The weeks continue, but with very little change, was life that much simpler back 50 years? Do let me know, anyway is Saturday 8th October 1966. Rumour has it that the Norman Invasion is on its way and things will start to happen next week. The Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier remains quiet but the Invasion All Nighter has been planned for the actual day of the battle Friday 14th October, headlining the show is Georgie Fame, more on that to follow.
The start to the weekend – Ready Steady Go has topping the bill, The Rolling Stones – “Have You Seen Your Mother”, “Paint it Black” &” Lady Jane”. Paul & Barry Ryan – “Have you ever loved somebody” and Eric Burden + The Animals “Help Me Girl” The team of Cathy & Keith fronted the show an kept it moving along apace. Down at Marine Court, The Witch Doctor is planning some changes, but are keeping it under wraps and on Saturday evening from Portsmouth came along R&B Band – The Loose Ends, regulars on the circuit here in southern England. Thursday night was as expected and enjoyed the Maidstone Manic Music Motivator & Muscle Man – Steve Maxted, with his particular style of Mayhem, and to think that we had to be out of the venue and on the way home by 11.00pm – those were the days. All that advertised for the changes – New Faces, New Shows, More Action – ?????? BBC Radio for the weekend started for many with Children’s Favourites with Leslie Crowther, followed b Saturday Club with Brian Matthew and his guests Georgie Fame with The Harry South Big Band, The Troggs, Herman’s Hermits, Paul Jones, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and The County Set. Lunchtime continued with David Frost at the Phonograph, Music from the Movies, Sorry I’’ll Read That Again, Swingtime with Chris Denning. Later in the evening the offer included – Have A Go with Wilfred Pickles, A Night at The Music Hall, Roy Castle, Time for Old Time, Ken Mackintosh and His orchestra and the evening drew to a close with two & half hours of Simon Dee, and Lennie Felix with Jazz Time.
On Sunday after Children’s Favourites, Mrs Mills and Phil Tate’s Happy Gang, it was Easy Beat with Keith Fordyce. Noon it was Two Way Family Favourites – London & Koln, the afternoons comedy entertainment included the Navy Lark, The Clitheroe Kid, Billy Cotton Band Show & Semprini. Pick of the Pops with Fluff at 4.00pm. Movie Go Round this week featured Kaleidoscope with Warren Beatty, Susannah York & Eric Porter. Steve Race this week included the music; content of Sea Films, in the chair Peter Haige. Later we had Top of the Form, Sing Something Simple, Frankie Howerd and Jazz Scene.
Television for the weekend: Saturday – Grandstand, followed by Juke Box Jury – David Jacobs in the chair and his guests Lynn Redgrave, Penny Valentine, Lionel Bart and Ronnie Carroll. Later, Dr Who, Dixon of Dock Green, the film “High Adventure” with Rock Hudson. The Dick Van Dyke Show, Trouble-shooters, Horse of The Year Show. Match of the Day ended the evenings viewing.
Sundays offerings included Film Matinee – The Solid Cold Cadillac starring Judy Holliday and Paul Douglas, Wlikie Collins “ the Woman in White”, Sooty’s Mammoth Circus, Songs of Praise, “The Road to Rio” with Bing Crosby,Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour & The Andrews Sisters. Later it was The Billy Cotton’s Music Hall, Ages of Man, The Look of the Week with Robert Robinson.
