14:
THE CHINA MAIL'S WINDSOR HOUSE SUPPLEMENT, APRIL 21, 1941.
THE PARAMOUNT BALLROOM
terprises, whose offices оссиру POR some months now, that part of the same floor facing
Des Voeux Road Central.
pedestrians passing hrough.Des Voeux Road entral near the junction Ice House Street after ark, have been attracted y the strains of jazz music which fill the air rom about nine o'clock
nd continue
into the
arly hours of the morn-
زد
ng.
No conspicuous neon-light sign=" oard indicates from where the usic emanates, but ask anyone in 5wn and the answer will be That's the Paramount Ballroom,
Undoubtedly, the most up-to- ate ballroom in South China, he Paramount Ballroom occupis ost part of the top floor (thr Beth) of Windsor House, and perated by the Gray Bros. En-
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 Some the most popular of Baliroom hostesses in the "Co-
ony.
A
With seating accommodation.
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for some 500 patrons, the Para- mount Ballroom was opentd December 15 last year, and for weeks afterwards, night af.cr night, hundreds of would-be pal- rons had perforce to be turned
nway pwing to the crowds which locked 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- Jurity.
Suid to be the only one of its kind in South China, the Para- mount Ballroom possesses a spring dance floor-of parquet flooring- while it is furnished with modern unholstered chairs, lounge sofas, and steel-framed glass-top tubes. simply but suitably decorated. The walls and ceiling have bern
Most of the work executed in the ballroom, including the spring parquet flooring, was done by Chinese expert craftsmen import- ed from Shanghai,
J
11
IN
EA
The view of the interior of the mort up-up-date air-conditio hed cabaret in the Colony, the Paramount Ballroom, operated by the Gray Bros. Enterprise, in Windsor House,
Towards the end of this month
Bros. Construction Company At the entrance of the Para-, the place will be air-conditioned, for the installation of the sys- mount Ballroom, is a well-fur- which was started in 1937 and tem will by then be complete. In- nished and comfortable lobby the Central Meat and Dalry Sup- cidentally, the only other air where' patrons may wait for conditioned cabaret ballroom in friends before entering the ball- ply Company, Limited, which was the Colony is the New Majestic room.
opened in August last year and Ballroom, also operated by the
incorporated under the Com- Gray Bros. Enterprises.
pany's Ordinances,
The orchestra-Fred Carpio and His Orchestra was engaged from Manila and arrived in the Colony just in time-about an hour before the Paramount Ball- room was advertised to open.
From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. every night, some 70 beau- tiful and charming dance hostes- ses are in attendance, the maj; ority 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 in among the many that city.
Own
they are dairy
Gray Bros. Enterprises also con- trol the New Majestic Ballroom. the China Emporium Ballroom
In this enterprise. all and the Cathay Ballroom, located in the Central District, dairy produce specialists, employing a totaļ of some 300 farmers, butchers, Importers of dance 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-
ant clans, engaged from Manila
teurisation plant and are caterers Shanghai. At the Cathay, there
British military, is the popular Pinky Pineda and for American warships and con- His Orchestra, at the China Em- tractors to the porium, the latest arrival, Eddie authorities. Guzman and His Orchestra, and at the New Majestic, Pete Val- derrani and His Orchestra.
This department also has retall depots at. No. 28. Wellingtoni Strect, No. 67, Hennessy Road,
erloo Road.
Besides the ballroom business No. 64. Nathan Road and in Wat-
which they virtually monopol- Bros. ise in Hong Kong-Gray Enterprises also control the Gruy
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
Fred Carpio and his Orch er'ra which la drawing crowds nightly to the Paramount Ballroom, the most up-to-the-min- ute cabaret in South China,
CONSTRUCTION · CO., LTD.
London and Manchester.
SWITCHGEAR AND FUSES-PRENTICE LTD..
Leeds.
WIRING ACCESSORIES—J. H. TUCKER & ÇO., LTD..
Birmingham.
BRITAIN. STILL DELIVERS THE GOODS
MANUFACTURERS LIFE
The
I and total payments to policy-
holders were £3,180,210.
Manufacturers Life surance Company have their of- 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- the management of Mr. E. J. R Mitchell, who is ably supported 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 to £39,085,141, erally. After making provision for all Habilities, £213,741 was added to
1
the, surplus accounts, the Conting Messrs. M. A. Lammert, J.
Hong Kong representatives aro gency Reserve and, Surplus amounting to £1,729,835;
Guterres and Tang Yeo Kon.
favourable mortality ex-
perience of recent years continued) Ferrier. The Company
In 1940, Death claims paid total ted £884,067, dividends to policy
The Canton-representative, with office in Hong Kong, is: sented in Macao by Mr Noronha; and In Swatow by
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