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Dancing in 1930s Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stitcher
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Stitcher

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The Big Band sound created by Henry Hall & Jack Hylton pervaded homes and dance halls , which by the end of the 30s were full of couples experimenting with novelty dances like The Lambeth Walk and The Palais Glide. and by 1939 the energetic Jitter-Bug craze arrived from America.
 
Hi Trev, thought you would have been too young to remember the halcyon days of live Dance Bands in
Birmingham.In 1943 my best mate , Roy and I went to ballroom dancing lessons, evening classes at Yardley Wood SB school, the teacher was a Mrs Johnson, a big lady but very light on her feet, when she
was demonstrating a new dance she used call me out for her partner. The mimute I put my hand on her
hip I could feel the bones in her corset.After we left school we used to go dancing about three times week. The West End Ballroom. beautifull floor, the Tower, and lots of schools held dances on Saturday
night. Sunday night dancing was at the RC Church social club in Trittiford Road. Bernard
 
Hello Benard, I was born in 40 and I have said before that the memories from the 20s & 30s are before my time but I am still interested. I worked as a part time doorman for a number of years during The Brum- Beat era which resulted in my not enjoying Pop and Rock music. I could never Ball-Room dance but I worked for few years at the Tower, every night I might add, and this caused me to take an interest in big bands and the dances. I have always been, and still am an avid country music fan but only the older style. I do not like the modern country sounds. I do remember the big band sounds on the radio and of course Joe Loss on the tv.
 
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My late Wife and I loved our Ballroom dancing in the 50's, particularly Saturday night at the Tower, also one in City centre whos name evades me, anoth one was the Masque Ballroom Golden Hillock Road. If I remember correctly they only served non-alcaholic (spelling?) drinks which was a good thing . Eric
 
Hi Cookie,

The Masque was on Walford Rd opposite the Embassy Rink, it later became the Harp Club in the 60's.

Phil

SparkbrookMasqueBallroomWalfordRd.jpg
 
I remmember my Dad having the piano music for Palais Glide, Boomps a Daisy, Lambeth Walk and all the favourites of the late 30's and 40's. Those pictures brought back happy memories, thank you Stitcher!
 
If anything I post causes a smile or a little interest then the pleasure is all mine.
 
Good stuff again Stitch.My dad used to go ballroom dancing in the thirties his favourite spots were "Stevoes " Newtown Row,and the Memorial Hall Whitehouse St off Aston Rd.
This is him still cutting the rug with one of his grandughters,last year at the age of 96,must be in his blood.:rolleyes:
 
Phil, of course Walford road, we used to catch the No. 8 inner circle bus to get there, which went down Golden Hillock Rd before turning into Walford Road, thats how I got it wrong. That was the venue I first met my Wife, Xmas dance 1951 while home on leave forr Christmas from RAF. Happy days Eric
 
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Oooh, I'd love to hear more about the church dances in the 1930s - my grandparents met at one (probably in Bearwood or Quinton) and as a child I always imagined that, as they were in the church, they must have been very well chaperoned events with no alcohol, and that they must have finished early. I'm surprised to hear that they were on Sunday nights and I've recently read about a church hall being granted a music license until 11:30pm on a Sunday which blew my mind a little. Does anyone know if they were mostly just for the usual church congregation or did people travel from different areas? Were you encouraged to join the church if you attended, or were the dances quite separate from the religious activities? For example, the RC church you mention, Bernard, would there have been athiests and protestants etc at the dance?
I find this all fascinating!
 
Hello Sally, I was doing some research into what went on at our church in earlier times and came across The Flannel Dance. I was very puzzled by this and my mind conjured up a lot of strange images. However, the answer was that all dances in the 1930's tended to be more formal affairs and this particular dance was held after the tennis tournament. Ladies, as usual, would dress up but the men were allowed to turn up casually in open necked shirts, wearing 'flannels' and things were a little more relaxed.
 
Lady P, I thought for a minute that the flannel was the dance, like the mashed potato or whatever! Coordinating with the tennis tournament makes me think things were all very social and happening. I got the impression from hearing Nan speak that she always enjoyed them and they were pretty special.
 
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