Shoes

[Ljblanken]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

[Guest Old Soul]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

I personally had a pair of very comfortable soft leather sole brogue shoes that were well padded in. But people wore what was comfortable to them. In my bag was always my dancing shoes, change of shirt, maybe 2, towel deodorant and tooth brush because you never knew where you were going to finish up on Sunday.

[ImberBoy]

Good enough for Sylvester, good enough for me!

[Mick Howard]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

Yeah agree with Old Soul,

shoes before the mid 70's were brogues or loafers but then we got another style in about 75/76 which was extremely popular all over the Soul scene and great for dancing. Can't remember their name but they were usually black with leather strips over the main front bit crossing over each other. You could also get them in brown and a two-tone black and maroon/plum.

The bags held changes of clothes, talc, deodorant/anti-perspirant, toothbrush/toothpaste (for getting rid of that horrible gunge/breath build up from you know what) and yes records that you'd bought at the all nighter - basically to hold 'stuff' really because remember that some people had travelled hundreds of miles and wouldn't be getting home before Sunday evening - the motorway service stations East, West, South and North of Wigan were always full of Soulies having a wash, getting changed and so on...

Happy times...

Mick

[barney]

Good enough for Sylvester, good enough for me!

palestinian pitboots

[Chalky]

Yeah agree with Old Soul,

shoes before the mid 70's were brogues or loafers but then we got another style in about 75/76 which was extremely popular all over the Soul scene and great for dancing. Can't remember their name but they were usually black with leather strips over the main front bit crossing over each other. You could also get them in brown and a two-tone black and maroon/plum.

The bags held changes of clothes, talc, deodorant/anti-perspirant, toothbrush/toothpaste (for getting rid of that horrible gunge/breath build up from you know what) and yes records that you'd bought at the all nighter - basically to hold 'stuff' really because remember that some people had travelled hundreds of miles and wouldn't be getting home before Sunday evening - the motorway service stations East, West, South and North of Wigan were always full of Soulies having a wash, getting changed and so on...

Happy times...

Mick

Solatios Mick. Ikon make some very similar. https://www.huckleberrysmenswear.co.uk/ikon-shoes/ikon-solatio-burgundy.html

I've had my Brogues for about 15 years but they now make my heel and legs hurt for some reason, reckon the actual heel inside is knackered

[Mick Howard]

Solatios Mick. Ikon make some very similar. https://www.huckleber...o-burgundy.html

I've had my Brogues for about 15 years but they now make my heel and legs hurt for some reason, reckon the actual heel inside is knackered

The very ones Chalky, although you is too young to remember those surely?

Yeah I reckon if you're hurting with your brogues something has definitely worn out.

It's DM's for me now anyway - once worn a bit the grip goes and they're great for spinning...

By the way, will probably be going to Radcliffe...

Mick

[Chalky]

The very ones Chalky, although you is too young to remember those surely?

Yeah I reckon if you're hurting with your brogues something has definitely worn out.

It's DM's for me now anyway - once worn a bit the grip goes and they're great for spinning...

By the way, will probably be going to Radcliffe...

Mick

not quite too young mate. First pair I had at school with about 50 segs in each Hopefully I'll be at Radcliffe

[TOAD]

polyvelt shoes,cassette recorder and spare tapes,

[Guest Old Soul]

Yeah agree with Old Soul,

shoes before the mid 70's were brogues or loafers but then we got another style in about 75/76 which was extremely popular all over the Soul scene and great for dancing. Can't remember their name but they were usually black with leather strips over the main front bit crossing over each other. You could also get them in brown and a two-tone black and maroon/plum.

The bags held changes of clothes, talc, deodorant/anti-perspirant, toothbrush/toothpaste (for getting rid of that horrible gunge/breath build up from you know what) and yes records that you'd bought at the all nighter - basically to hold 'stuff' really because remember that some people had travelled hundreds of miles and wouldn't be getting home before Sunday evening - the motorway service stations East, West, South and North of Wigan were always full of Soulies having a wash, getting changed and so on...

Happy times...

Mick

(For getting rid of the horrible grunge/breath build up from you know what) ??? What ever could you mean he he , but yes the motorway services were always full of soulies having a wash or chilling

out before home to Mum and Dad.

[Swifty]

Solatios were the business, used to cost mwe a weeks wages from Nottingham (Birdcage I think ?)

then to selectadisc for a few sounds . (Those were the days my friends!)

