Birmingham Town Hall

[guilbert53]

Some videos on YouTube about the Town Hall.

First a video showing how the Town Hall exterior has changed over time (a series of still photographs)

Next a video of the history of the Town Hall (and the famous painting of the Town Hall)

Finally Humphrey Lyttleton remembering his jazz concerts at the town hall. a few brief shots of Birmingham in the 1950s

 

[oldbrit]

Saw many concerts there in the 1950s happy days

 

[Richard Dye]

Some videos on YouTube about the Town Hall.

First a video showing how the Town Hall exterior has changed over time (a series of still photographs)

Next a video of the history of the Town Hall (and the famous painting of the Town Hall)

Finally Humphrey Lyttleton remembering his jazz concerts at the town hall. a few brief shots of Birmingham in the 1950s

guilbert.............Great videos, thank you for sharing!

 

[sospiri]

I was at the MJQ concert(s) too Richard, and I am quite sute it was at the Town Hall, and chatted earlier in the day to John Lewis & Percy Heath in the Firebird in Carrs Lane

Maurice

 

[Richard Dye]

I was at the MJQ concert(s) too Richard, and I am quite sute it was at the Town Hall, and chatted earlier in the day to John Lewis & Percy Heath in the Firebird in Carrs Lane

Maurice

WOW! Maurice, I have not heard those names forever!

 

[Eric Gibson]

Well I sang in the school choir there in the late 1940s.

 

[sospiri]

Richard,

The guy who ran the Firebird was an Hispanic American, Chris Padan, and knew all the American jazz stars including Basie, Ellington, Brubeck & the MJQ. Some of the member of the bands would go there for lunch before the evening concerts. I used to frequent the place for lunch quite often as well as play downstairs occasionally, as did Roy Castle if he was in Brum, and Chris would give me nod when he expected the visiting musicians to call. Chris moved down to Richmond, Surrey, with the intention of opening a similar place. I don't know whether he did or not, but I know that he passed away in 1996.

Maurice

 

[Richard Dye]

Richard,

The guy who ran the Firebird was an Hispanic American, Chris Padan, and knew all the American jazz stars including Basie, Ellington, Brubeck & the MJQ. Some of the member of the bands would go there for lunch before the evening concerts. I used to frequent the place for lunch quite often as well as play downstairs occasionally, as did Roy Castle if he was in Brum, and Chris would give me nod when he expected the visiting musicians to call. Chris moved down to Richmond, Surrey, with the intention of opening a similar place. I don't know whether he did or not, but I know that he passed away in 1996.

Maurice

Maurice,
I was never that lucky but you have my juices flowing........Just listened to a couple of Dave Brubeck Quartet songs (off topic, sorry). Between the MJQ and DBQ they were the VERY best!
Thanks for the memories!

 

[tim eborn]

Went to see Trad Jazz there in the 50's saw Stan Kenton , Dutch Swing Colledge and we were introduced to a young Cleo Lane. Happy Times ! Cheers Tim

 

[Richard Dye]

And hopefully the Sir Johnny Dankworth band!

Went to see Trad Jazz there in the 50's saw Stan Kenton , Dutch Swing Colledge and we were introduced to a young Cleo Lane. Happy Times ! Cheers Tim

 

[Radiorails]

He would not have been a Sir at that time, of course, and he did not marry Cleo until 1958. You could have dated her!

Sir John Dankworth obituary

Celebrated figure of British jazz with a 60-year career as a performer, composer, bandleader and educationist

www.theguardian.com

 

[Richard Dye]

He would not have been a Sir at that time, of course, and he did not marry Cleo until 1958. You could have dated her!

Sir John Dankworth obituary

Celebrated figure of British jazz with a 60-year career as a performer, composer, bandleader and educationist

www.theguardian.com

Thank you RR,
Cleo is 92 that’s even a little old for me

 

[Richard Dye]

Thank you RR,
Cleo is 92 that’s even a little old for me

 

[ellbrown]

New Town Hall photo taken yesterday with Tram 19 in Victoria Square.

 

[Eric Gibson]

Now now fellas do as the lady asks.

 

[Richard Dye]

Thank you RR,
Cleo is 92 that’s even a little old for me

Now now fellas do as the lady asks.

Very good Eric...........I think she is still with us!

 

[Astoness]

can we please stay on topic please...we do have a thread for you tube music

thank you

Good music to listen to on U Tube

It’s a nice, relaxing Sunday morning, and I’m sitting here awaiting the cricket commentary so it seems time for another visit to songs ancient and modern. Ancient: American (nearly) society bands have always fascinated me so how about Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians in 1928, Coquette...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Richard Dye]

can we please stay on topic please...we do have a thread for you tube music

thank you

Good music to listen to on U Tube

It’s a nice, relaxing Sunday morning, and I’m sitting here awaiting the cricket commentary so it seems time for another visit to songs ancient and modern. Ancient: American (nearly) society bands have always fascinated me so how about Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians in 1928, Coquette...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

My apologies............

 

[tim eborn]

And hopefully the Sir Johnny Dankworth band!

Yes Johnny Dankworth was I think a regular favourite. Very likely wrong but to me he was so in love with Cleo that he surrenderd his everything to her. She had a great voice but I didn't like her style.
I'm not a musician, just like what I like.
Great days and happy memories.

 

[Richard Dye]

Yes Johnny Dankworth was I think a regular favourite. Very likely wrong but to me he was so in love with Cleo that he surrenderd his everything to her. She had a great voice but I didn't like her style.
I'm not a musician, just like what I like.
Great days and happy memories.

Tim, I am not sure either but I think you might be correct!

 

[Bob Davis]

Some memories in this thread and we all seem to remember Humph at the Town Hall...Onions and When the Saints... and the big bands, especially the polished performances of the Heath band. One of the things I remember that is noticeable on this thread and on another thread is how smartly we all dressed. Suited and booted.

Bob

 

[Richard Dye]

Some memories in this thread and we all seem to remember Humph at the Town Hall...Onions and When the Saints... and the big bands, especially the polished performances of the Heath band. One of the things I remember that is noticeable on this thread and on another thread is how smartly we all dressed. Suited and booted.

Bob

Unfortunately Bob, those days of being “cleaned up” are sadly long gone!

 

[Vivienne14]

This must have been drawn just as the Town Hall opened in 1834 and of the first music festival to take place there. The roadway outside is referred to as ‘rutted’. The awning at the shop of curiosities must have been put in place for the occasion. (Source: British Newspaper Archive). Viv.

 

[mikejee]

Wonderful new early photo (as stereoscopic slide) of town hall from top of pinfold st. Definitely pre 1880. Have tried to make it a little clearer, but here is original and tweaked
The slide is from a Facebook group looking to identify unknown images

 

[paul stacey]

fantastic view of not very old Town Hall, with a line of carriages, and horse drawn bus, very atmospheric, Paul

 

[Morturn]

I can look at these and do the 3d effect without the viewer, they are very good images.

 

[Astoness]

great mike thanks...can anyone confirm what the building is to the left of the town hall please

lyn

 

[mikejee]

That's the old Midlands institute

 

[Vivienne14]

Sandbagged in September 1939. Then bricked in December 1939. The first image shows a bollard with, what I think, might be a blackout hood (?). Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

The Town Hall has over time been the venue for all sorts of events. This (6th) annual flower show in 1912 seems to only fill a fraction of the floor space. There’s no clue as to which flower show (ie area, group etc). Viv.