[2] It was allegedly the largest public auditorium in Harlem, with 25,000 square feet and a capacity of about 5,000 people on the dance floor in addition to several thousand spectators.
[1][8][7] The serial entrepreneur Jay Faggen led the project to open the Golden Gate Ballroom, which took place in October 1939.
[10][11] It was one of many Harlem jazz clubs located on Lenox Avenue[3] and competed intensely with the Savoy Ballroom.
[3] Notable performers at the Golden Gate included Les Hite, Harlan Leonard, Claude Hopkins, Milt Herth, Jimmie Lunceford,[12] Count Basie, Hot Lips Page,[9] Josh White, Art Tatum, Billie Holiday, Hazel Scott,[7] and Coleman Hawkins.
[15] The Golden Gate Ballroom also hosted community events such as political rallies[7] and the "Miss Fine Brown Frame" beauty pageant[16][17][18] and served as a roller skating rink.