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Stagedoor Coffee Bar

Oh the lovely West End Ballroom. I used to go to the jazz club they had every Sunday night there. Such a shame they pulled it down.

I didnt go ice skating but went every Sat. morning to the roller skating rink at Walford Road.

My husband has a request for anyone who lived in Handsworth and went dancing to the Nineveh dance studios in Nineveh Road. It was only a small place.

Thanks Baron for all your answers. I bet you looked the dog's b...ocks in those jeans. I remember wearing such tight orange jeans that I had to sew myself into them!
 
Hi Wendy

I lived in Handsworth and was a regular at the Nineveh Dance Studios around 1954/55. Sometimes during the week and always on a Saturday!! Is your husband from Handsworth?

Judy
 
Wendy, did you ever go to the Midland Jazz Club run by Madge, when it moved to ASTON CROSS (GOLDEN CROSS PUB)?
 
Sorry to butt in Baron, but I also went to the Midland Jazz Club as did my sister, and I think Madge ran it. Did she die in the late 1950s?

Also went to the Golden Cross, to the modern jazz and cha cha nights.

Judy
 
Hi, My husband Martin lived in Victoria Road, Handsworth and used to go to the Neneveh when he was about 17 in 1959/60. So it was a few years after you.

I used to go to the Midland Jazz Club when it was in Digbeth but not at the other place. There used to be quite a few jazz clubs in Digbeth.
Nice to meet you.
WendyP
 
Hi Wendy

Shame about Martin going to the Nineveh a few years later than me. I was hoping we might have gone at the same time and known each other!! Never mind. Nice to meet you!

Judy
 
Hi Judy

Yes thats a shame about you and Martin not going to the Nineveh at the same time. Did you live local to it? I have a lovely photo of Martin (looking like Billy Fury) at the Nineveh standing by a red slot machine with a pull down handle. In the background are gold and black patterned curtains.
Wendy
 
Hi Wendy

Yes, I was disappointed as well. I used to live up the road from there in Soho Avenue, off Soho Hill. I was about 14 when I first started going to the Nineveh - all the boys and girls I knew went there. It was there I learned to 'bop'. There used to be a cafe just across the road in Grove Lane where we used to go as well but I don't remember the name. Maybe it was still there when Martin went to the Nineveh.

I also used to go with my friend Jean Thomas to the Adelphi Ballroom in West Bromwich on a Saturday night - I wonder if Martin remembers that! I didn't go to the Nineveh much after 1955.

Judy
 
Hi Judy
Martin doesnt remember the cafe in Grove Lane but he remembers taking his suits to be ironed to a shop in Grove Lane and the shop was Zissmans. How posh is that! I cant believe he did that. He irons his own trousers now!
He only went to the Adelphi once and stuck with the Nineveh. He went 3 times a week. He said did you have ballroom dancing lessons there cos he did! Apparently a lorry went into the Nineveh building in about 1966 and it closed down then and transferred to The New Inns for a couple of years.

He used to buy all his records at a shop on corner of Rookery Road and Albert Road.
By the way Martin and my son are big Baggies fans even tho we now live in Suffolk.
Wendy
 
Hi Wendy

Well the name Zissmans rings a bell but I don't know why! Yes, I used to have ballroom dancing lessons at the Nineveh, I think it was on a Wednesday. If I remember there were two floors. On a Saturday all the local boys and girls would be there for the dance (no lessons). I have a photo of the Nineveh that someone sent me, taken before the lorry went into the shop underneath. I will try and find it and put it on the forum.

Tell Martin I am a Villa fan, but I do remember well seeing West Brom come home with the cup in an open top bus along Soho Road, and everyone was lining the street and cheering. I think it was 1954.

Lovely county Suffolk.

Judy
 
Hello Judy
Zissmans was a well known mans outfitters and we had one in Alum Rock where I grew up.

Martin would love to see that photo of the lorry crash. He says its such a shame you are a villa fan cos you sound so nice!
Wendy
 
Thanks Judy he will love that.

Is there anyone who lived in Alum Rock and has any memories of it. Would love to hear from you.
Wendy
 
Hi Baron
Wow there it is - Laura Dixons on top of Chetwins. Thats a super photo. Thank you so much. I will tell my friends to look cos a crowd of us used to go dancing there. Thank you very much.
Wendy
 
Hi Wendy

I have found the photo of the Nineveh Dance Studios which was over the top of Broadmeads TV and Radio Shop on the corner of Soho Road and Nineveh Road. The photo was sent to me by a friend who also used to go dancing there around 1954/1955.

I thought there was another photo showing it after the van had crashed into Broadmeads probably in the early 1960's, but I haven't.

I hope it brings back some memories for Martin!

Judy
 
Hi Judy

Martin says thank you so much for the photo. He remembers it well. I have a great photo of him at the Nineveh as I mentioned before but I have no idea how to show it you. Shame.
He met up with his friend the other day who also went to the Nineveh and they were talking about the shops they went to on the Soho Road.
Once again many thanks.
Wendy
 
Wendy

Glad Martin liked the photo. To put a photo on just click on the paperclip icon at the top of the reply box, browse in your photos, and then upload.

I am sure we would all like to see Martin looking like Billy Fury!!

Judy
 
Great photo of Martin. It came out well Wendy. I don't remember the slot machine or the decor, but then in those days I was more interested in dancing and boys!!!
 
Hi Judy

Glad you liked the photo, its a shame I had to take a photo of a photo. I loved the old 60's curtain material. Martin said do you remember the couple that ran the Nineveh?
Wendy
 
Hi Wendy

George Last and Dorothy Carless ran the Nineveh. I remember Dorothy more than George. I still have my membership card!

Judy
 
Hi Judy

Thanks for that and fancy keeping your membership card. Martin said he remembered it was George but thought it was Jean. He said George had a roving eye for the girls!

Wendy
 
davidfowler said:
Anyone remember the coffee bar in an alley or passage off Albert Street in the City Centre? Me and my mates used it late at night in the early 60's. Wearing a Donkey jacket and a polo neck jumper drinking "froffy coffee" we felt as if we were the new existentialists! :cool:
The alley/passage was demolished a few years later but I can't remember when.
Click to expand...
I too was there,walking on the wildside,first pair of levis,do you remember the Cellar Club,the Mexicano,as well.
Some names,Carmen,Ian Gibson,who also went there.
 
Jezzer

Can you tell me where the Mexicano was? I have been trying to locate it for a couple of years now. I used it occasionally in the mid 60's but seem to have lost the memory of its location.

Phil.
 
Talking about losing the memory, after reading all this thread last night I was trying to remember were the West End was. I can remember the Whisky, locarno, rum runner, cedar ect but just for the life of me remember were the west end was. I know I got the no 5 bus at Witton and got off at the terminus top of Hill st, but were it was from there is a blank. Help!!!!!
 
Hi Patty

The West End was a five minute walk from The Whisky it was on Suffolk St near the junction of Paradise st.

Phil
 
Phil I think I can remember a bit know, If When I got off the bus and walked passed the town hall was it just across the road?
 
David

I think the coffee bar you are talking about in an alley near Albert Street may have been the Firebird in Carrs Lane. I used to go there a lot.

Patty

The West End was in Suffolk Street, not far from the start of Broad Street.

Judy
 
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