Bobbing along on the ocean waves, the Pirates were presenting the weekends top hits – Radio Caroline South with Rick Dane – Georgie Fame: “ Sunny”, Sandpipers “ Guantanamera, DDDBMT : “Bend it”, New Vaudeville Band : “Winchester Cathedral “ and The Who “ I’m A Boy” Tony Blackburn on Radio London 266 BIG L played – Rolling Stones : “Have you seen your mother…”, New Vaudeville Band : “Winchester Cathedral”, Four Seasons “ I’ve got you under my skin”, Peter and Gordon “Lady Godiva and Sandpipers “ Guantanamera” . It is very much a typical week, as we know something is building up for next weekend, until then you all take care, the evenings are closing in. Andre Palfrey-Martin © 2016
hastings pier
Sunny Jay Breed plus The Birthday Pavement – Hastings Pier 5th October 1968.
supplied by Sarah Harvey
The Levellers on Hastings Pier 19th September 2016 – review by Darren Johnson
photo by Darren Johnson
Many big-name musical acts played Hastings Pier in the 60s and 70s and it’s great to see that spirit being evoked as the revived and refurbished pier plays host to bands like The Levellers. The big difference nowadays is that lacking a concert pavilion today’s events are more like mini-festivals, replete with wristbands, an outdoor stage, beer marquees and portable loos. But the pier is a fantastic open space and makes for a brilliant setting for a small but perfectly-formed festival.
Prior to the headliners taking the stage supporting acts are local band Matilda’s Scoundrels; the very Levellers-esque sounding folk-punk band Ferocious Dog; and Turin Brakes, who had some chart success in the early noughties and put me in mind of bands like Travis.
The Levellers are clearly the band that everyone has come to see, though, and the crowd has swelled significantly by the time they take the stage. It’s twenty five years since their seminal album Levelling The Land was released. It took the band from niche performers on the festival and protest circuit to the Top 20 and the main stage at Glastonbury. Tonight, and in a subsequent Autumn tour, they are performing the album in full. As on the album the set starts with One Way (“there’s only one way of life and that’s your own, your own your own..”) When it came out, at a time of road protests, demonisation of travellers and a growing authoritarianism in policing and criminal justice, it instantly became the anthem for anyone who didn’t want to conform. And judging by the way it’s received tonight those words still mean an awful lot to people.
Levelling The Land is not only the band’s most famous album, it’s a good showcase for the different sounds and influences that have defined the Levellers; bringing together their reflective folky side (with acoustic ballads like The Boatman) and their more raucous punky side (with tracks like The Boatman), mixed in with some perfectly crafted slices of early 90s indie pop (like Sell Out). After performing the album in full the band rattle through a number of other musical highlights from the Levellers career, eventually encoring with a glorious What a Beautiful Day.
Musically, the band are still in very good shape. Lyrically, there’s even more in the world to get angry about than there was twenty five years ago. So a Levellers show today: still artistically and politically relevant in post-Brexit, austerity Britain or nostalgia for great songs in troubled but simpler times? In all truth it’s probably a mixture of both but there’s no harm in that.
https://darrensmusicblog.com/2016/10/01/the-levellers-on-hastings-pier-19916/
The Happy Ballroom Hastings Pier and more 1st October 1966 by Andre Martin
The Autumn has arrived and we are now only 12 weeks away from Christmas, it is Saturday 1st October 1966. But unlike today, none of the shops have any Christmas decorations or advertising, everything was centred on the coming month’s prime activity – the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. The Happy Ballroom was still very quiet and the focus of the Pier is very much on the Triodome on the Parade Extension.
Friday night would have normally be a Ready Steady Go evening, but for some unknown reason nothing was transmitted. All I can remember about that night was that I had to start Night School and catch up, because my new employer from October wanted me to brush up on Book Keeping as part of the terms of my employment! It was common practice all those years ago and to include Friday in the normal timetable.
Down at Marine Court, the home of The Witch Doctor entertainment continues, but at present only on Two nights a week. On this Saturday it’s the return of The Lonely Ones, who feature prominently in the regular line-ups of live music, and On Thursday it’s the return of Steve Maxted for yet another of his completely unscripted, unplanned and crazy nights ! We are told by management to watch out for changes.
