Coventry Dance Halls, Studios and Schools

Here is the story of the Chuck Berry concert from Cov Tel last year, click on bottom picture to read it

Perfectly correct Mr D-Di, and it was a fantastic show. Chuck then was older than I am now, and he leapt all over the stage, did the duckwalk, and the sweat just ran off of him.

Interesting that Deano, thank you and to think my better half and I never went in there once.

I didn't either Dreamtime until it became a library. The tower was still in place then so at least I experienced the 'pleasure' of riding the lift.

As well as Chuck Berry My Ding A Ling recorded there getting to No.1 also The Specials Too Much Too Young No.1 was made there in a live concert

I had a Saturday job in the Locarno. I remember taking an unscheduled break with my friend Christine sitting having a ciggy on the hidden side of the revolving stage as the band played at the front. We were so engrossed in what we were talking about we were surprised to hear a loud cheer and looking up realised that the band had finished and at the end of their act the stage had revolved again so that the front was ready for the next group. There was Chris and I in our overalls, sitting on upturned boxes, ciggies in our hands looking just a bit surprised! The audience loved it! We scuttled off as quickly as we could! Many great memories of the Locarno at that time. It was our main social centre.

Who remembers the dances at the New Inn, Parkstone WMC. and the Heath.

Anyone remember a club called the green onion?

Yes I remember the 3 of them well in the 60s. Great music and groups none of Cowell's rubbish X factor. Also remember the Baginton Oak great music there

Gosh, The Oak on a Saturday night! What sort of period did you go? When I went in the late 60's it simply had a jukebox at one end of the room with a tiny dance floor and a small serving hatch through which they served drinks. Mine was a vodka & lime and cost 2/- (10p) The thought of that drink now makes my toes curl. Come kicking out time, management reached behind the jukebox and literally pulled the plug on the 'entertainment'!

The Baginton Oak was the first place I remember that had the lights that made anything glow white, including our undies and dandruff. Yes Tony I seem to remember it was very basic when pubs started to have dances in their back rooms.

I recall the queues stretching out the door into the car-park. They were very punctual when opening the doors. Ahhh, ultra-violet lights, I knew there must have been a reason we trekked all the way out there in the sticks! [Edit] and it wasn't to see who had dandruff! I also seem to remember having to walk home after spending our bus fare on "one last drink"

I remember a pub like that with the ultra violet lights in the High Street cannot remember it's name?

It was also in the late 60s and they were groups on there some very good one's. It was packed at the weekends it must have been around 1968