How It All Began
Savoy Owner Moe Galewski- “Harlem’s Great White Father”
Moe Gale was born and raised in the Lower East Side of New york City. He studied at New York University, but he left school to work for his father, Sigmund Galewski in a factory. By the age of 20, Moe Gale owned a shop which made leather luggage. Just 4 years later, Gale asked a friend Jay Faggen to loan him $50,000 so he could open a ballroom in the “black side” of town. It is reported that the two raised a quarter of a million dollars to construct and open the Savoy. (Gold)
The Savoy Ballroom was located in Harlem New York between 140th and 141st streets on Lenox Avenue. This ballroom that would be influential, not only to black culture, but also to American culture first opened it’s doors in March of 1926. Gale hired and African American by the name of Charlie Buchanan to be the manager. There is no doubt that his management created the atmosphere that would make the Savoy ballroom famous and have such great influence on American dance.
(Here we see the interracial aspects of the Savoy)
The Savoy Ballroom was located on the “black side” of town. Blacks were able to release themselves and for a time, not worry about what they faced outside these four walls. As the Savoy became more popular, Buchanan was known as not playing favorites. Whether you were white or black, red, or green, everyone was held to the same expectations. Everyone had to check in their coat (no matter how expensive it was). This was one of the first examples of desegregation and racial equality in America.
By the1930’s the ballroom’s fame was international. Many whites make the trip to the other side of town or even other side of the world to experience the Savoy’s atmosphere for themselves. At one time there were even bus tours. By 1940’s the Savoy was known to draw a crowd of which only 3/4ths of the population were black-the rest was white. Famous people such as, Carl Van Vetchen and Greta Garbo were rumored as patrons of the ballroom.
However, this racial equality may have lead to it’s downfall in April of 1943. The New York City police closed the Savoy for a mere 6 months. The allegations were that the illegal business of prostitution was being conducted at the Savoy Ballroom. However, Russell Gold author of “Guilty of Syncopation, Joy, and Animation: The Closing of Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom.” begs to differ. He states that the real reason may have been the interracial mixing that was taking place. Government officials were concerned about white women dancing with black men and wanted to put a stop to it. However, in October of 1943, the police officially announced the Savoy’s license renewed and the ballroom re-opened. Gold states that the license renewal could have been influenced by the Harlem race riots of 1943. The Savoy officially closed it doors in 1958. Ballroom dancing was no longer the “in” thing. But it’s legacy and influence continues to live and thrive to this day.