|
|
Recollections |
|
1. |
Linda Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
The
Story Club
The Gamp
The Place
More Discos
Magoos
The International Club
Bungy's
The Athenians
Music |
|
2. |
Barry Fawcett
Canada |
The International Club |
|
3. |
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
1960s
McGoos
Reunion - 2008 |
|
4. |
Eric Gold
East London |
McGoos |
|
5. |
Eric Gold
East London |
Victoria Street |
|
6. |
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
Battle at McGoos |
|
7. |
Jimmy Davidson
East Lothian, Edinburgh |
The Place and
Bungies |
|
8. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Band Reunion |
|
9. |
Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
After McGoos and Bungies
The International Club
The International Club -
Fire
Where was The Gonk? |
|
10. |
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
The Gonk |
|
11. |
Barry Fawcett
Canada
with reply from
John Dickson
Silverknowes, Edinburgh |
Clubs |
|
12. |
Lyndsay
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh
with replies from
Gregor Henderson
North Berwick, E Lothian, Scotland
and
Lyndsay
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
Music
Shop
Cafes |
|
13. |
Ian Foster
Western Australia |
The
Americana
The
Gamp |
|
14. |
Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
The
Americana
The
Gamp
The Screaming Citizens |
|
15. |
Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland |
The
Abstracts |
|
16. |
Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland |
Cafe -
George IV Bridge
Cafe - Hanover Street |
|
17. |
Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
Cafe -
George IV Bridge
Cafe - Hanover Street |
|
18. |
Patrick Hutton
New Town,
Edinburgh |
The
Laigh Coffee House |
|
19. |
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
The Nash
Salvation |
|
20. |
Linda Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
Toto
McNaughton |
|
21. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Toto
McNaughton |
|
22. |
Lyndsay
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh
+ reply from
Charlie Watt
+ reply from
Peter Lehany
Edinburgh |
The
Gamp |
|
Pals
at The Gamp |
|
Pals
at The Gamp |
|
23. |
Brian Porteous
+ replies from
1. Brian Porteous
South Africa
2. Stuart
Old
Edinburgh
3. Phil Wilson
Aberdeen Scotland
4.
Joyce Anderson
Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland
5.
Lynda Maine
Colinton Mains, Edinburgh |
The
Plaza: 'Kentones' |
|
24. |
Jim Di
Mambro
South Africa |
Toto
McNaughton |
|
25. |
Linda Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
The Gamp |
|
26. |
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
McGoo's Re-union Dance, 2009 |
|
27. |
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
The Gamp |
|
28. |
Pat Reid
Edinburgh |
Phil and the Flintstones |
|
29. |
Pat Reid
Edinburgh |
Beat News and Edinburgh groups |
|
30 |
George Smith
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, Canada |
Phil and the Flintstones |
|
31 |
Keith
Main
London, England |
Flannigan's
Walkers
The White Elephant
The Laughing Duck
The International Club
Cinderella Rockerfella's
Other Discos
Music |
|
32 |
June Sutherland
Oxfordshire, England |
Top Rank |
|
33 |
John Spence
Silverknowes, Edinburgh |
Hanover Street Cafe |
|
34 |
GM Rigg
New Zealand |
The Nash
Chameleon Club
Near the Tron Kirk
Top Rank
Lothian Road
Pink Elephant
Between Playhouse and Salon |
|
35 |
Ian Taylor
South Glasgow, Scotland |
The Place |
|
36 |
Andy Wishart
Staffordshire, England |
Andy Russell Seven
- Bungies and The
Place
- Opening of The
Place
- Photo
- Toto McNaughton |
|
37 |
Doreen Powell
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland |
Plastic Meringue |
|
38 |
Andy Wishart
Staffordshire, England |
Andy Russell Seven
- The Borders
-
Ali Ben the Hoose and the Tauregs
- Advertisement |
|
39 |
Mark Wallace |
Johnny Frazier
Good Companion Pub |
|
40 |
David Sanderson
Lake Forest, California, USA |
The New International Club
|
|
41 |
Brian Waugh |
The Athenians
The Avengers
The Gamp
|
|
42 |
Tom Flanagan |
The Place
|
|
43 |
Joyce McKay (nee
Ford)
Murieston, Livingston,
West Lothian |
The Place
The Gamp
The International
Mcgoos
Smiths
|
|
44 |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
'The Roaring 20s Night' |
|
45 |
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
The Gamp |
|
46 |
Bob Penry
Ohio, USA |
The Gatekeepers |
|
47 |
Irene Cordier
(nee
Heron)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
The Place and Toto |
|
48 |
Jim Cairns
Dunfermline, Fife |
Top Rank Club
Vic's
Records |
|
49 |
Heather
Peebles
Hong Kong |
Bungies
Casino
The Tryst
Princes Street
Friends |
|
50 |
Ian Hampton
Los Angeles, California, USA |
The Sect
The Borders
Memories |
|
51 |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
The Crew Cuts |
|
52 |
Mike Crean
Dorking, Surrey, England |
The Gamp
The Embers
1965 |
|
53 |
Peter Lehany
Edinburgh |
The Gamp Regulars
2010 |
|
54 |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Reply to Recollections 53
Reunion |
|
55 |
John Carroll |
Mason
Webb |
|
56 |
Dave
Roberts |
Andy
Russell Seven |
|
57 |
Ian Ross
Portobello, Edinburgh |
Bungy's
Beat Club
Gene Vincent
The Gamp
and The Place
Bands |
|
58 |
Alan Raeburn
Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
The
Athenians |
|
59. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Alex Welsh
Minto's Bar
Palace Ballroom
Victoria Halls
and Oddfellows Halls
New Orleans |
|
60. |
Kenny Bell |
The Berkley |
|
61. |
Mike Cheyne
Edinburgh |
The Berkley |
|
62. |
Isa White
+ replies from
1.
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh
2. Ian Young
Hawick, Borders, Scotland
3.
Iain Rowberry
4.
Steven Rowberry |
The Beachcombers |
|
63. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Tam
White RIP
The Gamp
Boston Dexters
Film and
TV |
|
64. |
Jean-François
Paris, France |
The Place
Tiffany's |
|
65. |
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
The
Images of Edinburgh
|
|
66. |
Marilyn
Mauran
Kellas, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland |
The
Berkeley Club
|
|
67. |
Bill Hunter
Silverknowes, Edinburgh
|
The
Laughing Duck
|
|
67.
Reply |
Peter Stubbs
Edinburgh |
The
Laughing Duck
|
|
68. |
Marilyn
Mauran
Kellas, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland |
The
Hunters
|
|
69. |
Harry |
The Howff
Bungy's
and The Place
|
|
70. |
Betty
Fraser
(nee
Simpson)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
YWCA
Club Concert
|
|
71. |
James McEwan
Duddingston Mills, Edinburgh |
Live
Bands |
|
72. |
James McEwan
Duddingston Mills, Edinburgh |
The
Aabano |
|
73. |
Eric Gold
East London |
Club Owners: 1950s to
1970s |
|
74. |
Jim Di
Mambro
South Africa |
The International |
|
75. |
Eric Gold
East London |
The International |
|
76. |
Jim
Archibald
East London |
Top Storey and
Gamp
Opposite McGoos - Question |
|
77. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Opposite McGoos - Reply 1 |
|
78. |
John
Dickson
Silverknowes, Edinburgh |
Opposite McGoos - Reply 2 |
|
79. |
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
Opposite McGoos - Reply 3 |
|
80. |
Jim
Archibald
East London |
Opposite McGoos - Reply 4 |
|
81. |
Eric Gold
East London |
The Grafton
The International |
|
82. |
Bob
Sinclair
Queensland, Australia |
The Grafton |
|
83. |
Jim Di
Mambro
South Africa |
The International |
|
84. |
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
The International |
|
85. |
Eric Gold
East London |
Peter Williamson and Paddy
Reilly |
|
86. |
Bruce
Johnstone
Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland |
Goldenacre Scout Hall Dances |
|
87. |
Mike Crean
Dorking, Surrey, England |
The Partisans
The Embers
The Albino Club
|
|
88. |
Dave Lowe
Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland |
The Aabano
Adele Dance Studios
The Bowler & Brolly
The Greenhill
The Casablanca
The Palais |
|
89. |
James McEwan
Duddingston Mills, Edinburgh |
The
Bowler & Brolly
The International |
|
90. |
Donna Ewen |
Paddy Reilly |
|
91. |
Terry Cox
Swanston, Edinburgh |
Paddy Reilly |
|
92. |
Eric Begbie
Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland |
Acker Bilk |
|
93. |
Martin Stoggell
Texas, USA |
Membership Cards
McGoos
The Place
Hanover
Street Café |
|
94. |
John Cairns
South of France |
Top Storey |
|
95. |
John Cairns
South of France |
Weekends in 1960s |
|
96. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Band Reunion |
|
97. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Kirknewton Airmans Club
UPDATE - Dates |
|
98. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
The Gonk Club
UPDATE - Dates
UPDATE 2 - Recording Sessions |
|
99. |
John Cairns
South of France |
Groups in 1960s
Top Storey Club |
|
100. |
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
Posters |
|
Recollections
1.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you Linda (now Lyndsay) Montgomery for sending
her memories of some of the clubs around Edinburgh
Lynda wrote: |
|
Top Story Club
"I
remember there was a live music club at the top of Leith Street.
