Derek Pearson Posted May 19, 2007 Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) If I had the time....I'd set up a website showing now and then photographs of the buildings which have housed soul clubs over the years. They are part and parcel of our history, they need to be documented before it's too late. More often than not these once famous clubs have been reduced to dusty car parks and shabby warehouses selling tatty carpets. The only way to build up this photo library into something substantial and worthwhile would be to invite people to send in their own pictures from their own town and indeed any and every town in the UK. Last Friday when it was sunny I had a quick drive round 2 venues in Bradford city centre which are often discussed on here. This is how Bensons Bierkeller and the Queens Hall look today... Bensons The Queens Hall In a photographic mood, derek Edited May 19, 2007 by Derek Pearson 2
Derek Pearson Posted May 19, 2007 Author Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) Come on Rotheram (Pitches, Clifton Hall etc), Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens), Manchester (too many to mention), Chesterfield (Winding Wheel), Mansfield (Swan Hotel), Blackburn (Tony's Empress), Burnley, Preston blah blah blah need I go on? derek Come on London And of course there's that little club in Wigan which must qualify for the most photographed club of all time Edited May 19, 2007 by Derek Pearson 1
Guest TONY ROUNCE Posted May 19, 2007 Posted May 19, 2007 Come on Rotheram (Pitches, Clifton Hall etc), Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens), Manchester (too many to mention), Chesterfield (Winding Wheel), Mansfield (Swan Hotel), Blackburn (Tony's Empress), Burnley, Preston blah blah blah need I go on? derek Come on London What a great idea, Derek. I'm going to start taking the camera out a bit more often, as I pass quite a few legendary 'homes of London Do's' on my monthly travels. Hope others will do likewise! TONE
Guest Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 (edited) Come on Rotheram (Pitches, Clifton Hall etc), Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens), Manchester (too many to mention), Chesterfield (Winding Wheel), Mansfield (Swan Hotel), Blackburn (Tony's Empress), Burnley, Preston blah blah blah need I go on? derek Come on London And of course there's that little club in Wigan which must qualify for the most photographed club of all time Hi Derek ...... Taking photographs of places which have housed past venues , has always been a thing with me , much to the chagrin of my good lady wife ...... So when I go on my travels around God's County ( South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire ) , I will now start to take photographs of the places ( and subsequently post up ) which have housed venues in this region , such as the site of Clifton Hall , for this very creditable project ..... I will post later today the photographs I took several years ago , of the exterior and more notably , the interior , of Wakefield Unity Hall . As you have stated , photographs of past venues need to be catalogued for posterity ; let us all get together on this one ...... Malc Burton Edited May 20, 2007 by Malc Burton
Pauldonnelly Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 The Torch Facade, you can just make out the canopy. I guess the site is now a row of 2 up 2 downs. sorry its a photo of a photo...I have some more somewhere..
Guest Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 (edited) The Torch Facade, you can just make out the canopy. I guess the site is now a row of 2 up 2 downs. sorry its a photo of a photo...I have some more somewhere.. All our yesterdays ..... The photographs below were taken earlier today , of legendary Barnsley venues , when I was on my way to visit to visit my Mum ..... First photograph is what was once The Portcullis , and the second one is what was once The Traction ( Tracky ) Club ..... The Portcullis is still in use as a pub / live music venue , but the offices that were once the Tracky club are shortly to be demolished ...... Whilst I was taking the photograph of The Portcullis ( it still is that venue to me , never mind it having a new name ) , a local asked me what I was taking the photograph for ..... I explained , to which the chap replied " it was a shithole then , and it's still a shithole now " ...... South Yorkshire people , salt of the earth ...... ( I was going to return home via Monk Bretton in Barnsley , to take a photograph of where The Londoner used to stand , but thought better of it , as a photograph of the houses that are on the site are not very interesting - unless you live in one of them ...... ) Malc Burton Edited May 20, 2007 by Malc Burton
Derek Pearson Posted May 20, 2007 Author Posted May 20, 2007 that's the spirit Tony & Malc nice one! Never went to Wakefield Unity so would love to see some photos. Think my allnighter career was just starting as the club was finishing (Mmm story of my life perhaps hehehe). I'm sure I visited the Unity Hall one afternoon several years ago whilst passing through Wakefield. The doors were locked but I peered through the windows (as you do...) and it seemed in fine shape. I'm sure I've got loads of old club photos tucked away to flesh out this thread, but they're not digital so I'll have to dig through piles of old photos an' scan them in. onwards, derek I've got a great photo of an old Bradford Coffee Bar that's so evocative of the times that it's worth the half hour I'm gonna spend looking for it this aft. When you see it I'll expect to hear gasps of acknowledgement all round (laughs)
Maark Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 I like that Pic Paul, I hope you don't mind me fiddling with the contrast to bring the colours of the scooters out......
