Target Ballroom
15733 Ambaum Blvd. S.W.
Burien, Washington

 A consensus of contributors remember this building as The Target Ballroom

Some Contributors recall this building as being the Target

These two buildings are virtually next door to each other.  Our Web Slave doesn't remember which was which because it was always dark when he showed up for gigs there, and it was always dark when he left.  The Target was so named because of its former use as an indoor archery range.
 

Fortunately, this building still stands.   It is a shame that many of the old 50's and 60's dance halls from the Pacific Northwest no longer exist.

We are in the process of compiling a list of the bands that performed at The Target Ballroom in the 60's.  If you had a band that played here, have a flyer or advertisement for gigs at The Target, or remember seeing a particular band perform at this establishment, please let us know and we will add their name to the list of bands that performed here.  Send any information to our 
 

I was at the Sonny and Cher concert at the Target Ballroom.  I was shocked by Cher's language telling us to get away from the stage or they weren't going to sing while Sonny smiled that winning smile.   The band, The Dynamics, didn't know the music, but the long ride from Centralia was worth it.
Randy Johnson, 18 January 2003 Editor's note:  Perhaps Cher didn't know or understand the unique Pacific Northwest live music audience culture at that time.  The well behaved kids, and particularly the local musicians and musician wannabe's would get right in front of the stage and watch much as can be seen in the photos below of an early Paul Revere and the Raiders performance.  Much of that unique young adult dance club culture has been expressed in other pages on this site and with great clarity and detail in Pat O'Day's recent book, "It Was All Just Rock 'n' Roll"
PNWBands Webmaster, January 2003 I grew up in Burien- 1955 thru 1970. I remember well going to the Target many times to see these bands. One I DO remember seeing there but don't see in the list was "The Seeds"  (Pushin Too Hard). I don't remeber the band that opened for them, but I remember the Turtles show and wonder if they billed together.  For a young rock & roll musician who played places like The Cove in Normandy Park and the old Burien Tavern (underage no less) The Target was such a great place to go see the local and national bands I looked up to. Thanks for this fun site!
Bruce Hunt, Highline high '70 grad, November 2003 As a resident of Burien, I often visited the Target Ballroom for Friday night dances.

The picture of the Highline Bowl is not the building for the Target Ballroom. The Target Ballroom, which was originally called Archery Lanes, was located to the right of Highline Bowl from the camera perspective. The picture of the Highline School District Office Building is also NOT the original building of the Target Ballroom. When the Highline School District moved their offices to that area of Burien, a new building was built specifically for the School district offices. The Target Ballroom building no longer exists.
Paul Galvan, January 2005

I entered the Highline School District office and there is still the step down to where the archery lanes were.  The secretary that I spoke with was very taken back by the history of the place.  If they tore down the old Target building, they used the same foundation and floor to build the new one.  I believe it is the same building with much remodeling.
Bill Crammatte, March 2005

The second photo is of the "Target Ballroom".  The building in the first photo didn't exist during the reign of the "Target".  Prior to becoming the "Ballroom" from Highline students occasionally went to the archery range as part of classes.
 Carolyn Eichler, May 2005

I grew up on SW 154th Street (1955 to 1972) and could see the lights of the Target Ballroom at night while lying in bed.  I was a little too young to go there, but I would imagine all the fun those lucky high school kids were having on Friday nights, while I was stuck at home in my bunk bed watching The Avengers on our black and white portable TV.  I remember hearing the ads for upcoming shows on KJR (KJR Seattle channel ninety-five!)

The Target was adjacent to the bowling alley and faced the same direction as the bowling alley.  I think it was to the left, but I'm not sure.  It was not the school district building - I couldn't see that from our house.
Diane Washburn

Dawna Lewis, Merrie Mitchell, and, John Hamilton Enjoying the Raiders.
Paul Revere and The Raiders at The Target Ballroom, October 1964

I am on the left in the green... my name then was Dawna Lewis, the other gal was my friend Merrie Mitchell, and the guy, John Hamilton.  What fun those times were...

I met my first husband at the Spanish Castle.  We dated going to the dances... broke up at the dances... got back together at the dances...  Those dances were a nice social life for teenagers... good exercise, too.

Whenever I got into trouble I got restricted from going to the dances.. I hated that, so the dances even kept me out of trouble.

Thank you so much for keeping those memories of a much simpler time alive.
Dawna Lewis, February 2003

Paul Revere & The Raiders, October 1964

11 September 2005
Credits: S. Carlson, Stan Foreman, Don Gardner, Bill Crammatte, Brian Semple, Richard Green, John Rice, George Bryant, Steve Hudziak, Pat O'Day, Jim Sola, Kevin Mason, Phil Lampman, Mike Soltero, Randy Johnson, Dawna Lewis, Bruce Hunt, Peter Simpson, Paul Galvan, Dale Cooley, Carolyn Eichler