Cheers

Swifty

[Billywhizz]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

same pair 36 years on,billy

[Guest Mart B]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

From the Nottinghamshire area,smoothies were cool at the time 1974/1977 ,akind of oxblood red all leather shoe with THE.. leather sole.... superb on a woodern dance floor they where obtained from a local hardware store."gym bags your words"would have inside a change of clothing also deoderant probably BRUT at the time,,, also provisions for more than one nighter enclosed..

Most soul boys at the time. brought pressings emi discs etc records,,but i know soul boys come collectors that did buy original vinyl at the time & they are sitting on a small fortune Everyone each to their own..

[Mark Bicknell]

Dancing boots and day shoes lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell,.

[KevH]

Solatios were the business, used to cost mwe a weeks wages from Nottingham (Birdcage I think ?)

then to selectadisc for a few sounds . (Those were the days my friends!)

Cheers

Swifty

Spot on Swifty.Although now have a pair of slip ons,Italian style,rubber sole.Still have no problems on the dancefloor. Talc? Naaaaa.....

[Swifty]

Spot on Swifty.Although now have a pair of slip ons,Italian style,rubber sole.Still have no problems on the dancefloor. Talc? Naaaaa.....

You must know the Tom Tom Clan then ?

Swifty

[Guest moggy]

Do you remember them shoes that looked like ping pong bats "Pods" they had a bit of spell on the scene

And I thought the bags were just for putting yer soul patches on

[Liljimmycrank]

Cant talk much about the casino cos i doubt i'd have even been a sperm in me dad's ball sack at that point, but nowa days footwear will vary a lot, much more about comfort / style than capability i suspect.

Anything comfy with a leather sole would be my tip.

Brogues will no doubt still be popular, penny loafers, bass wejiuns, tassled loafers etc.........Gotta be Oxblood for me though

Loakes are a great make, solid and durable. Expensive but worth it.

[Naughty Boy]

smoothies were cool at the time 1974/1977 ,akind of oxblood red all leather shoe with THE.. leather sole.... superb on a woodern dance floor they where obtained from a local hardware store."gym bags your words"would have inside a change of clothing also deoderant probably BRUT at the own..

Yeh we used to buy them in Yorks from wakefield army stores, four quid a pair and also available in Black, total comfort brill dance shoes,

we also bought our holdalls from there just plain canvas plenty room for sticking badges lol, with a special one left not fully stuck to hide "cough" you know what behind

[SOULCENTRAL]

Cant talk much about the casino cos i doubt i'd have even been a sperm in me dad's ball sack at that point, but nowa days footwear will vary a lot, much more about comfort / style than capability i suspect.

Anything comfy with a leather sole would be my tip.

Brogues will no doubt still be popular, penny loafers, bass wejiuns, tassled loafers etc.........Gotta be Oxblood for me though

Loakes are a great make, solid and durable. Expensive but worth it.

HEY AZZA,

JUST SHOWED YOUR MUM YOUR POST AND SHE IS NOT AMUSED!!!!

HOWEVER IT SEEMS YOUR EDUCATION OF ALL THINGS SOULFULL HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN FULL AND COMPLETE EVEN DOWN TO THE FOOTWEAR ISSUE.

ALWAYS BEEN BROUGES,LOAFERS AND PLAIN LEATHER SHOES WITH ROUNDED TOE CAP FOR ME IN THE DAYS OF THE TORCH AND ONWARDS. NITER BAG ALWAYS HAD THE OBLIGATORY SPARE T-SHIRTS,VESTS,TOWEL,TROUSERS AND PERSONAL HYGENE REQUIREMENTS. DONT KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE BADGE THING FOR KEEPING YOUR SPARE CHANGE IN!.

BY THE WAY SINCE WHEN COULD YOU AFFORD A PAIR OF LOAKES?.

ROY(AKA DAD)

[Guest Matt Male]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

In '79 - '81 I wore Bostons, some friends wore Diamonds, but a lot wore Clerks Polyveldts and Nature Treks and Pod were popular later on. Bostons were leather soled and hard wearing uppers, like brogues. I could never get on with those soft leather and spongy soled things.

