In 1991, a large part of the ballroom's roof was blown off in a storm. 8 in the very building that it is about, starting at 6 p.m. 'It was somewhere they could feel at home.'īuckley's El Casino Ballroom Documentary captures the many historical and personal stories behind the iconic gathering place. 'Men would come home from war and go there,' says Daniel Buckley, producer of a documentary on the ballroom. 26th St., has been the site of hundreds of family and community celebrations, especially in the Mexican-American culture.

That's been true since 1947, when the South Side community and cultural center opened. Great surprise,” added Martinez.įor more information on the upcoming Gala, please visit the THCC's website.Long-time Tucsonans know that for weddings and quinciñeras, El Casino Ballroom is THE place. When he and his partner Gil Federico found chamber members were recognizing the ballroom's legacy, they felt honored. To Martinez, he believes it's important to keep the legacy alive with consistently offering affordable prices. He says the venue stays booked for weddings, quinceañeras and many other celebrations. “When we reopened in February of 2000, people were driving around, like, ‘When are you going to open?’ And same thing everyone always says, ‘We’re glad El Casino Ballroom is back and if we’re going to have a family event, it has to be here,'” he recalled. Martinez admits it’s the community's support which has kept the place going. The ballroom has seen highs and lows, with many big names passing through, to having a microburst blow the roof off in 1991.

When you think about it, Harry Truman was the president when this place opened,” he shared. “Legacy really means, you know, we’ve survived thick and thin. He says the ballroom has a well-established legacy in the surrounding community. KGUN 9 spoke with one honoree on Monday, El Casino Ballroom, to learn what makes the award so fitting.įred Martinez has managed the El Casino Ballroom for nearly 30 years. Ali Farhang with Farhang & Medcoff, 100 S.BuenDia Breakfast and Lunch Buffet, 2530 N.Isabel Montaño, Erica Franco and Sandra Franco with La Estrella Bakery, 5266 S.

The THCC is holding the 2023 Noche de Exitos & Binational Gala Awards on Friday, Nov. (KGUN) - The Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (THCC) is recognizing eight members of the Tucson community for the impact they've had whether it's their business, legacy, or both.

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