Pre 'northern' Disco/youthclub Memories

[Guest Brian J]

Well before the All-nighters started at the Casino, I used to frequent

such places, amongst others, as the Monaco Ballroom in Hindley (3 miles outside of Wigan).

I would have been around 14/15 at the time around 1969/70.

We used to don our box-jacket suits made at Jackson's the Tailors

for the princely sum of £10.10s and coordinate them with Ben Shermans,

and Como's or Brogues.

Brown & bitter was the drink of the day, if you could get served,

and if I remember rightly 3 used to have me on my back!

The Monaco is still holding Northern nights to this day,

but back in the early days it was still classed as a Disco.

Half way through the night a 'big band' used to take the stage

with 2 of it's members standing in the middle of the dancefloor.

Their objective was to get people up dancing....the band started up

whilst their 2 lackeys trolled around the floor.

When the music stopped the bandleader would shout;

"gentlemen to the left and ladies to the right",

or something of that ilk, whereupon, the couples nearest to the henchmen

would receive stockings, chocolates, or a voucher for the bar.

You have to remember this was in the days prior to "Northern" really

hitting Wigan, so you can imagine the dancefloors were a little sparse

compared to today!

The only 2 DJ's I can remember from these very early days would be

Malc Maguire and a well known face at the Casino (pre all-nighter) Mike Rolo

who is sadly no longer with us.

The tune I find synonymous with this early indoctrination to 'Northern', has got to be 6x6...Earl Van Dyke.

To me it always will be my favourite instrumental!

Another fond memory I do have, is for the bandleader himself,

his name was Jess Greenough (RIP) who became my sax tutor about 17 years ago!

It's a small world we live in!

Have you any pre Northern club/disco memories that paved the way?

[Guest]

I was only 13-14 when the casino was in full swing hence never getting there but I heard all about it and just begged my dad to death to be allowed to go but alas, he was adamant I was too young... so, for me, my weekly dose of northern came from our local youth night called the Town Hall disco.

Twice during the evening's disco, the DJ would dig into his soul box and pull out some tunes - the whole floor would clear and out would saunter the northern lads, oh, and me! I was the only girl in that disco that got off to this music which I found quite odd.

Anyway, a huge circle would form around the soul dancers - it was more like a show. Lots of hand stands, clapping and spinning - being a gymnast I could totally show off with my summersaults, backflips and aeiral stuff LOL. Then, when the few records finished the floor filled again to the sounds of bad manners, the jam, and other current chart stuff

I loved that disco! Apart from the scary looking skin head girls though... I was a trendy

[Iancsloft]

I remember it well Bri , we use to go on Monday nites as well remember the girl

who use to dance at the side of the band shakin a tamburene i think it was Jess,s

daughter and the spot prizes wot a laugh , i won a pair off nylons one night

how mads that !!! a skinyed winning a pair of nylons he he ! me and Ant Marzak

put them over our heads then got thrown out by the brutes on the door !

Arthur Conley Funky Street was a tune around 71 what got everyone up ,they also

played bluebeat / ska along with soul and pop , they had guest bands on regulary

remember Copper Kettle and the fights between the Leigh skins and Wigan skins

mad days indeed but great Guiness & Cider the Leigh lads drunk not yer pansy

brown & bitter !!!

Cheers Ian Cunliffe