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Recollections Edinburgh Dance Halls |
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Recollections |
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1. |
Frank Ferri |
The Eldorado The Assembly Rooms YMCA The Lansberry The Palace Ballroom Stella Maris Private Functions Juke Box Cafés Stewart's Ballroom The Palais - Americans - Revolving Stage Fashions The Manhatten Café Other Venues Sundays Entertainment Leith |
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2. |
Frank Ferri |
Rules of Dancing - No Jiving - Ladies Ejected |
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3. |
Jean Macaulay |
Dickson's Morningside Palais de Danse Plaza Tollcross Eldorado |
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4. |
Ian Taylor |
Morningside The Cavendish |
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4. Reply 1 |
The Roadsters |
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5. |
Frank Ferri |
Live Music in early-1950s 1960s Falling Attendances Beat Clubs 1970s Today |
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6. |
Ron Suttie |
Palais de Danse The Cavendish |
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7. |
Trisha
McDonald |
Palais de Danse The Cavendish |
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8. |
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Victor Silvester Dance Studio |
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9. |
Bob Sinclair |
Dance Halls - Cavendish - Palais de Danse - Plaza - Fairleys - Eldorado - Assembly Rooms - Marine Gardens Schools of Dancing - Edina - Central - Afton |
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10. |
Alistair Rankine |
Jiving - The Westfield Hall - The Locarno (Paulena's) |
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11. |
Betty Wallace (née
Baxter) |
The Eldo The Palais |
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12. |
Jim Flynn |
The Plaza |
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13. |
Ian M Malcolm |
The Palais |
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14. |
Bob Henderson |
Central School of Ballroom Dancing |
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15. |
Martin Kielty |
Dance Hall Memories |
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16. |
Bob Sinclair |
The Edina and The Central |
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16. Reply 1 |
Eileen Martin |
Lorna Sands |
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17. |
Lyndsay Montgomery |
Fairleys Imperial Hotel |
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18. |
Andy Duff |
Memories The Edina The Afton |
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19. |
Bob Henderson |
Memories |
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20. |
Martin Kielty |
Dance Hall Memories |
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21. |
Archie Young |
The Cavendish - Doorman - TV Broadcast - Management and Staff - Glasgow Fortnight - Doorman's Duty - Entertainment - Trouble - Patrons - The Palais |
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22. |
Jack Todd |
The Cavendish |
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23. |
Allan Dodds |
The Plaza |
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24. |
Allan Dodds |
Madam Ada's School of Dancing The Greenhill and The Cavendish |
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25. |
Joyce Lamont Messer |
The Silver Slipper Glendinning's |
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26. |
Bob Sinclair |
The Central School of Dancing |
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27. |
Ian Thomson |
The Central School of Dancing Quickstep or Waltz Latin American |
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28. |
Ian Thomson |
Dancing Steps |
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29. |
Jimmy Inglis |
Request for Memories |
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30. |
Margaret Cooper |
Schools Dancing Clan House Paulina's Palais |
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31. |
Margaret Cooper |
Westfields Palais |
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32. |
Avril Finlayson
Smith |
Palais |
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33. |
John Dickson |
Westfield Halls |
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34. |
June Wood (née
Robertson) |
The Palais |
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35. |
Margaret Cooper |
The Palais - Fight |
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36. |
June Wood (née
Robertson) |
The Palais - Fight |
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37. |
Margaret Cooper |
Clan House |
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38. |
Alex Baillie |
The Palais - Band |
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39. |
Alex Baillie |
The Palais |
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40. |
Margaret Cooper |
Dalkeith on a Sunday |
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41. |
Bob Henderson |
Midlothian Dance Halls |
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42. |
Stuart Lyon |
Tony's Dance Hall Edinburgh Dance Halls |
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43. |
Peter Stubbs |
Edinburgh Dance Halls |
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44. |
Adelle Dance Studio Ross Bandstand The Paul Young Band Pipers |
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45. |
Frank Ferri |
Tony's Dance Hall Leith Assembly Rooms |
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46. |
Colin Campbell |
Toni's Dance Hall Paulena's Orchestras |
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46. Reply 1. |
Albert Rossi |
Ray McVay Orchestra London + South Africa Switzerland South Africa Ray McVay + Jack Hawkins |
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46. Reply 2. |
Colin Campbell |
Still Playing - ex-Royal Marine Musicians |
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47. |
Stuart Lyon |
Toni's Dance Hall Paulena's Orchestras |
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48. |
Gus Coutts |
Toni's Dance Hall Paulena's Orchestras |
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49. |
Dave
Ferguson |
Stewart's Dance Hall |
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50. |
Jim Little |
Old Toll Bar then The Cavendish |
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50. Reply 1 |
Peter Stubbs |
Old Toll Bar and Auld Toll Bar |
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51. |
Tony
Henderson |
Portobello Dance Hall |
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51. Reply 1 |
Archie Foley |
Inchview |
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51. Reply 2 |
Gus Coutts |
Inchview |
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52. |
Alister McFarquhar |
Port Seton Jiving New Cavendish Eldorado |
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53. |
Danny Callaghan |
The Corner of Little King Street Fairleys Imperial Hotel |
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54. |
The Plaza The Locarno Dance Band Event The Lanark Palais |
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55. |
Dance Halls Bands |
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56. |
New Cavendish Ballroom - Pink Floyd |
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57. |
The Eldorado - Bandleader |
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58. |
The Eldorado - Bandleaders |
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59. |
Victor Silvester Dance Studio - Opening Ceremony - The Principal - Tape Recording |
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60. |
Terry Jack |
Bouncers |
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61. |
John Fraser |
Victory Ballroom |
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62. |
Alistair Rankine |
The Palais |
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63. |
Jeff Rowena |
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64. |
Dave O'Reilly |
Anchor Ballroom - Anchor Ballroom - Ballroom Dancing - Highland & Tap Dancing - Memories |
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65. |
Carol Bradley (née
Kay) |
Afton Dance Club Dancing Medals The Palais Jimmy Harper - Highland & Tap Dancing - Memories |
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66. |
Michael Grant |
Excelsior Ballroom - Seeking Help with our Research - To Jog the Memory - Life in the 1940s |
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67. |
Albert Rossi |
Jack Hawkins' Band - Photo Ray McVay and his Orchestra - Photo - Musicians - Fight in the Palais |
| 68. |
Lyndsay (formerly
Linda)
Montgomery |
Portobello - Two Dance Halls - Rosemary Peat |
| 69. |
Mary
Walker |
Jim Cairns Dancing School |
| 70. |
Ron Forbes |
Central School of Dancing - Drummond Street |
| 71. |
Norman Smith |
1960s |
| 72. |
Lee Bruce |
Madam Ada's School of Dance - My Mother - Ballet - Photos and Memories |
| 73. |
Allan Dodds |
Madam Ada's School of Dance - Ballroom and Jive - Ballet6 |
| 74. |
South Africa |
Fairley's - July 1951: South Queensferry - October 1951: Leaving Edinburgh - Today: My Apologies |
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Recollections 1. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri, now living in Newhaven, Edinburgh, for sending me these memories of living in Leith. Frank adds that Leith had plenty of places for dancing. Frank wrote: |
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The Eldorado "The Eldorado in Mill Lane had two halls, one for Tuesday night Wrestling, with such names as: - The Goul - Le Masque Rouge - Kendo - Les Kellet - Shirley Crabtree and even - Jimmy Savile of 'Top of the Pops' fame' The dance hall featured the big bands of the time: - Ken Mackintosh - Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight, - Renaldo - Johnny Dankworth - Ted Heath with his Singers - Lita Rosa - Dick Valentine - Dennis Lotus. On some Saturday nights they would have a twelve A.M. to Four AM. Dance session. So you could go to the Palais de Danse at Fountainbridge until 11.00 P.M. then make your way down to Leith for the 'Eldo'." |
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The Assembly Rooms "The Assembly Rooms, or 'the 'Rooms' as we called them, at the foot of Constitution Street, were a very popular venue with Alexander’s resident band. Most kids learned the basics of dancing before graduating to the Assembly Rooms. I went there about three nights a week." |
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YMCA "There was also the Y.M.C.A for the very young in Junction place (Fire Brigade Street to a Leither)." |
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The Lansberry "Then there were the Lansberry halls for more mature people. This was former Labour Party offices where Lord Hoy first started as an M.P., on the corner of Duke Street. and Academy Street (old name, Morton Street) As a boy of fourteen, I joined the Labour League of Youth here and canvassed etc. for the Labour Party and met Lord Hoy many times." |
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The Palace Ballroom "The Palace Ballroom was above Woolworth’s and had a small entrance in Constitution Street. I remember this is where, at the age of fourteen, I heard my first live band, 'Archie Semple and his Dixieland Band'. On Sundays, there was little for teenagers to do. My friends and I, hearing the music, crept up the stairs towards it. A man appeared. We turned and were about to run, then plucked up the courage to ask if we could get in. Surprisingly, he said 'Certainly'. There was no dancing, just listening to the music, and our first experience of live music. I thought the noise was ear-splitting. But it was like chamber music to to-days standards. For one shilling and nine pence (1/9d ) they threw in a cup of coffee and a couple of cakes. We felt so grown up. I’ve been hooked on New Orleans jazz ever since." |
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Stella Maris "The 'St. Mary’s Star of the Sea' church (Stella Maris) had a Sunday night Youth Club. This was for members of the parish only. To get my non-denominational friends in, I had to tell them what the colour of the priest's vestments were on that Sunday because old father Fitz (Fitzpatrick) would be at the door to pose the question." |
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Private Functions "Other private function venues for weddings etc were: - The Bakers Halls: North Fort Street. - The Corner Rooms: on the corner of North Junction Street and Ferry Road - The Unionist Halls: at the foot of Leith Walk - The Eagle Rooms: at Tower Street, along the Shore, - No 5 Masonic Club Rooms: at Queen Charlotte Street, off Constitution Street. - Coop Halls: the old school / church on the corner of Cables Wynd and Great Junction Street. - Leith Town Hall: Ferry Road. - Market Halls: in Market Street, off St Andrew Street, Leith. This later became The Crossroads Club, run by the late Eric Gardner. There, they had five-a-side football among other things. At half time, you paid two pence and got a jam piece and a cup of tea." |
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Juke Box Cafés "Michael’s Café (early 1950s) in Tollbooth Wynd was the first to have a jukebox. This was another gathering point, listening to: - Frankie Laine (High Noon Theme) - Johnny Ray (Cry) - Rosemary Clooney (Cammona My House) - Doris Day (Canadian Capers) - Billy Eckstine (If) - Mario Lanza (Be My Love) - Nat King Cole (Unforgettable) - Tennessee Ernie Ford (Shot Gun Boogie fame) and many others. Johnny’s Café, next to the State Cinema and the Cabin Café next to Leith Central Railway Station at the foot of Leith Walk, (now the Job Center) were other juvenile hangouts, and also Albert’s Chippy at the top of the Kirkgate and Lannie's Café in Henderson Street." |
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Stewart's Ballroom "I went to Stewart's Ballroom at Abbeymount on a Saturday morning, aged about fourteen or fifteen. This is where you went, to make you feel grown up. Stewart or his wife would give a couple of whirls around the floor to demonstrate, then grab you by the hand introduce you to some wee girl and insist you got on with it, a bit like learning to swim by just being thrown in." |
