cancer, Columbus Day, Halloween, and pre-planning for our fundraiser “Dancing Into Dreamland”. For those that don’t know where the sticks and bricks of AFB are, it is in a 1916, historically significant, neo-classical style, building, in downtown Little Rock, known as the Taborian Hall.
I first fell in love with the Taborian Hall from its outside appearance, a stately, three story, red brick building, standing alone on I-630, abandoned, with a huge hole in the roof that let in the sun and rain. I always envisioned, my company, Arkansas Flag and Banner, housed in a building of such grandeur.
After driving by this vacant building many times, I finally got up the courage to come inside. Stepping over debris and skirting the homeless people, I worked my way to the third floor and… it was beyond love at first sight. Because the roof was missing, birds were flying around and the sun was illuminating. Staring across the open hole in the floor, to the Dreamland stage and box seats, I had a feeling that was indescribable, a kind of euphoria. It could have been because I was pregnant, with my third child, and my nesting instincts were heightened, or it could have been past performers speaking to my heart from the grave, but whatever it was, it sent me on a chain reaction that I have never regretted.
It took about a year to secure financing, shore up the building and renovate the first floor. In 1992, we had our ribbon cutting ceremony and moved in. About 1998 we borrowed more money to renovate the second floor and expand AFB, accordingly. 10 years went by and it was time to renovate the third floor, the biggest and the best floor of all, The Dreamland Ballroom. No matter how I scrubbed the business plan it just wouldn’t add up. The most minimal restoration for Dreamland Ballroom was 1 million dollars. There is not an event center on the planet that can make enough profit to pay back a million dollar note. My choices became 1.) Do nothing, 2.) Break-up the ballroom and rent it to a chain restaurant, or apartment developer, or 3.) Start a non-profit to try and fund its restoration. Knowing absolutely nothing about non-profits, that is what I decided to do.
I called like-minded friends and acquaintance that love old buildings and started a board, applied for non-profit status, and we named ourselves Friends of Dreamland (FOD). That was 3 years ago.
I am awed by all we have accomplished. I have to confess, I was naïve at how much work and time it would take. And I didn’t realize that because I am the landlord of the building I cannot serve on the board, all I can be is a super volunteer and the biggest donor. FOD pays no rent, and runs all its office expenses like desk, telephone, computers, software, printing, postage, repairs, utilities and other misc expenses through AFB. Sometimes, my employees don’t know if they are working for AFB or FOD. Unknowingly, the business model of a for-profit businesses doing non-profit work has a name, it is called a “B” Corporation. Even though AFB has not legally made the jump from S corp to B corp, it is nice to know we are still progressive in our business models and thoughts. If there is one thing AFB has always been good at…it is being on the bleeding edge.
I want to thank all the people who have supported the Dream: our donors, our board, my friends, my employees, my husband, my children, my bankers, and all the volunteers. Our current goals are an elevator, for the handicapped, and air conditioning so we can display and preserve our artifacts. Follow our progress on facebook or sign up for our DreamMails via email, we promise not to over fill your inbox.
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Sep
8
Dreamland Ballroom on Today’s THV news
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So Sunday morning I am sitting at home sipping coffee, when the phone rings. It is Today’s THV reporter, Faith Abubey, she says, “Is this Kerry McCoy owner of Arkansas Flag and Banner?”
Faith had seen Dreamland Ballroom’s press release about our new nonprofit status and wanted to do a story on the place. Faith and I laughed about it must be a slow news day for her to be calling me at home and that I didn’t need a shower because it wasn’t smell-a-vision. So a time was set for us to meet in the Ballroom for the interview. She is a great women. She works alone with a camera and a mike. She records, writes, edits and narrates her own stories, all while wearing heels and makeup. What a girl!
The story aired Sunday at 5, 10 and 6 the next morning. I think she did a really good job but you be the judge…here it is…
Dreamland Ballroom on Today’s THV
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Jun
29
Dreamland Ballroom by Kerry McCoy
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I first fell in love with the Taborian Hall from its outside appearance, a stately, three story, red brick building, standing alone on I-630, abandoned, with a huge hole in the roof, letting in the sun and rain. I always envisioned, my company, Arkansas Flag and Banner, housed in a building of such grandeur.
