st leonards on sea

Who remembers buying piano music in Attwells 22 Grand Parade St Leonards?

Josie Lawson… I remember the address now too. It was my first transistor radio I bought there. I used to listen to radio Luxembourg on it at night, and I believe the pirate stations, I think I was 16 years then so was in the 60s. Thanks Alan for finding it…

Barry French… My mum played Piano & would pop in there for sheet music , & I’m sure I bought guitar strings from there. (These were made by Cathedral & were always breaking)

Fiona Evans… I do & clarinet reeds !

Mark Hardwick… Black Cat Pub and Grill.

Part exchange your piano for a radiogram or television in 1965.

Was this still called Attwells in 1909?

Roy Penfold… in 1911 the shop was Hermitages, listed as a pianoforte dealer with branches here, Robertson Street, Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells. (source 1911 Kellys)

supplied by Roy Penfold

Josie Lawson… I bought a transistor radio sponsored by my dad…It was called His Masters Voice

Matt Thomas… HMV

 

Who used to smoke a pipe? Alexandra Hotel 26th September 1973

Malcolm Sharp… just shown hastings pipe group

Dave Nattress…My dear departed (long since) Dad and a smelly, ‘orrible, stink the house out thing it was too!! Was much later in my life before I discovered a bit of Dark Shag for myself. Oops! Am I allowed to say this?

Mike Vawdrey… Smoked a pipe between 1964 – 9 because I thought it made me look intellectual and lent a certain gravitas ! (along with reading The Times although I really found it very boring). In the end decided it was a filthy habit. Genuinely liked the taste of some tobaccos such as Cope’s Escudo. Digger was bit rough however. St Bruno wasn’t bad or for a milder smoke Three Nuns , Edgeworth or some of the rather perfumed Dutch blends – Holland House ? ?

The Herd – The Witch Doctor 28th August 1966

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Paul Morfey… Still got the single, almost 50 years old. Great song, great era in English music!!

Mick O’Dowd… Great group. One of my faves even though they were short-lived. At least Frampton went on from being “The Face of 67” to being a very talented artist.

Lloyd Johnson… Before they became The Herd some of them were in a band called The Preachers. The Preachers also played The Witchdoctor around 1964.It was my mate Dave Muriel’s 21 Birthday and they were friends of his so they came to Hastings early and played his birthday party the evening before The Witchdoctor at The Pamdor Club above the Coffee bar in Queen’s road.There were around 20 or so of us.Les Martin who ran The Club kindly let Dave have his party there.

Tony Court-holmes… too young

Curzon Cinema St Leonards closes in January 1977

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Derek Clemans… I went to see Slade in flame there.

Dizz Corinne Ryder… me too!

Peter Houghton… Didn’t they used to call it the flea pit?

Alan Esdaile… That was The Orion, Pete.

Nick Prince… no the Curzon was the best in the borough at the time of closing

Janine Anne Scott… My Grandma was an usherette there in the 60s.

Dennis Torrance… Sad when it went Remember wet winter Sunday afternoons in there with old girlfriend they used to bring tea trolley around great service and some great films

Alan Esdaile… remember the tea trolley. Used to get the old film posters from the manager.

Christina Prentice… My auntie Winnie took me there to see escape from witch mountain!!!!

Mike Mitchell… Ah that wonderful tea trolley pushed along by a lady in a checked nylon house coat. Tea always came in cup *and* saucer no less!
And the manager was always standing outside in dinner jacket and bow tie to greet you. Happy days!

Nick Prince… The Curzon closed seven days after the Penguin did. A week later, the White Rock Pavilion showed its last film. It wasn’t uncommon to get several films a year there

Kevin White… My dad was a projectionist there in the 50’s or 60’s.I used to get in free as a kid as he knew the manager at the time. Mum used to send me down there with some sandwiches during the summer holidays when I was getting on her nerves,bless her cotton socks.So quite often

Ralph Town… I saw a re run of “Man who fell to Earth” in 77 too.I got press book,poster,photos THE LOT!

Regal Theatre – St Leonards-On-Sea Eddie Calvert and Billy Cotton 1950’s

eddie eddie-calvert billy-cotton billy-cotton-record

adverts supplied by Nick Prince – Cinemas & Theatres Of East Sussex Facebook page.

Nick Prince…  Eddie Calvert was Monday 25th July, 1955 for entire week and Billy Cotton was Monday 8th August, 1955, for entire week. Some of the big names that appeared during the final year of the Regal, London Road, St Leonards. Just imagine who may have appeared there had it survived into the 1960’s Over the years the greatest stars of the era appeared on its stage, among them were Louis Armstrong, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and Duke Ellington. The Regal closed on 8th September, 1956, when owned by ABC. It has dubious claim to fame of being the first cinema in the country to blame television for its closure. Ocean House now occupies the site.

Mick Knights… Now I do remember my folks taking me to see Eddie Calvert at the Regal, no idea how old I was, probably eight or so, which must also means he was the first ‘named’ artist I ever saw!!!!

Charles Bryant… Was interested to see where the old Regal theatre once was in Hastings (Ocean House) as I have just aquired from a local table sale, three old Regal programs from the 1950’s and was interesting to see that Morcambe & Wise appeared there in 1952.