Wonderland Ballroom through the years

The days when the Wonderland Ballroom dance floors were crowded with waltzing couples in suits and full skirts are long gone. Today, the ballroom is headed toward demolition and a likely future as a hotel. Take a look through some old pictures of the old ballroom that shares the Wonderland T-stop parking lot.

Pictured: Nathan and Beatrice Ginsburt of Revere, both in their 70s, danced to the tunes of the band at Wonderland Ballroom on Nov. 3, 1974.

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The current structure opened in the early 1960s and became the preeminent ballroom in the area, with gilded walls, gold-draped lights, and three dance floors; the 10,000-square-foot main ballroom had mirrored walls and a spring-action floor. Big band orchestras packed the house several nights a week, bringing in as many as 800 dancers a night.

Pictured: Connie Polito of Dedham was spun around by Joseph Malino of Milton at Wonderland Ballroom on Dec. 15, 1986.

Wonderland changed hands a few times over the decades, closing for several months in 1994 before it was purchased by World War II Navy veteran and enthusiastic ballroom dancer Joseph Distefano, who, according to the Wonderland Ballroom newsletter, “was motivated more by his love of dancing than by any business goals.’’

Mary-Jean Distefano (also known as Gina Lombard for her singing) danced with father Joseph Distefano dancing as the new owners of the Wonderland Ballroom on February 21, 1995.

C.C. and The Music Factory visited the ballroom for a Star 93.7 concert on Dec. 16, 1999.

The Bridgettes-Geritol Cuties Tap Dancers performed for other seniors at the Wonderland Ballroom in Revere. Senior citizens danced all day Oct. 6, 1996, as a fund-raising, self-esteem program for the elderly.

Wonderland, which hasn’t featured ballroom dancing in more than a decade, now holds Latin and hard rock shows on weekends, but sits empty during the week.

Pictured: Ladies enjoyed themselves at a Dominican beauty pageant in the Wonderland Ballroom on Aug. 3, 2002.

After Robert Merowitz took over the ballroom in 2002, he converted the spot into an entertainment complex featuring the Latin nightclub Club Lido. After five people were stabbed at the club in one night in 2005, the city rolled back the closing time to 1 a.m., and crowds thinned.

Pictured: Jose Rivera and Millie Salerna enjoyed the Latin music scene at Lido, a club that has replaced the former Wonderland Ballroom, on April 11, 2003.

A few years ago the nightclub reverted back to the name Wonderland Ballroom, hosting Latin, hard-rock, and reggae shows on weekends, as well as wrestling, boxing, and private functions.

Pictured: Mexican pop star Julieta Venegas performed on Feb. 26, 2011.