Wigan Casino Vs Blackpool Mecca

[Guest Brian J]

The Mecca was running for over two years before the Casino openned!

So if Wigan had not have opened it the Mecca would still have good.

Dave.

If you mean the Mecca was running 2 years before the Casino allnighters started, you're probably not far wrong.

Although the Casino had soul and disco on 6 nights during the week at one point, well before (and during) the allnighters.

[Davetay]

If you mean the Mecca was running 2 years before the Casino allnighters started, you're probably not far wrong.

Although the Casino had soul and disco on 6 nights during the week at one point, well before (and during) the allnighters.

Brian, Yes I did mean the all-nighters, I didn't really know about the normal nights there.

I did go to the Rugby Club (Thursday nights I think) before the nighters started a couple of times.

Dave.

[Guest Brian J]

Brian, Yes I did mean the all-nighters, I didn't really know about the normal nights there.

I did go to the Rugby Club (Thursday nights I think) before the nighters started a couple of times.

Dave.

Used to go to the Rugby Club on Sunday afternoon after the nighters.

The local yokels used to throw pennies onto the dancefloor when you were dancing.

[Alfie79]

many thanks for all the answers....also if we don't certificated the casino championship against mecca...

just an my point of view probably quite off topic....in italy our best event is in july at rimini (rare rimini soul weekender) 9th edition...every year i see a lot of people coming from england and from other country of europe....like all the big event in europe(Big thing valencia movin on oslosoul soul inn soul junction in gotheborg bamberg etc etc) or in england (prestatyn, cleethorpes etc etc)

and for sure also if the music has been contaminated from other genres (from funk to latin), increased imho their quality....

all seems that from wigan casino/mecca ages the scene has been increased but you can read (also on this board) and listen around not so good word on the nowdays scene....

what opinion you have in nowdays scene?

[MikeHinNewJersey]

Likewise Malc , I would love to see the ORIGINAL article .Every time I have seen this claim in print it has been a secondry UK publication . I have serious doubts about this claim - but look forward to being corrected (hopefully)

On the membership front I think I had a green one & a later blue one

A lot of Billboard magazines are archived in Google Books, but they don't have a complete set. A quick search for Wigan Casino only pulled up a reference to Dave McAleer and the Footsie

Click here

Perhaps the story is apocryphal, but where was it first published.....if not in Billboard????

[Guest]

A lot of Billboard magazines are archived in Google Books, but they don't have a complete set. A quick search for Wigan Casino only pulled up a reference to Dave McAleer and the Footsie

Click here

Perhaps the story is apocryphal, but where was it first published.....if not in Billboard????

Possibly so , as the only - and sparse ( no in depth ) - information on " the award " , was reported / documented in sections relating to news about / for the Northern Soul scene , in publications of / at the time .

Was it a hype ?

Malc Burton

[Guest martyn]

A lot of Billboard magazines are archived in Google Books, but they don't have a complete set. A quick search for Wigan Casino only pulled up a reference to Dave McAleer and the Footsie

Click here

Perhaps the story is apocryphal, but where was it first published.....if not in Billboard????

I would guess if it were to be hype (or just plain bollocks) , it would have appeared in one of the self serving publications (like Northern Noise) first . Thanks for the search Mike , I recon we've all been had for the last 30 odd years & whoever made the story up should come clean & bask in the glory of the scenes longest ever wind up

[Wiganer1]

on way back from norwich yesterday ive been listening to the oldies anniversary feb 81 at wigan ...its f**king awesome atmosphere...i doubt any venue could match it ever ...double cooking,,blowing my mind to pieces,,tears just mind blowing!!

[funkyfeet]

Lets get this right, the Mecca was in a holiday resort in the 70's we didn't fuck off to Spain, lots of off the street punters went to the highland ballroom, remember going there with a bus load on a trip to Blackpool from North Wales so no different to the day tripper that went to the Casino, Also my late partner did the same from Morecambe, Blackpool was a night out, you had to be a bit more committed to travel to a nighter.

The above is nothing to do with the music played by the way that's another story.

[Guest]

I would guess if it were to be hype (or just plain bollocks) , it would have appeared in one of the self serving publications (like Northern Noise) first . Thanks for the search Mike , I recon we've all been had for the last 30 odd years & whoever made the story up should come clean & bask in the glory of the scenes longest ever wind up

The " news " about Billboard bestowing " the award " on WC , was printed about the same time in B & S and Black Echoes .

As both had different owners / publishers , it meant that the story will have originated from a particular source , and that source was possibly connected with WC .

One person who may know if it was a hype or not , would be Paul Phillips ; Paul was the editor of BE at the time , and compiled the northern news section - " The Rambler " under the same name . Paul is - or was - involved with Manifesto , and may be prepared to divulge all .