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The Palais "After going to Stuart's Ballroom and the 'Rooms' (the Assembly Rooms) you graduated to the Palais in Fountainbridge (the haunt of Sean Connery. You had arrived, big-time: - Fights with the Valdor Gang - Jealousies with the Yanks from Kirknewton Air Base - Dancing to Basil Kirchen Orchestra - The revolving stage with the Jeff Rowena Quartet on the other side. The Palais was an enormous dance hall, capacity probably 3000, oblong in shape, with a surrounding balcony, where we would sit, eye up the talent, spot someone you fancied and make a beeline downstairs to get them up to dance. No booze was sold there in there in those days, just coffees, tea and soft drinks in the wee Cafés: - Cupid's Bar - Knights' Corner - The Spanish decorated upstairs snack areas." The Palais Americans "Usherettes were positioned to give you directions. On the right-hand side of the Palais stage was considered the Yankee Corner. This was the area the Americans from Kirknewton Airbase would congregate and attract the bottled blonds looking to marry a Yank for a better life in the States, much to the envy and anger of the local lads. Generally speaking if a local lad asked these girls to dance, they got a knock back. I remember having returned from a 12-month trip to the United states during my Merchant Navy days (1954). I had developed an American accent that I could slip into quite comfortably, dress in appropriate clothes that I’d bought in America, and I could pull the birds in this disguise easily. But if I let my guard down, I was dropped. I didn't care though, it was their loss. Such was my arrogance in those days. I'd been around the world and seen it all. I was 'Jack the Lad'. So who care about the yanks?" The Palais Revolving Stage "The Palais had a revolving stage. When one band went off for a break playing their signature tune, the other band would revolve round playing theirs, and I thought this was wonderful. In the 60s when I played there with the 'Jokers' band, I was amazed to see the mechanism that activated the revolving stage was none other than a big wheel that you hand operated like your mothers old mangle for wringing clothes. I thought it would be a sophisticated electronic device. When I saw this, you would have thought I’d just been told John Wayne was a poof!" |
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Fashions "Drape suits were the order of the day, made to measure by Jackson’s the tailors Leith Street, paid for in cash, no credit in these days and it took six to eight weeks to have one made. The jacket had a one piece back, single-breasted with one link button. The length of the jacket had to be at least thumb length, or the extreme fingertip. Tight legged trousers, measuring sixteen or fourteen inches at the turn-ups, were the fashion of the day. We wore: - white shirts with a black knitted ties. (The Teddyboys wore the longest jackets with velvet trim collar and cuffs on the sleeves and broad waist-banded very narrow trousers.) - black gabardine raincoats with patch pockets (murder to clean off the tan Pancake makeup from your collar after a nights snogging in the back stair) with mandatory yellow scarf or the 'Packamac', a very thin black plastic raincoat, that you folded up neatly and placed in a pouch - crepe soled shoes. - Cussons Imperial Leather after shave, or Old Spice if you could get it. - Tony Curtis haircuts with the (DA) score down the back of your head and kiss curl at front, by Bob's gents hairdressers of the West Port. He was a Polish guy who then moved to Brougham Place, Tollcross. He was the only gents hair stylist in town, expensive, but worth it for the best styles. In the late 1950s, the fashion was: - 'Munrospun' (a wool company at Kemps Corner, Loganlee area) woollen ties, generally mustard, red or bright yellow in colour - a red or mustard waistcoat, worn with a charcoal grey suit - Perry Como haircuts. We were getting a bit more sophisticated." In the early 1960s, the fashion was: - longer hair, Beatles style. - high collard button-down shirts - narrow ties - boots with pointed toes and high Cuban heels - mohair shiny suits - Italian style three-button, narrow lapels - bum-freezer short jacket, with cloth covered buttons - tight-bottom trousers with no turn-ups." |
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The Manhatten Café "We were very impressed with everything American in those days, perhaps influenced by the movies and the attention the Kirknewton American airmen got from the local girls. There used to be a Café near the west end of Princes Street named the Manhattan. It was next to the old Jacey cinema. It was a long narrow premises, furnished like a mini American Diner, with boothed seating and swivel stools at the counter and displaying mirrors with etched scenes of New York, like the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. My friend Billy Harper and I would pose in there for ages until asked to vacate our booth." |
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Other Venues Other venues were: - Tony’s, Picardy Place or - Fairleys, Leith Street. if you had no taste. - The Cavendish, Tollcross - The Plaza, Morningside, for the nurses who frequented it. - The Excelsior, Blackfriars Street and many more. On our way home from the Palais in the 1950s, we stopped at the bakers near the old Alhambra Cinema for a hot mince pie. |
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Sundays "On Sundays, cinemas and dance halls were all closed. All you had were: - Milk Bars and the West End Café in Shandwick Place - Listening to Jazz and at Victoria Halls Victoria Street, George IV Bridge, and - The Oddfellows Halls in Forrest Rd, listening to Sandy Brown and his Dixieland Band." |
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Entertainment "In the early 1960s, dancing was at beat clubs: - Gamp and The Place, Victoria Terrace - Top Story, Leith Street - International, Princes Street - Casablanca, Rose Street Lane - Luna Park, Tollcross Street - Magoos, High Street - Bungees, Fleshmarket Close, High Street - Walkers, Shandwick Place - Tiffanys, Stockbridge - The Gonk, High Riggs. Bands of the time were: - Saracens - Embers - Boston Dexters - Jokers, Rhythm and Blues band - The Crusaders - Hunters - Cult, Images - Hipple People - Fayne & The Cruisers - Phil & The Flintstones - Tam Paton Show Band - Athenians and many more." |
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Leith "We had all this entertainment and a couple of dozen more picture houses at our fingertips. Spoiled rotten, we were! However if you were a Leither, you never really had to leave the area." |
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Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: June 12, 2008 |
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Recollections 2. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
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Frank Ferri has already sent his recollections of pubs, snooker halls and men's fashions in Leith in the 1950s and 1960s to the EdinPhoto web site. Here, below, he writes about the Rules of Dancing in the 1950s. Frank wrote: |
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Rules of Dancing - 1950s No Jiving! "There was a time when you were not allowed to Jive. It was seriously frowned upon. (Allegedly, it spoiled the progress of proper dancers.) Those good at it would stop at a corner of the dance floor and do their thing, attracting a crowd of admirers and others who dared to Jive, stopping only when the caught sight of the bouncers. If they caught you, you got thrown out. I was barred from the Assembly Rooms Leith for three months, only did it the once to, it broke my heart." |
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Ladies Ejected "Pre 1950s and for a period after, if you asked a lady to dance and she refused, she had to sit that dance out. If she ignored that rule and got up with someone else right after her refusal, you could report her to a bouncer and she would be asked to leave - a bit sever! Refusals often happened, and for the male, it could be quite humiliating and a blow to the ego. However, I don’t know of anyone applying the rule and having the lady thrown out. The women’s libbers will be outraged to read this today!" |
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Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith: October 29, 2008 |
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Recollections 3. Jean Macaulay (née Westwood) Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Jean Macaulay, from Leith, now living in Bonnyrigg who wrote: |
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Dickson's "I loved dancing and used to go to Dickson's, a dance club off Broughton Street. They had two clubs, one on the left of the street and one on the right which Wilma and I went to." |
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Morningside "We also went to a dance club at Morningside. It was up a lane off Holy Corner, and was very popular with usually the same people there each week. I remember Ben Cheetham who lived near the Commonwealth Pool and Jacky from Kirkcaldy." |
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Palais de Danse "We went to the Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge, only during the week, as it wasn't so crowded then. It had a great sprung dance floor. As a child, I used to go there on Saturday afternoons for the Children's Dance. We loved it. It was a miniature of the Adults Dance at night, with the glass roof ball. When you were old enough we went at night with Jeff Rowena playing." |
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Plaza "The Plaza at Morningside was our place at the weekend. We always had a great night there." |
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Tollcross "Occasionally, we would go to the the Dance Hall at Tollcross. I can't remember the name, but it had so many pillars, you couldn't get off the dance floor." |
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Eldorado "The Eldorado was in Leith. Wilma and I used to go to private dances there. They also held wrestling matches there. My Sister Eva, sang a couple of times with Geraldo and his Orchestra there." |
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Jean Macaulay (née Westwood), Bonnyrigg Midlothian, Scotland: February 8, 2009 |
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Recollections 4. Ian Taylor Glasgow, Scotland |
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Thank you to Ian Thomson who added a little more information to that provided by Jean McCaulay in 3 above. Ian wrote: |
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Morningside 'The Roadsters' "Jean McCauley mentions a dancing club near Holy Corner. This would be Greenhill Dance Club, up a lane, in a Masonic Hall. Dancing with that eye looking at you, and winking in the flashing lights, was a bit eerie! I seem to remember one of the groups who played there quite often was called 'The Roadsters', although there has been no mention of them in other memories about Edinburgh bands. Talking of which, what about 'Old Bailey and the Jazz Advocates', at The Place up to early 1964. |
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The Cavendish "The pillared dance hall at Tollcross must have been 'The Cavendish'. I admit to finding its sprung floor a tad too much sometimes; occasional feelings of nausea, and the sprung mirrors didn't help!" |
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Ian Taylor, Glasgow, Scotland: February 19, 2009 |
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Recollections 4. Reply 1. Gordon J Thomson |
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Thank you to Gordon J Thomson who wrote: |
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'The Roadsters' "I note that in his Recollections 4 above, Iain Taylor recollects a club in Edinburgh in the 1960s called the Greenhill Dance Club and a band called the Roadsters. I played in that band and their story can be seen on this Roadsters web site. Gordon J Thomson: 8 March 2013 |
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Recollections 5. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote again with more memories of the old dance halls. Frank wrote about the demise of the 'Big Band' era and of live music: |
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Live Music in early-1950s "In the early 1950s, when I started to go to the dancing (as it was referred to then) there were many public dance halls throughout the city. All had live music, played by orchestras ranging from 7- pieces in the small venues to 14-pieces in the big venues such as the Eldorado in Leith and the Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge. These bands played to large crowds, at least twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays. There was no Sunday entertainment whatsoever then. I think the Palais capacity was about 2,500. Many of the nationally-know orchestras of the time (which you can imagine were very expensive to hire) worked brief residencies in these big halls". |
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1960s "By the late 60s, tastes in popular music changed dramatically. Along came: - Skiffle - Trad Dad (Traditional Dixieland Music) by Ken Colyer, Aker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Chris Barber etc, - progressing to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks and many others." |
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Falling Attendances "Crowds at traditional dance venues diminished, putting pressure on the affordability of Big Bands that people no longer wanted to hear. In an attempt to rescue their threatened dance halls, local up- and-coming pop bands emulating the aforementioned groups. They were hired, but failed to attract the crowds to cover the costs of such large premises, so they all went to the wall, to be replaced by the birth of smaller places called Beat Clubs, that sprang up all over the country." |
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Beat Clubs "In Edinburgh it started with the Gamp club and the Place. Gaining popularity, many other clubs appeared such as are already mentioned on this site. Local pop bands were smaller and cheaper." |
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1970s "Come the early 1970s, Tamala Motown had taken a hold and disco mania began to replace the traditional Beat Clubs, so they all had to evolve. Discos were even cheaper to use than pop bands. The whole music scene changed again. Some bigger places opened up: - The Baron Suite at Chesser Ave - The Pentland (Cinderella’s) in Stockbridge - The Maybury, offering cabaret as well." |
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Today "Disco still survives. Many places have change hands and names. Very few premises other than social clubs offer live music to dance to now - maybe a guitar duo or a keyboard player in the pubs, which is sad. Even when you go on vacation to places like Spain and Greece it’s the same. They used to have live music right up until the late-1980s, but even there, they are now few and far between." |
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Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith: April 17, 2009 |
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Recollections 6. Ron Suttie Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia |
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Thank you to Ron for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book. Ron wrote: |
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Palais de Danse and The Cavendish "I frequented the Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge and the Cavendish on the weekends during the 1960s. They were fantastic dance venues - real friendly social centres for all." |
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Ron