Guest Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 (edited) that's the spirit Tony & Malc nice one! Never went to Wakefield Unity so would love to see some photos. Think my allnighter career was just starting as the club was finishing (Mmm story of my life perhaps hehehe). I'm sure I visited the Unity Hall one afternoon several years ago whilst passing through Wakefield. The doors were locked but I peered through the windows (as you do...) and it seemed in fine shape. I'm sure I've got loads of old club photos tucked away to flesh out this thread, but they're not digital so I'll have to dig through piles of old photos an' scan them in. onwards, derek I've got a great photo of an old Bradford Coffee Bar that's so evocative of the times that it's worth the half hour I'm gonna spend looking for it this aft. When you see it I'll expect to hear gasps of acknowledgement all round (laughs) As promised earlier today , are the photographs I took of the derelict interior of Wakefield Unity Hall , the home of the all - nighters that I promoted there between 1976 and 1977 ...... The photographs were taken in June 2004 , following being granted permission by the owner to go inside ; to quote a line from " I left my heart in San Francisco " ....... " The glory that was Rome , is of another day ..... " The Unity Hall prior to my visit , had been empty for many years ( I later learnt for over 10 ) , and despite looking well on the outside , I found to be in a very bad state inside . The once grand entrance hall containg oak panelling , mirrors and chandeliers at the front of the building , had been bricked off at one point , and a kebab and pizza takeaway placed in front of it , which looked also to have been unused for many years ..... The only entrance was around the back , which now had metal staircasing which led upstairs ..... After climbing two flights , you stepped onto the recognisable / familiar landing from the entrance hall ( the one with a staircase at either side ) , which , after climbing , brought you to the door of the ballroom / concert hall .... This is where the real travesty in respect of the deriliction of the Unity lay ..... The floor was of the hall was warped and rotted in the middle , caused by years of water damage from the holes in the roof . I would estimate , from the dire state it was in , that it would have taken tens of thousands of pounds to repair ...... It was strange going back in there , as it was 28 years since I had last stepped foot in it . The last time that I had climbed those stairs , it was carrying sound equipment and record boxes ; this time , it was carrying a digital camera ..... What was more strange to me , in respect of being inside the building as a whole , was that I could sense the ghosts of the past in there ; I could feel the presence of the people on the stairs , and more so , the dancers on the floor in the hall , and the music in the air ...... The Unity was a no - frills all - nighter , that successfully combined new northern sounds and established oldies , with the emerging modern sounds of the time - all of which were accepted without predudice by those attending ...... It was killed off by the beauracratic greed of the governing body of Wakefield Council of the time . ** The photographs which show the room with the red carpet on the floor , are of the " New York Disco / Funk " room , where Colin Curtis and Paul Schofield plied their trade ..... Malc Burton Edited May 20, 2007 by Malc Burton
Guest Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 They are currently building flats where the Astoria in Leeds was. I drive past it everyday, saw them pulling it down, brought back loads of memories.
