Showboat Pavilion

The Showboat Pavilion was a multi-purpose entertainment venue built at Taylor Pond and the Crescent Beach-front that held live dances, concerts and had regular, contemporary and some repertory screenings. The facility opened May 25, 1935 with a dance but soon added sound films to its programming line-up. H.E. & M.L. Bickford built the pavilion for operator Sam Ruttenberg. (The address given is not exact but used for the purpose of getting to the general area.) Pineland Lumber provided the maple flooring and stage materials.

The Showboat Pavilion began optimistically and ambitiously as a year-round entertainment destination. The ability to serve alcoholic beverages appears to be one of its marketing advantages. The Showboat Pavilion then appears to have scaled back to summertime only operation. Nellie Wilding took over the Showboat Pavilion in the 1940 season and may have had sporadic events in 1941. The venue was offered for sale - likely as World War II impacted the viability of the operation - early in 1942.

Unfortunately, during its inactivity in 1942, vandals destroyed the stage and other parts of the Showboat Pavilion making it impossible to continue. The structure was razed.

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