Coventry Dance Halls, Studios and Schools

Not the Mercia but does anyone remember Keith Jones dancing school. Went there for a few weeks with a friend and I think we paid 7/6 for an hour. All those mirrors got to me in the end.

Love this forum for trawling through, looking at the Locarno topic remembered when Chuck Berry was on stage. It was for the Lanchester Arts Festival in February 1972, the song was recorded live so the audience reached top of the pops. Whenever I hear My Ding a Ling I remember that night.

I remember going to the Locarno in the late 60's and 70's. The feeling of excitement when you walked up all the stairs to get to the dance floor. Would it be a good night? It always was. I met my husband there in 1975. Good times.

Welcome to the forum Jane it's good to have your company

What a great photograph it's hard to remember that Smithford Way looked so clean and open unlike now dark and dreary. I can remember queuing on those stairs to get into the Locarno in the early 70s. Another thing in that photo that brings back some memories for me is the glass case belonging to City Pram Co. I worked for them in the late 70s early 80s. I redressed that case many times and also had a few trips to the Little Park Street police station to pick up the items out of the case after some of the late night revellers had managed to open the cases and use the prams and pushchairs to have races in the Precinct.

Hi Tomo Hi all You may well have served my wife or I when we bought our then four year old little boy's Budgie bike. On the Locarno thread, picking up on an earlier post from Jane, I just wonder how many romances started life there. Happy times made up for the tiffs, hey!

Thanks. Really interesting site.

Sad to report that Keith Jones has passed away Report

Just found these images. The first is of the MSD door in New Buildings. This was taken around the time that the Coventry Theatre was pulled down - and shortly before New Buildings were completely restored. And in this view it can just be seen next to the old Exchange & Mart shop. Finally, after the work was completed. It appears they actually left the original door intact and almost the same colour! They did a pretty good job of it IMHO

Hi Tony: Many thanks for posting these images. The door certainly brought back memories. At least they renovated the New Buildings structure and didn't demolish it, and I agree that the end product is a good one. Barry

Any one recall the Locarno in early 60s . There was a special night where we could get in a bit cheaper. Loads of good music and groups of the time played there. Also The Pete Waterman used to hang out there with our group of people to listen to Tom Fox the d.j.

Just to revive this - what was the original building used for? Judging by the size/shape of the windows I'm presuming Ribbon/Weaving?

Sorry I did not respond to this one earlier Midland Red. I spent a few hours trying to be an expert at ballroom dancing at the Keith Jones studio. The one thing I did enjoy about it was you had a different partner every week. I was only sixteen but one of the nicer memories in life.

Yes, The Rock House. I loved that place, started going in the early 60's when I was about 14 and still at school, spent most of my mis-spent youth there going Monday night, Thursday night to see the groups, Saturday lunchtime to see the local groups and of course Saturday night - had some great times there. One of the groups who played there a lot was Geno Washington and the Ram Jam band. Thursday night they had all the well known groups on, one Thursday night in 1967 Pink Floyd were on, I thought they were great, and have been a fan ever since. Does anyone remember the all-nighters held there on Saturday nights? I remember Pete Waterman being the DJ there and also a guy called Chris Townsend was a DJ there although I think he was a bit after Pete Waterman.

Thursday September 1st 1966. The very first time I saw The Who. Many, many Friday and Saturday nights spent there in the '60's. Hard to believe it is now a library. One extreme to the other.