Crowds of 1,500 people used to crowd the hall every Saturday

By Jeff Helsdon
News-Record Staff

During most of the 1960s and '70s, the Delhi Belgian Hall was the place to be on Saturday nights.

People came from as far away as London, Brantford, Woodstock and Hamilton to hear the great acts on the hall's performing stage.

This list included Roy Orbison, Chubby Checker, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Bachman Turner Overdrive, the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Chubby Checker, April Wine and the Rush, among others.

The list of presidents and board members was long. The Hall had great leaders. Among Delhi's business people who read like a who's who of Delhi's business history, the presidents included: Medard VanDeWalle, Albert Desclaeve, William Schelstraete, Medard VanDeWalle, Joseph Sonley, Paul VanLonden and Jerry Thonnart.

During the 15 years that the hall was going strong, Louis and Raymonda Christiaens were the managers between 1962 and 1977.

Expansions to accommodate the growing crowds started as soon as the Christiaens took over. Working with the board of directors, the couple saw crowds on Saturday nights grow to 1,500 as well as weekly bingo. "This all could not have been possible without the support of the directors and presidents during these 15 years," Louis said.

When the Christiaens started as managers of the hall in 1962, the position was elected by the shareholders. This later changed and the directors did the hiring.

After starting, the Christiaens took out the fashioned bowling and shuffleboard lanes, putting in bowling in the basement. This was in the lower level. There were Archery and other games moved to its present location. The stage was installed upstairs, new dressing rooms and new washrooms built.

At that time, there was also a kitchen and bar. Each event included a special occasion permit for alcohol. "It was like New Year's Eve all the time," Louis recounted.

As the crowds grew, expansion continued. The Christiaens added more room at the back of the hall for more activities. "People were coming from all over," Louis recalled.

These bands were followed by the Delhi high school band. John Canada and the Dynatones, Linda Cesare and the Consuls. Bobby Curtola was the first big star to grace the hall’s stage.

Louis became the manager, looking after the greats of the era. He took great interest and was reluctant to leave, "I couldn’t keep that to myself," Louis reminisced. "He played two shows one night from 8-10 and the next day from 4-6. He’d play from between the sets. When he was on stage, he acted like a human."

As the crowd grew, the Belgian Hall was the drawing card for rock and roll. "The top of the line sound and light system and we were fortunate to be part of it. Just kept growing and expanding."

"They didn’t have the halls like we had here," Raymonda added.

While the greats of rock and roll were playing on the upstairs stage at the Belgian Hall on Saturday nights, ethnic bands played downstairs. The Skymasters, the first band to play at the hall when it opened in 1948, was instrumental in this.

While Saturday nights were nights were reserved for big name dances, Friday nights were ethnic nights with different bands every week. Downstairs darts drew a crowd of Belgian bowlers and sniping was a favorite in the basement. The Thursday night golf Calib also drew about 50 people each week. The only night archery was busy.

"I have to say it was an exciting time," Louis said. He added the only downfall was the 3 to 4 a.m. morning to clean up after the Saturday dances.

After leaving the Belgian Hall in 1977, the Christiaens purchased Turkey Point Marina.