-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Yes Phil
Bunny owned the gay lords and Brenda Joyce owned the golden gloves and also the Garry Owen and orinianaly the jig saw at at the Sally gate old picture house
And also before con Reid and bunny had the continenal club on Soho rd just past the junction of Soho red and st Michaels hill
Also with is last venue of the coffee bar on Villa rd the continental was a below ground club you went down the steps to it bang on the door
And a little trap door would open and asked whom are you and if excepted you would hand your money through the trap door and wait
Eventually you would be let in I spent many a nights in there at week ends with a barely wine to sober up and come out at six in the morning
And straight into work at Avery scales foundry lane for 7 30 start good old days used every one of the clubs you have mentioniond
Bunny owned the gay lords and Brenda Joyce owned the golden gloves and also the Garry Owen and orinianaly the jig saw at at the Sally gate old picture house
And also before con Reid and bunny had the continenal club on Soho rd just past the junction of Soho red and st Michaels hill
Also with is last venue of the coffee bar on Villa rd the continental was a below ground club you went down the steps to it bang on the door
And a little trap door would open and asked whom are you and if excepted you would hand your money through the trap door and wait
Eventually you would be let in I spent many a nights in there at week ends with a barely wine to sober up and come out at six in the morning
And straight into work at Avery scales foundry lane for 7 30 start good old days used every one of the clubs you have mentioniond
Roger Baker
master brummie
Thanks Phil. Spot on with The Gaylord Club
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Having only just found this thread, I trawled through it with great interest, and it brought back many memories.
After National Service, I returned to the Birmingham Music scene in January 1954, and remained very busy, as a musician, for the next six years, until I left Birmingham in1959, but was pretty busy between those yeas with both Dance bands and "modern jazz" groups. The "fifties" were really before the R&R years, skiffle only beginning in the mid 50's. Until that time dance bands, dance halls, Jazz & jazz clubs still were the most popular.
Main Birmingham dance venues were:
TONYS, Hurst St. - Resident band was Colin Hulme, with Gerry West on drums, Bobby Harrison (tpt), Al Stone (piano) Roy Reynolds (tnr), Reubin Wynn (bar. sax). Cannot remember the girl singer, but she went on to marry Colin Willets. Colin left Brum for Leicester Palais, then Nottingham Palais, before returning to Birmingham to open the new Locarno ballroom in Hurst St. (more about that later).
WEST END BALLROOM: Sonny Rose band with Tommy Webster (drums), John Patrick (pno), Vic Mortiboys (bass), Alan Randle (vibes), Harry Smart & Jackie Nunn (tpts, George Watts (alto). What a great rhythm section that was.
TOWER BALLROOM, Monument Road: Cliff Deely Band, and included Gordon Langhorn (trombone), later known as Don Lang, Norman Allen on Drums.
GRAND CASINO BALLROOM, Corporation Street: Harry Gray Band & Kenny Day Trio (Kenny would often be with Sheila Buxton, singer). Harry Gray Band were later replaced by Billy Walker Band (brother of Jimmy Walker, great jazz pianist). When the resident band took their summer break, bands such as the Jack Parnell Big Band, or the Ray Ellington Quartet featuring Marion Ryan would be featured.
The Regan family owned Ritz Ballroom, Handsworth & the Garry Owen Club in Small Heath, and the bands were run by Charlie Simpson. I would sometimes "dep" at both these clubs when asked by Charlie.
Other ballrooms were around, but these were the best for resident bands and dance music.
A further band that I "depped" with was the Ronnie Hancox Band featuring Susan Maugham. I always declined taking up a resident job because my real interest was in "modern "jazz". This leads me nicely onto the Jazz Scene in the early to mid fifties.
I would sometimes "dep" with the BEV PATTY QUARTET. This small group was led by Alf (Bev) Bevin, a very talented jazz pianist, and a man that I grew up with in my school years. The alto player was Brian Harrison, and they produced a very nice Brubeck style sound. Alf, or Bev, actually won the musician of the day award at the Melody Maker Band Championship at Bellvue in Manchester, at around this period. My main jazz group however was THE JOHNNY BECK SIX. A band form by excellent young musicians from the Birmingham School of Music. it was: John (Beck) Smith -alto, Alan Toblin (tpt), Harry Burrows (tenor) Vince Thomas (bass), and self on drums.
