The Calderon Ballroom was opened by Leonard Calderon on October 23, 1953. Calderon sold tires for
B. F. Goodrich and before he opened the ballroom it was an
auto repair shop. The Buckeye Road area had a high crime rate so the city council proposed assigning more police presence in the area in 1956. Calderon was public-minded and involved in many community activities. He rented the Calderon Ballroom out to social clubs and organizations for events. In August 1954, the Vesta Club sponsored a benefit dance at the Calderon Ballroom. The proceeds from the event were used for a scholarship given to an
Arizona State College at Tempe student of
Latino-American descent. In February 1956, a dance sponsored by Los Conquistadores of
Arizona State College was held at the Calderon Ballroom. At a time when many local venues did not accept African-American performers, Calderon welcomed them to his ballroom. He brought the top R&B performers to the Calderon Ballroom while still embracing Mexican music and booking regional bands. In 1973, State Senator Alfredo Gutierrez told
The Arizona Republic the "Mexican ballrooms in Phoenix, Calderon's, Riverside, Emma's and Salon Mexico, play a very important part in providing the
Mexicano community with a sense of self-identity." Calderon continued to operate the Calderon Ballroom until the 1980s. He hired a
mariachi band, and the venue was also used for wedding receptions and
quinceanera parties. The ballroom was demolished as the Golden Gate Barrio neighborhood was
razed due to
eminent domain for the expansion of
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Calderon died at the age of 90 in
Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 1, 2004. == Notable performers ==