Tony's Empress Ballroom 87Ish?

[Mal C]

You have all probably seen this a hundred times, what the hell, lets watch it again.... the bit at the end after 'Stand by Me' really is the business, shot outside the club, milkman in the background, cut to Bud Harper and the dance floor, bloody Brilliant...!!!

[media=]

Mal.C

Edited May 29, 2012 by Mal.C.

[Geeselad]

This clip on the whistle test promted me to get into the scene, a few months later I was attending.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I was there that night and feature in the clip a couple of times - for about half a second in total

On the night, the camera man was kneeling on the floor beside me filming close-ups of my feet whilst dancing. I reckon the blur of my footwork must have been too fast for them and that's why it wasn't included

[Guest]

I was also there that night (cue a flood load of similar posts a la Sex Pistols at the 100 Club!) and apart from the filming can recall some guy having a 50 count box of 'sales discs' there...I say 'sales' but most weren't actually for sale when you asked for a price...was more of a 'look what I've got' box! I wouldn't have minded but there was a Professionals in there (ties in nicely with another thread running!).

I also spot the 'Two Marks' in the record room...take a bow Mark Oliver and Mark George...respect to you both!

[Chalky]

Well Mr Flynn, I actually wasn't at that one

Derek Greenhoff can be spotted in e record bar. Old mate Gary Zoboki dancing on it as well if I remember rightly.

[Mark Bicknell]

And that famous quote from Mrs Bicknell then Jacqui Green lol 'There's Nothing quite like soul music, it's a feeling etc. etc.' that's my girl lol

Mark Bicknell.

[sir cumference]

I was there that night and feature in the clip a couple of times - for about half a second in total

On the night, the camera man was kneeling on the floor beside me filming close-ups of my feet whilst dancing. I reckon the blur of my footwork must have been too fast for them and that's why it wasn't included

First time I saw heels at a niter!

Only jokin-could`t resist.

[Tony Smith]

I was also there, there is a close-up of my record box at one point and at another I'm chatting at the bar to Chris Brennan

[jocko]

I was there that night and feature in the clip a couple of times - for about half a second in total

On the night, the camera man was kneeling on the floor beside me filming close-ups of my feet whilst dancing. I reckon the blur of my footwork must have been too fast for them and that's why it wasn't included

Was that at the edge of the dancefloor, near the top of the stairs, if so me and some of the Preston Lads, that famous lawfirm, Mercer, Stanhope and Kellet were behind the guy kneeling and trying to pour water in his camera to put him off, really hated the filming at that time.

But look back on that now and wish there had been more like this, fairly sympathetic and a great snapshot of fantastic times and people, some no longer here. Certainly wish I had got my fizzog on a couple of them now rather than running away looking like a Tarsier!

I also remember the box Mr Flynn, that wasn't one of Mr Powney's early appearance was it, he did that a couple of times although suspect that was earlier.

[Amsterdam Russ]

Was that at the edge of the dancefloor, near the top of the stairs, if so me and some of the Preston Lads, that famous lawfirm, Mercer, Stanhope and Kellet were behind the guy kneeling and trying to pour water in his camera to put him off, really hated the filming at that time.

It was certainly by the edge of the dance floor, but I don't recall the location of the stairs relative to it. So possibly then you and your mates were responsible for putting off the camera man and depriving me of my moment of Northern Soul dance floor glory.

A quarter of a century later, all I can say is cheers - thanks a lot, mate!

[Guest]

I also remember the box Mr Flynn, that wasn't one of Mr Powney's early appearance was it, he did that a couple of times although suspect that was earlier.

Don't think it was him...oddly enough I recounted this story to GuyH and he said that it was a fairly common practise during the 70's to just 'display' rather than sell.

Jump forward to 2012 and nowadays folk post up disc pictures in wants threads saying they have it, here it is, but it's not for sale!

[Geeselad]

I was also there, there is a close-up of my record box at one point and at another I'm chatting at the bar to Chris Brennan

noin alcoholic bar I seem to remember?

[sir cumference]

noin alcoholic bar I seem to remember?

Early sessions and all-dayers was the only time alcohol was served back in the dark ages.

[Stuart Bower]

Tony's. Loved this place. I practically lived here when MYK Productions had it.. Had some great times. Lost quite a bit of sweat. Bought quite a bit of vinyl here. Made a lot of friends. Had some great laughs.

[flyboy]

Well Mr Flynn, I actually wasn't at that one

Derek Greenhoff can be spotted in e record bar. Old mate Gary Zoboki dancing on it as well if I remember rightly.

