A Look Back:

Newport Beach city officials shut down the legendary Rendezvous Ballroom for two months in 1957 after police officers claimed the place was a haven for “immoral” dancing, illicit drug use and racy rock ’n’ roll music, according to contemporary news accounts and city records.

Originally built in 1928, the ballroom on East Ocean Front, between Washington and Palm streets, once hosted performances by big band icons like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. But the 1950s, the venue began booking edgy rock ’n’ roll acts, attracting the ire of city officials. Surf rock legend Dick Dale was a popular performer at the Rendezvous in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

In a letter to the Newport Beach City Council, then-City Manager Robert Shelton suggested the city hold a hearing to discuss closing the ballroom, the Los Angeles Times reported Jan. 27, 1957.

In December 1956, two Newport Beach police officers were attacked by Rendezvous Ballroom patrons, The Times reported.

“Newport Beach police have reported numerous disturbance calls to the ballroom and several arrests for disturbing the peace, illegal possession of alcohol by minors or possession of narcotics,” The Times reported.

In his letter to the City Council, Shelton suggested the ballroom “has become dangerous to and adversely affects the public health, safety, welfare, morals and quiet; that said business has been conducted in a disorderly and improper manner, and that it is possible the business license is being abused to the detriment of the public.”

At a public hearing in February 1957, Newport Beach police officers testified before the Newport Beach City Council that the ballroom was riddled with drug pushers and a venue for “lewd” music, according to city records.

Newport Beach Capt. Vincent McManigal testified before the council that “in his opinion, many of the dancers were dancing in positions which he considered immoral,” according to the minutes of the meeting.

Officer Al Epstein testified that at some Rendezvous Ballroom dances, as much as 25% of the audience was made up of “narcotic peddlers, pushers and users, and suspected peddlers, pushers and users.”

Clyde Johnson and Al Anderson, who ran Rendezvous at the time, were not at the hearing. The council subsequently voted to yank the ballroom’s business license, city records show.

Newport Beach reinstated the Rendezvous’ license in April 1957, but the City Council placed a number of new restrictions on the place.

“Under the conditions imposed by the council, the owners will not re-engage orchestras which do not provide high type entertainment, will not engage bands which play music attracting troublemakers, will clamp down on the dress and appearance of those attending the dances, will station a policeman at the door to screen troublemakers and will provide police officers and matrons to supervise all events,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Rendezvous Ballroom would later burn down in August 1966.