Malc Burton

[Guest martyn]

on way back from norwich yesterday ive been listening to the oldies anniversary feb 81 at wigan ...its f**king awesome atmosphere...i doubt any venue could match it ever ...double cooking,,blowing my mind to pieces,,tears just mind blowing!!

I remember that night well , it was rammed . The trouble is I bet there were only a couple of hundred in for the Saturday nighter the next night ..............A few pyramids built that night I'd wager.

BTW , with your fascination with all things to do with The Casino have you ever seen The Billboard article ?

[Guest SteveJohnston]

The " news " about Billboard bestowing " the award " on WC , was printed about the same time in B & S and Black Echoes .

As both had different owners / publishers , it meant that the story will have originated from a particular source , and that source was possibly connected with WC .

One person who may know if it was a hype or not , would be Paul Phillips ; Paul was the editor of BE at the time , and compiled the northern news section - " The Rambler " under the same name . Paul is - or was - involved with Manifesto , and may be prepared to divulge all .

Malc Burton

Malc back in 1978/79 Billboards international Disco forum was overseen by Fred Favata, Dian Kirkland & Nancy Falk. I've sent an email to Billbords staff to see if any contact detailes are still on record at Billboards of if any of these staff still work there but no replay "yet".

Keep digging!

Steve J

[Guest martyn]

Malc back in 1978/79 Billboards international Disco forum was overseen by Fred Favata, Dian Kirkland & Nancy Falk. I've sent an email to Billbords staff to see if any contact detailes are still on record at Billboards of if any of these staff still work there but no replay "yet".

Keep digging!

Steve J

Sounds good.

If not I wonder if any of the library's in this country keep hard copies of Billboard ?

[Ian Parker]

on way back from norwich yesterday ive been listening to the oldies anniversary feb 81 at wigan ...its f**king awesome atmosphere...i doubt any venue could match it ever ...double cooking,,blowing my mind to pieces,,tears just mind blowing!!

that was the very last night i visited, what a night indeed! i'd like to hear a refo clip of the recording if possible.

[Mark B]

Lets get this right, the Mecca was in a holiday resort in the 70's we didn't fuck off to Spain, lots of off the street punters went to the highland ballroom, remember going there with a bus load on a trip to Blackpool from North Wales so no different to the day tripper that went to the Casino, Also my late partner did the same from Morecambe, Blackpool was a night out, you had to be a bit more committed to travel to a nighter.

The above is nothing to do with the music played by the way that's another story.

Yes but an awfull lot of people did both went to Blackp[ool first and then onto wigan so there was a lot of commitment, were'nt there even coaches laid on at one poit in time to take people to wigan after the highland room, i went to both and still think that Blackpool Mecca was the better of the two musically and atmospherically.

Mark

[funkyfeet]

https://athenamagazine.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/my-70s-fashion-memories-live-at-the-wigan-casino/

[funkyfeet]

Yes but an awfull lot of people did both went to Blackp[ool first and then onto wigan so there was a lot of commitment, were'nt there even coaches laid on at one poit in time to take people to wigan after the highland room, i went to both and still think that Blackpool Mecca was the better of the two musically and atmospherically.

Mark

Mark, did Mecca and then followed onto Casino myself, both were just brill but hey we were kids then, it was a night out and I just wanted to dance so both venues suited me down to the ground at the time, and yes I did dance to all those pop tunes not ashamed it was a start of a journey.

[Guest]

Malc back in 1978/79 Billboards international Disco forum was overseen by Fred Favata, Dian Kirkland & Nancy Falk. I've sent an email to Billbords staff to see if any contact detailes are still on record at Billboards of if any of these staff still work there but no replay "yet".

Keep digging!

Steve J

I am Steve , and as they say ....... watch this space .

If an email I have just sent comes up with the goods , the return email could contain the information we are wanting .

Malc Burton

[Guest Frank Elson]

I am Steve , and as they say ....... watch this space .

If an email I have just sent comes up with the goods , the return email could contain the information we are wanting .

Malc Burton

Don't hold your breath Malc

[Guest]

Don't hold your breath Malc

I will not Frank , as I will need all of it for laughing out loud , when it is revealed it all was a well conceived publicity stunt ......

Malc Burton

[Guest wigan bob]

in the 1978 Billboard proclame the Casino "the best disco in the world" (before the Paradise Garage in NYC)....

but someone says that if you want to hear good music you must went at Mecca..it's true!!!

which are your opinion....especially for the people that have crowded that place...

best all niter of all time wigan casino so lets all move on

[Guest proudlove]

best all niter of all time wigan casino so lets all move on

Thanks for that..............I'll sleep better tonight.