Mr Zoboki on this as well

[Little-stevie]

Was i there that night, can'r remeber now...

Many a good time at Tony's...

Good point by Jocko, most folk did not like the camera being there, me included...

Would like to see more footage from my early years on the scene now, just not much out there on film or in photo..

Go a pack of photos from Bradford Queens Hall, Warrington Parr Hall that i have never really shown on the net, will get them up one day....

[Iancsloft]

Brilliant niter DJ,d there a number of times and always enjoyed it never forget Pete Lawson dancing on the floor with that old hoover and was there one nite with Cliff Camfield and Stuart Bennett , Stu got a bit pissed off waiting to be served at the bar and the bloke behin the bar went down into the cellar the door was in front of the bar when he went down Stuart slid the bolt across the door and pressed down the lock then put a table and chair in front of the cellar door It was ages before he was finally released he was traumatised at best :D Going home early one morning with Dean Mitchell we where hungry and stopped at the local garage for a butty they only had a egg mayo left and Dean snaffled it i had a mars bar big mistake from Dean he got food poisonin

[Geeselad]

cant believe how big 'pegs' were!

[Mark Jones]

Recorded on the trusty old VHS! Then a few years later to youtube!

Did I get the year right then 87? Bit later maybe?

Wasn't there that night, attended a few but wouldn't call myself a regular thus the vagueness!

[Mark R]

Glyn Reardon and the ex Mrs Freeman in there at about 4:57........old travelling companion Andy (Andyontherock) Newman and ex Mrs Tracey on there too.

Great footage that, though I never personally went to Tony's.

I've got all this stuff on VHS somewhere but never really marked up the tapes for most of it..............not sure it will ever see the light of day, which is a shame! :-((

Cheers,

Mark R

[Geeselad]

Recorded on the trusty old VHS! Then a few years later to youtube!

Did I get the year right then 87? Bit later maybe?

Wasn't there that night, attended a few but wouldn't call myself a regular thus the vagueness!

Ptetty certain this was early 87, I'd say around spring time.

[Speedlimit]

this is september 1986 remember it well. It was the first tonys nighter run by guy h and ian t. me ( steve phillis and kitch ) at the beginning out side then 1 37 in me dancing next to the guy in red hooped t shirt 1.48 my feet spinning this was the night the mello souls was first unleashed upon use covered as the del-larks along with fred & the turbines covered as the teenturbans the devotions covered as the magictones along with a shed load of other great tunes 4 .40 in a young carl fortnum 4.50 gary zabroski from wellingborough 7.50 the wee mr darge just coming out a spin the film crew where trying most of the night to catch him in full flight on the floor they got some great footage but never used most of it mad me laugh when i first saw this you have guy d.jing with kebs voice lol great memories

steve

[Chalky]

I have a list from Butch himself of what he played upstairs at the last Stafford and the Mello Souls definately on it. It was also played at the other Stafford, the working men's club, deffo before Blackburn.

Anyway check your PMs Steve and tell me those cover ups.

[Guest miss nancy]

My lovely friend Alison Nolan is on this, its definitely '87, I went a few times but don't think I was there as I don't remember anyone filming .... saying that not sure I would have noticed!!

[billmarr]

Didnt get back into scene until around 98, ( not that it ever leaves you), thought the northern scene had died a death after Casino so thought i'd try the wife & kids thing, the wife bit didnt work out, then found out the scene was still alive & kicking and Tony's was one of the first places i went and was a regular every month, brilliant nighter where i met many good friends who i still see to this day.

[Guest Byrney]

Nipped out from the filming for Elaine's film yesterday to have a stroll down.

Not been there since Guy's Soultown nighters, Tony's is still there; the road down to it now pedestrianised, brought back a few good memories. Made better by then seeing some of the old Soultown faces back on the film set and all on good form.

Edited August 12, 2012 by Byrney

[Anais nin Carms]

Did the same , great to see the place again

Edited August 13, 2012 by Carms

[Guest Mrs M]

Still got my membership.. You had to write to Guy at 33 Etwall Street, Derby! Can always remember that address but constantly forget what's in my own bloody record collection these days! Mid life memory crisis...

[Guest Byrney]

33 Etwall Street, the starting point for many chaotic nights for us lot.

And a place where in after nighter fever where a lot of records were bought, only days later to

Think what the hell was I thinking lol

[John Elias]

noin alcoholic bar I seem to remember?

No,there was booze served up until 12?