The History of the Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier, continues this week 50 years ago, its Saturday 7th August 1965 – with the local press having reported that the Old Time Musical Hall had been doing excellent trade, the format which was based on the City Variety Leeds, as we had seen on Television, had transformed the Ballroom on some evenings, where groups were encouraged to dress in the Edwardian Style, and they were treated to Table service of drinks and snacks. Reading this in the local newspaper – The Hastings & St Leonards Observer is good news for all.
The weekend the regulars on Friday Night would have been eagerly watching RSG – this week the top of the bill was The Who, however on the TV recording on the Wednesday, Roger was down with a bug and had been sent home, he had however recovered by Friday when appeared at the Richmond Jazz Festival. Also on the programme Brian Poole & The Tremeloes :”I want Candy”: The [US] Byrds “All I really want to Do” and Sonny & Cher “ I got You Babe”.
BBC Radio was certainly putting out some good music – Saturday Club with Brian Matthew – YES I Remembered ! – In the line up Gerry and The Pacemakers, Vikki Carr, The Johnny Spence Orchestra, Gene Vincent, The Puppets, Carolyn Hester and The Marionettes. Lunchtime it was The Northern Dance Orchestra – known as The NDO with guest Friday Brown. 2.00pm Saturday Swings – The Hollies, Acker Bilk, Scott Peters and the Jenny Allen Trio. Change in mood with the Folk Room at 4.00pm this week on the show Donovan, The Settlers, Jenny Johnson and Shangaans.
Sunday 10.31 it was Easy Beat – very little information about this week, 12.00 noon it was THREE WAY Family Favourites, BBC London, BFBS Cologne and BFBS Nicosia with Jean Challis. Later at 4.00pm it was Alan Fluff Freeman with Top of The Pops.
Television – Saturday Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs, Catherine Boyle, Billy Daniels, Don Moss and Helen Shapiro. ITV offered Thank your Luck Stars with this week, Jim Dale, Sonny & Cher, Joe Brown & The Bruvvers, Heinz, the Small Faces and Sue Thompson.
I have left the Witch Doctor to the end this week, because it must have been one of the very best of weeks, Saturday 7th August we had Sons of Man and The Washington DCs. Sunday Club –it was a first visit from The Ram Jam Band with Geno Washington, for that night the prices had risen a little to 6/- in todays money 30p. The rest of the week it was records with the Witch Doctor team, but on Friday another great first for the Club, because on stage – Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames – playing much of their material from the recent released albums – Fame at The Flamingo” and “Fame at Last” The local press gave a very good write up of the show. Another visit from a future big name had attracted the press the previous week, it was the first visit to the club of The WHO, who were filmed by the BBC at the club for a pilot of a new TV show for young people called ”Whole Scene Going” Produced for the BBC by Elizabeth Cowley it had from Private Eye Barry Fantoni and actress Wendy Varnals as the presenters. The series ran from 5th January 1966 to 15th June 1966 [you will have to wait for more details till the blog reaches 1966 !!] The Who at the Witch Doctor and the interview with Pete Townsend went to air on 5th January. So all in all it has been a exciting week.
Back to today, and this has been an exciting week with The Old Town Carnival and Carnival FM – the opportunity for me to get back to playing music,” Time Machine” and “Ready Steady Go – The Weekend Starts Here” and the additional fun with interviewing Mick Odowd about the Witch Doctor from our youth. Must away as I still have to put together one more show for Sunday afternoon – SHOWTIME – FILMS AND SHOWS – that is going to be fun. Until next week you all take care and enjoy yourselves
Andre Palfrey-Martin © 2015