Guest Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) They are currently building flats where the Astoria in Leeds was. I drive past it everyday, saw them pulling it down, brought back loads of memories. Hi Kirsty .... I am going to compile a record of old venue / site photographs , with the view of filing them for posterity , and eventually putting them out on a CD .... Any chance of a photograph of the astoria site and e-mailing me with it ? If so , please send to me at burtonmalc@yahoo.co.uk ...... This also applies to anyone who has photographs of old venues / sites , as they will used for this important project - that of cronicalling for posterity an important part of our social history ..... Malc Burton Edited May 23, 2007 by Malc Burton
Sean Hampsey Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 I am going to compile a record of old venue / site photographs , with the view of filing them for posterity , and eventually putting them out on a CD .... Malc Burton Never mind a CD Malc... although that's a good place to start. Get the images together and I'll get them online on www.soulvenues.com Derek's idea is a good un... and if he doesn't have the time I'll get someone in my studio who has. OK Buddy BTW: Just recalled the time we drove down to the ruins of the Torch together (about 28 years ago) and the look on your face when faced with the rubble. I don't think we took any pictures at the time. Pity. There must be loads of piccies out there. Please forward them to Mr Burton and lets see if we can't get them up there at some point this side of Christmas! TVM Sean
Guest Awake 502 Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 As promised earlier today , are the photographs I took of the derelict interior of Wakefield Unity Hall , the home of the all - nighters that I promoted there between 1976 and 1977 ...... I still have one of the original "Doin' it with soul" posters somewhere, and some old flyers. Last train from Sheffield, great nighter in it's day. Was it true that Searling was banned from dj'ing there by Russ as it took people away from the Casino ? It was killed off by the beauracratic greed of the governing body of Wakefield Council of the time . I don't think making headlines on Yorkshire tv's Calendar helped much Malc Burton
Guest Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 Hi Kirsty .... I am going to compile a record of old venue / site photographs , with the view of filing them for posterity , and eventually putting them out on a CD .... Any chance of a photograph of the astoria site and e-mailing me with it ? If so , please send to me at burtonmalc@yahoo.co.uk ...... This also applies to anyone who has photographs of old venues / sites , as they will used for this important project - that of cronicalling for posterity an important part of our social history ..... Malc Burton I've got my camera out, will try & remember on the way to work tomorrow
Guest Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) In answer / reply to , Awake 502's posting ..... The manager of WC , the late Mike Walker , actually threatened me with legal action if I had Richard Searling on at the Unity .... Richard did appear , and the only " legal " action that followed , was MW banning me from WC - for the second time * ..... Apparently the Unity had been pulling punters away from WC , attracted by the more soulful and adventurous playlist of the Unity , as opposed to WC at the time ( hence employing Richard ) , it was obviously the last straw for MW , as I was already employing John Vincent , Dave Evison , Keith Minshull and Martyn Ellis on a regular basis ...... ( * The first time I was banned from WC , was for / after distributing A4 sized publicity leaflets for the Unity , by dropping them from various parts of the balcony onto the dancefloor below : I was grabbed by two bouncers , taken into MW's office , and after him shouting at me for several minutes ( which included telling me that I was banned ) , forcibly evicted me into Station Road .... ) In respect of the publicity on Yorkshire Television , this happened several months after I was banned / stopped by the governing body of Wakefield Council at the time , from running any type of promotion at the Unity Hall , in the October of 1977 ...... They had informed me that they could - and would - do a better job of promoting all - nighters than I had done or could do - which purely and simply meant that why should I be making money , when they could have it all .... This is where the statement of being " killed off by the beauracratic greed " came from .... Their foray into promoting all - nighters was short lived , as it went mammaries up when a serious and disasterous incident occured at , and cut short the first - and only - all -nighter that they staged ...... Enter Yorkshire Television ...... Malc Burton Edited May 24, 2007 by Malc Burton
Guest Stuart Raith Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 Derek you should get out more!! Get yourself down to Burnley on Friday night...I'm doing first spot at 10 so be there for early doors. Glad to see you are still keeping us entertained mate. Stu