After driving by many times, I finally got up the courage to come inside. Stepping over debris and skirting the homeless people, I worked my way to the third floor and it was beyond love at first site. Because the roof was missing, birds were flying around and the sun was illuminating. Staring across the open hole, in the floor, to the Dreamland stage and box seats, I had a feeling that was indescribable, a kind of euphoria. It could have been because I was pregnant, with my third child, and my nesting instincts were heightened, but whatever it was it sent me on a chain reaction that I have never regretted.
I love this old building and have had many offers to purchase it, renovate it, make a club of it, or some apartments but I keep to my original vision. Maybe not the best business decision, but a decision of the heart; to renovate the Dreamland Ballroom into an event center to be shared with the whole community.
If you are ever lucky enough to go upstairs and see the Dreamland, I think you will feel its magic too. I have become accustomed to it aura but people tell me, upon seeing it for the first time it still feels indescribable.
Follow along with Dreamlands progress by joining our email, snail mail list, or become a fan of our Facebook page. We dont Twitter, yet.
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May
1
Project Runway Designer holds Photo Shoot at the Dreamland Ballroom
Filed Under Dreamland Ballroom, art watch, creative watch, my business | Leave a Comment
While the Dreamland Ballroom is not quite ready to book events, she (I think “Dreamland” is a girl) has been garnering quite a lot of attention. Word of Dreamland’s enchanting aura has spread among photographers and she has been getting a lot of press. I have always felt that I could feel the ghosts of Duke Ellington and other great musicians that once played within her walls, but apparently the custom woodwork, faded and chipped plaster, and abundant windows make for a fantastic photo shoot.
When Photographer Jason Masters called requesting a photo shoot, we were more than happy to oblige. Dreamland is a national treasure and such treasures should be shared. And when we learned that the photo shoot was for Little Rock’s own designer, Korto Momolu from Season 5 of Project Runway, we were ecstatic. We had a little photo shoot of our own to record the event. Take a look. I think this proves that while it’s true that “One day you are in, the next you are out,” it is also true that beauty endures. And as sure as Dreamland was once magnificent, even in decay she is still beautiful. Soon she will be restored to her former grandeur and get a second chance at fame.
We took a few pictures to show you how cool it was.
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Mar
3
Come see two local bands at the coolest place in Little Rock and support a great cause “The Dreamland Ballroom”. Friday night March 13th, Eclipse Glasses and Velvet Kente will perform in formerly Doc’s Pool Hall, on the first floor of Arkansas Flag and Banner building, 9th and State Streets (entrance on State). Show at 9:00, $5 admission.
What is Dreamland? The Dreamland Ballroom is on the third floor of the Arkansas Flag and Banner building. It was built in 1916 by a New Orleans, black business fraternity, Knights and Daughter of Tabor. Their mission was to provide burial insurance and care for widows and orphans.
The Dreamland was used as a meeting hall for this organization but it also lays claim to some of the best touring acts in America during the 1920′s – 40′s. The Dreamland was the smallest theatre on the “Chitlin Circuit”. The Chitlin Circuit refers to the route driven by the black bands while touring. They usually drove from New Orleans to Little Rock, Memphis, St Louis, and Chicago playing in each city.
Some of the acts that performed at the Dreamland are Count Bassie, Cab Callaway, BB King, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Red Fox, Earl Hines, Jackie Gleason, Ray Charles just to name a few. See more about the Dreamland on it’s website http://www.dreamlandballroom.com/ and read articles that have been published about the Dreamland here
This benefit is to raise awareness and bring dollars towards its restoration. Dreamland Ballroom is a gem in our City’s crown.
Unable to attend but would like to contribute? Then, become a “Friend of Dreamland” make checks payable to Dreamland Ballroom and mail to Arkansas Flag and Banner, 800 West Ninth, Little Rock, AR 72201.
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Jan
7
Dreamland Ballroom, cont.
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Dang it! Another year and no Dreamland Ballroom, but I am the eternal optimist and I have not given up. My timing may be bad but my ambition is still good.
In an effort to move Dreamland forward in this poor economic time I am now planning on building in phases. I am scaling back the new construction and only doing the bare minimum to get the Dreamland open.
Will see.
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