©
I used to go there
as a teenager. It was at the end of
the part with the balcony running along it, and was called the Top
Storey Club. It was always packed to
the roof. I've no idea how on earth
we found the room to dance!
The
local band at the time was the Embers, lead singer,
Jimmy Cruickshank who did some really great covers of
rhythm and blues numbers,
so popular at the time.
©
The club
closed in the sixties, with the street
being demolished."
|
|
The Gamp
"The Gamp club
on Victoria Terrace where I was an habitué as often as it was open.
A band called The Screamin' Citizens held court there on
maybe Saturday nights. Stewart
Smith was their singer."
|
|
The Place
"After The Gamp,
we'd go to The
Place, just across the street.
I think that's now Espionage in Victoria street.
Various bands played there, but the one that stands out for
me was Tam White and the Boston Dexters.
The Place and
The Gamp were probably the first clubs to
do Discotheque in town, given that there was still the Palais
in Fountainbridge with a big band."
|
|
More Discos
"There was
also a disco above the cinema on Clark Street on a Friday night, and
when The Gamp closed,
another club opened on the High Street on the left side going down
from the cross- roads
with the Bridges. I can't remember the name, it wasn't open long,
and was run by the same folk (Pops and Buddy) who had run
The Gamp."
|
|
Magoos
©
"Magoos was
farther down the High Street on the other side of the
road. It used to be an old cinema,
and was again packed to the gunnels every night it opened.
This too didn't last very long, |
|
The International Club
"The
International Club was
in Princes Street, I think above Watches
of Switzerland. It was a big place
with a few different floors with different styles of music played.
Please see 'Recollections
9' below. |
|
Bungy's
"Another club
opened in Fishmarket Close called Bungy's.
I think it had been a seedy cafe in the early sixties or
late fifties at the time of
'beatniks'." |
|
The Athenians
"Another well
known band from these heady days was, of
course, The
Athenians with the famous restauranteur,
Ally Black, owner of Shapes Restaurant in town.
|
|
Music
"In those far-off
days I don't think I ever stayed in at night, not even to wash my
hair! Music was a big thing for me
and still is, unfortunately for my wallet.
You can see I've had a mis-spent youth!
My father was in a band,
I'm told, so maybe that's why
I have the interest."
I'd love to
see some other's memories of the live music scene from this time."
|
|
Linda (now Lyndsay) Montgomery, Old Town,
Edinburgh: July 16, 2008 |
|
Recollections
2.
Barry Fawcett
Canada |
|
Thank you to Barry Fawcett who wrote:
|
|
The International Club
"I'm
writing this from Canada but I grew up in Edinburgh and went to most of
the local hangouts. The one that gets little mention is
The International Club on Princes Street.
I would be most grateful for any
info you can provide."
Barry Fawcet: July 27, 2008 |
|
If you'd like to reply to Barry Fawcett's comments above,
please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him.
Thank you.
-
Peter Stubbs: July 27, 2008 |
|
Recollections
3.
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lennie Toshack, Leith, Edinburgh, who
wrote:
|
|
1960s
"I was very interested after
reading your take on the Edinburgh clubs of the 1960s.
I used to frequent these clubs almost as a slave."
|
|
McGoos
©
"My fave
club was McGoos in the High Street which was converted from
the Palace Picture House
to a brilliant teenagers' club.
I virtually lived in the place
until it's untimely demise due to local gangsters trying to muscle in on
the club which was packed just about every night.
Mr Crolla who ran the club shut
it down rather than pay these hoods and it was sorely missed by a heck of
a lot of people not least me!
|
|
Reunion - 2008
A
Re-union Charity Dance is to be held for those
who went to
the Edinburgh clubs in
the 1960s such as:
- Americana
Discotheque
©
- Bungies
-
The Gonk
-
The Green Light
©
-
The International
Club
©
-
McGoos
©
-
The Place
©
-
Romanos
-
The
Top Storey
-
Walkers.
|
|
The Re-union Dance
will be on September 12, 2008 at the
Masonic Club at Shrubhill,
Leith Walk. All proceeds from this night are to
be given to charity.
Please click on the
thumbnail image below to enlarge it and read about how to get tickets for
this event: *
©
Reunion Charity Dance 2008 - Postponed
until 2009. See below.
Lenny Toshack, Leith, Edinburgh: July 29, 2008 |
|
Updates |
|
Reunion Charity Dance -
February 2009
The Re-union Charity Dance has now been rescheduled
for February 27, 2009. Please click on the poster below for further
details, including telephone numbers.
© |
|
Reunion Charity Dance -
June 2010
Lennie has organised another dance, this one to be
held on 25 June 2010. Please click on flyer below to read more
details.
©
|
|
Recollections
4.
Eric Gold
East London |
|
Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, who wrote:
|
|
McGoos
©
"Lennie is right,
you would get wee gangsters trying to muscle in on the club scene.
Peter Williamson in the early
1970s to the mid 1980s was the big fish in town. He had bars and
clubs in Edinburgh. He was my uncle Paddy's best mate and these wee
gangsters would be sent packing (ha ha ha ha)."
Eric Gold, East London: July 29, 2008 |
|
Recollections
5.
Eric Gold
East London |
|
Eric Gold added:
|
|
Victoria Street
"I’m still trying to think of the
club or pub with all those wee bars and where
folk music would be played. It could be
The Place.
It was on the
left-hand side as you went down Victoria Street to the
Grassmarket."
Eric Gold, East London: July 29, 2008 |
|
Eric investigated further, then wrote:
|
|
Nicky Tams
"The name of the club
in Victoria Street was Nicky Tams.
The Place was downstairs in the same building,
under the same ownership."
Eric added
"Nicky
Tams was the name given to the string used by
farm workers to tie their trousers below the knees, partly to hitch them
up out of the mud."
Eric Gold, East London: July 30, 2008
|
|
Recollections
6.
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lennie Toshack who replied to Eric
Gold's comments in 4 above.
Lennie wrote:
|
|
Battle at McGoos
"Yes that was the norm back then.
I vividly remember seeing an almighty battle in
McGoos one night.
We
were all told quietly to get off the floor by some regulars and then it
kicked off.
Many
years later, I
recognised one of the guys who was on McGoos
side. He had an incredible memory. He
told me
that the fight was to sort out a gang from Musselburgh trying to
take over the club security by intimidation."
|
|
Lenny Toshack, Leith, Edinburgh: July 29, 2008 |
|
Recollections
7.
Jimmy Davidson
East Lothian, Scotland |
|
Jimmy Davidson, East Lothian,
who attended James Clark school, St Leonard's around 1960-63, wrote: |
|
The Place and Bungies
©
©
"The posters advertising The
Place and Bungies were really interesting
and brought back a lot of happy
memories.
I used to go to both
clubs on a Saturday night / Sunday morning
along with Bobbie Wright, Cliff Davidson and
Derek Johnstone, a cousin of Cliff Davidson."
Jimmy Davidson, East Lothian, Scotland: August 1,
2008 |
|
Recollections
8.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Frank
Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh, wrote: |
|
Band Reunion
"I organised a Sunday afternoon band reunion
at Leith Dockers Club last year.
Frankie Connor came
up with Johnny (Rainbow) Laidlaw, Toto McNaughton
(Drummer) and a number of others.
We all had a great jam session, would like to
organise another one."
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
August 5, 2008 |
|
Recollections
9.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay
Montgomery wrote: |
|
After McGoos and Bungies
"I was reading Barry Fawcett's comments about
the International Club. (2 above). I can't remember when
it started exactly, I think it was after Magoos closed and after the
incident at Bungies, where someone got stabbed, and we all spent the rest
of the night waiting to be searched at the cop shop up the street .I
don't know if they ever caught the culprit."
|
|
The International Club
©
"The International
was run or owned by an Italian. I can't
remember their name. On the door,
when you got upstairs, was Eddie, and usually
someone else. Eddie was an ex-boxer
who spoke very quietly and slowly, and was an all round nice guy unless
you got on his wrong side.
There were at least
two dance floors. In the one looking out
on Princes Street there was a balcony where you
could have a soft drink and talk to your friends.
There
were live bands or a
disco, depending on the night.
The cloakroom was at the very back of the building, virtually at
the back door.
I can't remember missing many nights, but
the club might have been closed one night
a week. I just remember the great times
to be had there."
|
|
The International Club
Fire
©
"Later,
I remember there was a fire in
the club. A famous person who shall remain
nameless, was supposed to have started the fire
in order to frighten the owner, and so offer to buy the club.
I remember being in someone's house when the
person who was supposed to have done it was asked, and admitted it
was an accident.
I was away for a while after that, and can't remember what happened to
the club. I only know that whoever had it sometime in the
1980s gave it a good name - 'Fire
Island'."
|
|
Lyndsay asks:
Where was The Gonk?
"Where was the Gonk Club?
Was it the upstairs of the Cavendish in Tollcross?"
|
|
Lyndsay Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh:
August 2, 2008 |
|
Recollections
10.
Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lennie Toshack
for replying to the final paragraph of Lyndsay's
message in 9 above
Lennie wrote:
|
|
The Gonk
"The Gonk Club was in Riego Street in
Tollcross. It was,
if I remember correctly, in the middle of a
street of houses.