Suttie, Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia. |
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Recollections 7. Trisha McDonald Livingston / Portobello, Scotland |
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Thank you to Trisha McDonald for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book in response to Ron Suttie's message (6 above). Trisha wrote: |
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Palais de Danse and The Cavendish "I to went to the Palais and the Cavendish in the 1960s. They were fantastic times: - The Palais every Friday night - The Cavendish on Tuesday nights. The Cavendish had a good floor for dancing on, but on a Friday it had to be the Palais as it had better 'talent' as we use to call it in those days. Oh, the memories!" |
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Trisha, Livingston / Portobello, Scotland: |
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Recollections 8. Anne Blisset (née Meikle) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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Anne Blissett (who attended Preston Street Primary School then Moray House Secondary School asks: Victor Silvester Dance Studio "Does anyone remember the 'Victor Silvester Dance Studio'? It was a nice little ballroom dance hall." Anne Blissett (née Meikle), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: August 25, 2009. |
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Recollections 9. Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia |
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Bob Sinclair, now living in Queensland, Australia, remembers some of Edinburgh's dance halls and schools of dancing Bob wrote: |
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Dance Halls |
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The Cavendish "The Cavendish at Tollcross was a 'middle of the road' hall where the local gentry and ladies of various ethnic varieties could go to view 'the talent'. I think it had two halls. It had a wide variety of dancing talent." |
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The Palais de Danse "The Palais de Danse was normally referred to as the Palais. It had a similar though, in the eyes of the public, not as good a reputation as the Cavendish. Sean Connery was at one time a bouncer or orderly there." |
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The Plaza "The Plaza was located in the Dominion Cinema at Morningside." *
"It was rated as one of the more sedate dace halls and again, I think, it had two dance floors. It was probably one of the establishments you might permit your daughter to go to." |
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Fairleys "Fairleys was in Leith Street (though for the sake of old sailors who might get confused - for it was known worldwide by them - we might say Leith Walk). Fairleys had a reputation for frequent differences of opinion between clients and was apt to have the odd visit from the local plod. However, in their defence they did also hold Dance Championships" |
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Eldorado "The Eldo, as we knew it had dances and other functions, I think wrestling in more recent times. Maybe one of your other correspondents could fill in on this one." Yes. See 'Recollections 1' above |
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Assembly Rooms "The Assembly Rooms, in both Edinburgh and Leith were used from time to time for dances, though most of these were works outings or civic dances run by the town council." |
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Marine Gardens "Down Portobello way, and before my time. I heard about Marine Gardens from my mother." |
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Schools of Dancing |
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The Edina "The Edina School of Dancing was in Nicolson Square. It was run by Reggie Harkins and Marjorie Murray." |
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The Central "The Central School of Dancing was at 1 Drummond Street. I really felt sorry for the girls there. They were not allowed to refuse anybody who asked for a dance. And our lot still had two left feet. But as time progressed so did we, and the chocolate biscuits and tea half way through were brilliant. By the finish of our time there you were supposed to be ready to sit your bronze medal test. You were then supposed to go on to the Afton." |
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The Afton School of Ballroom Dancing "This was a bit more formal. You went up to either silver or gold medal standard. They also got together a formation dance team, which we were part of. It won the medal in Glasgow. One of the couples went in for the Bronze Medal and the Open Championships and won both events dancing only Bronze Medal steps. His name was Jimmy Harper and his partner was Margo. |
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"All three of these schools were considered to be safe places." |
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Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: November 29, 2009 |
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Recollections 10. Alistair Rankine Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia |
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Thank you to Alistair for writing again with recollections of jiving in Edinburgh Dance Halls. Alistair wrote: |
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Jiving Westfield Hall "I'm surprised, regarding Dance Halls, that there is no mention of 'The Westfield Hall' which was near Murrayfield at the foot of Westfield Ave. Davie Mann's band played there, and they allowed you to jive there. It was great to Jive there. I went there from 1951 till 1953 when I joined the RAF. " The Locarno "The Locarno (Paulenas) in Slateford Road had a 'Jivers Only Night' on Mondays when you would jive all night and end up going home with your shirt all damp from sweating. It was great. There was a couple at the Westfield, Jimmy & Esther, who were the best jivers. Everyone stopped to watch them. I wonder if anyone remembers them. Alistair Rankine, Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia: November 30, 2009 |
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Recollections 11. Betty Wallace (née Baxter) Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia |
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Thank you to Betty Wallace, née Baxter, who wrote: |
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The Eldo Our favourite dancehall was The Eldo. You had to walk past the boxing arena to get to the dancehall. It had a huge dance floor and good bands. Sadly it is gone. The Palais The Palais was also great. During the war there servicemen of all nations there, and they couldn't dance like the Scots lads. Good old Days, and good to look back on. Betty Wallace (née Baxter), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: January 18, 2010 |
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Recollections 12. Jim Flynn Oxgangs, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jim Flynn who wrote: |
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The Plaza "The Plaza Dance Hall in Morningside was situated above the Jones' Motor House, a car showroom and garage on the corner of Falcon Avenue and Morningside Road. The site is now the Waitrose food store. The car park above the store is where the Plaza was. It had two dance halls, one for modern dance and the other for old time. Dick McTaggart, a Commonwealth games medalist, was one of the doormen who kept order when I used to go to the Plaza around 1963. Jim Flynn, Oxgangs, Edinburgh: January 20, 2010 |
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Recollections 13. Ian M Malcolm St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
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Thank you to Ian M Malcolm for telling me of some of his experiences in and around Edinburgh while he was studying at Leith Nautical College in 1947-48. Ian wrote: |
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The New Cavendish "When Jim Dunkley and I went to the New Cavendish on the evening of Saturday February 7 1948, we found the atmosphere priggish and most of the girls 'stuck up'. But I had the last dance with a girl I got on with, and asked her if she’d like to go to the Edinburgh Palais where Eric Winston and His Orchestra were appearing on the Wednesday evening and to bring a pal for Tom Mitchell, another student. We all met at 5.45pm on the Wednesday and took them, first, to Austin's Café at the top of Leith Street The Palais "The Palais was much more lively and friendly than the New Cavendish and we all enjoyed the evening. The entrance charge was only 2/6d (12½p) each. After the resident band had played for some time, the revolving platform took it out of sight and when it turned again, Eric Winston & His Orchestra had replaced it. A rather poor display was given by girls from Butlin's Holiday Camps, but, led by a man, they did an excellent Conga. Ian M Malcolm: St Andrews, Fife, Scotland: January 24, 2010 |
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Recollections 14 Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote: |
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Central School of Ballroom Dancing "The Empire Bar ('The Rat Trap') was on the corner of Nicolson Square opposite the Surgeons' Hall. Above it was the room where the first-timers to the Central School of Ballroom Dancing were introduced to their first '123, 123'. Once you had mastered the first steps, you progressed to the hall over Clydesdales. Access to this hall was gained by way of the staircase which ran up the left-hand side of Rutherford's Bar in Drummond Street, After you had passed the 'Bronze' in Ballroom Dancing, you progressed to the Afton in Niddry Street. You really felt you had achieved something then." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh April 6, 2010 |
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See also Recollections 16 below |
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Recollections 15 Martin Kielty Glasgow, Scotland |
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Eddie Tobin and Martin Kielty have written a new book:
Martin wrote: |
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Dance Hall Memories "I'm a Glasgow-based writer and radio presenter. "I'd be really interested in gathering stories and pictures of dance halls. I'd love to hear not just from people who went to the dancin', but also from those who worked or performed there - anything that brings those memories back to life!" Martin Kielty, Glasgow, Scotland: April 13, 2010 |
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Reply? If you would like to send a reply to Martin, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: April 13, 2010 |
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Recollections 16 Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia |
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Thank you to Bob Sinclair who wrote: |
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The Edina and The Central "Bob Henderson (14 above) wrote about the Central School of Ballroom dancing being above the Empire Bar. In fact the dance school there was The Edina. It was run by Reggie and Marjorie. The one who taught me there, mainly, was Betty. The Central was at 1 Drummond Street. They had a teacher called Lorna aged 14, who was still attending Leith Academy. I never knew what happened to either Betty Slater or Lorna Sands." Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: April 13, 2010 |
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Recollections 16 Reply 1 Eileen Martin Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland |
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Bob Sinclair in his Recollections 16 above is not the only person who remembers Lorna Sands. Here, Eileen Martin writes: |
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Lorna Sands "I was in the same class as Lorna Sands and we were often at each other's houses. I met my husband at the Afton Dance Club while I was still at school. We celebrated our golden wedding this year. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened to Lorna as I moved to Wales in 1969 then to Glasgow in 1976. I now live in Troon." Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: April 13, 2010 |
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Contacting Lorna Sands If you can suggest how to contact Lorna Sands, please email me to tell me, then I'll pass on the message to Bob Sinclair and Eileen Martin. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 26 November 2015 |
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Recollections 17. Lyndsay (formerly Linda) Montgomery Old Town, Edinburgh |
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Lyndsay wrote: |
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Fairleys "The first dance hall on the right, going down Leith Street, was Fairley's Imperial Hotel "The second one on the same side, but further down, was the Imperial Hotel or Bar, famous for foreign sailors of various kinds. I remember a time when a pal took me along one night. I was approached by a very good looking guy, and asked in a terrible English accent, (he was the expert with the language apparently) if I would fancy going out for a meal with his superior,. He was from a Swedish merchant ship, and the other guy was very good looking as well, but spoke no English, and unhappily was very much 'I'm the boss here.' He expected me to fall at his feet and worship him, so that was a 'no no' right away, However, I did go out with the other one. He told me, that that was his chance of promotion gone now, since his superior had lost face in front of his inferior shipmates. Such is life, eh !!" Linda (now Lyndsay) Montgomery, Old Town, Edinburgh: April 14, 2010 |
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Recollections 18. Andy Duff Maryborough, Queensland,Australia |
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Thank you to Andy Duff who wrote: |
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Memories "I've just read the comments from Bob Henderson (14 above) and Bob Sinclair (16 above). Boy, did this bring back some memories!" The Edina "I first went to the Edina, but was kicked out about half way through for taking the mickey out of the dance teacher. Her name was Nancy. My mate, Jimmy, stayed on. However, as i knew the instructress, I was invited back on the assurance that I behaved myself, which I did. My next stop was The Central." The Afton "One of my better memories of the Afton was meeting my future wife, Jean Dalgleish, there. That's where a lot of couples met and married. My cousin and my my best mate met their future wives there. It would be good to know what year your correspondents were there. Our lot attended about 1954-55. Great times were had by one and all. Andy Duff, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia: April 18, 2010 |
