Day: 13 January 2024

Speakeasy London

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photo shared Shel Talmy: https://www.facebook.com/ShelTalmyOfficial

Joe Knight… 1968/69

Jaffa Peckham… This brings back memories! Factory played a few times at the Speakeasy. I remember us trying to get Andy’s Hammond Organ down the narrow dog-leg staircase with much difficulty; then being told that Graham Bond used to haul his down tied to his back! We have some stories involving some of the patrons of the club like Keith Moon and Viv Stanshall – most involving alcohol……

Pete Prescott…Gigged there in the 70’s with Village. I haven’t thought of this in years. One night the Gurvitz brother’s, Reggie IsIdore, John Gustaffson and the singer of SNAFU Bobby Harrison came in. They were all drunk. They ended up coming up to jam. Bobby ? Broke my mic stand. John Gustafson just screamed into my mic for a very long time.

Alan Esdaile… There was also a who’s who from the music business at the Speakeasy.

 

 

Regal Cinema St Leonards-on-Sea Mid 60’s

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shared  by Chris Perrior. Photo: Nick Prince

Chris Perrior… this image comes courtesy of Nick Prince and cinema treasures web site,it shows the Regal cinema mid 1960’s a decade after it closed ,demolition began 1973 and the office block that replaced it was known as Gundolphus house and then ocean house, in the foreground is the tin building that was the sorting office for Royal mail, with a glimpse of the station forecourt

David Fussell… I remember the empty cinema in the seventies before it was knocked down.

Roger Simmonds… Me too such happy memories!

Mick Knights… I have no idea why but I remember my parents taking me there to see Eddie Calvert. (aka the man with the golden trumpet)

Mick O’Dowd… The building bottom left was the GPO sorting office that my Dad was based at.

John Busbridge… I remember going there!

David Kent… We lived just up the road from here. There was a poster on the front of the cinema that said “Tonight, Syncopating Sandy will attempt to play the piano” – or something very much like it.

Patrick Turner… The Flea Pit in my day

Nigliv… Went there often in the 50s: remember seeing the marvellous ‘Forbidden Planet’ (1956) there. At that time, we also had the Curzon, Roxy Continental, Gaiety, Orion, Ritz, De Luxe.

Kev Perry… I started my job as a postie in that old tin hut,great memories

Annie Nightingale R.I.P.

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photo: © BBC.

More information… https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67955757

Jim Breeds… Sad news. A hugely important figure in the world of radio. I listened to her a lot over the years. 83 not a bad innings, and to think that she kept working on Radio 1 until late last year!

Roger Ferris… Met her few times with Glo Macari in 1970s: pioneer broadcaster! RIP Annie! 💛

John Gale… Sad news

Keith Veness… Great DJ sad news

Haze 13th Jan and Sweet 20th Jan – Aquarius 1973

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haze and sweet

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Haze photo supplied by Robert Searle                                                                         

Ticket supplied by Diane Leigh, autograph is on the back of the ticket

Robert Searle… Back left is Robert Searle on bass, Les Harding guitar,Colin Rotheroe guitar. Front is Les Pennock vocals Bernie Marchant vocals and Dave Funnel drums. Bob, Les Harding and Colin Rotheroe backing vocals. Got my trusted Fender bass in my right hand. Hated those steps at the back of Aquarius where we bought the gear up but had a great night. We also did the Cobweb before the Aquarius opened. John booked us.

Robert Searle… Saw the Sweet at the Aquarius.Ive heard bad reports of the Sweet but that night , they were brilliant.Their playing was just as good as say Deep Purple ,their vocal harmonies were fantastic. That night at the Aquarius proved how good they were.A great rocking group with great vocals.

Alan Esdaile… I was at that Sweet gig and we were packed in like sardines. They were very good.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… I was there too, remember it like it was yesterday!

Robert Searle… A real great thumping backing ,great musicians.Vocals were fantastic with Andy Scotts high vocals were unbelievable, real professionals.

Chris Giles… I saw Sweet at the Aquarius …my friends dragged me along…. I wasn’t keen to see them… I was shocked they were brilliant one of the best acts I’ve seen.

Barry French… I was knocked out by Sweet at the Aquarius, I was expecting a pop band, & if my memory serves me correct I think they opened up with a WHO medley.

Matt Thomas… Too young but got sweets autographs

Ian McGilvray… Great Band. My favourite

Ronald Burgoyne… That must be when we saw them Mac

Ian McGilvray.. I think it was Ron. Great band with excellent harmonies.

Merv Kennard… that was a good night, so was the dlwp gig last December.

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich – Hastings Pier 13th Jan 1968.

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ad supplied by Sarah Harvey and autographs supplied by Colin Bell.

Sarah Harvey… January 13th, 1968. I still have the single Xanandu!

John Mcewen… So have I! On a blue Fontana label!

Andre Martin… This was the start of the promotions by John Schofield [ lover of Hattie Jacques] Strand Entertainments – great guy to work for.

John Storer… I actually preferred the band’s post-Dave Dee work, (when they were billed as DBM&T) especially the excellent “Mr President”, a very minor hit in 1970 – very influenced by the first Crosby, Stills & Nash album – the band even looked as if they were from the West Coast

Nigel Ford… me too & Zabadak, others maybe too somewhere?

Mick Knights… Saw them at the Witch Doctor as well!!!!

Sarah Harvey… Dave Dee started out life as a Policeman before forming DDDBMT in 1961 and became a JP in his latter years before dying of Postate Cancer during 2009.

Andy Qunta… I believe Dave Dee was also an A & R man for a record co. for a while. I seem to recall he came to check out Factory at a gig in Brighton at some point. What a great name for a band, btw! Made some good records too!

Eddie King… I read that Dozy (Trevor Ward-Davies) passed away.

John Storer… DD,D,B,M&T was actually “Dozy”‘s band

Alan Esdaile… Yes Eddie. Here is the report…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-30811311

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photo bbc news

Pete Fisher… Dave Dee was head of A&R at WEA in the 70s, and apparently signed AC/DC, Boney M and Gary Numan!

Mick O’Dowd… Zabadak!

Mike Curtis… I was there. Dave Dee walked through the pier to the theatre in a colorful afghan coat as far as I remember.

Chris Baker… Ha! Pete (Bill) Wiltshire, used to announce any song by them as “Dave Dee’s Dopey, Sleazy, Dirty Bitch!” As long as children weren’t around! Fun times

John Warner… Knew them as Dave Dee and the Bostons!

 

Hastings Old Town July 1965

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photo © Chris Roberts  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Matt Thomas… How clean it looks

Tony Court-holmes… when the old town was the old town and not london by the sea

Rob Tickner… Not a pothole in sight!

Patrick Lewis… Not trying to be political but if the 1980’s were when street cleanliness etc declined it might have a lot to do with the Thatcher government. Local Authority funding from central government was reduced and there was pressure on LA’s to tighten their spending and limit rate rises. Hence LA’s had less money to spend on public services, irrespective of the political colour of the council.

Graham Sherrington… before me mum passed away she used to talk about clean Hastings, then the 1980’s arrived and she would say how the local council lost interest in sweeping the streets cleaning the gutters etc, bless her she was right, I came home to see her for the last time in 2018 she passed in 2019 at 99. Hastings was a shyte hole I did not see any rubbish bins in the town, crap was everywhere, dog pooh all over the pavements and on the prom. Shameful.

John Evo Ballard… East Sussex Highways look this is how roads should be!