The area
has been completely demolished and rebuilt with the same name given to the
street. It actually
ran parallel to the
present Riego Street.
|
|
Lenny Toshack, Leith, Edinburgh: July 29, 2008 |
|
Recollections
11.
Barry Fawcett
Canada |
|
Thank you to Barry Fawcett for writing again.
Barry wrote:
|
|
Clubs
"I've compiled
this list of the clubs which,
due to a mis-spent youth,
I suppose, I frequented more regularly than I should have."
|
The Top Story
|
Leith Street. |
|
The Top Rank
-
|
The Bridges. |
|
John
Gray, Stenhouse, remembers The Top Rank to have been at
Clerk Street
above the Odeon |
|
The Cavendish
|
With the glass ball and floor that bounced. |
|
The
Cephas
|
Shandwick Place -
Sunday nights when
there was nowhere else to go.
|
|
Magoos
|
The MIle |
|
The Place
|
Top of Victoria Street |
|
The International
|
Princes Street, above the jewellers |
|
? (name
forgotten)
***
|
Bridges, opposite Chamber Street
I remember enjoying 'The Dream Police' aka 'Average White Band'
on several occasions |
Barry Fawcet: August 7, 2008 |
|
***
Reply to
Recollections
11.
John Dickson
Silverknowes,
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to John Dickson for emailing me to tell me:
"Barry Fawcett's missing club name on the Bridges
was 'The Attic'."
John Dickson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh: September 6, 2010 |
|
Recollections
12.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay
Montgomery wrote: |
|
Music Shop
"I seem to remember a large music shop in St
Mary's Street in the 1960s or 1970s. I can't
remember the name of it, but I think it sold second-hand
albums, and might have been where there is a musical instrument shop now.
Does anyone remember
this shop?" |
|
Cafes
"There was also a late night cafe-resto on the
corner of the High Street and George IV
Bridge, and another basement-type
place on Hanover Street that had folk music singers.
Does anyone remember the
names of these cafes?"
|
|
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh: August 6, 2008 |
|
If you know the answers to the questions that Lyndsay asks,
please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.
Thank you. - Peter Stubbs:
August7, 2008 |
|
Recollections
12.
Reply
1
Gregor Henderson
North Berwick, East
Lothian, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Gregor Henderson who replied to Lyndsay Montgomery's
questions above.
Gregor wrote: |
|
Music Shop
"I'm sure the record shop in the St Mary's St.
was called the 'Other Record Shop'." |
|
Cafe
"The cafe on the corner of Thistle St. and
Hanover St. was called 'The Stockpot' and was where Bert Jansch was an
early performer. I guess it must have gone by 1966. |
|
Gregor Henderson: North Berwick, East
Lothian, Scotland: October 21, 2008 |
|
Recollections
12.
Reply
2
Linda
Montgomery
(now Lyndsay Montgomery)
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lyndsay Montgomery who replied to Gregor Henderson's
comments above.
Lyndsay wrote |
|
Music Shop and Cafe
"Gregor is dead right, immediately I read his
reply, the names were there, I could picture both of them. It was worth
waiting for." I wish we could all of us with the
same memories, get together and talk about them....... Those were the
days" |
|
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh: October 25, 2008 |
|
Recollections
13.
Ian Foster
Western Australia |
|
Ian Foster
wrote: |
|
The Americana
"I remember a cafe
called the Americana, I'm sure in
Hanover Street."
*
*
But see the reply in Recollections 14 below.
|
|
The Gamp
"Does anyone
remember the Gamp? It was opposite the
Place in the early 1960s"
|
|
Ian Foster, Perth, Western Australia:
Message posted in guest book:
August 8, 2008 |
|
Recollections
14.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay
Montgomery wrote: |
|
The Americana
"Hi there Ian
(who wrote Recollections 13 above).
The place in Hanover Street wasn't called the
Americana. That was the name of a disco at
the corner of Fountainbridge and Semple St."
© |
|
The Gamp
"I was a regular at
the Gamp, and when it finished at around 1.30am, I'd go across
the road to the Place, which was always open
later.
I have a recollection of a band that sometimes
played in the Gamp. The
singer wore a a toilet pull handle on a chain round his neck, I think they
were good, one of the band was called Ricky, but I don't remember what he
played or their name." |
|
The Screaming Citizens
"Do you remember any
other clubs or any of the bands that played in
them? I remember the Screaming Citizens.
They played on either Friday or Saturday nights.
-
Stewart Smith, who
left to try his luck in London, was their
singer
- Scott Murray was a guitarist. Scott is
now at Murray's tool shop that used to be at Haymarket and is now at
Morrison Street.
So, any of you music fans, that's the place to
go for your tools or advice, and a blether about the old days. This is a
free ad!"
|
|
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh:
Message posted in guest book:
August 8, 2008 |
|
Recollections
15.
Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Ian McCallum for replying to Lyndsay Montgomery
(Recollections 14 above).
Ian wrote: |
|
The Abstracts
"I recall the guy in the
group with the toilet chain around his neck. The Group was called
'The Abstracts'.
They also used to play on a
Sunday in 'Wilkie House', a university building just off Chambers Street,
a popular venue."
|
|
Ian McCallum, Rosyth, Fife, Scotland:
August 10, 2008 |
|
Recollections
16.
Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Ian McCallum for replying to more
questions asked by Lyndsay Montgomery
(Recollections 12 above)
Ian wrote: |
|
Cafe
George IV Bridge
"I remember the cafe on the
corner of George IV Bridge and High Street. It was known as 'The
Bothy'."
Ian McCallum, Rosyth, Fife, Scotland:
August 14, 2008 |
|
Cafes
Hanover Street
"The basement cafe on
Hanover Street could be 'The Laigh' or 'Henderson's Salad Table'
They were both across from one another at the top of Hanover Street."
Ian McCallum, Rosyth, Fife, Scotland:
August 14, 2008 |
|
Cafes
Hanover Street
Both the cafes
that Ian mentions above were between Queen Street and Thistle Street.
Henderson's was on the west side of Hanover Street and The Laigh
was on the east side of Hanover Street..
- Henderson's was a fairly large
vegetarian restaurant. It is still in business. Henderson's
shop is above the restaurant.
- The Laigh was a coffee shop that
unfortunately closed a few years ago. I used to find it very
welcoming when I visited on cold winter Saturday mornings in the 1980s for
cheese scones and coffee, long before the time that Starbucks arrived in
Edinburgh.
There were stools, chairs and tables scattered
around an open fire at The Laigh, and small groups at the tables often chatting about
theatre and the arts.
Peter Stubbs: August 15, 2008 |
|
Recollections
17.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay
Montgomery wrote: |
|
High Street Cafe
"I think Ian (16 above) is probably right
about the cafe on the High Street."
|
|
Hanover Street Cafe
"I
seem to remember the cafe on Hanover
Street was, maybe,
where there's now an Italian resto, just
above Thistle Street.
It was open late.
I remember being there one evening after coming out of the Gamp
Club, and that would have been after 1 - 1.30am,
with Derek Cossar and Peter Cassidy already mentioned from Portobello.
I'm sure there was a folk type singer playing
as well. So that puts Henderson's out.
I don't think it was on the other side of the street, but I could
be wrong. It wasn't yesterday,
after all !!" |
|
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh:
Message posted in guest book:
August 16, 2008 |
|
Recollections
18.
Patrick Hutton
New Town, Edinburgh |
|
Patrick
Hutton wrote: |
|
The Laigh
Hanover Street
"I believe that the Laigh was owned by the
(late) actor Moultrie Kelsall, who co-authored a book with Stuart Harris
(of 'Place Names of
Edinburgh' fame) called 'A Future for the Past'.
I've a copy of the book at home.
It's an odd
coincidence, because you mentioned Stuart Harris'
'Place Names' book elsewhere on edinphoto the same day!" |
|
Patrick Hutton, new town, Edinburgh:
August 16, 2008 |
|
Recollections
19.
John Gray
Stenhouse, Edinburgh |
|
John Gray
wrote: |
|
The Nash
"I remember
The Top Rank above The
Odeon in Clerk Street and the Aquarius in Grindlay Street, but the best
was The Nash on Princes Street
I can still remember being
on my Lambretta scooter with lots of mirrors on the front, mostly stolen
from cars, and my parka with the fishtail back and fur around the hood"
|
|
Salvation
"The band,
'Salvation' with Midge Ure used to play there a lot. My fave tunes
they played were the 'Badfinger' songs:
- 'No Matter What'
and
- 'If you want it,
Come and get it'.
Great memories!" |
|
John Gray, Stenhouse, Edinburgh:
August 31, 2008 |
|
Recollections
20.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lyndsay Montgomery for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto
guest book on October 7, 2008, telling people about the death of the
drummer, Toto McNaughton.
Lynda also contacted the Evening News in
Edinburgh and suggested that the paper should include an article on him in
its 'Real Lives' section. The Evening News published the
article on October 7.
Here are some details from the article |
|
Toto McNaughton
Thomas (Toto)
McNaughton died on October 1, 2008, aged 72.
- He was born in
Leith and attended Bonnington Roan primary school and David Kilpatrick
secondary school.
- He got his break as
a drummer, playing with 'The Crusaders'. They were the
resident group at the Palais.
