<P> Gerry Patrick Dunn purchased the property in 1929 when there was only a small ice cream parlour and drugstore on the lot . Dunn started renovating the buildings in the second year of ownership in order to be able to host orchestras as an attraction in the small town . The first two bands to play in the renovated building were Jerry Richardson and the Varsity Collegians, and Carl Mueller's Varsity Entertainers . </P> <P> At the end of the 1930s, Dunn decided to tear down the old building in order to be able to host the bigger bands he desired, and provide more room for people to dance . The expansion was built by Gerry Dunn himself, as well as 14 additional workers . It is said that while the construction was taking place you could often see him sitting on the roof, anchoring down the supports . "' I designed the pavilion myself--no architect was involved,' says Dunn, who at 97 years old was back at his Bala summer home in 1998 ." </P> <P> The new building was completed in the summer of 1942; built with the stage backdrop to be a façade of an actual small cottage . Dunn renovated the dance floor and was expanded from 35 feet to 100 feet . They hosted small house bands and dancing 6 nights a week, and big bands once a week throughout the summer months . People would dress up in their finest attire and make a night of dancing . Customers would have to bring their own alcohol after the prohibition and during the depression years because most venues didn't have the licenses to sell it because it was very expensive to obtain the license . On the nights of the Big Bands, Dunn would try to attract people from the cities and towns surrounding Bala, as well as attracting people from Toronto who would enjoy a weekend away . </P> <P> In 1963, at the age of 62, Gerry Dunn sold Dunn's Pavilion to Ray Cockburn . Ray had owned a similar venue in Orillia called' The Pavalon' and wanted to expand his ownership in the bar business . In order to take advantage of the new rock and roll style of music, Ray renamed the venue and called it The KEE to Bala . "Says Ray,' A short name, easily remembered, was what I wanted, and when someone suggested that the pavilion was the ` key' to Bala and the surrounding Muskoka area, I jumped at the idea and changed the spelling to KEE ."' The KEE had wonderful years throughout the 1960s and 1970s under Ray's ownership . This was because Ray promised the bands that they could play in Orillia one night, and in Bala the next night making it worth the detour . Normally bands wouldn't travel two hours north of the major cities in order to perform, but after they played in Toronto they often liked visiting relaxing venues to play for smaller crowds . </P>

Who has played at the kee to bala