Television over the weekend would include many of the regular programmes – On Saturday for example – Grand Stand followed by Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs and his special guests this week with the power of Hit or Miss were Una Stubbs, Lena Martell, Kenneth Horne and DJ Jimmy Young, later Dr Who, Dixon of Dock Green, Dick Van Dyke, The Film – 10 Tall men, Death Do Us Part, the Trouble Shooters and Match for the Day .BBC 2 The Danny Kaye Show and Wickers World. On Sunday television was educational till 3.20pm and this was followed by the film Lost Horizons. Women in White, Meeting Point, Film The Mudlarks, Billy Cotton Music Hall with Spike Milligan and Lance Percival and to round up the evening Ages of Man.
Radio, was similar with regular known programmes – Saturday – Saturday Club with Brian Matthew and Alan Price Set, Lulu, Graham Bonnet Soulmates, Geno Washington & the Loving Kind. Later in the evening the shows would have included pop Over Europe, Have a Go, Night at The Music Hall, Roy Castle, and Time for Old Time with Bob Potter & His Band. Sunday was a mix of Children’s Favourites, Mrs Mills, Easy Beat and this week a special – Peoples Service from Zambia. Lunchtime we had a three way Family Favourites from London, Koln and Malta [from RAF Luqa] later shows included the Navy Lark, Clitheroe kid, Billy Cotton Band Show, Sempreni Serenade, POTP, Movie Go Round and Top of the Form. The Pirates as ever were feeding us with some of the most popular tunes of the day, Radio Caroline South – Keith Hampshire spinning the discs, Bend It : DDDBMT, Dusty : All I see is you, Sonny & Cher : Little Man, Supremes : You Can’t Hurry Love, The Who : I’m a Boy. Radio London Big L on 266 with Ed Stewart – The Who : I’m a Boy, Stones : Have You Seen your Mother standing in the Shadow, New Vaudeville Band : Winchester Cathedral, Dusty : All I see is You, DDDBMT : Bend It. Thinking back all those years ago I have some great memories of my last few weeks on the buses, as on 1st October, I handed in my uniform and left what had been a very enjoyable job – even with the 6.00am starts.
So there is a another week of 1966 gone, what secrets do we still await, what earth shattering moments will happen – all I can say is keep reading –One of the memories that I have just recalled is connected with the date 1st October, how many of you worked in government offices, post office, local council buildings etc, do you remember the golden rule that would come into effect on 1st and lasted until 31st March next year – YES – the Heating went ON no matter the temperature, and in March it went OFF again no matter the temperature, so it was no unusual to boil in October and Freeze in April. I will leave you with that thought. To you all, take greet care out there. Andre Palfrey-Martin © 2016
The Happy Ballroom Hastings Pier & more 24th September 1966 by Andre Martin
ad: Andre Palfrey-martin collection. The Herd photo: in 1968 Fontana / Mercury Records
Another month has come and almost gone, and we reach Saturday 24th September 1966,The Pier Ballroom has gone into snooze mode, with nothing advertised as being booked, although I have seen details of a “special” all-nighter to tie in with the 900th anniversary of The Battle of Hastings in October.
Friday nights start with Ready Steady Go, is another quieter night, featured this week – DDDBMT : Bend It, The Breakaways and The Walker Brothers ; Another Tear Falls. With Cathy & Keith keeping the show moving along.
Along at the St Leonards end, The Witch Doctor’s offering on Saturday live music from south London, The Herd featuring Peter Frampton. Tuesday was now Tamla & Soul, Wednesday Discs and the return on Thursdays of The Steve Maxted Show “the best night of the Week” and Friday simply titled – the Weekend Starts Here! We are all advised that “It is Changing – Watch this Space “
BBC Radio over the weekend was very similar to previous, The Light programme on Saturday included Saturday Club with Brian Matthew, presented Los Bravos, Paul & Barry Ryan, Robb Storm and The Whispers, Miki Dillon and The Magic Lanterns. Barry Aldis Swingtime Show. Later in the day it was time for Pop Over Europe, A Night at The Music Hall with Roy Castle, and Time For Old Time with Bob Potter and His Band. Sunday we had on offer Children’s Favourites, Mrs Mills, Easy Beat and Two Way Family Favourites [ London & Koln] Navy Lark, Mitchell Minstrels, Frankie Howard, Melody Hour, Pick of the Pops, Movie Go Round, Top of The Form, Sing Something Simple, Steptoe & Son and Star Variety. The evening ended with Jazz Scene.
