14.
THE-CHINA MAIL'S WINDSOR HOUSE SUPPLEMENT, APRIL 21, 1941.
THE PARAMOUNT BALLROOM
With seating accommodation for some 500 patrons, the Para- mount Ballroom was opened on
December 15 last year, and for weeks afterwards, night af.er
terprises, whose offices occupy FOR some months now,
that part of the same floor fncing pedestrians' passing Des Voeux Road Central, through Des Voeux Road Central near the junction of Ice House Street after dark, have been attracted by the strains of jazz music which fill the air from about nine o'clock and continue into the early hours of the morn- ing.
No conspicuous neon-light sign- board indicates from where the music emanates, but ask anyone in town and the answer will be "That's the Paramount Ballroom.
Undoubtedly, the most up-to- dale ballroom in South China, the Paramount Ballroom accupi most part of the top floor
(thr sixth) of Windsor House,' and' operated by the Gray Bros. E.-
Miss Nancy Chu, Queen of the Paramount Ballroom. Starting from the very bottom rung of the ladder, Miss Chu, with her charming personality. and graceful dancing, has be- come the most popular of ballroom hostesses in the Co- lony.
+
night, hundreds of would-be pat- rons had perforce to be turned away owing to the crowds which, flocked there within an hour of opening. Even now, the Para- mount Ballroom is generally pack- ed every night, providing ample testimony to its sustained popu- larity.
Said to be the only one of its kind in South China, the Para- mount Ballroom possesses a spring while it is furnished with modern dance floor-of parquet flooring- unholstered chairs, lounge sofas, and steel-framed glass-top tab 2s. been The walls and celling have simply but suitably decorated.
In
Most of the work executed the ballroom, including the spring parquet flooring, was done by Chinese expert craftsmen import- ed from Shanghai.
"
The view of the Interior of the most up-up-date air-conditioned cabaret in the Colony, the Paramount Ballroom. operated by the Gray Bros. Enterprise, in Windsor House,.
At the entrance of the Para- Bros. Construction Company mount Ballroom. is a well-fur- which was started in 1937 and and comfortable lobby the Central Meat and Dairy Sup
Towards the end of this month the place will be air-conditioned, for the installation of the sys- tem will by then be complete. In- nished cidentally, the only other air where patrons may wait, for conditioned cabaret ballroom in friends before entering the ball- the Colony is the New Majestic room. Ballroom, also operated by the Gray Bros. Enterprises,
The orchestra-Fred Carplo and. His Orchestra - Wus engaged from Manila and arrived in the Colony just in time-about an hour Before the Paramount Bail-
was advertised to open.
room
2
From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m, or a.m. every night, some 70 beau- ful and charming dance hostes- ses are in altendance, the inaj- orily being girls from Shanghai -personally selected by "Charlie" Gray himself.
Periodically, "Charlie" visits Shanghai and there ac's as his scout for beauty and talent
ballrooms among the many that city.
own
ply Company, Limited, which was opened in August last year and Incorporated under the Corn- pany's Ordinances,
Gray Bros. Enterprises also cón- trol the New Majestic Ballroom, the China Emporium Ballroom and the Cathay Ballroom, all In this enterprise, they are located in the Central Districi, dairy produce specialists. dairy employing a fotal of some 300 dance
farmers, butchers, importers of hostesses, the majority
frozen foods, and they also from Shanghai. The orches ras consist of expert Filipino musi- operate a cold storage, and a pas- cians, engaged from Manila und teurisation plant and are caterers Shanghai. At the Cathay, there
British military
is the popular Pinky Pineda and for American warships and cot His Orchestra, at the China Em- tractors to the porium, the latest arrival, Eddie authorities.. Guznian and His Orchestra.
and
at the New Majestic, Pete Val- derrani and His Orchestra.
Besides the ballroom business which they virtually monopol- Bros. in ise in Hong Kong-Gray
Enterprises also control the Gray
This department also has retail depots at. No. 28. Wellington Street, No. 67, Hennessy Road, No. 64, Nathan Road and in Wat-
erloo Road.
Miss Li Na, Queen of the Cathay Ballroom.
WILLIAM C. JACK & CO., LTD.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS,
AND
CONTRACTORS
POWER AND LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS
CARRIED OUT BY EXPERTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY
OF BRITISH ELECTRICAL MATERIAL.
WIRE AND CABLES-CALLENDERS CABLE AND
CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
London and Manchester.
SWITCHGEAR AND FUSES-PRENTICE LTD.
Leeds.
WIRING ACCESSORIES-J. H. TUCKER & CO., LTD.
Birmingham.
BRITAIN STILL DELIVERS THE GOODS
Fred Carpio, and his Orch entra which is drawing crowds. nightly to the Paramount Ballroom, the most up-to-the-min- ute cabaret in South China,
MANUFACTURERS LIFE
The Manufacturers Life In- and total payments to "polley- surance Company have their of- hoiders were £3,180,210. fices on the second floor of Wind- sor House.
- The Chief Office for South China in Windsor House is under The annual report of this fam- Mitchell, who is ably supported the management of Mr. E. J. R. ous Canadian Insurance company. Issued recently shows Insurance by a number of representatives In Force of £124,227,092. New In- who are well qualified to advise surance amounted to £10,340,033, on all forms of Life Insurance, Income from all sources, was
Annuities. Educational Policies, £7,225,140 and Assets increased and modern Life Insurance gen- by £2,519,120
After making provision for liabilities, 2213,741 was added to the surplus accounts, the Contin 'gency ·Reserve and Surplus umounting to - £1,729,888.-
to £39,000 "rally.
The favourable mortality. “perience of recent years continued In 1940, - Death claims paid total- Jed £884,067-divid
Hong Kong representatives are esarz, M.-・ A. · Lammert Guterres, and Tang Yée. Kan.
anton repres
Hongk
r2 Althe Comi
in Mac