The Happy Ballroom and more August 1965 by Andre Martin

The Ballroom on Hastings Pier has continued with its current entertainments, the Directors report that this format is proving a success and at the moment they have no plans to return to dancing with groups or bands in the immediate future. The longest bar in Hastings is featured in their advertising and the range of entertainments that are offered. The prospect of the speed boat trips and the Paddle Steamers visits to add to the mix, from a business point of view, things are looking good.
Our Friday nights start as usually with the visit to Associated Rediffusion TV in London – Ready Steady Go – this week’s line up includes The Kinks: “ See My Friend” , The Yardbirds : “ My Girl Sloopy” The Breakaways and Bobby Solo.
At the Witch Doctor the music continues with some great groups. Saturday it is Blues Plus 5 and the Bubbles and Co- I just love some of these names! Plus records, 7.30pm to 11.45pm for ONLY 6/- . On Sunday it’s the return to the town of The Boomerangs who had previously appeared at The Happy Ballroom many months ago/ On Friday another welcome return with Trendsetters. The advertising has started for next week’s top act The WHO [but more about that soon] The weeks shows are completed with the record spinning team keeping everybody happy.
Saturdays for many of the younger listeners has always started with Children’s Favourites and this week the presenter is Jim Dale who has been working with Brian Matthew on Thank Your Lucky Stars. Saturday Club this week is a special from Blackpool and using many of the groups that we working the Summer Season along that part of the Lancashire Coast, included this week are Freddie & The Dreamers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Mark Wynter, Susan Maughan, Kenny Ball & His Jazz Men and The Karl Denver Trio. Mid-day saw a new show, “ Lance A Go Go “ with Lance Percival with according to the Radio Times “records and odd sounds “ At 12.30 it was “Pop over Europe” final concert from Tivoli Hall, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. The weekly folk slot followed “Walk Right In” with David Gell. Saturday Swings this week featured Acker Bilk, The Bo Street Runners, Bill Rayner and The Johnny Spence Orchestra, addition toons and new releases introduced by Peter Latham. 4.00pm and it’s the Folk Room with The Ian Campbell Folk Group.
The Sunday Line-up included Easy Beat at 10.31, the weekly linkup between London and Cologne – 2 Way Family Favourites- was at noon, followed by the regular comedy shows. Peter Haigh with Movie Go Round at 3.00pm, this week features the sound track from The Beatles new release HELP. Alan Freeman followed with the nations Top Singles and Albums with Top of The Pops.
On television on Saturday David Jacobs chaired Juke Box Jury with Jackie Collins, Alan Freeman, Jackie Rae and June Thomson. This was followed later that evening with the second visit to The Royal Tournament. Brain Matthew on ABC with Thank Your Lucky Stars, this week featured Jim Dale, The Shadows, Marianne Faithfull, The Fourmost, Brian Poole & The Trems, The Rolling Stones and Millie Small.
Another week gone and some interesting entertainments in Hastings, until next week, make the most of the Carnival week activities, I will be on CFM with The Time Machine on Monday Evening from 8.00pm, and this week I am going to be including a lot of instrumentals and the legacy that Joe Meek left the music industry. Friday Night it will be – Ready Steady Go – all the best of Stax, Soul and Motown, plus I will be looking at The Witch Doctor and its importance to the musical history in Hastings.             Andre Palfrey-Martin©2015

 

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