Disturbance at the Palais Royale Ballroom in Portland OR

KPIX-TV news footage from September 3rd 1960 featuring silent views of a disturbance at the Palais Royale Ballroom in Portland, Oregon (2115 West Burnside). Ray Charles and his orchestra were supposed to be performing there but Charles's plane was grounded at Seattle and he couldn't get to Portland. The crowd became unruly to protest this no-show (tickets were $2.50 each) and police and fire fighters turned hoses on them, also making nineteen arrests. Includes scenes of African American patrons of the club being hosed down and arrested as they leave. According to a newspaper article from September 5th in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (cited on the Ray Charles Video Museum's web page on 12/21/2011), Portland's Mayor Terry Shrunk stated this incident was: "Not a race riot but was a racially mixed crowd about 80% Negro." He also said the crowd had moved downstairs from the second story ballroom to the venue's cashier's window, on the understanding there was supposed to be a refund offered on tickets. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.