Abe and Pappy’s Ballroom

Abe and Pappy’s was a Houston nightclub known for its late-night shows heavily featuring big bands and dancers. A joint venture of Abe Weinstein and Carl “Pappy” Dolsen, the club opened in October of 1940 and had the doors packed within a month.

The club’s shtick was Black American entertainment catered to predominantly White American audiences. The ballroom was decorated in plantation scenery with images of minstrel-esque caricatures, referred to as “pickaninnies.” Naturally, the place was a hit during the Jim Crow-era.

The ballroom was consistently packed to the brim and reservations were a must. Soon, “Pappy” Dolsen switched to a “first come, first serve” policy due to reservations staying on the books week after week. Their biggest acts at the time were Mercia Marquez, famous for her raunchy songs, “Uncle Willie and Patsy,” a pair of child dancers, and Don Purcell’s band.

By May 1944, the club was under new ownership and re-opened under the name, Club Ubangi.

Note: While the Houston location was relatively shortlived, Weinstein and Dolsen also operated a Dallas location. That location, identically named, was in business from 1940 to 1947. In 1947, Abe renamed the establishment to Abe’s Colony Club and it renamed so until its closure in the 70s.