Didn't you miss off "In my opinion"?

Torch Steve.

[Guest trentsoul]

Hi everyone ,being a new member this is my first post but i had join in the premier debate in northern soul which was better,the casino or the highland room. Two vastly different venues the former a run down dance hall ,with a scruffy interior and only serving warm coke ,playing 90 mile a hour music ,whether being soul or pop ,it had the right beat and got people on the floor dancing,but the atomsphere was fantastic and as a teenager first time i went it was awesome and as you came more and more you became addicted(i only came monthly at best plus the odd special event) to the place.The highland room on the other hand was part of the slightly more upmarket tiffanys night club where you queued in jacket and tie to get in,more solubrious surrondings and alcholic available, but the reason you was here was the music slightly different more soulful but still had the catchy beat that got you on the dance floor actually went less to the mecca usually during a holiday(where we would pull in scooeys as well) or as later the odd weekend or stag do,but again the music was great and atomsphere fantastic,i am not going to pick the best ,just to say i am proud to be able to say i went to these two great northern soul venues the memories i will have for ever

[Mark B]

Thanks for that..............I'll sleep better tonight.

Didn't you miss off "In my opinion"?

Torch Steve.

i thought that was one of the problems that most of them have'nt moved on

mark

[Guest proudlove]

i thought that was one of the problems that most of them have'nt moved on

mark

You are not wrong Mark,.................the last Nighter me and the lovely Carole did was Radcliffe..................and it was a blast.

Better than Wigan?...............different............,three rooms,fantastic atmosphere,excellent music,lovely people................

and no bollotics.

People need to move on.

Steve

[Guest martyn]

I am Steve , and as they say ....... watch this space .

If an email I have just sent comes up with the goods , the return email could contain the information we are wanting .

Malc Burton

Any reply Malc ?.....................Just wondered if RW could throw any light on the source of the claim

[funkyfeet]

I think I had five maybe even six, and most of my mates back than had more then one.

Cards lost or cards lent to other people etc.

Dave.

And this never happened to club goers in then US either

[steve]

Went once to the Mecca, couldn't stand the place tooooo much disco for me

[Davetay]

Went once to the Mecca, couldn't stand the place tooooo much disco for me

Steve, What year did you go?

Dave.

[steve]

Steve, What year did you go?

Dave.

Hi dave, think it must of been around 76 or 77?

[Davetay]

Hi dave, think it must of been around 76 or 77?

Still playing northern in 76, but by 77 mostly Jazz-Funk or New York Disco.

Also early doors and at the end of night a lot of records that became crossover classics.

[steve]

Still playing northern in 76, but by 77 mostly Jazz-Funk or New York Disco.

Also early doors and at the end of night a lot of records that became crossover classics.

They were playing things like

Flo Lacey - Torture

Scherrie payne - fly

just wasn't my cup of tea

Having said that, when i hear them now there not bad, may have mellowed a bit in older age

[Alfie79]

for sure next year there is the soccer match in premier league Blackpool vs Wigan eheheh

[Guest JerryL]

for me it will always be the Mecca that was best.

mark

Absolutely without any doubt I went every week to the mecca no exception and on the way past the wigan turning we would toss a coin to decide if we should go,

Ive had some good nights at wigan and some bloody awful one too but every week was good at the mecca.

[Guest JerryL]

best all niter of all time wigan casino so lets all move on

The Torch wiped the floor with wigan by a mile

[Wiganer1]

so Wigan it is then!!! lol

[Guest proudlove]

The Torch wiped the floor with wigan by a mile

Agreed.....................110%

Steve

[Guest proudlove]

so Wigan it isn't then!!! lol

[Guest kevnewry]

Went once to the Mecca, couldn't stand the place tooooo much disco for me

I went twice, and I was afraid to say what you've just said Wigan for me

[Guest proudlove]

I went twice, and I was afraid to say what you've just said Wigan for me

Depends when you went to the Mecca surely?

Depends when you went to Wigan...................

[Guest kevnewry]

Depends when you went to the Mecca surely?

Depends when you went to Wigan...................

Of course, 77 bit late but coul'dnt help that, was our time and thats what i preferred, but i'm sure The Mecca was what it was as much as Wigan was what it was, everythings relative i suppose

[grantdyche]

Depends when you went to the Mecca surely?

Depends when you went to Wigan...................

It will be an age old argument

Went to the Mecca a few times as mentioned before it was a bit to "New York" for me,

Started at Wigan in 75 LOVED IT,

Many people who went before or after to the Casino will have their own views on it,

The mod / ska bit etc

I didn't witness so I can't comment

Grant