In my bag was a beer towel, a towel, a change of shirt, a can of pop, peanut butter sandwiches (crunchy) and my Harrington jacket (until it was stolen during a nighter)

Edited May 9, 2010 by Matt Male

[manus]

From the Nottinghamshire area,smoothies were cool at the time 1974/1977 ,akind of oxblood red all leather shoe with THE.. leather sole.... superb on a woodern dance floor they where obtained from a local hardware store."gym bags your words"would have inside a change of clothing also deoderant probably BRUT at the time,,, also provisions for more than one nighter enclosed..

Most soul boys at the time. brought pressings emi discs etc records,,but i know soul boys come collectors that did buy original vinyl at the time & they are sitting on a small fortune Everyone each to their own..

Smoothies were popular in the Skin/Suedehead era too around 1970.

Cheers

Manus

[macca]

dark brown leather-soled loafers (with red socks) for me. around 1978 we (my group of friends) started to wear moccassins. the bag, up to 1976, was a white adidas jobbie, which I later ditched for a plain khaki millets tool bag. I carried three shirt changes, deodorant and v-neck lambswool jumper, which I'd wear for the first hour, until hyperventilation set in. I never liked polyveldts or the flat cap craze, though I did wear a beret for a very short period, till common sense got the better of me.

Edited May 9, 2010 by macca

[shuggie61]

Hi recently I've been wearing a £50 loafer- style shoe from Ikon. Had 'em a couple of years and they are very comfortable - need re-heeling but I'm a lazy sod.

When I had a bit of spare wedge I thought I'd get a pair of dancing shoes handmade so I trotted off to The Anatomical Boot Co. on Colmore Row in Birmingham.

Explained the kind of Bass Weejun type loafer I wanted and the saleslady said "That would cost you about £700". I demurred politely! That was at least 10 years ago - love to know what they are charging now!

[Citizen P]

Loafers, tasselled or plain, have always been my shoe of choice.

But have had, solatos, Royals, and smooths over the years.

Had a very brief flirtatation with Wedges, and an even briefer try with Platforms

Having said that knew a guy who could dance like a Dervish in 'em,

I could hardly walk

Tony

[Guest biggray1]

wot about these!

[Guest kid mohair]

Solatios were the business, used to cost mwe a weeks wages from Nottingham (Birdcage I think ?)

then to selectadisc for a few sounds . (Those were the days my friends!)

Cheers

Swifty

And Roxy threads, dont forget Roxy threads... i allways wore bowling shoes to dance in,and your bag was allways handy not only to bring a clean shirt in but to fill it up with the purchase of records that you had worked so hard for only to come back totally broke but happy as fook .. and never thought id be doing it for another 30 years.

Edited May 9, 2010 by kid mohair

[Guest Matt Male]

wot about these!

Spot on Style 103 were what we called Bostons (i don't even know if they were a type of shoe) and Style 102 Diamonds.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Matt Male

[Suinoz]

Solatios Mick. Ikon make some very similar. https://www.huckleber...o-burgundy.html

I've had my Brogues for about 15 years but they now make my heel and legs hurt for some reason, reckon the actual heel inside is knackered

Yep good ole' brogues were my choice. Sadly most of the manufacturers that were in the Northampton area of the U.K. have now disappeared. There are just a couple left, one of which is Sanders. Now they do a soft brogue that is truly wonderful to dance in and literally feels like gloves on the feet with a padded instep to avoid the aching feeling after a night of serious dancing. Probably the nearest thing to the sort we wore over 30 years ago. Leather sole, short heel and light as a feather. If anyone wants to get a pair ( as i did while in the U.K. last year ) you can get them from a little shop tucked away in Wansford, just off the A1 near Stamford. The shop is called ( approprately ) ' OLD TIME SHOES '. I paid 45 pounds for them and they WILL last a lifetime, i can guarantee that. Remember the name.....

SANDERS. Bloody brilliant shoes. Where from ?? Old Time Shoes, Wansford, Lincs, U.K. ATB Tony, OZ.

[funkyfeet]

Brogues with metal pins hammered in on the heel to help stop them wearing down too quickly.