- He moved on to join Boston
Dexters when they were formed, and played with them for two years in
London.
- He also
played in:
- Harry's Bar,
Randolph Place
- The White Cockade,
Rose Street
- Merriman's Cellar,
Hanover Street
- Preservation Hall,
Forrest Road (with Charlie McNair's band)
- He also played
football. He had a trial with Falkirk and at the age of 45 was still
playing in goal for the Fire Brigade.
[Taken from an article in Edinburgh
Evening News, October 7, 2008, p.16] |
|
Acknowledgement: Lyndsay (formerly
Linda) Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh: October 7, 2008 |
|
Recollections
21.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Frank
Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh, wrote: |
|
Toto McNaughton
"Today, I sadly attended the funeral of a
famous Leither, the well kent drummer, Thomas (Toto) McNaughton. He
was brought up in Burlington Street, then Manderson Street, Leith.
The service at Warriston Crematorium was well
and truly oversubscribed by those wishing to show their respects,
musicians and entertainers from all over the City and elsewhere, covering
ages from several decades - Tam
White, Alex (Happy) Howden, Liz McEwan, Tam Paton, Johnny (Rainbow)
Laidlaw, Shorty Rogers and many more.
Toto was a great Leith character who will be
sadly missed. I'm sure many of your readers will have known him"
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
October 8, 2008 |
|
Recollections
22.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Lyndsay Montgomery who wrote: |
|
The Gamp
"I wish that all of us with the same memories
could get together and talk about them.
Does anyone know
any of these, all of them Gampers?
- Sanders
-
George Kelly
-
Graham Gourley
-
Black Eddy,
-
Tommy
- Big Davie,
who went off to India
They all used to start from the Wee Windaes
bar on the High Street before going to the Gamp. Are
they still around?"
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh: October 25, 2008 |
|
Recollections
22.
Reply
1.
Charlie Watt |
|
Thank you to Charlie Watt who replied to
Lyndsay's questions above. |
|
Charlie wrote:
"Eddie
Wiltshire, George Kelly and David Sunderland were all pals of mine.
-
Eddie Wiltshire
and
George Kelly
are both dead, I'm sorry to say.
-
David
Sutherland is still in
India, I think.
-
Zanders
I saw
at
Eric Kent's birthday party."
Charlie
Watt: July 22, 2009 |
|
Recollections
22.
Reply
2.
Peter Lehany
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Peter Lehany who wrote: |
|
Pals at The Gamp
"I wish that all of us with the
same memories could get together and talk about them.
Does anyone knowany of the
following. They were all Gampers. They all used to
start from the Wee Windaes bar on the High Street before going to the
Gamp. How many are still around?
- Sanders:
who
did not come to Jakes 60th Birthday 2009
-
Eric Kent:
who was there.
- George Kelly:
'no news'
- Graham
Gourley: who went
to South Africa in the late-1960s
- Black Eddy:
Wiltshire -
I believe he has passed on.
- Tommy ?
- Big Davie:
who went off to India. He was Davie
Sutherland"
Peter Lehany, Edinburgh: March 23,
2010
|
Reply
Thank you to Lenny Toshack, Leith, for emailing me
to tell me that he is in contact with Eric Kent,
above.
Details of how to contact Eric will be sent to Peter
Lehany.
Peter Stubbs: March 31, 2010 |
|
|
Recollections
23.
Brian Porteous
|
|
Brian
Porteous wrote: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Question
"I'm trying to find out who played at the
Plaza Dance Hall, in the late-1960s
/ early-1970s.
Was
it 'Stella and the Kentones'
or 'Cathy and the Kentones'?
This would settle a
dispute."
Brian Porteous: October 26, 2008
Question added to the web site:
November 11, 2008 |
|
Recollections
23
Answer
1.
Jim Di Mambro
South Africa |
|
Thank you to Jim Di Mambro
who replied: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Answer 1
"It was 'Kathy and
the Kentones'."
Jim Di Mambro, South Africa:
November 13, 2008 |
|
Recollections
23
Answer
2.
Stewart Old
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to
Stewart Old
who replied: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Answer 2
"Definitely 'Cathy
and the Kentones', according to my pal Mags, who was there!"
Stuart Old, Edinburgh: November
13, 2008 |
|
Recollections
23
Answer
3.
Phil Wilson
Aberdeen,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
|
Thank you to
Phil Wilson
who replied: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Answer 3
"The leader of
the Kentones band, Ken, a
trumpeter, has a set of
photos on Picasa which includes one of
the band at The Plaza in 1964."
Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire,
Scotland: August 27,
2008 |
|
Recollections
23
Answer
4.
Joyce Anderson
Penicuik, Midlothian,
Scotland |
|
Thank you to
Joyce Anderson
who replied: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Answer 4
"Kathy and Stella both sung with the
Kentones. I know that Kathy and the Kentones
left the Plaza to perform at the Raith Ballroom in Kirkcaldy. Possibly
Stella replaced Cathy, or was it the other way
round?
Cathy was my husband's cousin. After she
got married, she and her husband emigrated to South Africa where I believe
she sang jazz. I have no idea now where she is,
though.
I remember watching her get ready for a gig at
the Plaza in the early 1960s
- back-combing to the sky and probably half a tin of
lacquer! I was awestruck."
Joyce Anderson, Penicuik, Midlothian,
Scotland: March 26, 2010 |
|
Recollections
23
Answer
5.
Lynda Maine
Colinton Mains,
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to
Lynda Maine
who replied: |
|
The Plaza - The
Kentones - Answer 5
"I remember
the band, Kate and the Kentones, at the Plaza.
There were two singers. One was
Kate. I heard
they had made a record,
and that Kate had left them
and another singer had come in, who
belted out the songs.
One of the band
members stayed quite near me. If I did not
meet anyone, he used to give me a lift
home, which at the time was very nice of him.
Another
members of the band was married to an
occupational therapist at the hospital where I worked,
but he died about 1990, very suddenly."
Lynda Maine, Colinton Maines, Edinburgh:
April 26, 2010 |
|
Recollections
24.
Jim Di Mambro
South Africa
|
|
Jim Di
Mambro wrote: |
|
Toto McNaughton
"It was nice to
read the messages sent in by Lyndsey Montgomery, and Frank Ferri about Toto
(Recollections 20 + 21 above).
I'd like to add a wee bit
aboot the legend!
American Bases
I was playing in a band (Scots & Soda) in the
American Bases in Germany in the mid-1960s.
Our drummer Alec Robertson ('Wee Eck')
) decided to go back to Edinburgh.
I phoned Pete Seaton (music shop) to find out
who was available. Toto happened to be in the shop at the time, got
on the phone, and with his normal impeccable command of the Queen's
English, said: "HOWYEDAINTHENGADGY"
Toto to Germany
He was on the train to Frankfurt a couple of
days later. Words cant explain the vibe he had with the Yanks.
They just loved him, his humour, his playing (obviously) and his wee
stories!
You'll
know he had a wee scar on his neck.
I believe it wiz a 'doin' in some Edinburgh dance hall, unless he wiz
kiddin' me on as well. But for the Yanks, it was that look on his
face and "Dinae want tae talk aboot it boys."
After a couple a bevies,
and some pressure, he would look solemnly at the guys and start the
story: "There I was in Korea," separated from
the squad, and I had to take this big hill. I never felt the piece a
shrapnel etc, etc.
Last Seen 4 Years Ago
We had a fantastic couple of years
together. I last saw Toto about 4 years
ago, when i was in Edinburgh. We met at
Mather's at the West End, for a pint or 3 before his gig at Harry's Bar.
He gave me his Zippo lighter as a wee
memento. There weren't many like him!
Jim Di Mambro, South Africa:
November 4, 2008 |
|
Recollections
25.
Lyndsay
(formerly
Linda)
Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay Montgomery left more messages in the EdinPhoto guest book on
November 5, 2008
Lyndsey wrote: |
|
The Gamp
"I have another
couple of people to add to the list of folks who went to the Gamp.
- One was a
guy called Ian. He drove a dark green
sports car and either owned or ran a dairy in
town. I think. Ian lived in Portobello.
He was not very tall, with dark hair
- The
other was a bloke called Gerry. He had a
cafe in Rose Street, just at the corner opposite the Kenilworth pub.
.
Where are they now?
Come on, somebody, get us all together
for a blether and a drink."
**
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh: November 5, 2008
|
|
**
Lyndsay:
I think the
Charity Re-union Dance advertised in the poster (26 below) may be what you
are looking for.
Peter Stubbs: November 15, 2008 |
|
Recollections
26.
Lennie Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
|
Lennie Toshack
has sent me details of the Reunion Charity Dance for those who remember
The Place, Bungies, McGoos and some of the other
clubs and discos in Edinburgh in the 1960s.
The poster
below gives details and telephone contact numbers. |
|
Reunion Charity Dance - 2009

©
Reproduced with acknowledgement to Lennie Toshack, Leith Edinburgh
|
|
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Lennie
tells me that the tickets for the dance are now available (but please see
UPDATE below.)
Peter Stubbs: January 22, 2009
|
|
UPDATE
Message
from Lennie Toshack on February 13, 2009. Lennie tells me:
"Tickets for the dance are now all
Sold
Out." |
|
Acknowledgement: Lennie Toshack: Nov
12, 2008 + Jan 22 + Feb 13, 2009 |
|
Recollections
27.
