More than brick and mortar will be at stake when the Sunnybrook Ballroom goes up for auction for the second time in four years.

"Sunnybrook," says Bruce Weeber, co-chairperson of the Sunnybrook Preservation Foundation, "is a part of local history."

The property, which includes nearly 15 acres, the ballroom, restaurant and a Pennsylvania liquor license will be auctioned on July 27 to settle a debt of $1,579,611.

But not just property, Sunnybrook is also a part of America's musical heritage.

Built in 1931, the ballroom had one of the largest dance floors in the east. And the names that performed on its stage make up a who's who of the big band era.

Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others performed there.

Gerry Barrett, leader of the Amesbury, Mass. based big band, "The Special Edition," grew up within a mile of Sunnybrook.

"For me, and for many others," says Barrett, "there is a lot of nostalgia at the ballroom."

Barrett, who has played trumpet in the Glenn Miller and Buddy Rich bands, said he spent much of his youth in the early 1960s at Sunnybrook.

"But getting the $4 or $5 cover charge was tough in those days," Barrett says, so he would hang out near the back door until the band showed up and then help the musicians carry in their equipment.

On one such back stage visit, Barrett said he spent nearly an hour talking to Louis Armstrong.

"It was pretty thrilling," he says, "to be able to sit down with him."

Barrett also describes a wall behind the stage where the traveling musicians would leave messages for friends in other bands. He said the wall had Peggy Lee's bright red lipstick kiss and signature on it.

Weeber said the wall and a lot of the keepsakes from inside the building have been stolen.

"They took the door and the wall," he said.

Another feature of Sunnybrook that Barrett remembers is the pool.

"My parents would take us there to swim," he says, "and we'd spend entire summers there."

For a time, Philadelphia radio station KYW, then known as WRCV "The Big Band Station" would broadcast live from the ballroom.

The Sunnybrook Ballroom house band during that period was lead by Arlen Saylor of Boyertown.

Barrett, who performed with the Arlen Saylor band, said, "Arlen played down there a zillion times when they didn't have anyone else."

Saylor has also been involved with the movement to save Sunnybrook.

The 76-year-old Weeber, who has been been working to save the ballroom since 2001, says Saylor has ridden with him in the "Save Sunnybrook" car in various Pottstown Independence Day parades.

But saving Sunnybrook may not be the motive of all the prospective sheriff's sale bidders.

Weeber's co-chairman, Thomas Sephakis, said that he has heard rumors that developers are interested in the property for everything from townhomes to hotels.

"The builders just want money," says Weeber.

"This is not about money it is about the community," says Weeber who met his late wife at Sunnybrook.

Sephakis, who says the property has been appraised at a little more than $1,000,000, says the foundation has the money to buy the property.

Although Sephakis said the foundation has "real cash" not just pledges, he would not disclose how much they have to bid.

"The bank will bid cost," Sephakis said, describing the sheriff's sale process, "and if no one bids beyond that then the bank will win the sale."

"Our hopes," he said, "are that the bank wins it back and then we will deal directly with them."

Once in the foundation's hands, Weeber says they could have the ballroom re-opened in three months.

"We know what it will take to fix it up," he says.

He says the foundation has plans for dance lessons and other events and services for the community. He also noted that they are working with area and national dance organizations.

Weeber also noted that since the foundation is a not for profit organization, a portion of ticket prices would be tax deductible.

He also said that he wants area schools to return to the ballroom for proms.

Some of them lost their deposits when the last owner went bankrupt, he said.

Weeber hopes to eventually reimburse some of the schools for their losses.
He noted that they cannot repay everyone. "But when dealing with schools," he says, "We want to put back what we can."

Please send any comments to anmccue@berksmontnews.com.