Danceland

In 1940, when Harry Lattanzino purchased the Doherty Hardware building, he transformed the upstairs hall to a skating rink known as Skateland, but referred to by youth as “the Rink.” By the 1950’s the building was commonly known as Harry’s Danceland. It had become the scene of Friday night dances and live concerts by over 100 top recording artists from across the country. Some of which included Chubby Checker, Bo Diddly, Jimi Hendrix, Jay and the Shondels and many more top performers.

           Designed in 1907, the building once known as the Doherty Building later to become the Lattanzino Building was erected on Depot Street in downtown Latrobe. In 1940, when Harry Lattanzino purchased the Doherty Hardware building, he transformed the upstairs hall to a skating rink known as Skateland, but referred to by youth as “the Rink.” By the 1950’s the building was commonly known as Harry’s Danceland. It had become the scene of Friday night dances and live concerts by over 100 top recording artists from across the country. Some of which included Chubby Checker, Bo Diddly, Jimi Hendrix, Jay and the Shondels and many more top performers. Danceland was the happening spot for the majority of the 1950s throughout the 1960s.

            In 2015 work began to return the Danceland building to its former glory. The building was structurally restored with the touch of large mural drawings hung on the outside to look like windows depicting scenes from two important time periods in the buildings life, the 1900s and the 1960s. Once the project was completed, over 150 saved and autographed photos from famous groups and people who performed there were installed the entire length of the four story stairwell. A large throwback dance was then held where Harry Lattanzaio Jr. presented his father Harry Lattanzio (the creator of Danceland) with a State Citation from the House of Representatives

2017 Author St. Clair Historical Preservation Nomination Form, Jarod Trunzo