Lennie Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh |
|
Lyndsay
Montgomery listed some of the people she remembers who used to go to
the Gamp. ( Recollections 22 + 25 above).
Lennie Toshack, who sent the message about the
re-union dance above replied:
|
|
"I
only recognise one name from the list of Gampers
- Zander
He
is a very good friend of a mate of mine, Eric
Kent, who used to be the DJ
at the Place.
He,
and probably Zander, will be at the re-union
dance in February.
Lennie Toshack, Leith Edinburgh:
November 13, 2008 |
|
Recollections
28.
Pat Reid
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Pat Reid for sending me these memories from the
1960s.
Pat
wrote: |
|
Phil and the Flintstones
"I enjoyed reading
the various recollections about Edinburgh Beat Groups from the 1960s, one
of whom was 'Phil and the
Flintstones'.
I recently discovered that my daughter's next
door neighbour actually was a member of
'Phil and the
Flintstones'. He very kindly gave me
these photos of the group and some 1960s
Beat Paper articles that refer to
the group."
These are the two photos of 'Phil and the
Flintstones' mentioned above. Please click on the thumbnail images
below to enlarge them.
At Wilkie House
©
At St Mary's Street
Church Hall
©
|
|
Pat Reid Granton, Edinburgh: November 1,
2008 |
|
Recollections
29.
Pat Reid
Edinburgh |
|
The Beat paper that Pat
refers to in 28 above was the 'Lennoxbank News'.
This became 'Lennoxbank Beat News',
then 'Beat News incorporating 'Lennoxbank
News'.
The paper mentioned the following: |
|
Edinburgh Groups
|
The McKinley Sisters |
"singing
duo" Nov
1963 |
|
The Zodiax |
"making a
name for themselves throughout Scotland"
Mar 1964 |
|
Phil and the Flintstones |
"prehistoric
sound" Jan 1964 |
|
The Kommodores |
Jan 1964 |
|
The Panthers |
"one of the
youngest groups in Edinburgh"
Sep 1964 |
|
Edinburgh Crusaders |
"to tour
Germany and Palestine"
Aug 1964 |
|
Dean Hamilton Combo |
"resident
group, Kon Tiki Grillroom
Aug 1964 |
|
Athenian, Sabres,
Rapiers, Crusaders |
"all affected by a massive change
around in group personnel in Edinburgh"
Aug 1964 |
|
|
Recording Studios
|
The paper also included an advert for
Craighall Studios, "Scotland's finest recording studios" at
8 Craighall Road, Edinburgh
1964 |
|
|
Pat Reid Granton, Edinburgh: November 1,
2008 |
|
Recollections
30
George Smith
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, Canada |
|
Thank you to George Smith, British Columbia, Canada who replied:
|
|
Phil and the Flintstones
"The guitarist in the middle of the first
photograph and extreme left second photo is my younger brother Kenneth
who still lives in Edinburgh and currently plays in a group
entertaining 'oldies' who enjoy oldies."
At Wilkie House
©
At St Mary's Street
Church Hall
©
|
|
George Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, Canada: December 11, 2008 |
|
Recollections
31
Keith Main
London, England |
|
Thank you to Keith Main for writing about his
recollections of Edinburgh discos in the 1970s.
Keith wrote:
|
|
Flannigan's
"Flannagans
in Rose Street Lane
was brilliant for soul music. It was
and owned by a real wide boy.
Its motto on a poster
that I still have says it's:
''The
TRENDIEST discotheque in the TRENDIEST street'
Ostensibly, no alcohol was
served but you could buy a coffee and a sausage roll, bridie or Scotch
pie - just what you needed before hitting the
dance floor!
One of the Bay City Rollers
DJd here on a regular basis. It was the
only place in town to be seen. Luminaries such as Pete Clark who owned
several trendy Rose St denim boutiques went there.
If
the owner liked you, you'd be admitted to 'The Office'
- a speakeasy where booze was served."
|
|
Walkers
"Walkers, upstairs at Shandwick
Place even had a disco at lunchtime with go go girls on the bar"
|
|
The White Elephant
"The White Elephant
had more go go girls at what used to be the
Palladium, behind Bread
Street store, next to The Muscular Arms theme pub.
It was considered cutting edge!
It later became Valentinos."
|
|
The Laughing Duck
"The Laughing Duck (in Howe
Street?) was the only gay disco. It was owned by Diane Mckean
whose folk owned Salon Henry in Frederick Street, THE hairdresser before
Brian Drumm arrived ."
|
|
The International Club
"The International Club, upstairs
on Princes Street, also became a gay club called Fire Island later in
the 1970s."
|
|
Cinderella Rockerfella's
"Cinderella Rockefella's, also
called Tiffanys at some point, was in what was the old Grand Cinema at
the end of St Stephen's Street. It was considered a bit tacky."
|
|
Other Discos
"I also
remember:
-
Buster Brown's in Market Street
-
Clouds
at Thorneybauk
-
The Americana,
also known as the meat market for more than just its beef connections!"
|
|
Music
"You'd buy the music you heard at
these discos in:
- Bruce's Records on Rose
Street (bright red paper bag) or
- Sweet Inspiration beside
the ABC in Lothian Road"
|
|
Keith Main, London, England: December 20, 2008 |
|
Recollections
32
June Sutherland
Oxfordshire, England
|
|
J Sutherland asked: |
|
Question
Top Rank
"Does
anybody have any information, recollections or photos of The Top
Rank, which was a small dance hall we used to frequent, back in the
late-1960s? It was above a cinema."
June Sutherland, Oxfordshire, England: January 14, 2009 |
|
Answers?
If you can help
to answer the question above, please email me, then I'll pass on your
message to J Sutherland.
Thank you.
- Peter Stubbs
|
|
Update
Please see recollections 48 below.
Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: March 1,
2009 |
|
Recollections
33
John Spence
Silverknowes, Edinburgh
|
|
John Spence wrote |
|
Hanover Street Cafe
"Linda Montgomery
(17 above) mentioned a cafe in Hanover Street
with folk music. I think the name of the
cafe was the Stockpot Cafe.
That's
where myself and a crowd went most nights around
1964/65."
John Spence, Silverknowes, Edinburgh, January 5, 2009 |
|
Recollections
34
G M Rigg
New Zealand |
|
G M Rigg wrote: |
|
The Nash
"I went to 'The
Nash', where we used to dance with the
original Bay City Rollers. That was when they had the
'real' singer on their first hit record
in the band - Way Back When!" |
|
Chameleon Club
"Also,
the 'Chameleon Club'.
The DJ used to be our youth club DJ when
I went to the weekly church hall disco at Restalrig Village.
I remember,
once, I was sitting on the edge of the stage,
chatting to the DJ, when I bumped the
overloaded plugs in the side of the socket board out
and everything went black & silent - oops." |
|
Near
the Tron Kirk
"There was a club my
friends and I went to once, somewhere near the
Tron Kirk. But we never went back there -
it was full of creepy hippy types." |
|
Top Rank Club
"We also went to one
near the Odeon, or even part of it.
I think it was called the Top Rank Club.
It was pretty rough." |
|
Lothian Road
"My cousin took me
too a dive off Lothian Road, somewhere behind the cinema on the corner of
Bread Street, another 5 minute look - in
and straight out again!" |
|
Pink Elephant
"If I
remember correctly, there was a club near or
behind the Bread Street Co-op called the Pink Elephant, it was okay,
but not my scene. |
|
Between Playhouse and Salon
"There was a good
pub/disco between The Playhouse & The Salon cinemas.
I can't recall its name,
but the pub was on street level and the disco
was one floor down. Great atmosphere, good music and
no weirdos." |
|
GM
Rigg, New Zealand: Message left in EdinPhoto Guest Book, February
11, 2009 |
|
Recollections
35.
Ian Taylor
South Glasgow, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Ian Taylor who wrote: |
|
The Place
"What
about 'Old Bailey and the Jazz Advocates'?
They played at The Place, up to early-1964." |
|
Ian Taylor, South Glasgow, Scotland:
February 19, 2009 |
|
Recollections
36.
Andy Wishart
Staffordshire, England |
|
Thank you to Andy Wishart who wrote:
|
|
Andy Russell Seven |
|
'Bungies' and
'The Place'
"I've
just returned from living in Colorado USA and
was very interested to read all the comments about
'Bungies' and 'The
Place' in the early-1960s."
I used to lead a band called
'The Andy Russell Seven'.
We played every Sunday night at
'Bungies'. The Waldman
brothers owned 'Bungies' then." |
|
Opening of 'The Place'
"Brian Waldman booked us to play at their new
club 'The Place' when it was ready for opening. He
had booked the Humphrey Lyttelton band for the official opening night.
However, the club
was ready for business about a week earlier and we were actually the first
band to play there. Humph did the proper
opening a week later." |
|
Andy Russell Seven
©
"Here is a photo of 'The
Andy Russell Seven' playing at 'The Place'. I hope some of
your readers might recognise us. Some of the band also played
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the old
Imperial Hotel, Leith Walk, at that time." |
|
Toto McNaughton
"I was sorry to
learn of Toto McNaughton's passing last year.