Television again followed very much the same pattern, Saturday afternoon Sports Grandstand, Juke Box jury with David Jacobs and his guests – Lulu, Alma Cogan, Jimmy Henney and Reg Varney. After the News, Dr Who, The Munsters, Dick Van Dyke Show, Till Death do us Part, The Trouble Shooters, Match of the Day and Robin Day with Highlights of the Liberal Party Assembly. The high lights of BBC2 were live from the Liberal Party Assembly. On Sunday the Western was The Loner staring Lloyd Bridges, The National Youth Theatre and World Gymnastics, later the Billy Cotton Music Hall with Petula Clark and Peter & Gordon. BBC 2 featured Gaelic Football and Opera 625.
Over on the Pirates, this week’s top five were ; Radio London – Big L 266 with Ed Stewart – DDDBMT : Bend It, Seekers : Walk with Me, The Who : I’m a Boy, New Vaudeville Band : Winchester Cathedral, Bobby Hepp/Georgie Fame : Sunny. Radio Caroline South with Dave Lee Travis, The Who: I’m a Boy, Sonny & Cher : Little Man, Supremes : You Can’t Hurry Love, DDDBMT : Bend It, Jim Reeves : Distant Drums. All in all a fairly quiet week, from what I can remember that far back, the weather good after the early morning mists had gone, and we were blessed with some Autumn Sunshine, however the evenings were drawing in. Schools and colleges back and the number of foreign students drastically reduced. Until next week keep smiling and the world will smile with you. Andre Palfrey-Martin © 2016
Stunshot – who remembers seeing them in Hastings in 1978?
supplied by Gary Miller-Cheevers
ticket supplied by Mick O’Dowd
Gary Miller-Cheevers… I do remember that before the Pavilion gig we played in the Caves (same promoter) and were tickled to drive into town and be confronted with a poster proclaiming us as, “The Loud and Proud Stunshot”….I think maybe we played one other gig at the Pavilion too, but not 100% sure on that. Stunshot were a self-styled post-punk rock band who emanated from Perverse Velvet who had been in the second battalion of the Roxy (Covent Gdn) punk wave. The name came from some association with snooker! The line-up was Grant Calton (vocals), Gary Miller-Cheevers (guitar), Mark Turner (bass) and Justin Webster (drums). The band hailed from various points of West London and Surrey and kept on keeping on until June 1981 when they played a final gig with the Psychedelic Furs – which I think was their first gig – at the Windsor Castle in Maida Vale. Gary and Grant are still occasionally getting down and doing it in an even more post punk kinda way!
Mick O’Dowd… Yes it was I that did both of these promotions. I remember them being an excellent band hence the repeat gig.
Mick O’Dowd… Gary can you remember the date of the Caves gig?
The Happy Ballroom Hastings Pier & More 17th September 1966 by Andre Martin
Midway through September we have reached Saturday 17th, and more details are being announced about the 900th celebrations in the next few weeks it is going to be a truly great experience for the whole town. The only thing that we can report for certainty is that the result will not change 1-0 to the Normans, although some might say that the arrow was offside! Over in the Pier Ballroom, the Saturday nights continue with the Tony Strudwick Big Band Party Night. For those of us who addicts for Ready Steady Go, this was an Otis Reading Special assisted by Eric Burden and Chris Farlowe, included in the toons – Satisfaction, My Girl, Respect, Pain in My Heart, I Can’t Turn you Loose. Solo offerings from Eric – Hold on I’m Coming, and Chris – It’s a Man’s, Man’s World. Closing the show, Otis + Eric + Chris – Shake and Land of 1000 Dances; that would have been some show and all kept together by Keith and Cathy.