[Campagnolo 1]

Ye ,like most people on here good quality brogues ,oxfords any shoe with a leather soul really. my choice was como's a plain all leather shoe very light an comfy. Soon wore out on the painted concrete floor at the wheel though but great on wood. Been wearin (for dancin), LOAKS, for the last twenty years fantastic shoes, expensive but worth it .As for (wheel) bags i never did them. You mentioned bowling shoes i remember "Vinny Bury"from Darwen once turning up at the Wheel wearing not only bowling shoes,but a patchwork overall all different colours both "borrowed" from Blackpool pleasure beach,brilliant!! quote name='ljblanken' date='08 May 2010 - 06:52 PM' timestamp='1273341125' post='1326936']

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

[Casper]

started off with brogues with leather soles... then polyvelts and nature treks ........just love the polys ....still dancin in todays version !

what was in the bag ? shirts, coat, records,towel and "other bits"

pete . KTF

[Chalky]

until I can get my brogues to a decent cobbler to get the sole/heal sorted or replaced I've just bought a pair of Classic Brogues from https://www.swshoes.co.uk/

[Ian Parker]

wot about these!

I love those vintage shoes!

I had to get Ian a pair of those

Some folk they suit, but i never really liked the poly's that much....................had a new pair from Clark's, only wore them a few times, but i felt like big foot

I like a nice pair of Mary Jane Dolly's

Debbie x

Edited May 11, 2010 by parkash

[Tomangoes]

There was also about a year (74/75 ish) where 'Cherries' were the main choice. Bought from Army stores, same shape as brogues, but just cherry red leather lace up uppers and leather soles.

Those cross over leather ones were for 'bigger boys' or at least those who were working...........

Ed

[Guest dicklincoln72]

Best dancing shoes I ever had came from the Dolphin Bowling Alley just after it opened, they gave me a brand new pair of red & blue bowling pumps for my old basketball boots and I decided it was a good swop so kept them.

[Dr Good Soul]

There was also about a year (74/75 ish) where 'Cherries' were the main choice. Bought from Army stores, same shape as brogues, but just cherry red leather lace up uppers and leather soles.

Those cross over leather ones were for 'bigger boys' or at least those who were working...........

Ed

I also bought mine from army store could'nt remember name but now you

mention it "Yes Cherries" all so got Royals from same store

Steve.

[Ljblanken]

great info! i have some cap-toe oxfords that are somewhat comfy.

would love to get some of the nice looking loafers i see on tv/movies from england - but can never seem to find here in the states!

[Maark]

wot about these!

Great pic! Takes me back to the days when Northamptonshire stunk of leather.

[Suinoz]

Cant talk much about the casino cos i doubt i'd have even been a sperm in me dad's ball sack at that point, but nowa days footwear will vary a lot, much more about comfort / style than capability i suspect.

Anything comfy with a leather sole would be my tip.

Brogues will no doubt still be popular, penny loafers, bass wejiuns, tassled loafers etc.........Gotta be Oxblood for me though

Loakes are a great make, solid and durable. Expensive but worth it.

Yep Loakes are a quality shoe, only problem is they weigh a bloody ton. Wore mine once and sold em on ebay. Got a pair of Sanders now and they are like dancing in slippers there that comfy, and light too. ATB Tony, OZ.

[purist]

I may well be wrong but to me the whole bag carrying thing started back in the (skin/suedehead) boots-wearing era of 68-70 maybe? You had to take shoes to dance in seperately 'cause it was a bugger trying to dance in Polish Monkey Boots or the DM's that went high up yer leg. We hung out at the local Rollerdrome and had holdalls for carrying our Skate Boots around in, not sure which came first in our area?

Whilst trying to live on virtually no money (like most teens/schoolkids) and still look fashionable, we found there was an ex forces outlet, not so much a shop as a hatch window in the side of a building just down the road from the Molineux stadium, we all bought ex RAF shoes for something like the equivalent of 20-40pence, and they certainly did the job, easy to shine leather upper and sole, often repaired a number of times so you had to pick through them and the price wasn't fixed so you could haggle down from the individual prices. My mate bought a pair the first time we took him and he thought he'd had a bargain for a shilling (5pence) until the sole parted company from the upper about ten steps away from the place. We also bought hugely baggy oversized navy trousers for about the same sort of money(71-72 maybe?) They may have been made from the itchiest wool known to man but they were great in the winter, The trick was to buy the ones with the biggest waist and the longest legs, often maybe five pence more, but they were'nt knackered at the bottom ( like my kids overlong jeans are today) I think it was due to these much wider than the existing fashion trousers of the time, that my short lived knickname of 'Flapper' came about (not long after everybody moved from 24 inch bottoms to 28 to baggy 36 inch plus - but when did platforms come in? The only non leather soled shoes I could ever dance in were platforms, plus I liked feeling taller :-)

