The Historic Zeman Dance Hall

If you grew up in or around the Collyer area, you probably have memories of going to Dances at the Zeman Dance hall on Main Street. People came from all the surrounding towns to go to the dances in Collyer. Some of the bands that played there include:


Zeman Dance Hall in the late 50's or earl 60's
The Zeman Dance hall as it appeared in the late 50's or early 60's (By the cars that are sitting in front. If anyone knows the actual date of the picture, please let us know).

The Zeman Dance Hall as it appears today
The Zeman Dance hall as it appears today. This is one of our projects that we are using the funds to help rebuild. Then the dance hall will once again be the place to go on Friday nights!

A short history of the Zeman Dance Hall

Mr. James Zeman bought the property in September of 1926 and built the dance hall. He had it ready for grand opening on January 15, 1927. A fire broke out in the early morning hours of January 27, 1927, causing damage to the Zeman dance hall. But the damage was repaired and they had another dance on February 15, 1927. He then announced plans to use the basement for a billiard hall. Possibly instituting a new city ordinance. The pool hall opened in February 1927. Many dances were held in the Zeman Dance Hall and he owned it for 36 years. Through the years many bands played in the Zeman Dance Hall. Some bands went on to become prominent in the area and nation, including The Fabulous Flippers and the band "Kansas".

As the Hall also had a stage it was used for several plays and silent movies. James Nedbalek says his mother, Eleanora, and aunt, Eudora, (twin sisters), remember going to the movies. Eleanora and Eudora were daughters of James Zeman. They had to set up for the movie, put out chairs, etc., and then one of them would play an organ for the movie. The other sister would pump the organ. They took turns. Then after the movie, the girls had to remove the chairs, put some along the side and the others away, clean up the hall, and get ready for the dance. This movie showing lasted only a short time, probably because talkies came on the scene.

The Hall had an outdoor dance floor, which was portable. They would take it apart, load it on a trailer and take it to weddings, fairs, etc. They would go 100 miles or more at times. They were known to even go into Nebraska and set up. They did set it up outside the Hall on the north side at times, especially in the summer during some of the typical hot Kansas nights.

The basement originally had a kitchen and many remember the fantastic hamburgers they served. At one time there was a bowling alley operated in the basement of the dancehall. The basement was also used for banquets, weddings, etc.

In 1962, the dance hall was purchased by Tony and Beata Malsom, and they owned it until 1969. Then it was sold to George and John O?Toole DBA Collyer Enterprises. They owned and operated it until 2000. Geoff Withington purchased the Dance Hall from the O?Toole Brothers Estate at public auction and had possession until 2005, at which time he gifted it to the Collyer Community Alliance. They are currently raising funds to gain historical designation on the Zeman Dance Hall and hopefully raise funds to make the building functional again.



Contact Us
Collyer Community Alliance Association
PO Box 1
Collyer, KS 67631


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