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Recollections 19 Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote in response to Andy Duff's comments above Bob wrote: |
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Memories "I started at The Edina in late-1955 and progressed to The Central where I met my wife-to-be. We have been married for 53 years now. We last went to the Afton in 1958 when my first born came along and put a stop to the frivolities." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh April 20, 2010 |
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Recollections 20 Martin Kielty Glasgow, Scotland |
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Martin Kielty wrote again to follow up his comments in 'Recollections 15'. Martin wrote: |
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Dance Hall Memories "I thought I'd drop you another line because I haven't heard from any of the fascinating people who've shared some of their dance call and club memories on your site. For some reason I have the same problem , time and time again, when I do a book like this. Folk from Edinburgh just don't get involved, and result is the documents which eventually become reference points seem to suggest that the city didn't have a sprawling nightlife, when we all know it did, and still does! But I'd love to hear from some of these great people who obviously have stories to share. I've also put up a wee quiz on my own website where people can tell me a few bits'n'bobs." Martin Kielty, Glasgow, Scotland: May 3, 2010 |
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Reply? If you'd like to send a reply to Martin, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: May 3, 2010 |
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Recollections 20 Update |
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Thank you to Martin Kielty who emailed me again almost six months after sending the message above. Martin wrote: |
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Book Published "I thought I'd let you know that 'Are Ye Dancin?' was published this morning. If you'd like to know more, you can find details on the Martin Kielty website." Martin Kielty, Glasgow, Scotland: October 17, 2010 |
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Recollections 21. Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Archie Young for telling me a little about Duddingston Curling Club. |
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Archie wrote: The Cavendish Doorman "I started at The Cavendish Ballroom (Dance Hall) from 1964 until 1966 as a Doorman (Bouncer). I hate the latter word as it could mean that all Bouncers are hard men. To the contrary, at the Cavendish we were there to try and stop trouble before it started by using diplomacy. We never went looking for fights. There were three areas in the Cavendish: - The main dance floor - The Café on the middle floor - - The smaller top dance floor If there was any trouble brewing, we would get one bell for the bottom, 2 bells for the Café and three bells for the top floor. TV Broadcast "There was a national dance competition televised from there to England long before Scotland had TVs - I think in the region of the 1930s when the TV was born. There used to be a photo hanging on the wall commemorating it. Among the patrons that night were members of the Royal Family - unheard of today." Management and Staff I have no idea when the Cavendish first opened but I am sure when I worked there it was owned by the Mitchell family. I remember Mrs. Mitchell and her daughter who was a real doll I remember: - Old Jimmy, the Manager. I have no idea what his last name was but he was a nice old man." - Jimmy Gillon, the Head Doorman The other doormen were: - Big Gus - Tam Hook - Bob Weston - Nicky - Ian Knowles - Jimmy Gillon's son John - Donald Millar - myself." Glasgow Fortnight "The only real trouble we had was during the 'Glasgow Fortnight' annual holidays. One night, we were told that the 'Glasgow Tongs' gang were coming through to cause trouble. Sure enough, they did, there were armed to the teeth with razors, bayonets and knives. Some had butchers' knives. We were ready for them. The fighting started inside the Cavendish main floor, then we eventually managed to get them outside where it started again. We hammered them, then they were arrested. Whether they were the Tongs or not, I do not know, but they were shouting out the name 'Up the Tongs.' " Doorman's Duty "The Doormen wore maroon blazers with the initials 'CD' on the breast pocket. We could pick what nights we wanted to work. I chose Monday, Wednesday Friday and Saturday, the latter two were compulsory. Monday was from 7pm till 10pm Friday 7pm till 11pm. For that we were paid a mere £5.00 a week. There was a late night bus put on by the Cavendish at sixpence (6d) per head. I think there were three busses going to various parts of Edinburgh. If we used the bus we got on for free, but had to protect the driver until we got tour our own destination Entertainment "Monday nights were for the younger ones, dancing to the local Pop Group. Wednesday was Ballroom dancing for the older members of the public. Friday and Saturday the Cavendish Dance Band played downstairs and the Pop Group played in the smaller dance floor on the top floor. I don't remember the chap who had the big dance band, but his first name was Jimmy. One night, the lads said, 'Jimmy has had a good drink tonight' then Jimmy, playing his Violin, teetered forward towards the edge of the stage and fell off. Yes, he was blind drunk." Trouble "One night, I had to stand outside to control the queue of patrons. A a fight had started inside and the lad was thrown out, he tried to get back in and I stepped in and threw him back out There was a man standing in the corner of the doorway. As I threw the lad out, the man stepped forward and shouted, 'Hey you.' As he walked towards me, quite fast, he put his hand inside his coat, I thought he was going for a knife so I slugged him on the chin and he went down and out cold. It turned out that he was a plain clothes Policeman going for his warrant card. I was not charged with assault as he was in the wrong." Patrons "Many of the patrons became good friends. Around 98% were out for a good time, to get a date and go home. The others were those who were drunk and could not control themselves. Somee did not fight but spoiled the others enjoyment by being sick or just being annoying. I enjoyed my time there meeting the public and talking or laughing with them." The Palais "We always said we treated the public better than the Doormen did at the Palais de Danse at Fountainbridge, The Palais was the main Dancehall in Edinburgh. You always heard people talking more of it than that of the Cavendish, and of course we always got the overspill from the Palais." Archie Young: Moredun, Edinburgh: May 27, 2010 |
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Recollections 22. Jack Todd Lake Munmorah, New South Wales, Australia |
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Thank you to Jack Todd who wrote: |
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The Cavendish "I've been living in Australia for many years now but I enjoy reminiscing on the computer about the 'good old days' in my home town of Edinburgh. I had many great nights of dancing in the 'Cavendish' at Tollcross. If I recall correctly, they had an 'over thirties' (age wise) dance night on a Tuesday and Thursday when all the music played was foxtrot, quickstep and other dances of that ilk. I was a keen dancer, and still am, and although not over thirty at that time I was guaranteed a fabulous evening of good dancing with plenty of room to hopefully impress my partner. I'm not sure if that always worked. There was the main dance area next to which was a smaller room, separated by two archways, which had several couches against the walls. No alcohol was permitted, although there was always a large influx of would-be dancers after 10pm when the pubs closed. Those were the days!" Jack Todd, Lake Munmorah, New South Wales, Australia: May 23, 2010 |
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Recollections 23. Allan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
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Thank you to Allan Dodds who wrote: |
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The Plaza "As a regular Saturday night frequenter of the Plaza dancehall, I noticed a new female face there one evening. I asked her for a dance and she agreed. Forty-six years on, I am still married to her!" Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: June 1, 2010 |
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Recollections 24. Allan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
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Allan Dodds wrote again: |
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Madam Ada's School of Dancing "From somewhat dim recollections, I recall that I learned to dance at Madam Ada's School of Dancing, situated in Morningside somewhere near Napier College. Other contributors might be able to flesh out the details." The Greenhill and The Cavendish "We then progressed to the Greenhill and the Cavendish where we sought to impress young women with our newly acquired skills at the waltz, the quickstep, the cha and - horror of horrors - the jive!" Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: June 7, 12010 |
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Recollections 25. Joyce Messer Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand |
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Thank you to Joyce Messer who wrote: |
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Silver Slipper "I've suddenly remembered The Silver Slipper Dance Hall. It was somewhere down an alley off Morningside Road. As a schoolgirl I thought it sounded very glamorous. The reality was probably somewhat different." |
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Glendinnings "Much later, a friend and I went to 'learn dancing' at Glendinning's Dance Studio, somewhere between Newington and Morningside, I think. Classes were, taken by a bit of a 'grande dame' for whom ballroom dancing was a serious business. After about 3 lessons, we launched ourselves at the various varsity Saturday night dances. Later still, we hit the big time at the Plaza - but the varsity dances were much more fun." |
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Joyce Messer, Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand |
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Recollections 26. Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia |
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Thank you to Joyce who read Bob Sinclair who wrote: |
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Afton - Central School of Dancing "Here is a photo, taken around 1958. I am 3rd from the right-hand end of the second row: The teachers on the night that this photo was taken were Reggie Harkins and Marjorie Murray." |
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Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: July 12, 2010 |
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Recollections 27. Ian Thomson Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia |
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Thank you to Ian Thomson who replied to Bob Sinclair's comments (26 above). Ian wrote: |
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Central School of Dancing "Thanks for the pic. of the Central School of Dancing. "Like Bob, I'm now living in Aussie. We could share memories of the Dance Halls in Edinburgh." |
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Quickstep or Waltz "My era was the early-1950s. The Central School of Dancing was going then. It was at the corner of Drummond Street and The Bridges The dance teachers tried to teach us too. My pal and I would line up opposite the girls. We were encouraged to pick a partner for the Quickstep or Tennessee Waltz." |
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Latin American "The Foxtrot was played on the gram. records, so we would journey over the road to do Latin American. I never quite got the hang of all the dancing, but the girls were great. I did manage a Bronze Medal at Paulinas, but with size 10 feet, it was always difficult." |
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Ian Thomson, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia: July 14, 2010 |
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Recollections 28. Ian Thomson Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia |
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Thank you to Ian Thomson who added: |
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Dancing Steps "I remember 'Three Little Words'. It was a great upbeat tune for the Quickstep or Tennessee Waltz. Harkins and Murray used these 78 records to teach us the dancing steps. There was another lady who taught Latin American dancing over the road. I can't remember her name. There was no alcohol in these days, just a cup of tea and biccy at half time." |
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Ian Thomson, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia: July 18, 2010 |
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Recollections 29. Jimmy Inglis London |
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Jimmy Inglis wrote |
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Request for Memories "I'm devising a play on Edinburgh Music Halls & Variety Theatres from the 1930s. I'm hoping to present it at the Edinburgh & London Fringes next year. I'm devising this play as part of my course work at Drama School. I hope to be able to include playbills, programmes, and artist headshots, which I am in possession of. I'm interested in: - the Palais de Danse & Palladium. - people's memories of the music, the inside of the venue and the atmosphere. - the venues through the ages - e.g. the emergence of Rock n Roll and Jiving. - the kind of people who frequented these venues. - memories of shows and evenings spent there. - the cost of an evening there. - any stories and anecdotes that you'd like to share. Jimmy Inglis, London: August 26, 2010 |
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Reply to Jimmy? If you'd like to contact Jimmy, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: September 2, 2010 |
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Recollections 30. Margaret Cooper Colindale, North London, England |
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Thank you to Margaret Cooper for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook. Margaret wrote: |
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Schools "I went to All Saints School in Glen Street, then on to Darroch Intermediate." Dancing "I loved the dancing from the Clan House in Grove Street to Paulena's where it was OK to jive, to the Palais where for a while I was an usherette. I was always on the door punching tickets in my red outfit thick pan stick and the stilettos. The only fishnet now is my grandson's minnow net."