Sanquine Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 What a lovely idea Derek, then and now photo's - although quite sad - great memories though - Bradford Queens Hall don't think i've got many photos from the old day's - got a fair few negatives but think mostly of us in venues not actually of the venue itself. Think Sue Holmes might have some (Aregon) on here Karen
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 I've got a great photo of an old Bradford Coffee Bar that's so evocative of the times that it's worth the half hour I'm gonna spend looking for it this aft. When you see it I'll expect to hear gasps of acknowledgement all round (laughs) set up a new thread to show these Coffee Bar - or to give it's correct title Coffee House - pics: https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=49037 onwards, derek
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 (edited) As promised earlier today , are the photographs I took of the derelict interior of Wakefield Unity Hall , the home of the all - nighters that I promoted there between 1976 and 1977 ...... The Unity Hall prior to my visit , had been empty for many years ( I later learnt for over 10 ) Malc Burton absolutely fascinating photos Malc! As I started allnighters in 1978 (not earlier as I'd previously thought) I missed the Unity Hall by a couple of years so I find these photos really interesting as I know alot of Bradford Soulies travelled over. Did anybody promote nights there after you Malc? Didn't realise the building had been empty for years - presume the council and/or a developer had big plans for the site which fell by the wayside? When I peaked at the Unity Hall I seem to think I just thought it was closed for the day. derek Edited May 24, 2007 by Derek Pearson
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 They are currently building flats where the Astoria in Leeds was. I drive past it everyday, saw them pulling it down, brought back loads of memories. Hi Kirsty - we used to frequent the Astoria at the all-nighters Phil Dick ran. Remember the TV clip? Also saw several Acid Jazz type groups there so it must have been around the early 90s. Don't think I've got any exterior - or indeed interior - shots, but who knows what's buried in my photo albums.... derek
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 Derek you should get out more!! Get yourself down to Burnley on Friday night...I'm doing first spot at 10 so be there for early doors. Glad to see you are still keeping us entertained mate. Stu Hey up Stu how's it going? Quite fancy Burnley on Friday as Rothwell's been sadly cancelled, will try get there for 10 if you're on. In fact last time our paths crossed was at Burnley in November I think. onwards, derek
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 What a lovely idea Derek, then and now photo's - although quite sad - great memories though - Bradford Queens Hall - but think mostly of us in venues not actually of the venue itself. Karen Hi Karen how's it going? Know what you mean about photos of people inside venues rather than exterior shots of the building itself. We all want to take pics of our daft/excited buddies hehehe. Many many people myself included took exterior shots of that club in Wigan but it never occured to me to photograph the outside of other clubs like Stafford's TOTW, Manchester Ritz, Warrington Parr Hall etc etc. Maybe because that club in Wigan was held up as such an iconic important club by everybody (and more importantly we knew it at the time) we all took pictures out of pride because we belonged to an underground family. derek
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 Hi Kirsty - we used to frequent the Astoria at the all-nighters Phil Dick ran. Remember the TV clip? Also saw several Acid Jazz type groups there so it must have been around the early 90s. Don't think I've got any exterior - or indeed interior - shots, but who knows what's buried in my photo albums.... derek I've got the tv clip at home on video, I'm on it for about oh all of 2 seconds, me & Ali both look like blokes on it with our short hair. I never knew when it was going to be on telly, was in my bedroom at the time when there was a lot of shrieking from my mother downstairs that it she had just seen me, managed to get it on video a few years later. It was the first northern niter I did, we only lived 20 mins walk away, so used to work home in the morning. I took a shot of it this morning,(will email it to Malc) they are half way through finishing the flats, would have taken some more but I was on double yellows & was annoying other drivers. I think I will probably have loads of photos inside the astoria, but they will all just be of people.
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 I am going to compile a record of old venue / site photographs , with the view of filing them for posterity , and eventually putting them out on a CD ....This also applies to anyone who has photographs of old venues / sites , as they will used for this important project - that of cronicalling for posterity an important part of our social history .....Malc Burton Nice one Malc - over time as I wade through my pile of photo albums I'll scan in any interesting ones and send them your way. To my shame I'd promised to get involved with another different photo project many months ago and up to date hadn't got going on it. So this will drive me on and it will nicely kill two birds with one stone. How about slightly stretch this project Malc a little bit wider by including flyers/posters from the various clubs to show which DJ's were on etc etc. It quite saddens me that there seem to be so few exterior pictures of other iconic important clubs like The Torch and the Blackpool Mecca. Also has anybody got any interior/exterior shots of the Leeds Central? Guess that the passage of time factor has diminished the number of personal photos in existence? They simply get thrown away or lost in house moves? derek