Along at the Witch Doctor, the entertainment profile continues with Live music on Saturday, and this week we see the return of Herbies People formerly Herbie Goines and the Night Timers. Tuesday – Friday – 7.30 to 11.00 Discs A Go-Go, some advance publicity indicates that changes will shortly be taking place – so watch this space! Over at the BBC – the Light Programme this weekend, offered its usual mix, including Saturday Club with Brian back in the hot seat, on his show this week – the Who, Peter & Gordon, the Searchers, Paul Richie & The Cryin’ Shames and the Rothchilds. David Frost at the turntables at lunchtime with Music Parade, the autumn schedule was starting to appear and David Gell hosting – Swingtime amongst the artistes appearing the King Brothers, Chris Barber, the Settlers & Sands of Time. Later in the evening, it was A Music Hall Night, Henry Wood Promenade Concert Last Night with all the regular patriotic toons and sing-alongs ! The a special for many live from The Rick Tick Club in Windsor – Georgie Fame, the evening would have ended with Simon Dee. Sunday would have included Children’s Choice, Mrs Mills, Easy Beat and a Three Way Family Favourites with London, Koln and Borneo[ we often forget that during the 1960s, we had a lot of service personnel stationed all around the world, some in “hot” spots] in the afternoon, we could tune in and listen to –The Navy Lark [HMS Troutbridge in all its glory] The Mitchell Minstrels, Frankie Howerd, Pick of the Pops, Movie Go Round, and back for a new series Top of the Form. Later Sing Something Simple, Steptoe & Son, the variety show this week was Blackpool Night with Ken Dodd, Barry Kent [I worked a summer season with Barry back in the 70s, a nice guy] and Rosemary Squires. The evening ended with Jazz Scene.
Television offered – Saturday Grand Stand, Juke Box Jury with David Jacob’s guests – Marion Montgomery, Fanny Craddock, Mike d’Abo and Chris Denning. Dr Who, Till Death us Do Part, Last Night of the Proms. Match of the Day – when we would have still bathed in the Winning of the World Cup in July of this year. BBC 2 featured The Battle of Britain Display from RAF Biggin Hill, a key player in those dark days of 1940 in protecting London & the South East. On Sunday – most of the early programs are educational till 15.30hrs, this was followed by Professional tennis, film The Loner, It’s a KO Grand Final between Yorkshire v Lancashire.[ A lot of people forget that It’s a KO started in the North of England with Eddie Warring as main compere, and did not go to the whole of the UK till the 1970s – I worked with the company on many shows in the late 70s/early 80s when the BBC sold the show, props & all to a northern promoter – it used to be fun in all weathers !] the Sunday film was Anastasia featuring Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brinner. Later we had the Billy Cotton Band Show. The Pirates were keeping us active, Radio Caroline South this week with Rick Dane, the Top 5 included – Supremes : You Can’t Hurry Love, Sonny & Cher : Little Man, Beatles : Eleanor Rigby, Jim reeves : Distant Drums and Lee Dorsey : Working Down a Coal Mine. Over on 266 Big L – Kenny Everett presented – Supremes : You Can’t Hurry Love, The Who : I’m A Boy, Sonny & Cher : Little Man, The Seekers : Walk With Me and Bobby Hebb : Sunny.
There in a few lines is what was happening to some of us in the town all those years ago, one thing that I have just remembered, I only had a few weeks to remain as a Bus Conductor, and would then start as a trainee Sales Manager for a local business, the meant that once I joined the firm I would have to attend night school for Book Keeping and would you believe this fell on a Friday, but that’s the luck of the draw. If any of you have any particular memories that you would like to share, please add to the posts. Until next week in the words of Sgt Esterhause from Hill Street Blues – Hey, Hey lets be careful out there.
