Happy New Year to you all, it is now Saturday 8th January 1966. Here in Hastings in the Happy Ballroom – Hastings Pier, after the holiday time we have reverted to nothing much happening in the Ballroom. Bingo and Fishing are the main entertainments available elsewhere on the Pier.
The first visit this year on Friday night to the Ready steady Go Studio in London, had brought together some interesting acts – The Exciters ”A Little Bit of Soap”: The Hollies “I can’t Let Go”: Georgie Fame and The Blue flames, plus Cathy and Keith – if you recall the show had welcomed in the New Year in style last week.
Down the road in St Leonards The Witch Doctor was recovering and this Saturday night would tie up with The Loose Ends and The Web. Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night would be record time and Thursday Night sensation with The “Muscles” Maxted Show, when you look at the advertisement what stand out is 2/- admission and show over by 11.00pm – how things have changed,
Some of you might be interested to see the chart for this week from Radio Caroline – 1 Spencer Davis Group “ Keep on Running” 2 Beatles “We Can Work it Out/Day Tripper” 3 Walker Brothers “My Ship is Coming In” 4Hermans Hermits “A Must to Avoid” 5 Fontella Bass “ Rescue Me” 6 Kinks “To the End of The Day” 7 Peter Sellers “ A Hard Days Night” 8 Four Seasons “ Lets Hang On” 9 Searchers “Take me for What I am Worth” 10 DDDBMT “ You Make it More”
BBC Radio Saturday: 10.00 Saturday Club – Wayne Fontana/Pretty Things/Berries/Overlanders/Bryan Fayer Orchestra and Brian Matthews.12.30pm Thee Jack Jackson Radio Show.4.30 Desmond Carrington Open House. “ Records All Tastes” 6.30pm Jazz Beat –Artwoods, Mike Cotton Sound and George Melley.7.30pm “Home and Away” with the British Forces in Germany, and this week it’s from HQ Honhe Area – including Susan Maughan and Frankie Vaughan. [Ed – The Honhe Garrison and Training Area, which was known to many who have served in BAOR as a major Armoured Training Area actually was handed to the Germany Military on 31 December 2015 after 70 years continues use by the British] 8.15pm George Martin & his Music. 8.45pm, Old Time Music Hall with Sidney Bowman and Benny Lee.
Sunday 10.31am Easy Beat. 12.00noon, 2 Way Family Favourites this week London & Cologne. 1.30pm Al Read Show,2.00pm The Clitheroe Kid, 2.30pm the Joe Brown Show, 3.00pm Semprini Serenade 4.00pm Pick of The Pops, 5.00pm Movie Go Round – this week featuring “Dracula –Prince of Darkness with Christopher Lee. 6.00pm Sing Something Simple and 7.30pm Star Time with Ralph Reader with Max Bygraves, Vera Lynn and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Television – Saturday : 12.45 Grand Stand 5.15pm Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs and guests Catherine Boyle,Paul Jones, Pete Murray & Dee Dee Warwick. 5.50pm Dr Who, 6.15 The Munsters, 6.40 Dixon of Dock Green 8.50pm The Benny Hill Show .
Sunday 9.00am APNA HI GHAR SAMAJHIYE[ Make yourself at Home] – a new programme in Hindustani for the Indian and Pakistani residents in the UK. 5.00pm, Billy Smart Circus. 6.00pm, Sooty. 9.15pm, Dr Findley Casebook.
ATV presented in this schedule the regular “Thank Your Lucky Stars” this week – Jim Dale, Zoot Money, Cilla Black, Eddie Calvert, David and Jonathan, The Mindbenders, Walker brothers and Twinkle.
This was a quiet week, some of the regular programmes have returned after the holiday schedules, but then things were different than today far less time was taken for breaks during the Christmas Period in the 1960s. This was going to be a very busy year in Hastings because of the 900th anniversary celebrations of the Norman Invasion, and this was reflected in some of the entertainments on offer.
Until Next week, all keep warm and take care; the weather from 50 years ago indicated Ice, Snow, Hail and Rain. Andre Palfrey-Martin ©2016
