Barr_Beacon
The Prodigal Brummie
Photograph dates from the 1970s / 1980s.
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Kings Night Club Hamstead
- Thread starter Barr_Beacon
- Start date
Barr_Beacon
The Prodigal Brummie
Correction, the site of The Kings Club was on the corner of Spouthouse Lane and Hamstead Road. It was demolished and an Esso garage now stands in it's place. Apparently the club was originally the pit head baths for Hamstead Colliery.
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...-nightclubs-of-the-past-memories.4001/page-63
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...-nightclubs-of-the-past-memories.4001/page-63
Chippy Chapman
Brummie babby
Anyone know when Joe Longthorne was on at Kings?
According to his wiki stuff he was born in 1955 but my wife
and I are sure that we saw him there in the early 70's which would have put him at 15 to 25. A little unlikely I fear!
According to his wiki stuff he was born in 1955 but my wife
and I are sure that we saw him there in the early 70's which would have put him at 15 to 25. A little unlikely I fear!
ade
master brummie
Coming from Great Barr we were lucky to have the kings just down the road, they attracted some great act's down there, act's who were on prime time TV at the time, proper caberet nights. Also went to the West Brom supporters Club nights aswel. It was a great venue it's just a pity like most things now all we have are the memories. The only other club I could remember that done the caberet nights like this was the Night Out on the Bristol road
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
The wife and myself plus a few friends also used to frequent Kings in the mid 70's but only when there was somebody special appearing because it was a bit of a trek from Solihull and also usually entailed one of the party not drinking for the evening or paying for a very expensive taxi which weren't very reliable around the time the show finished probably because there were less taxis back then and at the time of night they could make more money in the town. I have had these photos for some time now and I have no recollection where they came from, they may even be the ones missing from this thread.
He was there 1983 or 1984
Dynorodders
New Member
I remember seeing Bucks Fizz there must be early 80's I think and with the family.Remember the frontage as per the pic above.Scampi in a basket.Happy days.
Villan1971DartmouthHigh
New Member
Can anybody remember when Kings Cabaret Theatre/Club operated years from/to? Kings was on Hampstead Road, Great Barr.
I was born 1971 and left Great Barr 1994 (age 23). I remember going regularly with my parents to see many many cabaret acts..... Rocking Berries, Canon & Ball, Joe Longthorne, Little & Large, The Drifters and more......
I'm sure I used to go as teenager, probably 12/13 to 16/17 does that sound about right? (that would be around 1983-1988) When i turned 18+ (1989) I started working in the Birmingham nightclubs like Millionaires, and The Dome sadly both gone now. The good old days.
I was born 1971 and left Great Barr 1994 (age 23). I remember going regularly with my parents to see many many cabaret acts..... Rocking Berries, Canon & Ball, Joe Longthorne, Little & Large, The Drifters and more......
I'm sure I used to go as teenager, probably 12/13 to 16/17 does that sound about right? (that would be around 1983-1988) When i turned 18+ (1989) I started working in the Birmingham nightclubs like Millionaires, and The Dome sadly both gone now. The good old days.
Villan1971DartmouthHigh
New Member
Fantastic venue not enough places like this anymore. I went to a place similar to this in Blackpool called Viva Blackpool to see an Elvis tribute artist called Chris Connor... it really reminded me of Kings..... good times
Great photo. Thank you x
Great photo. Thank you x
A few ads from. newspapers. They certainly did host some well-known performers.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
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An interesting snippet from the "Nightclubs of the Past thread". Viv.
A query a while ago by Chippy Chapman. Joe Longthorne seems to have been a frequent performer at Kings. And was very popular, still appearing there in the 1990s. Can't find anything listed in the 1970s. Viv
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our dad rated joe longthorne and saw him a few times..dad always said that as an impressionist joe sounded more like tom jones than tom jones did 
and as an avid tom jones fan i found it hard to tell who was who...joe longthorne died in 2019 aged 64..a very talented man
lyn
and as an avid tom jones fan i found it hard to tell who was who...joe longthorne died in 2019 aged 64..a very talented manlyn
Think it was the Golden Throstle Club before Kings (Throstle clubs being local West Brom Albion supporters clubs). The Golden Throstle, Great Barr started up in 1969 - don't know if it was on this site in 1969, but it certainly was by December 1970 according to the newspaper report below.
The Throstle Club was on former National Coal Board land where the mine canteen and baths once stood. The NCB sold off part of the land (c1965) after the mine closure and West Bromwich Albion in subsequent years developed the Golden Throstle Club on the site.
The Golden Throstles Club probably closed in the 1980s (?). Significant advertising for the Kings Cabaret Theatre Club seems to start appearing in newspapers in the 1980s.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
The Throstle Club was on former National Coal Board land where the mine canteen and baths once stood. The NCB sold off part of the land (c1965) after the mine closure and West Bromwich Albion in subsequent years developed the Golden Throstle Club on the site.
The Golden Throstles Club probably closed in the 1980s (?). Significant advertising for the Kings Cabaret Theatre Club seems to start appearing in newspapers in the 1980s.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
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Kings closed in 1982 for nine months due to the death of its new owner, property developer, William Powell. His wife April Powell carried through their plans to refurbish and reopen the club in 1983. Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Source: British Newspaper Archive
That's great Janice ! How interesting that the advertising and line-up for the show doesn't look quite as tantilising as the later shows. Nice to be able to pinpoint a date. Viv
Viv.
Viv.
pjmburns
master brummie
Wonder if the line up changed after the revamp in 1983 - as in post # 22?
Good point, think so Janice.... sadly by 1995
Announcement of closure.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Announcement of closure.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
I'm wondering if April Powell gave up the lease of the club in 1984 (was being run by Prospect Inns) and it seems a new buyer was being sought. If so she didn't have it for long. They had all those impressive acts after that.
A "Save Kings Campaign" followed its closure. After it closed firemen attended 10 arsen attacks in one month.. It was an unsafe place where children were getting inside the building. All the fixtures were sold off soon after the club closed. Sounds like there was no intention to continue with it as a club/theatre. I expect the developers probably had no interest in it continuing. The land itself would have been a more valuable asset. Viv.
A "Save Kings Campaign" followed its closure. After it closed firemen attended 10 arsen attacks in one month.. It was an unsafe place where children were getting inside the building. All the fixtures were sold off soon after the club closed. Sounds like there was no intention to continue with it as a club/theatre. I expect the developers probably had no interest in it continuing. The land itself would have been a more valuable asset. Viv.
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Back to the good times.
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Maggie Moon, that’s a name for the past. I met her a couple of times when she was called Sandy Ann Lee. She had a super singing voice. She was a friend of a good pal of mine, Alison Debney. Alison had been a finalist in the Miss ATV contest. Unfortunately, she died at a quite young age of 54.
I also did see Mike Stand Douglas at Kings as well as the comedian Bernie Phillips who was hilarious.
Villan1971DartmouthHigh
New Member
Born 1955, age 6 (1961) won his 1st talent show, age 14 (1969) got part on Yorkshire TVs 'Junior Showtime' where he remained for 2yrs, age 26yrs (1981) he appeared on London Weekend TV 'Search for a Star' as singer & impressionist. I would imagine you saw him at Kings in 80s. I remember seeing him, amazing entertainer one of the best. I was born 1971 so I would definitely think it was mid 80s? Especially if he was on TV 1981? Maybe 85/86 when I would have been 14/15yrs old?