After National Service, I returned to the Birmingham Music scene in January 1954, and remained very busy, as a musician, for the next six years, until I left Birmingham in1959, but was pretty busy between those yeas with both Dance bands and "modern jazz" groups. The "fifties" were really before the R&R years, skiffle only beginning in the mid 50's. Until that time dance bands, dance halls, Jazz & jazz clubs still were the most popular.
Main Birmingham dance venues were:
TONYS, Hurst St. - Resident band was Colin Hulme, with Gerry West on drums, Bobby Harrison (tpt), Al Stone (piano) Roy Reynolds (tnr), Reubin Wynn (bar. sax). Cannot remember the girl singer, but she went on to marry Colin Willets. Colin left Brum for Leicester Palais, then Nottingham Palais, before returning to Birmingham to open the new Locarno ballroom in Hurst St. (more about that later).
WEST END BALLROOM: Sonny Rose band with Tommy Webster (drums), John Patrick (pno), Vic Mortiboys (bass), Alan Randle (vibes), Harry Smart & Jackie Nunn (tpts, George Watts (alto). What a great rhythm section that was.
TOWER BALLROOM, Monument Road: Cliff Deely Band, and included Gordon Langhorn (trombone), later known as Don Lang, Norman Allen on Drums.
GRAND CASINO BALLROOM, Corporation Street: Harry Gray Band & Kenny Day Trio (Kenny would often be with Sheila Buxton, singer). Harry Gray Band were later replaced by Billy Walker Band (brother of Jimmy Walker, great jazz pianist). When the resident band took their summer break, bands such as the Jack Parnell Big Band, or the Ray Ellington Quartet featuring Marion Ryan would be featured.
The Regan family owned Ritz Ballroom, Handsworth & the Garry Owen Club in Small Heath, and the bands were run by Charlie Simpson. I would sometimes "dep" at both these clubs when asked by Charlie.
Other ballrooms were around, but these were the best for resident bands and dance music.
A further band that I "depped" with was the Ronnie Hancox Band featuring Susan Maugham. I always declined taking up a resident job because my real interest was in "modern "jazz". This leads me nicely onto the Jazz Scene in the early to mid fifties.
I would sometimes "dep" with the BEV PATTY QUARTET. This small group was led by Alf (Bev) Bevin, a very talented jazz pianist, and a man that I grew up with in my school years. The alto player was Brian Harrison, and they produced a very nice Brubeck style sound. Alf, or Bev, actually won the musician of the day award at the Melody Maker Band Championship at Bellvue in Manchester, at around this period. My main jazz group however was THE JOHNNY BECK SIX. A band form by excellent young musicians from the Birmingham School of Music. it was: John (Beck) Smith -alto, Alan Toblin (tpt), Harry Burrows (tenor) Vince Thomas (bass), and self on drums.
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
NB:
Ah, there's a few names that I'd forgotten about - Colin Hulme, Tommy Webster, & Bev Patty Qtet. That makes you around 2 years 4 months older than me and accounts for why we didn't really "collide" although we both worked with the same musicians at times. Likewise I left Brum for the south coast two years after you in 1961.
Maurice
Ah, there's a few names that I'd forgotten about - Colin Hulme, Tommy Webster, & Bev Patty Qtet. That makes you around 2 years 4 months older than me and accounts for why we didn't really "collide" although we both worked with the same musicians at times. Likewise I left Brum for the south coast two years after you in 1961.
Maurice
Found this dance band encyclopaedia , don't know how comprehensive it is but it may be of some interest
https://www.mgthomas.co.uk/DanceBands/IndexPages/Musicians-index-TUV.htm
https://www.mgthomas.co.uk/DanceBands/IndexPages/Musicians-index-TUV.htm
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Johnny Beck Six broke up when some of us went for a summer Season at the Dreamland Ballroom, Margate with the Ray Gordon band. We returned to "Brum", but John disappeared somewhere down south. Vince remained playing around the clubs. Les left to join his brother Ray (a great Birmingham drummer) in the States. Ray later played with Kenton, Shearing & Peterson. Alan Tomblin sadly died at a very early age, and Harry Burrows & Susan Maugham became an "item" and went their own way. I worked the Casino for a while (afternoon sessions) and Garry Allcock covered the evening sessions. That is when left to join Jan Ralfini at the Liverpool Locarno. In those days the Cavern Club & the Iron Door were still jazz venues. I think, Maurice, that you are aware of some of my other Birmingham "threads" under the DANCE HALLS heading. I will cover more of the 1950's music scene later on. Enough for now - time for my milk and bed!