Margaret Cooper, Colindale,
North London, England: |
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Recollections 31. Margaret Cooper Colindale, North London, England |
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Thank you to Margaret Cooper for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook. Margaret wrote: |
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Schools "Alistair Rankine was surprised ('Recollections 10' above) to see no mention of Westfields Hall. My pal, Mitzi and I would go there sometimes on a Friday night. We always put a bit more effort into what we wore as Mitzi thought it was a bit more up-market than Paulinas." |
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The Palais "Back to The Palais, again. Does anybody remember when Kenny Ball played here?" |
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Margaret Cooper, Colindale,
North London, England: |
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Recollections 32. Avril Finlayson Smith Australia |
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Thank you to Avril Finlayson Smith for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guest book, in response to Margaret Cooper's question in 'Recollections 31' above. Avril wrote |
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The Palais Kenny Ball "My husband and I and my brother went to see Kenny Ball at The Palais that night. My husband and I had never been in the Palais before, but as we really were keen on Kenny Ball, we went along. We really enjoyed that evening very much. Thanks for jogging the memory once again. That was such a very long time ago - another Lifetime, it seems, now that we are here in Australia."
Avril Finlayson Smith,
Australia. |
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Recollections 33. John Dickson Silverknowes, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to John Dickson who wrote |
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Westfield Halls "I remember playing in the band at the Westfield Halls in the early-1970s. The name of the band was 'Sounds Nice' - everybody said so. The band was: - Bob Marr: organ - Jim Drummond: drums - John Dickson: guitar Tommy Young was the owner of Westfield Halls at the time. They were being used for private functions; weddings, bowling club dances, etc. Tommy retired and sold the halls on to Joe Findley who owned a Café in Dalry Road, he renamed it the Westfield Function Suite. Name of the band " Sounds Nice" everybody said so. Bob Marr organ, Jim Drummond drums, John Dickson." John Dickson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh: May 26, 2011 |
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Recollections 34 June Wood (née Robertson) California, USA |
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Thank you to June Wood for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook in response to Margaret Cooper's comments in 'Recollections 30' above. June wrote |
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The Palais "Ah Margaret, I bet you punched my ticket at the Palais. The Kirchen Band and Jeff Rowena were the bands back then. I remember the gal wearing long black hose. I believe she was the greeter. Boy, I thought she was smashing, even sitting up on the balcony was fun. I believe my brother John Robertson and his wife were called the King and Queen of Jive. Boy, they could dance." June Wood (née Robertson), California, USA: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook: May 19, 2011 |
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Recollections 35 Margaret Cooper Colindale, North London, England |
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Thank you to Margaret Cooper who wrote |
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The Palais Fight "I remember the night when there was a near-riot in the Palais, back in 1951-52. I can't remember the month. A fight broke out between some Teds in the middle of the dance floor, spreading quickly over to Yankee Corner (an area always occupied by the airmen from Kirknewton Base). It carried on up the stairs to the balcony. Soon, it involved the whole dance hall. The bouncers did their best but the police had to be called in to restore order. Through all this Jeff Rowena, bless him, kept on playing. I remember the song was 'Poor little lambs who have gone astray baa, baa, baa'. Edinburgh papers were full of it the next day, one MP calling for the Palais to be closed, perish the thought! No one was shot, stabbed, or suffered brain damage; it was all fisticuffs. The only casualties were the drape suits torn and ripped which had been worn with such pride and swagger and saved for with such dedication."
Margaret Cooper, Colindale,
North London, England: |
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Recollections 36 June Wood (née Robertson) California, USA |
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Thank you to June Wood who replied to Margaret Cooper's comments above. June wrote: |
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The Palais Fight "I was there on the night of the fire at The Palais. I remember these guys jumping off the balcony where I was sitting. It never happened before, and I believe it never happened again. I believe some of them had chains. Oh, the excitement! My chum was working at the snack bar. I believe she told me the Kerchin band crammed into the kitchen. I went with one of the trumpet players, way, way back. Were we ever that young? Thanx for the memory." June Wood (née Robertson), California, USA: Reply posted in EdinPhoto guestbook: July 29, 2011 |
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Recollections 37 Margaret Cooper Colindale, North London, England |
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Thank you to Margaret Cooper for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook. Margaret wrote: |
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Clan House Dance Hall "Does anyone remember the Clan House dance hall in Grove Street. I learned to jive there." |
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Barber "I also remember, across the road from the Clanny was a barber's shop. I think it was called something like Dino's. Lots of us Teds used to go there to get our DAs done." |
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Jeweller "For us girls, we went to Weittz, the jewellers at Tollcross, for - our ropes of pearls. - our tan pancake make up which ruined many a drape jacket. - our black tadpole eyebrows, a force to be reckoned with. Ahah! The good old '50s." |
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Margaret Cooper, Colindale,
North London, England: |
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Recollections 38 Alex Baillie Falkirk, West Lothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Alex Baillie who wrote: |
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The Palais Johnny Campbell and the Clansmen "I recall a band who played at Fountainbridge Palais De Danse in the early-1960s, called 'Johnny Campbell and the Clansmen' -Fantastic group, they were. I hope somebody remembers this great wee band. Any info about them or pics of them would be nice. I recall the drummer jumping down to the microphone and doing a fantastic version of 'Bony Moronie'." Alex Baillie, Falkirk, West Lothian, Scotland, August 16 + September 1, 2011 |
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Recollections 39 Alex Baillie Falkirk, West Lothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Alex Baillie who wrote again, adding: |
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The Palais "We used to go to Edinburgh Palais every weekend, in the early-1960s. We hired a bus and it was always full. I met a girl from Rosewell called Isa Shanks. We drifted apart when I joined the Army in 1965, but I always remember the Palais and the revolving stage when the Orchestra gave way to the rock band. Happy memories, indeed." Alex Baillie, Falkirk, West Lothian, Scotland, August 24 |
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Recollections 40. Margaret Cooper Colindale, North London, England |
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Thank you to Margaret Cooper for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook. Margaret wrote: |
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Dalkeith on a Sunday "A Sunday in Edinburgh, back in the 1950s, was so boring. Except for the West End Café, everything closed. So a crowd of us used to meet up at George Street and get the bus to Dalkeith to what I think was called either the Empire or the Empress ballroom. (See also 41 below.) You could jive till your heart's content. Ah! Such bliss. I think the band was called Cam Robbie. The sheer delight we had in showing the yokels (as we unkindly called them) how it was done,double timing to the Woodchoppers Ball, etc. Boy, it kept us fit and slim." |
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Margaret Cooper, Colindale,
North London, England: |
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Recollections 41. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote: |
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Midlothian Dance Halls "Just to clear things up for Margaret, it was the Empress ballroom at Dalkeith. As I've said before on EdinPhoto, this name conjures up great memories. Reading about it this morning brought some more back to mind. We used to travel all over Midlothian for the dancing. There was of course: - the Empress in Dalkeith, - the Regal in Bonnyrigg, - the Vogrie in Gorebridge - the small but wonderful Masonic hall in Newtongrange - and a host of others, lost in the mists of time. I hope someone else out there picks up the baton and continues to fill in the spaces." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: September 11, 2011 |
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Recollections 42. Stuart Lyon Blackford, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Stuart Lyon who wrote: |
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Tony's Dance Hall "I have been looking for some information on Tony's Dance Hall, Picardy Place, but I've not been able to find anything, other than a brief mention on the EdinPhoto web site." |
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Dante Lanni "A few people on the EdinPhoto web site have mentioned Dante Lanni. I found his name in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories circa 1952-54. He is listed in the directories as being at 20 Bristo Street, under Dance Orchestras, along with Tim Wright whose address is given as 53 George Street." |
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Edinburgh Dance Halls "I've looked through some of the old Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories and have found reference to some of the other dance halls that people have mentioned on the EdinPhoto web site." (See also 'Recollections 43' below) |
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Stuart Lyon, Blackford, Edinburgh: November 9, 2011 |
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Questions Stuart would like to hear from anybody: - who has any more information about Tony's Dance Band, including its address in Picardy Place, or - who has any mor information about Dante Lanni's dance orchestra. If you'd like to contact Stuart, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 15, 2011 |
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Recollections 43. Peter Stubbs Edinburgh |
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List of Edinburgh Dance Halls Thank you to Stuart Lyon for sending me a list of the names, addresses and dates of Edinburgh Dance Halls, compiled from 14 of the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories published between 1931 and 1974. I've now extended this list to include information from all the Post Office Directories published during this period, and have added the list to the EdinPhoto web site. Please click the link below to see the list. It may be slow to load, and you will probably need to scroll across and down to see the whole list. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 15, 2011 |
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Recollections 44. Gordon Covey Glencoe, Western Highlands, Scotland |
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Thank you to Gordon Covey who wrote to add few names to the dance scene in Edinburgh. Gordon wrote: |
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Adelle Dance Studio "The Adelle Dance studio was run by Johnny and Elenor Banks. Johnny was a past president of the British Ballroom Dance Association." |
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Ross Bandstand "Johnny and Elenor Banks. also ran dancing in the Ross Bandstand in the summer. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society ran the Scottish Country Dance events there, weekly." |
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The Paul Young Band "In the Paul Young Band, there were: - Jo Rosenheim, keyboards - Jimmy Grosset, drums - Vic Covey, Bass |
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Pipers "Pipers started of as a Scottish Cabaret Night, before becoming a disco. The compere there was Scott Paul Young. - a bit like a poor man's Jack Alexander from the Alexander Brothers. The backing band had no name. It was owned by Peter Williamson who is now in his 80s. The players in the band were the same as in the Paul Young Band above. Jimmy Grosset was probably the best known of Edinburgh's drummers, after Toto. Jimmy ran the Musicians' Union Big Band." |
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Gordon Covey, Glencoe, Western Highlands, Scotland: November 12+16+16, 2011 |
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Recollections 45. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri for responding to Stuart Lyon's question about Toni's Dance Hall (Recollections 42) and for adding another dance hall (Leith Assembly Rooms to this page. Frank wrote: |