I knew him when he played with Tam Paton's
'Crusaders'. Both
'The Crusaders' and 'The Andy Russell Seven' played for Border Dances at
that time and we would often bump into each other in exotic venues like
Dumfries, Carlisle, Kelso and even Hexham!" |
|
Andy Wishart, Staffordshire,
England: February 20, 2009 |
|
Recollections
37.
Doreen Powell
Kirkcaldy, Fife,
Scotland |
|
Thank you to Doreen
Powell, now living in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, for sending this
photograph of the band that her brother played in, in the 1960s.
© |
|
Doreen wrote:
Plastic Meringue
"The band member Bob
Clark is my brother. I can remember the hours of practice he did at
home. Some of the clubs and bands on the
site also bring back many memories for me.
Doreen Powell, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland:
February 24, 2009 |
|
Recollections
38.
Andy Wishart
Staffordshire, England |
|
Thank you to Andy Wishart who wrote again to tell me
more about his band.
|
|
Andy Russell Seven |
|
Andy wrote:
The Borders
"In between playing at:
- Imperial
Hotel, Mondays thru Thursdays and
-
our weekly gig at Bungies on Sundays
the
Andy Russell Seven used to work for the Border Dances
Company on Fridays and Saturdays and travel to play at dances from
Ardrossan in the west to Hexham just over the border in the east.
Border Dances used to organise jazz or rock
shows at Waverley Market. They also
booked touring English bands and would send them all over Scotland.
My great friend Gerry
Scott used to manage Border Dances. He knew everybody in the business
- Acker Bilk, John
Dankworth, Johnny Kidd to name a few, and even
took an obscure group named The Silver Beatles from Liverpool on a
Scottish tour in the very early 1960s."
Andy Wishart, Staffordshire,
England: April 12, 2009 |
|
Andy added:
Ali Ben the Hoose and the Tauregs
"Some
of the English groups had rather exotic names so, rather than be left out,
I decided to rent some theatrical outfits in Edinburgh and do a bit of
dressing up on our next trip south of the border to Carlisle.
We thought 'Ali Ben the Hoose and the Tauregs'
would sound a bit different and may even pull in a crowd.
Here is a photo
that I took of the Andy Russell Band en route to
Carlisle, being silly. It
shows the Tauregs relieving Dave Ewart,
our drummer, of an old fashioned
£1 note at the Devil's
Beeftub near Moffat.
©
The guy who put the ad. in the Carlisle paper
obviously could not spell Taureg and just did his best, bless him.
Andy Wishart, Staffordshire,
England: April 12, 2009 |
|
Advertisement
Andy Wishart also send me an advert for the Tauregs'
gig in the Borders that appeared in the Carlisle paper. It read:
|
BORDERS DANCES
PROCLAIM THEIR WARES!!
SATURDAY in MARKET HALL
THIS WEEK, APRIL 27
COLOURFUL AND MYSTERIOUS
ALI BEN the HOOSE and
HIS TURAGS
Make their debut, at last, supported by
the
Kittens' favourites
THE ATLANTIC ROLLERS
7.30 - 11.00
ADMISSION: Before 8.30, 3/-. After 8.30, 4/-
|
|
|
Recollections
39.
Mark Wallace
|
|
Mark Wallace asked a question.
|
|
Question |
|
Mark wrote:
Johnny
Frazier
"Can anyone help me
to locate a friend of my mother?
I believe his name was Johnny
Fraser (or perhaps Frazer or Fraser).
He lived with his
family in the Oxgangs area.
I believe their religion may have been Roman Catholic."
Good Companion Pub
"He was the vocalist
in a group that played in The
Good Companion pub in
Oxgangs, in 1963-1964.
I believe they toured for years and even went
to Australia."
Andy Wishart, Staffordshire,
England: April 12, 2009 |
|
Reply?
If you'd like to reply to
Mark,
please email me, then I'll forward your message to him.
Thank you.
- Peter Stubbs: April 23, 2009 |
|
Recollections
40.
David Sanderson
Lake Forest, California, USA |
|
David Sanderson wrote:
|
|
The New International Club
"When I was a lad,
back in the early-1970s, we used to almost live
in the International Club on Princes Street.
By
that time, it had
been renamed the 'NEW International Club'
or simply 'The Nash'.
Every Saturday night we would be there as soon as the pubs
closed at 10pm.
I remember there being three separate dance
halls, the main one up front overlooking Princes Street and two more in
the back, all three with live bands playing."
David Sanderson, Lake Forest,
California: May 22, 2009 |
|
Recollections
41.
Brian Waugh
|
|
Thank you to Brian Waugh who wrote: |
|
The Athenians
"I recently found this site, which to a
degree is rather ironic as over the last year I have been to Shapes
Restaurant to see the Athenians three times.
As a group they are still performing well
after all these years." |
|
The Avengers
"I have just remembered the Avengers.
They were the band that took over from the Athenians. The lead
singer was Kenny Charleson who was the brother of the late actor,
Ian." |
|
The Gamp
"I knew Lindsay
Montgomery (1 above) and Lenny Toshack (3 above). Here are the names
of some of the other people I remember from the past, who used to go to
the Gamp Club:
|
- Danny Anderson
- Ian
Binning
- Moira Brannan
- Billie Brodie
(bouncer)
- Dougie Brodie
- Elaine Brodie
- Brian Cairns
- Michael Cairns
- Sandra Cairns
- Brian Casey
- Alan Collins
- Kate Deighnan
- Ronnie Ellis
- Brian Fleming
- Michael Gallagher
- Carol Gibson
- Davie Gibson
- Hamish Gilchrist |
- Jimmy Green
- Derek Hazelwood
- Frances Hogg
- John Hogg
- Frances Horsburgh
- Joe Kellagher
- Karen Koren
- Robert MacIntosh
- Frank Murphy
- Linnie Paterson
- Bruce Player
- Margaret Robertson
- George Smith
- Margaret Stephenson
-
Timmy
- Ian Wallace
- Jackie Wilson
- Billy Young" |
|
|
Brian Waugh: June 12, 2009 |
|
Recollections
42.
Tom Flanagan
Burton on Trent,
Staffordshire, England |
|
Thank you to Tom Flanagan who wrote: |
|
The Place
"I thought your 'club page'
might be interested in the attached flyer.
If I recall correctly it was one of
the originals, printed prior to the opening of
The Place.
©
I had a sneak preview of the
Place, thanks to Frankie Connor who worked as a
joiner on the renovations."
Tom Flanagan, Burton-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, England: June 23, 2009 |
|
Recollections
43.
Joyce Mckay (nee
Ford)
Murieston,
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
|
|
Thank you to Joyce McKay who wrote: |
|
The Place, The Gamp, The
International, Mcgoos
"I have just found this website and have
sat up all night looking for names I recognize.
As a regular of the Place in Victoria Street
I was glad to see a mention of the Hippo People!! -
and I remember my sister (Irene Ford)
talking about The Embers.
I met my husband (John Mckay) in the Place,
I was never out of there. He was a Gamp
person. Those were the days,
eh! I used to go to Mcgoos, the International
and the Place.
John and I got
married in 1970. Next year will be our
Ruby wedding. I would love to hear from
anybody who remembers us. I came
from Saughton Mains and John from Stockbridge.
Smiths
I have been reading all the recollections,
but not seen any mention of Smiths in Lothian Road.
We used to go there after school. It
must have been in 1964-65.
Joyce McKay (nee Ford), Murieston,
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland: July 26,
2009 |
|
Update 1
Note for Joyce McKay
I've just received an email from
Gordon Rule who remembers you and John at the clubs and
discos. He would like to contact you but, unfortunately, the email
address that I have for you seems to now be out of date.
If you
let me know your current email address, I'll pass on Gordon's contact
details to you.
Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: September
30, 2010 |
|
Update 2
Thank you, Joyce
Thank you, Joyce, for sending your latest email
address to me. I've now passed it on to Gordon Rule. I hope
you'll hear from him soon.
Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:
February5, 2012 |
|
Recollections
44.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you
to Frank Ferri for telling me about the event below: |
|
Leith Dockers' Club presents:
'The Roaring 20s Night'
©
Sunday September
27th, 2009
7.30
to 11.30pm
Featuring
The Diplomats
of Jazz
Get into the swing of things, dressed up as a flapper,
roll the stockings down or be a gangster…
Or Dress in the late '50s/'60s style of “It’s
Trad Dad”.
TICKETS £3
Ticket also entitles you to Two FREE Drinks
Tickets at the BAR or see Frank
Ferri, Social Convener
|
|
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
August 14, 2009 |
|
Recollections
45.
John Gray
Stenhouse,
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you
to John Gray who wrote: |
|
The Gamp
"My wife,
Cathy Banks and her friends:
- Janet
Grieve
- June
Archer and
- Margaret
Kinnear
were all regulars at
The Gamp and know many of the people mentioned
in the list from Brian Waugh.
This is
just to let everyone who
knows them that they are alive and kicking!!!"
John Gray, Stenhouse,
Edinburgh: August
19, 2009 |
|
Recollections
46.
Bob Penry
Ohio, USA |
|
Thank you
to Bob Penry who wrote: |
|
The Gatekeepers
"I had a folk group in
Edinburgh in 1965-66, 'The Gatekeepers'.
We performed at a pub called the 'Stockpot'
and at 'Walkers'.
