Palladium Ballroom

At its height, the Palladium attracted Hollywood and Broadway stars, especially on Wednesday nights, which included a free dance lesson.

Dance instructors such as "Killer Joe" Piro — who briefly served as master of ceremonies when Federico Pagani was not available — Augie and Margo were featured dancers there.

Examples of notables who went to the ballroom include Count Basie, Desi Arnaz, Marlon Brando, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, Sammy Davis Jr., Pupi Campo Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Jerry Lewis, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Bing Crosby, Buddy Rich, Tony Bennett, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Pedro Vargas, Chano Pozo, Arturo Sandoval, and Ed Sullivan.

Wayne Shorter, who lived in the New York City area during the ballroom's heyday, composed a piece during the 1970s called "Palladium" while he was a member of the jazz-fusion group Weather Report.

Federico Pagani started Latin Nights with radio host Symphony Sid Torin and Joe Gaines.

Federico Pagani offered a Latin Night at various clubs, including Tony Roma's El Corso on 86th Street andThird Avenue, Barney Googles, and the Cheetah, Casa Blanca, Caboroeno, Broadway 96, Trudiheller's Trix, Peppermint Lounge, Les Violins, Village Gate Nightclub, The Roseland, Manhattan Center, The 3 In One In Brooklyn Heights Prospect Park, St. George Hotel, La Epoca, Cerromar, Nightclub, Hippocampo, Caravana Club, Hunt's Point Palace, Bronx Casino, La Campana Bar Restaurant, and Carlos Ortiz El Tropicoro Bronx.

Pagani was an advisor for Nuestra Cosa (Our Latin Thing ) at the Cheetah and The Red Garder with Symphony Sid Torrin.