Derek Pearson Posted May 24, 2007 Author Posted May 24, 2007 (edited) Here's a couple more exterior shots of Bradford Bensons I found yesterday. Left: Taken June 1986 looking up the road, before it was boarded up for safety reasons; note the roof -looks like evidence of a fire which either closed the club down or occured when the club was derelict. For a laugh can anybody name the 2 cars on view? Alright yeah Mini on the right I know what's the one on the left? Right: Taken last week looking down the road (forgot to upload it in the original post doh). See how much the trees have grown in the foreground. You can see that the one storey building on the right of the club, which housed the Bierkeller, had been redeveloped by the NHS into offices and a Pharmacy at the rear. derek Wonder if I've got any exterior pics of Bury, Hyde, Burnley Bank Hall, Droylseden tucked away? Edited May 24, 2007 by Derek Pearson
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 (edited) absolutely fascinating photos Malc! As I started allnighters in 1978 (not earlier as I'd previously thought) I missed the Unity Hall by a couple of years so I find these photos really interesting as I know alot of Bradford Soulies travelled over. Did anybody promote nights there after you Malc? Didn't realise the building had been empty for years - presume the council and/or a developer had big plans for the site which fell by the wayside? When I peaked at the Unity Hall I seem to think I just thought it was closed for the day. derek Hi Derek .... Yes , Wakefield Council attempted to run all - nighters at the Unity , several months after they stopped me promoting there , and kicked me out in October of 1977 .... They only ran one , which involved a serious and disasterous incident ..... For the full info , check an earlier posting from yesterday , that I edited earlier today .... Malc Burton Edited May 24, 2007 by Malc Burton
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 Here's a couple more exterior shots of Bradford Bensons I found yesterday. Left: Taken June 1986 looking up the road, before it was boarded up for safety reasons; note the roof -looks like evidence of a fire which either closed the club down or occured when the club was derelict. For a laugh can anybody name the 2 cars on view? Alright yeah Mini on the right I know what's the one on the left? Right: Taken last week looking down the road (forgot to upload it in the original post doh). See how much the trees have grown in the foreground. You can see that the one storey building on the right of the club, which housed the Bierkeller, had been redeveloped by the NHS into offices and a Pharmacy at the rear. derek Wonder if I've got any exterior pics of Bury, Hyde, Burnley Bank Hall, Droylseden tucked away? A Rover 3500 .... Malc Burton
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 A Rover 3500 .... Malc Burton Hello Campers ..... Here is the next instalment of " All Our Yesterdays " ..... Featuring photographs taken whilst out on my travels today in Rotherham ..... First ones are of the site where the Clifton Hall used to stand ; now a pay & display car park .... Second ones are of The Windmill , still in use , but renamed The Rotherham United Suite .... Third one is of the Walkers ( ? ) Dance Studio , once home to a short lived all -nighter ( down t'road from t'Windmill ) , but now derelict .... Malc Burton
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Posted May 24, 2007 (edited) Nice one Malc - over time as I wade through my pile of photo albums I'll scan in any interesting ones and send them your way. To my shame I'd promised to get involved with another different photo project many months ago and up to date hadn't got going on it. So this will drive me on and it will nicely kill two birds with one stone. How about slightly stretch this project Malc a little bit wider by including flyers/posters from the various clubs to show which DJ's were on etc etc. It quite saddens me that there seem to be so few exterior pictures of other iconic important clubs like The Torch and the Blackpool Mecca. Also has anybody got any interior/exterior shots of the Leeds Central? Guess that the passage of time factor has diminished the number of personal photos in existence? They simply get thrown away or lost in house moves? derek Here's your Order , sir ..... Blackpool Mecca , taken after it closed , in the late 80s ..... Malc Burtonmecca.doc Edited June 25, 2007 by Malc Burton
Rugby Soul Club Posted May 26, 2007 Posted May 26, 2007 Found this one of Leicester - Nottingham Oddfellows, not mine, just one off the web. Tried to find one of Top of The World before the fire and Market Harborough but couldn't find either. Not sure if I even had brain enuf to use a camera in them days...