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Toni's Dance Hall "Tony's Dance Hall was in Picardy Place. It was the former Trades Councils' offices and Council Social Club for a while. It is now a casino. Until the 1960s, it was run by Tony Fusco." |
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Leith Assembly Rooms "Leith Assembly Rooms at 43 Constitution Street were Leith's 2nd most popular dance venue. They were open 6 days a week up until the early-1960s After the early-1960s, they were used for private functions only, and now they have become housing" |
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Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith: November 17, 2011 |
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Recollections 46. Colin Campbell Hampshire, England |
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Thank you to Colin Campbell wrote: |
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Toni's Dance Hall "That's fascinating material about the Edinburgh Dance Halls. I played in most of them." |
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Paulena's "I don’t know whether or not Paulena’s in Slateford Road has been mentioned.** It was run by Paul and Ena Collins. The band there was Roy Lambert on Alto/clarinet. He emigrated to Canada. He had a good trumpet player named George Roy. I used to work the lights at Paulena’s." |
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** Paulena's is included in this table of Dance Hall Names, Dates and Addresses |
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"I played in 1960-1964, with: - The Nat Allen Orchestra - Johnny Kildare Orchestra and - The Ray McVay Orchestra. I left Edinburgh in 1964 to join The Jack Hawkins Orchestra, Portsmouth. I returned, back and forth, until 1969. During that period, I also played in the Kings Theatre Orchestra in Edinburgh. I sailed on the maiden voyage of the Q.E.2 from Southampton May 3rd 1969. Being domiciled in Hampshire, I'm still playing with no lesser band than The Royal Marine Association Concert Orchestra, mainly ex-Royal Marine musicians." |
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Coin Campbell (Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Arranging), Hampshire, England: January 15, 2012 |
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Contacting Colin Colin tells me that if anybody wishes to contact him, he will answer immediately. If you'd like to contact Colin, please email me to let me know then I'll pass on his email address to you. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh,: January 16, 2012 |
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Recollections 46. Reply 1 Albert Rossi Cape Town, South Africa |
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Thank you to Albert Rossi who read Colin Campbell's Recollections 46 above and wrote the message below to Colin. |
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Albert Rossi wrote: "Hello Colin: Ray McVay Orchestra "We obviously knew each other when you played saxophone with the Ray McVay Orchestra. I was his drummer during this time and had joined the band at Glasgow’s Locarno ballroom. I stayed with the band all through our time in Edinburgh which, I have to say, were some of the best times in my life and I have so many great memories." London + South Africa "I left Edinburgh with Ray when he got the job at Mecca’s Orchid Ballroom in Purley, south of London, but in 1964 I moved to South Africa where I stayed for 17 years. There I worked on and off as a professional drummer for the first 5 years, playing with ‘pop’ groups at night and as a studio drummer for Troubadour records during the day." Switzerland "However, later I got a great daytime job in engineering so decided to quit the music industry altogether. It was many years later, while living in Switzerland, that I picked up my ‘sticks’ and began playing again but this time it was with good old jazz and swing bands which I loved." South Africa "After 20 years in Switzerland, I retired back here in Cape Town some 13 years ago. The only playing I’m doing now is on my electronic drum kit where I can now play with whoever I choose as I’ve downloaded hundreds of ‘drumless’ tracks from the internet so now I am able to entertain, not only myself, but my family and friends as well. Ha! Ha! I've finished up my music career as a one man band and can boast that I’m now playing with icons such as Count Basie, Michael Jackson and many more big band and pop groups that span many decades of music." Ray McVay + Jack Hawkins "Ray McVay is still on tour and also plays under the Glen Miller Orchestra UK to which he bought the rights many years ago. I've also seen that Jack Hawkins has a website and appears to be still playing with his band. If you have any special memories of our days with Ray I'd be very happy to hear about them, so please drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you." Albert Rossi, Cape Town, South Africa: November 4, 2014 |
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Recollections 46. Reply 2 Colin Campbell Hampshire, England |
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I was pleased to see that the email I sent to Colin Campbell about an hour ago* letting him know about Recollections 46, Reply 1 got through successfully to him. * I had sent my message to Colin to the email address that he had been using about 3 years ago. |
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Colin replied: Still Playing ex-Royal Marine Musicians "I'm still playing. At present, I am lead alto with 3 swing bands in the Hampshire area, but the major part of my work is with World Famous Royal Marines Association Concert Band. We play all over the country and are becoming International (as you would expect with all the ex-Royal Marine Musicians). We have about 60 musicians on the books and also have small groups like: - Brass Quintet - Sax Quartet - Dixieland and lately - Big Swing Band. As this year is the 350 Anniversary of the beginning of the Royal Marines you can imagine we have been very busy, playing in London at a lot of functions attended by The Royal Parties." Coin Campbell, Hampshire, England: January 15, 2012 |
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Recollections 47. Stuart Lyon Blackford, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Stuart Lyon for writing again with more information about the old Edinburgh Dance Halls. Stuart wrote: |
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Havana Dance Club "I was in the RCAHMS today looking at some old photos of Princes Street. I found one from around 1950 of 118-120 Princes Street ** showing the Havana Dance Club above the following shops: Sparks, Gieves, Saxone, Jaeger and Singer. I don't recall seeing it mentioned on your web site but maybe I am wrong. ** Photo No. ED8673 in Box No. 147/ED/8673 Stuart Lyon, Blackford, Edinburgh: May 3, 2012 |
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Thanks Stuart. You are right. That's not one of the Dance Clubs that I was aware of, so it was not on the EdinPhoto web site. Perhaps somebody else will be able to tell us more about it. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: May 3, 2012 |
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Recollections 48. Gus Coutts Duddingston, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Gus Coutts who added: |
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Havana Dance Club "I think Havana Dance Club, mentioned in Recollections 47 above would be the premises that later became Fuller's Restaurant." Gus Coutts, Duddingston, Edinburgh: May 4, 2012 |
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Recollections 49. Dave Ferguson Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross, Scotland |
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Dave Ferguson has sent me many poems about growing up in the Granton area of Edinburgh. However, he turns to a different subject below, with his memories of Stewart's Dance Hall, Abbeymount, off Regent Road, followed by another of his poems. Dave wrote |
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Stewart's Dance Hall "How many folk out there remember Stewarts dancing. We used to have great fun there on Saturday afternoons when big Eric Stewart and his wife taught us how to dance. They, they would get us on the floor dance - once round the hall, showing us a few steps. Then they would introduce us to a girl to carry on dancing with till the end of the dance. It was a, great way to meet the lassies and learn a little about dancing." 'The Confetti Ball' "Does anyone remember the Confetti Ball ball at Christmas? I met my wife Jinty there on Christmas Eve, 1954. We are still together today, I often wonder how many lads were lucky enough to find their little queen at Stewarts. We went to Stewarts until it closed, real happy days they were, and the same faces popped up all the time, including some of the 'Jubilee Boys' from Granton: - Paddy Buckley - Johnny Paget (Pago to friends) - Dumbo from Lochend and a host of other well kent faces from Granton, Niddrie, Lochend and Leith. There was a bit rivalry but mostly we got on well together. Working in Leith helped you make friends and contacts - but that’s a another story." |
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'The Confetti Ball' 1954 Christmas time is here Tae the jigging we will go Tae Stewarts Confetti Ball, A really grand, grand show. Dancing through till midnight We had awe kinds o’ fun Playin’ wi’ balloons Till the Christmas bells rung. At midnight there was much fun and joy When confetti frae the roof Poured on the girls and boys The excitement was something tae each and everyone Thanks tae Eric and his wife we had some Christmas fun. Awe the lads frae Niddrie, Granton and Lochend Got on well the gither, a real happy blend. That wis Christmas 54, Where a met ma Bonnie Jean. A lovely lass frae Niddrie, A champion and a queen. We’ve been the gither ever since and had a real grand life. Thanks tae Eric Stewart and his bonnie, bonnie wife Fun it wis fer everyone who rallied to the call Tae come along at Christmas tae Stewarts the Confetti Ball." DF377 |
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Dave Ferguson, Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross, Scotland: June 14, 2012 |
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Recollections 50. Jim Little Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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Thank you to Jim Little who wrote from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Jim wrote: |
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Question Old Toll Bar then The Cavendish "I was a regular in the Old Toll Bar in the 1960s on Friday nights. Is it still there? ** Lots of people went there before going to the Cavendish. A couple of my pals were big Tam Marr and Arthur Kinraid." Jim Little, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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** See Reply 1 below |
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Recollections 50. Reply 1. Peter Stubbs Edinburgh |
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Old Toll Bar Jim: I checked on Google and found only one bar in Edinburgh named the Old Toll Bar. It is at Bonnington. However, I assume that the one that you went to would have been at Tollcross. So, I checked the Tollcross page on the EdinPhoto web site and found this in Recollections 20:
Auld Toll Bar I've now checked again on Google. The pub at 37-39 Leven Street is now called Auld Toll Bar, so I assume that will be the place that you used to frequent. This page on the Best Pubs web site includes a photo of Ault Toll Bar. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 26, 2012 |
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Recollections 51. Tony Henderson Canada |
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Thank you to Tony Henderson for posting a message in the EdinPhoto Guestbook. Tony wrote: |
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Question Portobello Dance Hall "Between 1953 and 1957, my wife and I used to go to the dance hall in Portobello on the Prom. Can anyone remember the name of it? ** On a good night you could hear the waves when they opened the doors." Tony Henderson, Canada. Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook: July 27, 2012 |
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** See Reply 1 below |
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Recollections 51. Reply 1 Archie Foley Canada |
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Thank you to Archie Foley for replying to Tony Henderson's question in Recollections 51 above. Archie wrote: |
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Inchview Dance Hall "The dance hall on Portobello Promenade at the foot of Tower Street was Inchview Dance Hall." Archie Foley, Joppa, Edinburgh: August 3, 2012 |
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Recollections 51. Reply 2 Gus Coutts Duddingston, Edinburgh |
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Gus Coutts added: |
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Inchview Dance Hall "As far as I can remember The Inchview was owned by the Co-op and the ballroom was built above their bakery." Gus Coutts, Duddingston, Edinburgh: August 19, 2012 |
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Recollections 52. Alister McFarquhar Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England |
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Alister McFarquhar wrote: |
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Port Seton "I worked on a farm at Aberlady, East Lothian, in early 1950s. Our local was the Hall in Port Seton. Someone might remind me of its name. It was famous for its tango. I remember it was about a 9 miles to walk home to Aberlady - or it seemed like 9 miles with all the booze and the moonlight. We walked in a group, singing in the moonlight." Jiving "For jiving, the nearest dance hall was at Dalkeith Labour Ha, I think - but for lessons it was the Miners' Ha at Dysart." New Cavendish "At Fountainbridge, I was given a wide berth because of my Glasgow accent at the refined New Cavendish. They assumed I had razor blades under the cap of my Chick Murray bunnet. I guess I should have taken it off while dancing." Eldorado "The Eldorado was considered a bit rough, and Leith very down-market ." Alister McFarquhar, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England: August 8+11, 2012 |
