 In 1990, Bobi and David Schultz bought the facility, naming it "Port Danceland." They were responsible for many of the renovations that makes Memories the beautiful facility it is today. In 1995, the Schultz' renamed the facility "Memories”.
Rolland Roebuck and Lynn and Bob Klemm purchased the facility in 2003, and continued to nurture the growth of the dinner theater. This is our 18th dinner theater season. Every year, thousands come to Memories for our warm ambiance that we like to describe as "rustic elegance"; delicious and bountiful meals; friendly and personal service; and of course our exciting dinner theater productions.
What memories have you made in our log cabin ballroom? Click here to share your stories and picture!
We thank you, as always, for your support!
Winning Entry for Memories ’ 2008 “Share your Memories” contest celebrating our 75th anniversary… By Betty Ewig, Dated September 15, 2008
My story is a little different. There used to be a one-room schoolhouse on the corner of LL and Lake Drive . It was called “Blakeville” school. My brother, Leland J Allen and myself, Betty J Allen Ewig, lived half a mile South of Memories and walked there.
The first thing I remember is Leo Weiler’s Log Cabin tavern in 1934 when we started school at Blakeville. My folks bought our home in 1932. A few years later Leo decided to build a ballroom.
When it was finished and the floor all polished, he invited all of us kids (anywhere from 15 to 20 or so) to come over. We took our shoes off and skated all over in our stocking feet. Then he gave us all candy bars and a soda. He was so good to us!
Our school was torn down in the mid 1950s to make room for Memories’ parking lot. I must have been around 8-10 years old when he invited us over. I’m 82 now and my brother is no longer with us. Just thought you’d find this interesting. I enjoyed the “madrigal singers”, a few plays and weddings also.
Sincerely,
Betty J (Allen) Ewig
Honorable Mention - By Diane Roidt
It was on the very date that I sat down to write this, September 16, but 43 years ago in 1965, that I made my first visit to Weiler’s, although I had known of it for many years. On family car rides between our hometown of Manitowoc and Milwaukee , where relatives lived, my dad would always point it out as we drove by on Old Highway 141.
When I had been accepted at UW-M and was preparing for my first year there 1965, my dad’s words about Weiler’s suddenly expanded to “I don’t ever want to hear that you went to Weiler’s. That’s a rough place!” (Now, all these years later, I’m wondering, “When was he there? How did he know? What happened to him there? What brought about that strong admonition?” It remains to this day, a bit of a “Memories mystery” to me!)
On September 16, 1965 , during a dorm association picnic (which included ALL of the dorm students at that time- just over 200 in all and all of us living in the old Downer College buildings) I met new friends and was especially attentive to one tall guy who I found quite attractive. A small group formed, the cry went up, “Let’s go out!” which was met, of course, with a chorus of positive, youthful enthusiasm.
On our walk back to the girls’ dorm to get jackets and IDs, I told the other girls that I liked the tall guy, and not yet knowing his name, said to them, “I want the big one.”
We jumped into the car, and as we headed out of town, I quite innocently asked where we were going. The matter-of-fact response, as if I should have known, “Weiler’s”, shot through me like a shock. But the excitement over this whole new time in my life and my infatuation with the big guy I was now sitting next to in the car negated my fear and any urge I may have had to tell the driver to stop and let me out.
This was my first visit to Weiler’s where, admittedly, we drank beer, and listened over and over to Hang on Sloopy from the juke box. But it definitely was not my last visit, and all my trips were filled with fun and were quite safe, including, thankfully, the rides back to Milwaukee.
And yes, my dad did eventually find out, but only after that good-looking big guy and I became engaged a few years later. We now have been married over 39 years, have lived, worked, and raised a family just a few miles from Weiler’s for almost all those years, and we look back so happily on our 1965 “Memories.”
Honorable Mention- By Gene and Judy Pierre
January 11, 1959 , I met my husband at Weiler’s Log Cabin Ballroom. He was out with his boyfriend and I was out with my girlfriend. We celebrated our 47th Wedding Anniversary this past June 24th. Now my husband and I are enjoying the Dinner Theater, and also the Great Chicken Comedies. It would be nice if we are both here in 2011 to celebrate our 50th here at Memories. We have no pictures at Memories but will send this photo we had taken at our church. Thank you for the Great Memories!
Submitted April 2010 by Bill T.
I have many fond memories at Weiler’s and Port Zivko. One of them was the Mary Chapin Carpenter show. It was 1988 or 89, shortly before Christmas. My wife and I were a big fans of the up-and-coming MCC, and when we found out she was playing less than a mile from our home we couldn’t believe it! Better yet, all we needed for admission was a new toy to be donated to Toys for Tots. It was a magical evening we will never forget, seeing our rising star when she was early in her career. A real once in a lifetime experience. Had many other great memories there, playing there with our own local band (Otto Day and the Knights), seeing other much bigger and better acts, class reunions, and many evenings just hanging out. - Best wishes for continued success! |
