Recollections  -  Entertainment

Clubs and Discos

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

Clubs

Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

with replies from

Gregor Henderson
North Berwick, E Lothian, Scotland

and

Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

Music Shop

Cafes

Ian Foster
Western Australia

The Americana

The Gamp

Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

The Americana

The Gamp

The Screaming Citizens

Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland

The Abstracts

Ian McCallum
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland

Cafe - George IV Bridge

Cafe - Hanover Street

Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

Cafe - George IV Bridge

Cafe - Hanover Street

Patrick Hutton
New Town, Edinburgh

The Laigh Coffee House

John Gray
Portobello, Edinburgh

The Nash

Salvation

Linda Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

Toto McNaughton

21.

Frank Ferri
Newhaven, Edinburgh

Toto McNaughton

Lyndsay Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

The Gamp

Brian Porteous

+ replies from

Brian Porteous
South Africa

Stuart Old
Edinburgh

The Plaza: 'Kentones'

Jim Di Mambro

Toto McNaughton

25.

Linda Montgomery
Old Town, Edinburgh

The Gamp

26.

Lenny Toshack
Leith, Edinburgh

McGoos Re-union Dance, 2009

Recollections

1.

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.

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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.

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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

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"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

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"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

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-  Bungies

-  The Gonk

-  The Green Light

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-  The International Club

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-  McGoos

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-  The Place

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-  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: *

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Re-union Charity Dance 2008  -  Postponed until 2009.  See below.

Lenny Toshack, Leith, Edinburgh: July 29, 2008

Re-union 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.

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Recollections

4.

Eric Gold

East London

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, who wrote:

McGoos

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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."

Barry Fawcet:  August 7, 2008

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

Lyndsay (formerly Linda) 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."

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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