Guest Posted June 18, 2007 Posted June 18, 2007 (edited) Found this one of Leicester - Nottingham Oddfellows, not mine, just one off the web. Tried to find one of Top of The World before the fire and Market Harborough but couldn't find either. Not sure if I even had brain enuf to use a camera in them days... The site of The Torch , June 17th , 2007 ...... I had to go to Birmingham yesterday ( Sunday ) , via Stoke , so whilst I was in Stoke , I decided to make a detour to Tunstall , and make one last pilgramage to the site of The Torch ..... As I turned into Hose Street , the hairs on the back of my neck stood up , and the memories once again , came flooding back .... The last time I went there , it was with my good friend Sean Hampsey , and what was once was The Torch , was a pile of rubble .... Where The Torch once stood is now a car park , owned by a joinery company , housed in the buildings that once belonged to the hay merchants , who kept a horse in the stables at the back , which allegedly could not get to sleep because of the music from the all - nighters .... Whilst I was taking the photographs , a chap came out from the joinery firm and enquired as to why I was taking them ; I told him , and gave him a background on The Torch and its' popularity . He stated even though he was a local , he had only heard of The Torch when he came to work for the joinery firm , and that he was too young to have gone there ..... 35 years ago , I stood in that street for the first time on a Sunday morning , after that first all - nighter at The Torch had finished , on a high , and with all of the nights' songs ringing in my ears ; 35 years later , I stood in that same street on a Sunday morning : but this time , it would be for the last time , there had been no all -nighter , and it was only the birds' songs that rang in my ears ..... Hose Street is still a magical place ..... Malc Burton Edited June 19, 2007 by Malc Burton
Munchkin Posted June 24, 2007 Posted June 24, 2007 A Rover 3500 .... Malc Burton me thought a rover 220tc
Madmandy Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 Come on Rotheram (Pitches, Clifton Hall etc), Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens), Manchester (too many to mention), Chesterfield (Winding Wheel), Mansfield (Swan Hotel), Blackburn (Tony's Empress), Burnley, Preston blah blah blah need I go on? derek Come on London And of course there's that little club in Wigan which must qualify for the most photographed club of all time Hi Derek I have one of the outside of Notts Palais My fave venue when I was a kid. I will take one of The white Swan (mansfield) when I go into town next time ... Btw Its reet posh now it has a nice outside beer garden Mand
Madmandy Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Derek I have one of the outside of Notts Palais My fave venue when I was a kid. I will take one of The white Swan (mansfield) when I go into town next time ... Btw Its reet posh now it has a nice outside beer garden Mand PS The Palais still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck !!! I went past it yesterday and it makes me smile very widely! Soppy old tart Mand
Madmandy Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 As promised earlier today , are the photographs I took of the derelict interior of Wakefield Unity Hall , the home of the all - nighters that I promoted there between 1976 and 1977 ...... The photographs were taken in June 2004 , following being granted permission by the owner to go inside ; to quote a line from " I left my heart in San Francisco " ....... " The glory that was Rome , is of another day ..... " The Unity Hall prior to my visit , had been empty for many years ( I later learnt for over 10 ) , and despite looking well on the outside , I found to be in a very bad state inside . The once grand entrance hall containg oak panelling , mirrors and chandeliers at the front of the building , had been bricked off at one point , and a kebab and pizza takeaway placed in front of it , which looked also to have been unused for many years ..... The only entrance was around the back , which now had metal staircasing which led upstairs ..... After climbing two flights , you stepped onto the recognisable / familiar landing from the entrance hall ( the one with a staircase at either side ) , which , after climbing , brought you to the door of the ballroom / concert hall .... This is where the real travesty in respect of the deriliction of the Unity lay ..... The floor was of the hall was warped and rotted in the middle , caused by years of water damage from the holes in the roof . I would estimate , from the dire state it was in , that it would have taken tens of thousands of pounds to repair ...... It was strange going back in there , as it was 28 years since I had last stepped foot in it . The last time that I had climbed those stairs , it was carrying sound equipment and record boxes ; this time , it was carrying a digital camera ..... What was more strange to me , in respect of being inside the building as a whole , was that I could sense the ghosts of the past in there ; I could feel the presence of the people on the stairs , and more so , the dancers on the floor in the hall , and the music in the air ...... The Unity was a no - frills all - nighter , that successfully combined new northern sounds and established oldies , with the emerging modern sounds of the time - all of which were accepted without predudice by those attending ...... It was killed off by the beauracratic greed of the governing body of Wakefield Council of the time . ** The photographs which show the room with the red carpet on the floor , are of the " New York Disco / Funk " room , where Colin Curtis and Paul Schofield plied their trade ..... Malc Burton How sad!!! What looks to me to have been a superb building for dancing in
Guest martinsbox Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 A small place most of us visited at some time in Wigan.
