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Bostonia Ballroom

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Table of contents
  1. 1. Past Performers

1340 Broadway

El Cajon, CA 92021


Opened in 1952 by ex-members of Spade Cooley's orchestra, the Bostonia Ballroom played host to some of country music's biggest stars for almost two decades.

 

The Ballroom was the brainchild of fiddler Andrew "Cactus" Soldi, guitarist Larry "Pedro" DePaul and writer/singer "Smokey" Rogers. The three musicians, veterans of Spade Cooley's orchestra, formed a partnership to run the Ballroom and the Valley Music store in El Cajon.

 

DePaul dropped out of the business within a few months. The two remaining partners ran the club successfully for several years. When the two eventually went their separate ways, Rogers was given control of the Ballroom while Soldi took the music store (which is still run by his children, Andrea and Jim).

 

Rogers enjoyed another career as the host of San Diego's first local music TV show, "Smokey Rogers," which aired daily in the 1950s on KFMB.

Past Performers

  • Johnny Cash
  • Patsy Cline
  • Willie Nelson
  • Wanda Jackson
  • Bill Monroe
  • Rosie and the Originals
  • Spade Cooley
  • T. Texas Tyler
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Smokey Rogers - Western swing music star and local music promoter. He penned "Gone," a country charttopper for Ferlin Husky in 1956. Photo from the collection of Andrea "Soldi" Long.
Smokey Rogers - Western swing music star and local music promoter. He penned "Gone," a country charttopper for Ferlin Husky in 1956. Photo from the collection of Andrea "Soldi" Long.
Smokey Ro...  Actions
Andrew "Cactus" Soldi fiddles during a Halloween performance at the Bostonia Ballroom. Soldi, along with fellow musicians Smokey Rogers and Larry "Pedro" DePaul, ran the Ballroom for several years after leaving Spade Cooley's orchestra. Photo from the collection of Andrea Soldi Long.
Andrew "Cactus" Soldi fiddles during a Halloween performance at the Bostonia Ballroom. Soldi, along with fellow musicians Smokey Rogers and Larry "Pedro" DePaul, ran the Ballroom for several years after leaving Spade Cooley's orchestra. Photo from the collection of Andrea Soldi Long.
"Cactus" ...  Actions
Country music star Smokey Rogers hosts a birthday party on his TV show, which aired daily in San Diego in the 1950s. Rogers, who performed with Spade Cooley and Tex Williams, was one of the original proprietors of the Bostonia Ballroom. Photo from the collection of Andrea Soldi Long.
Country music star Smokey Rogers hosts a birthday party on his TV show, which aired daily in San Diego in the 1950s. Rogers, who performed with Spade Cooley and Tex Williams, was one of the original proprietors of the Bostonia Ballroom. Photo from the collection of Andrea Soldi Long.
Smokey Ro...  Actions
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#1
monty kris? says:
my name is monty kris xxxxxxxxxxx.i played at the bostonia ball room in 1962.it was for a smokey rogers benifet.does anybody remember that event? id love to talk with you. im at,heide14@yahoo.com.Thanks,mkh.
Posted 16:12, 6 Jun 2008 (6 months ago)
#2
Nelly says:
I used to take accordian lessons from a Frances Half, I believe that was her name. We had a recital at the Bostonia Ball Room and my accordian was way bigger then me and Smokey Rogers helped me up onto the stage. That was in the 50's. I also took piano lessons at the Valley Music store and I do remember Cactus...I'm not telling how old I am now...lol...
Does anyone remember Terry Preston ? I see he wasn't mentioned. Those were some fun days...
Yall have fun...Nelly *.~
Posted 12:41, 25 Jun 2008 (5 months ago)
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