We also played in Galashiels. We
were a trio:
-
Butch Garrard from Miami
Florida
-
Dee Watt from
Edinburgh
-
me,
Bob Penry from Richwood, Ohio.
Butch and I were stationed at RAF
Kirknewton."
The Singers' Club
"After our
show, we would always head to the Singers' Club,
run by Ewen MacColl and Peggy
Seeger. I have pictures of our group and also pictures in the
Singers Club.
The folk scene in Edinburgh was
fabulous with a lot of local and regional entertainment:
- Barney McKenna
- Hamish Imlach
- The
Edinburgh Singers
- The Doobries
- Tom Paxton, etc.
Oh, if I could live those days
again!"
Bob Penry, Ohio, USA: January 6,
2010 |
|
Arthur's Seat
Thank you to Bob for also sending me this photograph of him,
taken on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh,
in 1965-66.
©
Acknowledgement: Bob Penry,
Ohio, USA: January
10,
2010 |
|
Recollections
47.
Irene Cordier
(nee
Heron)
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada |
|
Thank you
to Irene Cordier (nee Heron) who wrote: |
|
The Place - and Toto
"Your site brings back a lot
of memories:
- The
prefabs in Greendykes we lived there from 1948 to 1957/58
- The
Place
- The
Gamp
to name just a few.
I was sorry to read about Toto,
I remember him playing with Tam White and the Boston Dexters in the Place
every weekend.
At one time, I worked there on
the weekends (very cool, or so I thought. I could get in for free
when not working)
I also remember Toto's late wife
Annie. She was a friend of mine. We once took off to Spain for
a couple of weeks had a great time !"
Irene Cordier, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada: February 25, 2009 |
|
Recollections
48.
Jim Cairns
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife,
for replying to 'Recollections 32' above.
Jim wrote:
|
|
Top Rank Club
"In reply to J
Sutherland's query regarding the Top Rank Club, here are my
recollections, and a
copy of my membership card.
©
The Top Rank club was in South Clerk
Street, and was part of the New Victoria
Cinema (later the Odeon). It was
on the first floor with windows onto the
street."
Vic's
"In the early
1960s, it was always referred to as
'Victor's', or
'Vic's',
because of the Victor Sylvester connection. Most nights of
the week, it was a dance school.
We used to go there on Saturday nights
- 7.30 to
11.00! At Vic's, we danced to records,
not bands, I believe that it was the first proper Discotheque in
Edinburgh. It catered in the early 1960s
mainly for a young crowd
15-18s.
Of course in those days there was no
alcohol allowed or sold there, but most of
the young lads would visit the pub for Dutch courage before going
in!"
Records
"The DJ would
play three fast records for jiving to, followed by three slow
records for 'mooning', a cheek-to-cheek waltzing shuffle.
Favourite tunes of the time
were:
- Roy
Orbison: Running Scared
- Del Shannon:
Kelly, and The Answer to Everything
- Lonnie Donegan:
Seven Golden Daffodils
- Everly Brothers:
Walk Right Back
- Johnny and the Hurricanes\:
Red River Rock
- etc, etc!
There was a refreshment break halfway
through the night, soft drinks of course!
Then just before 11.00, it was a mad rush to get someone up for the
last dance, and hopefully walk her to the bus stop, or home.
Happy days!!"
Jim Cairns: Dunfermline,
Fife, Scotland: March 1, 2010 |
|
Recollections
49.
Heather Peebles
Hong Kong |
|
Thank you to Heather Peebles who wrote:
|
|
Bungies
"I used
to work at Bungies late-1961 or early-1962.
I was paid 2/6 an hour from 8pm till whenever,
2 or 3 in the morning.
I danced
with the customers, cooked Spanish
Omelettes, made coffees and helped the
bouncer, Dave McKenzie,
when things got a bit 'busy'.
Casino
"Brian Waldman
introduced Edinburgh's first so-called
casino, up stairs, called Legalite. It was
very tame but the customers loved it."
The Tryst
"There was a
Folk Club almost across the road in the High Street.
I think it was called The Tryst.
Bert Jansck, Archie Fisher, Roy Guest,
Dolina McLellan and so many others whose names I have
forgotten were there.
Princes Street
"Then I got a
job in 'Boots the Chemist'
in Princes Street. I used
to go to a dance hall just off the end of Princes Street,
down towards Leith Walk,
upstairs from a pub. I don't
remember its name.
Climbing
the stairs was always a hazard, dodging
the bodies as they were being thrown out
by the bouncers. There were fights
every night - but a great band and good
dancing."
Friends
"I'd
love to make contact with some old friends after all these
years."
Heather Peebles: Hong Kong:
March 9, 2010 |
|
Reply to Heather
If you remember Heather and would like to send a
reply to her,
please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.
Thank you. -
Peter Stubbs: March 9, 2010
|
|
Recollections
50.
Ian Hampton
Wales |
|
Thank you to Ian Hampton who wrote:
|
|
The Sect
"Reading these
recollections of the Edinburgh clubs has blown me away!
- especially, as
two days ago, I heard from
Roger Cairns, an old pal who played drums
with me in 'The
Sect' in the
early 1960s.
He's
now in LA doing his stuff, and I'm in wet Wales doing mine!
I so-o-o miss Em'bry, as they call it in Glesgay, and want to come
home!!!"
I played in many
Edinburgh bands in the 1960s, then went to Los Angeles.
The Borders
I supported many
bands in The Borders - Hawick, Jedburgh, Selkirk and Galashiels:
- The Herd
(Peter Frampton).
- The Big
Three.
- Gino
Washington and the Ram Jam Band.
Golden days indeed
- a long time ago. I moved on from those halcyon days,
and would love to hear more memories from back then.
Memories
"I remember
supporting 'Lulu & The Luvvers'
in 'The Place'."
My memories of 'The
Gamp', 'Bungy's',
'The Place' et
al, have just come roaring back! My
word, the past comes back to haunt you!
Ally Black was at my school,
a couple or so years above me. I
worshipped his rendition of 'The
Teddy Bears' Picnic'!
- Does anyone
recollect the joint at the west end of Rose Street? I think
Jimmy Roccio may have owned it. I played there with Tam White.
The last time I saw him was in Braveheart!
- There was a
place called 'The Joint''. It was down a close off the Royal
Mile, as I recall. It was a 'Beatnik' place to begin with,
then it evolved into a kinda rock / pop venue. Any memories?
- Does anyone
remember The Zodiax. Ian Kimmet was lead singer with The
Strollers and The Zodiax.
He went on to huge things.
He managed Janis
Joplin in Europe then managed
Bearsville Records for Albert Grossman of Dylan fame,
etc. He is still active in
Woodstock, NY.
- I joined the LA band, 'Sparks' in
the 1970s, after a stint with 'Catch 22'. Does anybody
remember them? I did sessions with loads of folks.
It's a big world out
there, mostly populated by Edinburgh folk.
Ian Hampton, Wales: March 9, 10,
12, 2010 |
|
Reply to Ian
If you'd like to send a reply to Ian Hampton,
please email me, then I'll pass it on to him.
Thank you.
- Peter Stubbs: March 11, 2010 |
|
Recollections
51.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Ian Hampton who wrote:
|
|
The Group
Frank wrote:
"Does anyone remember 'The Crew
Cuts'?
They were an American group.
©
I got this signed picture of them
at the Empire Theatre in the early-1950.
Their
popular songs were:
- Shaboom Shiboom
- Earth Angel."
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: March 17,
2010
|
|
Recollections
52.
Mike Crean
Dorking, Surrey, England |
|
Thank you to Mike Crean, who was born and brought up
in Edinburgh and now lives in Dorking Surrey, for writing about his
experience of groups in Edinburgh in the 1960s.
Mike wrote:
|
|
The Gamp
"I
first started to go to The Gamp in January 1963. Some favourite
acts in those days were:
- The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddy
Bell on Monday nights.
- The Dave Roberts Quartet on
Tuesdays. This was a jazz quartet formed of members of the Dean
Hamilton Combo.
- The Athenians on Saturdays.
- The Dean Hamilton Combo on
Sundays. They later became The Boston Dexters in 1964.
-
The Avengers played Thursdays, starting in 1964/65."
The Embers
"I
thought you might be interested in reading some post-scripts about
the Embers and other bands.
I played guitar and
we started a band called The Partisans. We played lots of gigs
with both The Embers and The Avengers.
We became friendly
with the guys in the groups, especially
their singers:
-
Kenny Charleston from The
Avengers and
-
Jimmy Cruickshank from The
Embers.
In
1965, both Kenny and Jimmy left their bands and joined us in The
Partisans as joint singers. The band enjoyed a lot of success in
1965 and played regularly at:
-
The Gamp
-
The Place
-
The International
-
The Top Storey
-
The Cephas and
-
The Gonk."
1965
"In June
1965, we entered the East of Scotland Band
Competition, held in the Regal Ballroom,
Kirkcaldy. We had a great time that night and eventually finished
third behind the Hipple People and The Embers.
We enjoyed the rest
of 1965 before disbanding in early 1966.
We all went on to play in other bands and groups,
throughout the rest of the 1960s.
Best regards to all
other band members and friends who may remember us. Great days and
great memories."
Mike Crean: Dorking, Surrey, England:
February 25, 2010
|
|
Recollections
53.
