THE ROYAL GROVE BALLROOM
The years stretch back too far
and the acts are too numerous
for
owner Tommy Jelsma to recall
most of
the performers he has brought
to the
Royal Grove. The club has
roots that
go back to prohibition and
The Brown
Derby, a downtown speak-easy
operated
by Jelsma's grandfather, Henry
Brown.
The original Royal Grove was built
in
the village of West Lincoln
in 1933 by
Henry and Christina Brown.
After their
deaths, the business was carried
on by
their daughter Elizabeth (Toody)
and
her husband Harold Jelsma.
In the early
years, the Grove was a beer
tavern that
specialized in pan fried chicken.
In 1960, the business was leased,
but
in 1964, reverted back to
the Jelsma
family. Toody and Harold managed
the
business until 1966 when their
son Tommy
took charge of it. In 1967,
local liquor
laws were passed that made
it possible to
sell mixed drinks and wine
along with beer.
That same year, the Grove
was relocated to
a 2,000 sq. ft. building on
Cornhusker
Highway. Local rock and roll
bands were
the featured entertainment.
The building
has since expanded to its
present size of
approximately 17,400 sq. ft.
In 1986, an
electrical fire caused serious
heat and smoke
damage, but the building was
quickly restored
and back in business.
The club has featured mainly rock
'n roll
bands, though Asleep at the
Wheel and other
country bands have occasionally
played
there. Among the bands that
Jelsma recalls
are Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter,
Bachman
Turner Overdrive and Pat Benatar.
Jerry
Seinfeld and Elaine Boosler
performed at
the club in 1988.
The Royal Grove has been an
established Lincoln business
for 65 years
and is still a family operation.
Tommy is
still the man in charge with
help from his
daughters Norma and Connie
and grandson
Michael. With live music every
week, The
Royal Grove continues to be
one of the
hot spots for rock 'n roll
in Nebraska.