PhilBob
if you mean the one that was built in the bombed out entrance to the Great Western Arcade, then it was a branch of The Kardomah
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All those granny gangstas heading in for a meeting, four already at the door and two older ones moving in quickly behind them. The lady with the walking stick is the undercover cop I presume about to change places with the headscarfed lady who will go in behind the gang and lip read. Four things you don't seem to see anymore, gents in overcoats with their newspaper under their arm and gents in trilbys and overcoats, but both with their hands in their pockets, ladies in headscarves and ladies wearing hats like those in the picture. There has been a lot of discussion on old buildings and their style and for want of a better word beauty, look at the brickwork etc around the first floor, again it shows what craftsmen existed early 1900s? Is the building still there?The Kardomah Cafe in New Street, 1965.
All those granny gangstas heading in for a meeting, four already at the door and two older ones moving in quickly behind them. The lady with the walking stick is the undercover cop I presume about to change places with the headscarfed lady who will go in behind the gang and lip read. Four things you don't seem to see anymore, gents in overcoats with their newspaper under their arm and gents in trilbys and overcoats, but both with their hands in their pockets, ladies in headscarves and ladies wearing hats like those in the picture. There has been a lot of discussion on old buildings and their style and for want of a better word beauty, look at the brickwork etc around the first floor, again it shows what craftsmen existed early 1900s? Is the building still there?
Bob
The Kardomah Cafe in New Street, 1965.
Seeing them must have given Banksy the idea of mischief with a telephone box!
I was in Birmingham last month, and sitting upstairs with my husband in Pret-A-Manger I was trying to overlay my memories of that end of New Street on what's there now. It was hard. I couldn't remember where Woolworth's used to be, for instance!
I was in Birmingham last month, and sitting upstairs with my husband in Pret-A-Manger I was trying to overlay my memories of that end of New Street on what's there now. It was hard. I couldn't remember where Woolworth's used to be, for instance!
Thanks to everyone who jogged my memory! I think it had three floors? But so did the Bull Ring one, or perhaps that was the one that had three floors. Occasionally it appears in a dream, as does Lewis's.
Cliffe,
I certainly don't recollect a jazz club behind the El Sombrero - perhaps this came about after I left Brum?
Maurice
I used to go to the Sombrero a lot in the late 50s as Maurice said. The only club I remember was the Key Club which was at the rear of the Sombrero.
Judy
I used to go to the Sombrero a lot in the late 50s as Maurice said. The only club I remember was the Key Club which was at the rear of the Sombrero.
Judy
Jerry Allen Trio?I actually left Brum for London in late 1959 so my guess is that the jazz club which I remember probably closed in 1958. It most definitely was a jazz club which opened sometime after the Sombrero opened but that's all I can remember for sure. Wish I could remember the name of the trio who were the resident musicians. Led by a drummer I think. They also appeared on lunch time TV (was the show 'Lunchbox'?). Could be it's my memory playing tricks!!
Trevor
Alan,
I'll dispute that statement because I came out of the RAF on 8th May 1957. It took several months to find my feet again, because those were times of great change, and when you're away for two years, all your friends have gone their separate ways and you tend to make a few new ones. The first of the latter was two years older than me and also worked at BCT in Congreve Street. He'd been a vocalist with an Army (Signals) band at Blandford Forum and I did a few gigs with him and musicians he knew. But within a few months I'd found new friends and we were frequenting a host of coffee bars - the one at the top of Martineau Street with no name, Siesta, Sombrero, Zambesi, Stage Door, Jungle, to name the ones that we generally used.
By late 1959 I'd left BCT and was working at Lucas GKS and was heavily involved in writing arrangements for a 16 piece rehearsal band and a Four Freshmen-styled vocal group and for the whole of 1960 I was tied up with this until I moved south on 9th January 1961. So for me the coffee bar era was certainly in full swing in 1958 and the first half of 1959. I think that Judy (Jayell) can probably verify this too.
Trevor,
The drummer with the Lunchbox TV outfit was Lionel Rubin and last year he was still alive and kicking and living in Leicestershire. I was aware that Lionel was doing a few gigs aside from his work with ATV, but I can't remember who with or where.. The remainder of the Lunchbox band was Jerry Allen (organ & leader), Alan Grahame (vibes). and Ken Ingarfield (bass), and the only one I had brief contact with was Alan. Below a picture of Lionel, who was of Russian/Jewish descent and was very good drummer.
Maurice
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