It kinda took some of the fun out of it when we all started to get proper jobs and could go into tailors and have stuff made-

(btw a couple of years back I bought some beautiful Loakes online after asking Guy where he'd got his from one night up at the old NCSC Niter. Then we had a death in the family so when they came i chucked the box in the cupboard and it was months before I tried them, and of course they were too tight for me (I've got broad feet) I felt I couldnt return them as so much time had passed, so i have an unwanted pair of 'as new' loakes which cost about 100 pounds, size 10, anybody wanna make me an offer? sorry if I shouldnt have mentioned it on this thread, but it only just occured to me)

[Geeselad]

Mad someone starting this, I was offered a pair of fantastic Ivy league Brouges @ Bidds last week, been offered some weird things @ nighters before, but never shoes, and Ive been after a decent pair of US wing tips fro ages! Unluckily they didnt fit, anyone know where I can find a pair of Walkover or Bostonians (like the ones I was offered) wing tips or even smooths?

Deffo dont want english Grensons ect, just not the same as the real deal from the states!

Edited May 14, 2010 by geeselad

[Davetay]

Anybody on here remember buying ex-Romanian army shoes at Wigan off any of the East Lancs lads.

It would have been between May 74 and Jan 75.

They were great for dancing, black plain leather tops and leather soles, rounded toe front.

They came from a ex-army stores in Accrington, we were selling them I think £2 a pair, might even be £3.

We all used to take orders (shoe size), until the stock run out.

I sold about a dozen pairs, but some of the Blackburn and Clitheroe lads sold alot between them.

Dave.

[Sutty]

Solatios Mick. Ikon make some very similar. https://www.huckleberrysmenswear.co.uk/ikon-shoes/ikon-solatio-burgundy.html

I've had my Brogues for about 15 years but they now make my heel and legs hurt for some reason, reckon the actual heel inside is knackered

we always called those 'flatties', worn with white toweling socks by 'boneheads', but they were much more rounded and flatter. The black ones were plain black, but you could get brown with different colours/shades of leather where they overlap into each other on the toe. Finished off with blakeys in the heels of course. I found a pair in an old shoeshop in Lincolnshire around the early 90's, the guy had a treasure trove of 70's mens shoes in a back room including loads of ridiculous platforms, all mint in their original boxes. Just bought the one pair, think they were about £30, and went back a few months later and the whole lot had gone, someone must have just walked in and bought the whole lot in one hit,

cheers Sutty

[soulmac]

https://retrodundee.blogspot.com/2009/07/springers-and-segs.html

https://retrodundee.blogspot.com/2009/04/marryat-hall.html

soulmac.

Edited May 14, 2010 by soulmac

[Guest karen b]

Had a quick look through and seems its all Boy shoes?

Dancing shoes were and are very important but back to WIGAN/YATE styles,

I regularly wore blue Clarkes T Bar childrens sandels with diamond cut out at the

front, they went upto size 5 so there were no probs buying them, also I remember flirting with,

but not for long 'granny sandals', then as time moved on found a fab shop in

Falmouth, Cornwall, and got two pairs of the best ever T Bar flat leather shoes one red and the other

white which I still have, but don't wear.

Since about 1983 until now I have invested in umpteen pairs of loafer styles

in all colours with

leather soles and keep the favourites well heeled and re soled and treat with utmost

love and care. lol

Karen xxx

Edited May 18, 2010 by karen b

[Donkit]

https://www.swshoes.c...on/59/yes/44056

[Guest soul elite]

I love American saddle shoes, I have a few pairs now but want more colours! great for dancing in.

[Guest aintgotit]

been watching lots of videos on youtube about wigan, etc (never been, as i was in diapers and living in ohio at the time!).

two questions:

- what kind of shoes did people wear? sometimes it looks like hard sole dress shoes (wingtips, oxfords, etc) and some people look like they are wearing bowling shoes? what did people look for in a dancing shoe? that dancing looks SO INTENSE that it seems like those shoes would kill your feet.

- what were in those gym bags? records?

ok - just a couple of silly questions from an outsider!

For the best night out, you cant beat these.

[Ljblanken]

For the best night out, you cant beat these.

that's ok, i usually get my spinning down pat after a few drinks. or maybe its the room spinning... don't know which!