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Recollections 53. Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
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Memories of Fairleys Dance Hall in Leith Street continue to arrive. Danny Callaghan wrote: |
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The Corner of Little King Street "My father lived, as a kid, in the flats above pawnbroker on the corner of Little King Street and Leith Street, before the family moved to 2 Leith Street Terrace about 1917." |
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Fairleys Dance Hall "Fairley's Dance Hall was across the road, on the east side of Leith Street on the other side of the road. I have never been in there but have a great sorry told by my cousins. Fairleys was a haunt of sailors and had a bit of a reputation. My father was a great dancer and used to go there. One evening, two of my much older cousins Katie and Mary Dick were there and my Dad came up to them and basically frog marched them out, saying something like ‘This is no place for you.’ So the question is: 'What was my Dad doing there?' ” |
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Imperial Hotel "Just down from Fairleys was the Imperial Hotel. I used to go there to dinner/supper dances on Friday and Saturday nights in the 1960s. It was a good venue and had good bands." |
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Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: August 2, 2012 |
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Recollections 54. Ron Hetherington |
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Thank you to Ron Hetherington who wrote: |
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The Plaza "We've just spent hours going through all the reminiscences of the Edinburgh dance halls and bands. In Recollections 42, I read a comment re Dante Lanni. As far as I remember, he had the band in the main hall of the Plaza but 'left' to be replaced by the Kentones and Stella in the late-1950s. I believe there was also a brilliant pianist called Al Weston. He taught piano in the studios of Methvyn Simpsons which was part of the old building of the Life Association of Scotland on Princes St. at the Mound where I worked. My room was through the wall from the studios, which was entertaining! In the Plaza's small hall, I think the resident band around the late-1950s and early-1960s was Joe Smith. He was a great clarinetist." The Locarno "I also remember the Locarno at Slateford and it's band under Buddy Featherstonhaugh. The highlight when going home was a visit to Malones bakery where the rolls for the morning were being baked, so the walk home with my friend was aided with a lovely bag of newly baked hot rolls." Dance Band Event "I wonder if anybody remember the big Dance Band event in the 1950s with Sid Phillips, Ken Mackintosh and Carl Bariteau to name but a few. The venue was Murrayfield Ice Rink." The Lanark Palais "Another dance hall that I frequented around the early-1960s was the Lanark Palais at Lanark Loch. The band there was Hugh Devine and son Melvin Devine.. Ron Hetherington: September 10, 2012 |
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Recollections 55. Walford Richards Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Walford Richards who wrote: |
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Dance Halls "Here are just a few of the Edinburgh dance halls that I remember from my youth in the 1950s onwards: - Eldorado Dance Hall, Leith - Locarno (Paulena's), Slateford Road - Cavendish Ballroom, Tollcross - Plaza Ballroom, Morningside - The Palais Ballroom, Tollcross When one entered the Palais, one entered another world. Bands "I remember: - The Basil Kirchin Orchestra was the best swing band to grace The Palais, coming from the Belfast Palais. - The Maurice Sheffield Band - The Jeff Rowena Quintet - Brilliant! - Joe Loss - Geraldo - Ted Heath and many others. I hope this will unlock some peoples' memories. Walford Richards, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: August 21, 2012 |
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Recollections 56. Bob Leslie Glasgow, Scotland |
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Thank you to Bob Leslie who wrote: |
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Bob wrote New Cavendish Ballroom "I saw the Pink Floyd on their first tour at the New Cavendish Ballroom, a truly weird place! You had to wear a tie to see the Floyd! They weren't all that good, although I liked their first album 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn'. They were playing on the floor, not the stage, with pretty inadequate equipment." Bob Leslie, Glasgow, Scotland, October 20, 2012 |
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Recollections 57. Walford Richards Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Walford Richards who added: |
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The Eldorado Bandleader "There was a further bandleader, the first black musician that I had ever seen, who played at the Eldorado. He was Carl Bariteau. He was as good as Sid Philips, if not better." Walford Richards, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: November 6, 2012, with acknowledgement to Tony (Scotty) Henderson, Canada, for providing the correct spelling of Carl Bariteau's surname |
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Recollections 58. Tony (Scotty) Henderson Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Walford Richards who added: |
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The Eldorado Bandleaders "I cannot say that I saw Carl Bariteau (Recollections 57) in the Eldorado, but did dance to him in Wisbech when I was stationed in RAF Marham in 1951. I did dance to Joe Loss in the Eldo though! Both Carl Bariteauwere and Joe Loss had great bands that bring back old memories!" Tony (Scotty) Henderson, Canada: November 27, 2012 |
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Recollections 59. Tom Hunter |
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Thank you to Tom Hunter for replying to a message left by Ann Bisset in 2009. |
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Tom wrote: Victor Silvester Dance Studio Edinburgh "Anne Blisset (née Meikle) in Recollections 8 asks if anyone remembers the Victor Silvester Dance Studio. I certainly do, for a number of reasons. Opening Ceremony "When the dance studio opened I was the author of the weekly “Dancers’ Diary” in the Evening Dispatch and was invited to the opening party on 31 March 1958. As I wrote at the time:
The Principal "The first Principal of the studio was Peter Draper who came from Glasgow, with Miss Margaret Garner as his Assistant. When he moved on later in the year, Joffre Gundy became Principal and Johnny Banks, a well-known local amateur dancer who had turned professional in May 1958, was appointed his Assistant. Tape Recording In December 1958 Johnny (whom I knew well) rang to ask me to bring my tape recorder up to the studio as a tape bearing Christmas Greetings from Victor Silvester had been received and there was no recorder in the studio to play it. I willingly agreed and duly arrived at the studio. I was surprised to find a new face in the box office, Miss Valerie Wright as I was to discover later, and I explained why I was there with a tape recorder (an extremely bulky object in those days). During the evening Johnny introduced me to Valerie who, in September 1960, was to become my wife. Tom Hunter, February 14, 2013 |
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Recollections 60. Terry Jack Bali, Indonesia |
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Thank you to Terry Jack who wrote: |
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Bouncers "I enjoyed reading the stories from the old dance halls in Edinburgh. I think I've been in most of them back in the 1950s. I remember the bouncers throwing me down the stairs at Fairleys. I bounced better in those days! On a Sunday, I used to go to Wallyford dancing. Good old days! Terry Jack formally from Prestonpans now in Bali Indonesia."
Terry Jack, Bali, formerly Prestonpans, East Lothian,
Scotland: |
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Recollections 61. John Fraser Inch, Edinburgh |
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John Fraser wrote |
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Victory Ballroom "I attended Leith Academy from 1948 to 1951. A girl in my class was called Shirley Morico. Her father had a ballroom called the Victory Ballroom.'' There may also have been a ballroom above the Palace Picture House but all I can remember is the snooker hall that I used to play in." John Fraser, Inch, Edinburgh. April 14, 2013. |
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Recollections 62. Alistair Rankine Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia |
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Thank you to Alistair who wrote: |
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The Palais “I also attended the Palais in the early 1950s, but the bands I remember from those days were: - Basil Kirchin and - The Jeff Rowena Quartet. Great days! The guys all wore suits and ties, and they queued up to fix their Brylcreamed Hair in the Gents!” Alistair Rankine, Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia: March 29, 2013 |
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Recollections 63. Martin Rowena |
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Several people above have remembered Jeff Rowena and his Quartet on the revolving stage at the Palais in Edinburgh Here is a message from his nephew, Martin Martin wrote: |
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Jeff Rowena “I am Jeff Rowena's nephew and I have started this Facebook page on him for recollections by friends, family and fans.” Martin Rowena: March 8, 2013 |
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Recollections 64. Dave O'Reilly Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Dave O'Reilly who wrote: |
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Anchor Ballroom Anchor Close “Anchor Close was off the High Street. A bit down the close, on the left-hand side, was the Anchor Ballroom. It was run by Ena and Paul Linton. Anchor Close Ballroom Dancing Ena used to have a Ballroom Dancing School for children (and maybe adults too). My dancing partner was Wilma Highland & Tap Dancing Betty Brandon also had her dancing school there for a while. I did Highland and Tap Dancing there. Memories I have some odd memories of those days: - Paul, quite portly. - no windows. - lots of chairs. - mothers watching their kids. - fish and chips after lessons. Dave O'Reilly, Edinburgh: November 26, 2013 |
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Recollections 65. Carol Bradley (née Kay) Taupo, New Zealand |
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Thank you to Carol Bradley who wrote: |
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Afton Dance Club “It brings back many memories reading about all the old Edinburgh haunts of dancing. "I belonged to the Afton Dance Club, introduced by my sister Irene and her partner (now husband) Danny Kaye, a well known photographer in Edinburgh." Dancing Medals "I went to the Afton during the late-1950s and early-1960’s, and gained my dancing medals as was expected then, and was in their Latin American dance team, competing in one of the Come Dancing programmes televised live in those days from the Palais." The Palais "I remember the Palais with fond memories as being very glamorous and luxurious. I remember the ladies powder rooms with so many mirrors." Jimmy Harper "Jimmy Harper ended up marrying Diana who was my sister’s husband’s sister and they went on to win many competitions in their time. I have lost touch with them nowadays." Carol Bradley (née Kay), Taupo, New Zealand: February 23, 2014 |
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Recollections 66. Michael Grant Edinburgh |
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Michael Grant, a volunteer with Edinburgh University Research collections, wrote, seeking information, recollections and photos of St Celia's Hall, Niddrie Street between 1933 and 1959s, the era when it was the 'Excelsior Ballroom' Michael wrote: |
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Excelsior Ballroom “St Cecilia’s Hall, just below South Bridge, on the corner of Niddry Street and the Cowgate, is owned by The University of Edinburgh. It currently houses their Musical Instruments Museum. In the period between 1933 and 1959 this building was known as the Excelsior Ballroom. Its manager/chairman was Andrew W. Moffat. It was successful throughout the 1930s and 1940s as a ballroom. Do you remember it? Dance classes were taught there by Ena Linton, who was a well-known figure in the ballroom dancing world. On the Cowgate side of the building, there was a pub called the Bridge Bar. It was owned by Miss Magdalene R Cairns." Seeking Help with Our Research "We're trying to find out as much as we can about the 'Excelsior Ballroom' period in the hall’s history. We want to find people who went there and could speak to us about it. We'd also like to track down any photos or documents that people may have or know about. Do have any information which would help us to tell the story? There are photographs of the building during this period on the RCAHMS website that might help to jog a few memories." To Jog the Memory "There are some photos on the websites for RCAHMS and Scotsman Publications that might jog a few memories. Just search for 'St Cecilia’s'." Life in the 1940s "This May, 2014, we'll be hosting a special range of events based around 'Life in the 1940s in Edinburgh' as part of the 'Festival of Museums'. These events will include a ‘one off’ dance in St Cecilia’s Hall." Carol Bradley (née Kay), Taupo, New Zealand: February 23, 2014 |