Andre Palfrey- Martin © 2016
OOBE – Top Deck Hastings Pier 1991
photo Angela Frances Gardner via John Wilde
John Wilde, Steven Cragg and Phil Thornton.
John Wilde… It was my 40th birthday bash on the pier and we called ourselves The OOBE (out of body experience) Steve Demetri played some percussion and jammed with us. It was a fun night.
RE: A PIER – Archie Lauchlan film documentary – Birch Rooms Hastings Pier – 8th Sept & 11th Sept 2016.
Peter Fairless… If you haven’t seen this fantastic film yet….
Free screening of Re: A Pier (film 96 minutes, with a 20 minute Q&A)
If you missed the World Premiere screening of Archie Lauchlan’s unique documentary then here is your chance to see it – free of charge! Thu 08 Sep 2016, 6pm. Taking place in the Birch Room (in The Deck building). Space for 40 people and seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. An additional screening will take place on Sunday 11th September at 11am. Both screenings feature Q&A afterwards with Archie, the documentary’s director.
http://hastingspier.org.uk/event/re-a-pier-screening/
Mick O’Dowd… Well worth a look!
Alan Esdaile… Excellent, really enjoy it. The history of the changes on Hastings Pier over the years, from building to the groups that played it, also some wonderful clips of Hastings. Well done Archie, definitely deserves to be seen by a bigger audience.
Andre Martin… Just back from the Pier, having seen the film produced by Archie Lauchian about the History and story of Hastings Pier and its rejunivation after the Fire, excellent – if you have not seen and get the chance, you really should make the effort.Congratulations to Archie and crew on this historic record. Well reported Alan = great story.
Tony May… Is there any chance that it will be available to buy on DVD do you know? Any plans in that direction?
Mick O’Dowd… I’ve asked Archie about this before but there seems to be a problem of music licensing.
Peter Fairless… It’s more a problem of cost, Mick. I believe Archie quoted a figure of £50,000 to licence all the tracks and clips. It’s hard to see a film like this – even one as brilliant as RE: A Pier, making that back.
Andre Martin… Yes this one of the major problems that he was facing and his production assistant/resercher was just amazed how much the US owners of much of the music & audio wanted to charge.They just look at the whole project as a money making machine, which is a real shame, as it would been good to have this available for different showings over the coming months as the pier develops.
Peter Fairless… Perhaps, we need to start writing to TV companies
Andre Martin… I think this is one way, but today most projects are run by independent TV companies, whop again will in the main have very limited movements whedn it comes to paying copywright fees, but perhaps Archie might have some ideas, will ask.
Archie Lauchlan… Hi SMART – only a few are American, mostly British in fact, but they definitely do all have that one thing in common: squeezing every last penny out of their assets, or artistes as we call them. The only way forward is to hook the film up with a broadcaster (could include Netflix etc) in which case they’d be responsible for the licencing deals. To do that I need to get it into some film festivals for exposure to the right people, and that’s in hand. But I’m always open to anything I may be missing! Thanks for your support, one and all
Andre Martin… Thanks for the update, ok everybody this will be your challenge for 2017 – tinking caps on. …………
iy_ project: the nature of light and sound – Chris Levine in collaboration with EdenLab. Hastings Pier 10th September 2016.
http://hastingspier.org.uk/events/category/entertainment
Allison Haynes… So how do I get tickets?
Alan Esdaile… it says on the website … FREE but tickets required for the Pier Head owing to limited capacity – available soon. Keep an eye on http://hastingspier.org.uk I expect it will be a mad rush when they announce it but you start thinking it might be more impressive from further away.
Peter Fairless… Really not sure about this one! Any ideas?
Phil Thornton… looks great to me !!
Kevin Burchett… looks great to me to
Janine Anne Scott… Looks fab
Ernest Ballard… Looks awesome
Tony Davis… I think you would get a really good view from the White Rock Gardens.