Hi Sophie
There are two. Ore nights clubs that no/one mentioned and that was the castaways on Bradford street
And the big night out the biggest entertainers worked there at the horse fair just before Holloway head big names also appeared at the castaways
On Bradford street big bands and entertainers and a couple of entertainers come to my mind for the big band before them playing
Is Micky and dear old Griff. How many of you recall them I actually picked up that one two days ago in the local charity shop. Astonian
There are two. Ore nights clubs that no/one mentioned and that was the castaways on Bradford street
And the big night out the biggest entertainers worked there at the horse fair just before Holloway head big names also appeared at the castaways
On Bradford street big bands and entertainers and a couple of entertainers come to my mind for the big band before them playing
Is Micky and dear old Griff. How many of you recall them I actually picked up that one two days ago in the local charity shop. Astonian
B
BernardR
Guest
Alan the Castaways was first mentioned in this thread back in 2007 and again [at least] in 2008.
hi good morning bernard
yes i am aware of that it was a couple of years back that it was mentionioned just like this and many other topices [ bernard ]
that we keep going over and over the years i have noticed over the last few weeks now
plus the fact bernard we have also aquired new members since then whom would never have seen our old threads
so if if it as been mentionioned jst of recently ; i would have not noticed , but as we say it was a couple of years ago this particlar
topic as came up unless you mean in the last week or so ;thats why i mentionioned it
have a nice day best wishes astonian;; alan;;
yes i am aware of that it was a couple of years back that it was mentionioned just like this and many other topices [ bernard ]
that we keep going over and over the years i have noticed over the last few weeks now
plus the fact bernard we have also aquired new members since then whom would never have seen our old threads
so if if it as been mentionioned jst of recently ; i would have not noticed , but as we say it was a couple of years ago this particlar
topic as came up unless you mean in the last week or so ;thats why i mentionioned it
have a nice day best wishes astonian;; alan;;
thecaptain51
master brummie
Has anyone mentioned "Steelys" early 70s(I think that was the name), it was situated opposite New Street Station, by Thorntons Chocolate Cabin inside that arcade that was there, I cant remember the name now. I would make my way to this club, it wasn't very big at about 22.00 on a Saturday night after having had a drink in The CosterMonger with a girlfiend of the time. You would knock on the door and a shutter would open up (Like those American Speak easys in The Prohibition time) and the bouncer would ask who are you? If you wasn't banned for some reason or other, the shutter would close and you would be let in.
This club was never full, it had mirrors on the wall, but the attraction for me about this club was the music played by the D.J. and the atmosphere, it was the Ideal place to take a girl, you could talk intimately with the sound of the music in the background. I think you got kicked out at about 02.00.
This club was never full, it had mirrors on the wall, but the attraction for me about this club was the music played by the D.J. and the atmosphere, it was the Ideal place to take a girl, you could talk intimately with the sound of the music in the background. I think you got kicked out at about 02.00.
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Lots of memories recorded re: Locarno, Hurst Street. I recall the new Mecca Locarno opening around 1963. Although I had, by this time, left Brum, I did call in to the Locarno a couple of days before the official opening to say hello to some friends in the Colin Hulme Band. I watched the band rehearse, and was pleased to see my old buddy Gerry West, still on drums with the band. I also bumped into Henry Quinn, the new Catering Manager We had shared "digs" in an earlier life. The girl singer with the Colin Hulme band was , I recall, Mavis Taylor? She was tragically killed on the A6 between Loughborough & Derby, when they were constructing the new M1 motorway to run under the A6. I believe the car hit the road works as she was returning from a gig. Very sad, and it upset some of the musicians very badly. The new Trio playing opposite Colin was Roy Green. When I joined the Jan Ralfini band at Liverpool Locarno, Roy was the bass player. He left shortly afterwards. A great character, and a great "front" man for a band.