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Replies? If you'd like to reply to Michael Grant's questions above, please email me, and I'll pass on to you the contact details for people involved in this project. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: March 13, 2014 |
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Recollections 67. Albert Rossi Cape Town, South Africa |
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Thank you to Albert Rossi for sending me the two photos below. Both were taken the Palais de Danse, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, in 1962: |
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1 Jack Hawkins' Band
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Albert Rossi, Cape Town, South Africa Photographer not known 2 Ray McVay and his Orchestra
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Albert Rossi, Cape Town, South Africa Photographer not known
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Albert Rossi remembers playing with Ray McVay and his Orchestra at the Palais. Albert wrote:: |
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Photo 2 Ray McVay and his Orchestra Musicians "These musicians in Photo 2 above are: Rhythm section: - Cliff Hall (piano) - He went on to be 'The Shadows' Musical Director for 12 years. - Harry Gardner (guitar) - ? (bass) Next to Harry but hidden) - Albert Rossi (Drums) Brass section: L to R: - Archie McVay (Ray’s brother on trombone but real name McVeigh) - John Donnelly (trumpet) Later, he played lead for the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra) - Dennis ? (lead trumpet) - Alistair Miller (trumpet) Saxophones: L to R - Gerrie ? - Colin Campbell? (Hard to make out) - Tommy Cassim, ? Vocalists: L to R: - Ronnie Wilmot - Lance Garrett - Christine Beech Bandleader: - Ray McVay Fight at the Palais "I never played in Jack Hawkins' Band, but I have some memories of playing with Ray McVay. - When the ‘Yanks’ came to town in their droves, the ‘local’ lasses were swooning all over the ballroom. As you can imagine, this didn’t go down well with the local lads, so a huge fight flared up. - It was like straight out of a movie - a once in a lifetime’s experience. They even finished up throwing tables and chairs over the balcony. - All the ‘decent’ people stayed on the dance floor while we played the same tune for no less than 25 minutes in order to try and keep them there. It’s without a doubt the longest piece of music I ever played in my whole life - The police, complete with their ‘Black Maria’ arrived in force, complete with long batons, and were just lashing out at everyone who moved, except the dancers of course. - One such guy was a friend of mine who had been standing watching the chaos at the side of the bandstand but minding his own business when a policeman, who had come close to him, suddenly lashed out at him with his baton and proceeded to pick him up by the collar and throw him through the side of one of the emergency doors that had been opened and straight into the Black Maria - and all just because he had tried to talk to him. - All the time this was happening, I was shouting at the policeman from the bandstand, trying to tell him that he wasn’t involved. Unfortunately, due to all the chaos, he never heard me. Thankfully he was not charged and was let free. - Yes… That was a night that I will never forget as long as I live!" Albert Rossi, Cape Town, South Africa: November 5, 2014 (2 emails) |
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Recollections 68. Lyndsay (formerly Linda) Montgomery Old Town, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Lyndsay Montgomery who wrote: |
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Portobello Two Dance Halls "There are a couple of places I've not seen mentioned so far on the EdinPhoto web site: - The first of these dance halls was called The Scene. Its location was either just at the end of the block of houses on Straiton Place, or on the prom, along from the bottom of Bath Street. Laurie Cassidy ran it. Live bands played there, and a guy called Alec who lived in Bingham, used to get up on stage and play the maracas, a copy of Mick of the Stones. Alec was a bit of a toughie at this time and always had on a striped t shirt. I remember a couple of years later, I was in Mr Smith's on Lothian Road and Alec was living in various people's houses. He asked me if I could take his shirt home and wash it for him. He was not too clean looking, and my mother kicked up blazes with me for bringing it back with me. however she washed it and ironed it! - The second dance hall was on Bridge Street, but I really can't remember what it was called." Rosemary Peat "Both of these dance halls were great at the time when I went there. I must have been about 17 or 18. I went there with my pal, Rosemary Peat, from Newcraighall. Please tell me if you know how I could get in touch with Rosemary. That would be the icing on the cake!" Linda (now Lyndsay) Montgomery, Old Town, Edinburgh: November 6, 2014 |
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Reply to Lyndsay Montgomery If you can suggest how Lyndsay Montgommery might be able to get in touch with her old friend, Rosemary Peat, please email me to tell me, then I'll either pass on your message to her or give your her email address. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 6, 2014 |
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Recollections 69. Mary Walker |
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Thank you to Mary Walker who wrote: |
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Jean Cairns Dancing School "Does anyone remember Jean Cairns' dancing troop and dancing school in the 1950s? The dancing school was held in a hut near Niddrie Marshall school. I used to go there to learn tap dancing and used to dance at concerts etc. I'd love to see photographs of it , if there are any. I loved it! I remember dancing at a concert at Portobello in the very early-1950s. Jackie Dennis did his Al Johnson songs at the same concert, before he hit the big time!"
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I wonder if Jean Cairns was related to Miss Magdalene R Cairns, mentioned by Michael R Grant in his Recollections 66 above. Peter Stubbs: August 2015 |
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Recollections 70. Ron Forbes Mallorca, Spain |
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Thank you to Ron Forbes who wrote: |
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Central School of Dancing Drummond Street "I have fond memories of the Central, in early-1958. It was the big Friday Night Out for my friends and I. We would get our trendy shirts, ties - (even those stripy ones and caps that Elvis wore in 'King Creole') at that super modern men's clothes shop up Leith Street. At 16 it was a great way to meet up with the opposite sex. Being a club, the girls were never allowed to refuse a dance (which of course used to happen later at nights at the Palais.) We would all be on one side of the room, and the girls on the other. As soon as Lorna would put on a record we would make a bee line for any new girls on the other side - especially for the waltzes! Reggie Harkin was the boss - he looked a bit like Len Goodman from Strictly, although we didn't see much of him at the Central. Marjorie was always the strict one. "Keep your arms up - back straight - no slouching!" She hated close contact dancing - 'mooning' it was called - but we could get away with this on Saturday nights at their other dance hall the Afton, as it was very dark there. Basically it was cuddling and shuffling on the spot! Betty was always the jolly and friendly one - and, of course, Lorna the real beauty. Everyone wanted to dance with her. I can still picture her in one of her swirly dresses! The first hour or so, there was a bit of tuition, tea for the oldies, then the social bit. I actually got a bronze medal for waltz and quickstep, and I've never forgotten those! Ron Forbes, Mallorca, Spain: 29 December 2015. |
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Recollections 71. Norman Smith Halifax, West Yorkshire, England |
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Thank you to Norman Smith for writing again. Norman wrote: |
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1960s "When we went to Edinburgh dance halls in the 1960s, we used to go to: - The Rainbow Rooms, up Newington, - Milton House, down the A1 towards Portobello, and - Walkers in the West End (if we were feeling flush) It would be nice to hear from anyone else who used to go to any of those dance halls." Norman Smith, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England: 26 January 2017 |
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Reply to Norman? If you ever went to any of the dance halls that Norman mentions, and would like to send a message to Norman please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on his email address to you. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 28 January 2017 |
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Recollections 72. Lee Bruce a.k.a. Lorraine Dutton Dingwall, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland |
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Alan Dodds, in his Recollections 24 above mentioned Madame Ada's School of Dance. Here, Lee Bruce has sent more memories of the School of Dance. Lee wrote: |
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Madam Ada's School of Dance My Mother "I have recently been talking to my mother, Irene Forbes (for the first time in 15 years). I was surprised to hear she had been at Madame Ada's School of Dance in Edinburgh. I have not been able to find any archive so far, I wondered if anyone had contributed anything to your EdinPhoto site." Ballet "My mother is 84, so I guess she would have been there in the late-1930s or early 1940s She tells me that some great impresario came to the school and wanted to take her, along with some others, to train in ballet in London but my Grandmother would not let her go. I think she said his name was Spinosza." Photos and Memories "I'd love to find some photos of the school or memoirs from anyone who went there." My Family "It is of great comfort and has been of huge interest to my family that my father has added his memories to the EdinPhoto site, and they have been looked up frequently." Lee Bruce a.k.a. Lorraine Dutton, Dingwall, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland: 13 March 2018 |
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Recollections 73. Allan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
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Thank you to Allan Dodds for replying to Lee Bruce's Recollections 72 above. Allan wrote |
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Madam Ada's School of Dance 1. Ballroom and Jive "Lee Bruce asks about the Madam Ada School of Dance. I feel that there may be a risk of confusion here as I referred to 'Madam Ada's School of Dancing' where I and my then classmates from Heriot's, amongst others, learned basic ballroom dancing, together with 'the jive' which had just come into fashion around 1957. 2. Ballet There also appears to have existed concurrently 'The Madam Ada School of Dance' which turned out ballet dancers, but none of us became Scotland's answer to Rudolf Nureyev as we did not attend that establishment." Merchiston Area "It occurs to me that the place I attended, a terraced private house in the Merchiston area, could have been the residence of an employee of the School, or even its Principal, and that she could have taught ballroom dancing after hours using the 'Madam Ada' trademark, with or without the permission of the School. I'm sure that other readers will be able to clarify this point." Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: 20 March 2018 |
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Recollections 74. Gordon Elms South Africa |
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Gordon wrote: |
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Fairleys Ballroom July 1951 South Queensferry "For the 3 months, July to October 1951, I was a 21 year old sailor on an RN minesweeper berthed at South Queensferry. Frequently I went to Fairleys. On my first evening there, I met and danced with a very nice young lady. At the end of the evening, I suggested we danced together as a regular thing. It turned out that she was married to a sailor who was serving at the time, I think, in the Far East. She also had a baby, She had a younger sister whom she suggested could act as a chaperone. I readily agreed. I became a regular visitor to the flat which they shared and we spent many pleasant hours at Fairleys." October 1951 Leaving Edinburgh "The day dawned when my ship was detailed to return to Chatham at short notice. I managed to get shore leave so that I could at least say goodbye, no easy telephone communication in those days. The news was greeted by sadness and disappointment, then they asked whether I would keep in touch and perhaps they might see me again. My future was uncertain at that time and I could not see any possibility of another posting to Scotland. Regretfully I felt I had to say goodbye. The young sister's reaction took me completely by surprise. She ran to the kitchen and returned in a fury screaming 'You B…….' , then rushed to stab me. Her sister grabbed her round the waist and held her and said 'I think you'd better go.' I went." Today My Apologies "I had had no idea that she had such strong feelings for me. To this day, I feel badly about the incident and wish I had been more considerate and at least exchanged addresses, then I could at least have corresponded. Like me, those ladies will now be in their eighties if they are still alive. If they are, I would like to apologize sincerely for causing such distress. On my return to Chatham I was posted to Admiralty House Simonstown, South Africa, where I now live Gordon Elms, South Africa: 4 August 2018 |