• 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
  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
    im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
    we are now using a backup solution

Events at Embassy Sportsdrome, Walford Rd.

Speedy23

Speedy23

master brummie
Edit - this thread is about events held at the Embassy. There’s a thread exclusively about roller skating at the Embassy on the thread here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/embassy-roller-rink-walford-road.3431/


Anyone remember the Embassy Sportsdrome in Walford Road or have any pictures of it?
I used to work there in the 1970s when it was Zetter's Bingo.

It still had the special wooden roller rink flooing and they used to sell the tickets from the old skate hire rooms.

Any info, pics or recollections awaited with interest!

Cheers!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Speedy

I don't believe there has been a photo of the Embassy as a bingo hall posted as yet.

Phil

Sparkbrook Embassy Rink.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hi all
Way back in the late 40s or early 50s i saw louis armstrong at the embassey.
My problem is to convince anyone that on the bill was a one legged tap dancer
by the name of peg leg pete .please some one back me up.

Ken
 
 
I remember going to Bingo there once in the 70s. As i recall they Had a Bird in the foyer That used to Talk. We went to see Emile Ford who was appearing in the Interval.
 
I have never been to the Bingo hall but went roller skating their in the 50s, also to the Masque Ballroom other side of road with my late Wife dancing. Eric
 
Hi
thanks for info on peg leg .imust have got the
last name wrong but i did see them there for sure.
At least they wont be calling the men in the
white coats to me.
 
I think this is the place I used to go to see Wrestling, in the 60s
 
Hi thats correct.also profeshional boxing in the 50s.
I saw the great randolph turpin and jack gardener
both fight there.
 
Caggy ken
One of the references did say he was also known as Pegleg Pete, though from the rest of the info it would seem that Bates was more common
 
I used to go roller skating at the Embassy in the late 30`s early 40`s. In 1954 I proposed to my girl friend in the Masque Ballroom and I have still got the pleasure of living with her and loving her after 57 years. Geff
 
Louis Armstrong & his All Stars performed there in early 50@s I know, I met him. Roller rink opened again after WW2, circa 1946/7. I remember that on the opening night the queue went from the front entrance to almost Conway Rad - around 200-3000 people. During WW2 the rink was a munitions factory. Imagine that - on a main Brum Road, and net to a school- No health & safety in those days. Also remember Randolph Turpin and his brothers from Leamington fighting on the boxing bill.
 
fair play to that man i cant dance on two. i went skating there.and that song telsar still reminds me of the place when i ear it. lol
 
mw0njm. said:
fair play to that man i cant dance on two. i went skating there.and that song telsar still reminds me of the place when i ear it. lol
Click to expand...
Vivienne14 said:
Billy Two Rivers wrestling at the Sportsdrome


Viv
Click to expand...

One of my childhood memories of The Embassy Sportsdrome centred around Alf Kent who lived near us in Muntz Street in Small Heath and was an ex professional wrestler. He was a referee on T.V. in the 1960’s and also trained actor Pat Roach to become a wrestler. Alf got my brother and me some tickets to see a star turn, ‘Billy Two Rivers’ at the Embassy Sportsdrome.

Billy was a Native American Mohawk who wore a full-length feathered head-dress for his entrance. You can see the actual bout here (above #9 ) of Billy Two Rivers wrestling at the Embassy Sportsdrome Walford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham in 1963

At one stage, one of the wrestlers was thrown out of the ring, and ‘coincidently’ landed on Alf’s lap. He always denied our accusations that the fights were rehearsed, which of course they were! Afterwards, we were introduced to Billy, who incidentally, is the father of designer Wayne Hemmingway. He later returned to America and became an actor, film advisor and leader of the Mohawk nation on the Kahnawake reservation. He died in February this year (2023), aged 87
 
I remember the wrestling and boxing events being held there it was a walk up Oldknow Road cut through to the canal to the BSA , down the hill (Golden Hillock Rd) and left on to Waldorf Rd , I am sure it was used for roller skating ?? Or is my memory !!.
 
Covroad said:
I remember the wrestling and boxing events being held there it was a walk up Oldknow Road cut through to the canal to the BSA , down the hill (Golden Hillock Rd) and left on to Waldorf Rd , I am sure it was used for roller skating ?? Or is my memory !!.
Click to expand...
Nope, your memory is A-OK! It was indeed a roller rink...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top