Peter Lehany
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Peter Lehany who wrote:
|
|
The Gamp Regulars
- 1960s
"Jimmy
Moffat (sadly
passed on) and I were both apprentices at Ferranti's along side the
Embers.
Others were who
attended the Gamp were:
-
Charley McKinley
-
Kenny Green
-
George Leitch
(GBL Motors)
We were all regulars
at the Gamp and know many of the people mentioned in the list from
Brian Waugh (41 above).
All of us have been
to Shapes to see the Athenians 'Brilliant
Night'. See them live on
YouTube.
|
|
2010
P.S.
Tam White
is a member at Greens Health Club, next to
the Corn Exchange Slateford. He is playing
there this Friday, March
26, 2010.
Does anybody have any info on
Johnny (Rainbow) Laidlaw?
|
|
Peter Lehany, Edinburgh: March 22, 2010 |
|
Recollections
54.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote:
|
|
Reply to Recollections
53
"Peter Lehany asked about
Johnny (Rainbow) Laidlaw.
He is an old pal of mine
who worked beside me at Ferranti. In
the mid-1960s, he once played lead in my
band, The Jokers.
Johnny
used to perform on passenger liners with
the famous Edinburgh lead guitarist,
Frankie Conners
(formerly of the Crusaders/Boston Dexters).
Johnny
has now retired and
lives in Fife. He has the wee
boat that he uses to take tourists around the
Forth." |
|
Reunion
"Two or three
years ago, I organised a 1960s reunion of Edinburgh singers and
musicians at Leith Dockers' Club. It was a great success, with
many old faces turning up." |
|
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: March
26,
2010
|
|
Recollections
55.
John Carroll |
|
Thank you to John Carroll who wrote:
|
|
Mason Webb
"Does
anybody remember a group in the Edinburgh area in the 1970s called
Mason Webb?
I think one
of the guys was a hairdresser who worked in a shop in Dalry Road."
John Carroll: March 24, 2010 |
|
Recollections
56.
Dave Roberts |
|
Thank you to Dave Roberts who read Recollections 36
and 38 above.
Dave wrote:
|
|
Andy Russell Seven
©
"Imagine my surprise when
online I stumbled across the good old Andy Russell Seven Band and
discovered the photos and the data on your site.
This was a fun group to play with
and we had a great time travelling all over Scotland playing rock
gigs from Stonehaven to Dumfries.
I'd forgotten the really smart gear
we wore back then, the makeup and the tight trousers!
©
I especially remember Alf Smith the
keyboard player. He was a graduate and taught
Physics in the same school, Lasswade High, as
I taught Maths at.
His piece de resistance was diving
off the stage into the dancers towards the end of his favourite tune, the
name of which I cannot, for the life of me,
remember! What a character but sadly, as far as I know, he is no
longer alive.
As for the other members of the
band I have no knowledge of how they are at present, but it would be
nice to hear how they are doing these days.
**
Although 72, I'm still playing but
not as often as I would like.
Here is a
recording of my most recent efforts, recorded in Scotland with the
Simon Abbott
Band. This recording includes many
tunes that I wrote."
Dave Roberts: March 30, 2010 |
|
Reply to Dave Roberts?
**
If you'd like to send
a reply to Dave Roberts,
please email me then I'll pass on your message to him.
Thank you.
Peter Stubbs: March 30, 2010 |
|
Recollections
57.
Ian Ross
Craigentinny,
Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Ian Ross who
wrote: |
|
Bungy's Beat Club
©
©
"Here is a copy of my 'Bungy's Beat Club'
Membership Card (front and back). You'll see, from the back of the card, why I
kept it!"
Gene Vincent
"I was in London on a course in December 1964,
staying at the Russell Hotel. On our very first night, I spotted
Gene Vincent sitting in the Lounge Bar, dressed all in black leather with
gammy leg (motorbike accident) stretched out in front of him. He was with
a very nice 60s 'chick' dressed all in white leather. Anyway, he was very
happy to autograph my Bungy's Card.
The Gamp and The
Place
"I wasn't too keen on Bungy's. When I
discovered The Gamp, I never went back to Bungy's.
We all went to The Place as well, but it was
just a bit too frantic there. I remember the condensation pouring down the
walls on a Saturday night. Saw Jimmy James and the Vagabonds there.
Gamp was smaller, more intimate and much
friendlier. I even went there on my own, a couple of times. I would
never have done that at The Place!
Bands
"My favourite bands were:
-
Screaming Citizens
-
Athenians
-
Avengers (Kenny Charleson was in my class at
school.)
Ian McCalman of The McCalmans was also in my
class at school."
Ian Ross, Craigentinny, Edinburgh: May 6, 2010 |
|
Recollections
58.
Alan Raeburn
Perth, Western
Australia, Australia |
|
Thank you to
Alan Raeburn for replying to Ian ross' comments above.
Alan wrote: |
|
The Athenians
"I also went to these clubs around the years
Ian Ross went there. Ian also mentions the
Athenians. I remember getting a record
from the group themselves, called 'I'm a Lover not a Fighter' on the
Edinburgh label, Waverley -
yellow label.
I still have
the record, made in 1964.
I wonder if there are any other Athenian's records out there
- my fave group, they were.
I also saw
Jimmy James and countless others
through the 1960s -
great times!
Alan Raeburn, Perth, Western Australia,
Australia: May 9, 2010 |
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Recollections
59.
Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you
to Frank Ferri for sending me a copy of a letter that he has just sent to
the Edinburgh Evening News. Here is an extract from his letter.
Frank Ferri says he wonders if anybody else
remembers the Palace Ballroom above Woolworths at the foot of Leith Walk. |
|
Alex Welsh
"I was interested in this article on Alex
Welsh, renowned jazz trumpet player from Leith.
In the late-1950s and
early-1960s, the Trad
Jazz era, I was an aficionado of all Dixieland
music and familiar with the Chicago styles of New Orleans jazz."
Minto's Bar
"Although I don’t
remember Alex Welsh playing at the Nova Scotia pub on the corner of
Duke St and Academy St (formerly know as Morton St and Minto’s
bar in the early 50s) I do remember Archie Semple well
He was responsible for my interest in
Dixieland jazz to this day. It was circa 1949,
I was only aged 14, with nothing for kids to do of a Sunday night in those
days but wander the streets, everything including shops and cinemas were
closed."
Palace Ballroom
One Sunday night, my mate Billy Harper and I,
were passing a small doorway at the side of Leith Woolworth’s,
Constitution St, when we heard music
coming from the third story above Woolies,
then known as the Palace Ballroom.
Curiosity aroused, we tentatively climbed the
stairs and a man appeared. Having great respect for adults in those days
and getting ready to run if the response was negative, we stuttered, “Can
we get in” He replied “Yes if you’ve got 1/9d"
(about 9p in today’s money).
The old dancehall had a stage, and the dance
floor area was interrupted by various pillars. On taking our places at a
table, we were greeted with what we thought was a huge wall of unamplified
sound coming from the band... It was non other
than Archie Semple.
On reflection,
it was not loud to today’s standards with great amplifiers and Dolby sound
etc, but noisy to us, having never heard live
music in an enclosed space before. For our 1/9d we got a cup of tea and
two cakes, we sat out the whole performance through, feeling quite grown
up in this new and strange environment."
Victoria Halls
and Oddfellows Halls
"Suitably impressed
with this new found music, by the age of 17, I had discovered the Victoria
Halls at the top of Victoria
Street and the Oddfellows Halls in
Forrest Rd, the main venues for Traditional Jazz in the early 50s.
It was here that I
discovered Sandy Brown, the famous Edinburgh
clarinetist. He was also a qualified acoustics
expert and I believe was involved in perfecting the acoustics of the Usher
Hall."
New Orleans
"In 1954 whilst at
sea in the Merchant Navy, I was privileged to visit the Mecca of Jazz, New
Orleans, spending 3 days there visiting all the spots synonymous with Jazz
such as South Rampart St, Basin St and Bourbon Sts etc. Wonderful
memories!"
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
June 4, 2010 |
|
Recollections
60.
Kenny Bell |
|
Thank you to
Kenny Bell who wrote: |
|
The Berkeley
"There was a pub or
club in Lothian Road. I think it was called Berkeley. Is that
true? If so, when did it close?
Kenny Bell: May 28, 2010 |
|
Reply to Kenny
If you can help to answer Kenny's question above,
please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him.
Thank you.
Peter Stubbs: June 5, 2010 |
|
Update
See Recollections 66
and
103 below. |
|
Recollections
61.
Mike Cheyne |
|
Thank you to
Mike Cheyne for leaving this message in the
EdinPhoto guest book. Mike wrote: |
|
The Berkley
"I remember The
Berkley in Lothian Road. In the late-1950s /early-1960s,
it was a pub next door to the Caley cinema and underground.
On Fridays and
Saturdays it was full of American servicemen from the spy base at
Kirknewton. i don't know when it closed.
Mike Cheyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Message
posted in EdinPhoto guest book: June 6, 2010 |
|
Recollections
62.
Isa White
Beniarries, Spain |
|
Isa White wrote: |
|
Question
The Beachcombers
©
"Do you know the whereabouts of any of
the Beachcombers beat group from the 1960s? I would love to hear from
Sandy, Kenn
| |