Betty Hopper
master brummie
So sad to hear what happened to Mavis. I have thought of her so many times over the years and wondered what she was doing.
She desperately wanted a special evening gown for some gig they were doing and was having great difficulty in trying to get one.
I remember it so well. It was very tight fitting with a heavily gathered fishtail effect at the hem and strapless of course. When I
had completed it she tried it on and looked a million dollars.It gave us both so much pleasure we both had a good cry. { as I am
at the moment !! }
Betty.
She desperately wanted a special evening gown for some gig they were doing and was having great difficulty in trying to get one.
I remember it so well. It was very tight fitting with a heavily gathered fishtail effect at the hem and strapless of course. When I
had completed it she tried it on and looked a million dollars.It gave us both so much pleasure we both had a good cry. { as I am
at the moment !! }
Betty.
thecaptain51
master brummie
Carolina
I think it is in Handsworth on the Soho Road, nearly opposit the library, I never went to The Revue bar
The Captain
I think it is in Handsworth on the Soho Road, nearly opposit the library, I never went to The Revue bar
The Captain
thecaptain51
master brummie
Yes!!!!!
hi there sparkie
if i recall it at the evening times it was a seedy club wit strippers in the sixtys i used to use the monti carlo myself
just down the rd from there [ the revue bar especial at week ends it was alway packed and ver dodgy indeed astonian;
I lived on victoria rd around that time at number 47 victoria rd and i grew up in aston so i know or should i say i knew aston
its copletely changed and saphire tower was the first block of flats ever built in park lane aston cross astonian;;
if i recall it at the evening times it was a seedy club wit strippers in the sixtys i used to use the monti carlo myself
just down the rd from there [ the revue bar especial at week ends it was alway packed and ver dodgy indeed astonian;
I lived on victoria rd around that time at number 47 victoria rd and i grew up in aston so i know or should i say i knew aston
its copletely changed and saphire tower was the first block of flats ever built in park lane aston cross astonian;;
Re: Birmingham Nighclubs of the Past- Memories
Hiya
Just wondering does anyone remember a legendary pub landlady called Elaine.
Cannot think of her second name but she was a sandy haired woman who ran pubs on the Pershore Road in the 80s and 90s.
She was the toughest woman I ever met, and I met a few.
Seen her stand up to a guy called Taffy one night and not many men would have done so.
She had a heart of gold behind it all in fairness.
Hiya
Just wondering does anyone remember a legendary pub landlady called Elaine.
Cannot think of her second name but she was a sandy haired woman who ran pubs on the Pershore Road in the 80s and 90s.
She was the toughest woman I ever met, and I met a few.
Seen her stand up to a guy called Taffy one night and not many men would have done so.
She had a heart of gold behind it all in fairness.
Hi All
In the early seventies, I can recall 'The Rum Runner', the entrance was down a brick alley way off Broad Street, almost opposite 'The Tow Rope, which was some some of restaurant with a large glass window, through which you could watch the kitchen staff cooking etc. Also another was called 'Barbarellas' although I can't quite conjure up where it was.:ambivalence::ambivalence:
In the early seventies, I can recall 'The Rum Runner', the entrance was down a brick alley way off Broad Street, almost opposite 'The Tow Rope, which was some some of restaurant with a large glass window, through which you could watch the kitchen staff cooking etc. Also another was called 'Barbarellas' although I can't quite conjure up where it was.:ambivalence::ambivalence:
sheldontony
master brummie
No, that was the Cavendish.
Anne Watton
master brummie
Barbarellas was off Broad Street opposite Lee Longlands. I worked there when it first opened.
Cheryl 1975
New Member
Hi, I know it wasn't a club but did anyone frequent the Parisien in Cannon Street mid 1970's??? So many happy memories from there when half a lager was 14 n a half pence :calm: And Stan the DJ, and John I think ?!?
birnewcomer
proper brummie kid
The Rum Runner Club and Casino was owned and run by Don and Doughty Berrow,good club ,casino not kind to me