Mark R Posted September 10, 2007 Posted September 10, 2007 Found this one of Leicester - Nottingham Oddfellows, not mine, just one off the web. Tried to find one of Top of The World before the fire and Market Harborough but couldn't find either. Not sure if I even had brain enuf to use a camera in them days... Hi Sian.............here's one taken by me on the way in one Friday night: Cheers, Mark R
Guest Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 (edited) Come on Rotheram (Pitches, Clifton Hall etc), Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens), Manchester (too many to mention), Chesterfield (Winding Wheel), Mansfield (Swan Hotel), Blackburn (Tony's Empress), Burnley, Preston blah blah blah need I go on? derek Come on London And of course there's that little club in Wigan which must qualify for the most photographed club of all time Here is the next installment of " All Our Yesterdays " ..... Top Left - The site of the legendary KING MOJO , Sheffield : Now luxury flats .... Top Right - The KGB , Sheffield .... Bottom - SAMANTHA'S , Sheffield ..... Whilst I was taking the photograph of the site of The Mojo , an old lad - even older than me - asked me what I was doing ..... I told him , and he replied he had always lived in the area , and remembered The Mojo very well , and he came out with a priceless gem ..... " Aye , it were run by them stringfellow lads ; people around here got fed up with the noise , that's why it got shut down ; and it were rumoured that them who went there smoked mariuana ..... " Yorkshire folk : salt of the earth ..... Malc Burton Edited September 12, 2007 by Malc Burton
Guest PayneyJnr Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 One of your your better received spots Malc?
SteveM Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Here is the next installment of " All Our Yesterdays " ..... Top Left - The site of the legendary KING MOJO , Sheffield : Now luxury flats .... Top Right - The KGB , Sheffield .... Bottom - SAMANTHA'S , Sheffield ..... Whilst I was taking the photograph of the site of The Mojo , an old lad - even older than me - asked me what I was doing ..... I told him , and he replied he had always lived in the area , and remembered The Mojo very well , and he came out with a priceless gem ..... " Aye , it were run by them stringfellow lads ; people around here got fed up with the noise , that's why it got shut down ; and it were rumoured that them who went there smoked mariuana ..... " Yorkshire folk : salt of the earth ..... Malc Burton Come on Malc. Thats the skating rink entrance, not Sams.
Guest Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Come on Malc. Thats the skating rink entrance, not Sams. Quiet morning , Steve ? .... I took the photograph with the intention - as with all the photographs I take - to show the buildings which housed notable / creditable past venues , as with the building which housed Samanth's ...... For my next set of snaps , in order to be correct , I will take them of the entrance doors of past venues ...... Malc Burton
SteveM Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Quiet morning , Steve ? .... I took the photograph with the intention - as with all the photographs I take - to show the buildings which housed notable / creditable past venues , as with the building which housed Samanth's ...... For my next set of snaps , in order to be correct , I will take them of the entrance doors of past venues ...... Malc Burton Malc, I can't remember the name of the place in Rotherham that Derek Sheldon (amongst others ) dj'd at. Ran for a while.
Guest Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 One of your your better received spots Malc? No .... More likely to have been the reception to one of King Plimsoll's spots ...... Back during the war when I was DJing , I was usually sandwiched between your Father's homage to Detroit , and Sean Hampsey's spots ..... It made the people appreciate them more ..... Malc Burton
Guest Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Malc, I can't remember the name of the place in Rotherham that Derek Sheldon (amongst others ) dj'd at. Ran for a while. Put it down to senior moments , Steve ...... Do you mean The Windmill ? Malc Burton
SteveM Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Put it down to senior moments , Steve ...... Do you mean The Windmill ? Malc Burton No Malc. Near the bus station ? Midweek ?
Guest Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 No Malc. Near the bus station ? Midweek ? Adam & Eve ? Malc Burton
John Benson Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 No Malc. Near the bus station ? Midweek ? I think you mean the Assembly Rooms? He ran it with Steve Croft as I recall, it was with the intension of getting the younger school aged kids into the scene - I popped in once (after being invited) for a looksee and it was packed with kids all dancing away to the regular soul tunes of the day (around 1977 / 78 ish) Of course that place has ben rebuilt as part of the Old Town Hall building so the hall no longer exists!
SteveM Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Adam & Eve ? Malc Burton Nah, don't think so. Wheres Mr H when you need him ? (Printing money as normal I imagine ) Upstairs venue. Sure you've been and even dj'd there.
SteveM Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 I think you mean the Assembly Rooms? He ran it with Steve Croft as I recall, it was with the intension of getting the younger school aged kids into the scene - I popped in once (after being invited) for a looksee and it was packed with kids all dancing away to the regular soul tunes of the day (around 1977 / 78 ish) Of course that place has ben rebuilt as part of the Old Town Hall building so the hall no longer exists! Thats the one John. See Malc, someone older than us can remember theese things so theres hope for us yet.
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