The Ritz Ballroom, Swimming Pool & Garden / Lady Park Recreation Club, North Point [1941-????] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

The Ritz Ballroom, Swimming Pool & Garden / Lady Park Recreation Club, North Point [1941-????]

Primary tabs

Submitted by David on Sat, 2015-05-09 09:44
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1941-05-17

Timeline:

  • 1941: The Ritz Ballroom opened
  • 1945: The premises were 'reconstructed and reconditioned' by the RAF for use of their NCOs and other ranks.
  • 1947: The site was returned to civilian use, and re-opened as The Ritz

Details in the comments below.

I only found one result for "ritz garden" in the newspapers, reporting that manager Li Choi-fat was in court (The China Mail, 1948-12-16, pg 3).

Tags: 
ballroom
swimming pool
  • Log in or register to post comments

Photos that show this place

1946
1953
1956

Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2015-05-10 07:30.

HK Daily Press 19 May 1941

The Ritz Ballroom was opened on 17 May 1941.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2015-05-09 17:47.

Thanks Moddsey, I looked again just searching for Ritz, and found that 1947 was the year it re-opened:

"The Ritz" Is Open Again

One of Hong Kong's most popular pleasure resorts in pre-war days, “The Ritz" Ballroom and Swimming Pool, was again thrown open to the public yesterday. About 5,000 went in through the main turnstiles.

The swimming pools were available from 9 a.m. The official opening of the ballroom took place at 8.30 last night, when a ribbon, stretched across the open air dance floor, was cut simultaneously by four of China's leading screen actresses, Misses Kung Chau-ha, Chan Kee, Cheung Fan and Chan Kuen-kuen. 

Before the opening ceremony, Eddie Guzman and his band, which will be providing music for the ballroom, played the British and Chinese National Anthems.

The shooting galleries and other side shows, which were a feature of the pre-war "Ritz,” have not yet been re-instated. It is, however, expected that these will be in operation shortly.

The China Mail, 1947-09-08, page 2

It's not clear if the building was destroyed in the WW2 fighting and had to be re-built, or it was the same building in both 1941 and 1947.

Regards, David

Submitted by IDJ on Sun, 2015-05-10 03:00.

I seem to recall that The Ritz has been discussed previously, but maybe it was on the earlier Batung site.

There was some discussion about the architect. And there was pictures

In the mid-1960s I used to visit an establishment called "The Showboat" as we were working nearby. I had always assumed it was part of the Ritz, although I've never come across any references to it or seperate advertisments.. It was in about the same location, had big "swing" bands, a night club atmosphere and dance area. It was just like the Shanghai nightclub in one of the Indiana Jones movies.

Submitted by David on Sun, 2015-05-10 15:57.

I've found a couple of mentions of The Showboat: http://gwulo.com/comment/31578#comment-31578

I think that it was one of the next generation of buildings on this site, after the 1940s Ritz was re-developed.

Regards, David

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2021-11-30 09:45.

Prior to 1947 when "The Ritz" was reopened under civilian management.

Named after the wife of Air Marshal, Sir Keith Park, the Lady Park Recreation Club (formerly "The Ritz" in North Point) was opened on 31 December 1945. Reconstruction and reconditioning of the whole premises was performed by the R.A.F..The  Club was essentially for the use of N. C. O.'s and other ranks of the Royal Air Force. China Mail 1 January 1946 refers.