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The Dell & The Ritz

  • Thread starter Thread starter jake
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jake

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anyone remember dancing in the dell at omberslade road cotteridge in the 50s/60s, i have a faint recollection of johnny dankworth playing there, when he was trying to start out, the girls would leave there handbags on the wall and they were never stolen, also the ritz in york road kings heath, the ritz ended up a bingo hall, but has now been demolished after arsonist got at it
jake
 
Jake,I lived in Kings Heath and as a teenager during the swinging sixties spent many evenings at The Ritz.I remember groups that performed there,including The Beatles,The Move,The Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis Group, Moody Blues,the list goes on.I also think Gene Pitney and Roy Orbison played there.
Afterwards we all used to go over to the chippy opposite,or if that was too busy cut through the gully and go to the one in Silver Street.They must of made a fortune when The Ritz was in its heydays.
The crowds there used to be in York Road when anyone really famous went blocked the road to traffic.When the Beatles came it stopped all of Kings Heath.I'm told the first time they played there as un-knowns very few people went,and the Ritz reduced the entrance price to get people in.
But despite the numbers there seemed very little trouble with fighting,drinking or drugs and all we wanted as lads was a good night out,and if really lucky a girl to take home.

Colin
 
hi colin
they blocked the ally way of years ago, not sure why think i recall someone being accosted in the ally.
jake
 
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