 Pictured Above, the Grand theatre, Lichfield street. This theatre continues to go from strength to strength. Below, the Queens ballroom (formerly the Queens cinema). Due, it was said, to vibration from performances held there, the building was deemed unsafe and was demolished. The site was used for an expansion to Lloyds bank next door.  Dress policy at the Queens was quite strict. Including "no jeans" which explains why i was once turned away despite been a regular visitor. I was wearing brand new Dress denim jeans, brought from Zissmans the same day which were immaculate. I often resented the fact that they would be happy to take my money if i did things their way. Pictured below, the precursor to Slade, One of the towns major exports in the late 60's. The bands hits include the Christmas perenial "Merry christmas everybody".  Below, The Gaumont cinema Snow hill.  |
 No mention of the 60's would be complete without mentioning the Beatles, they played the Gaumont twice, i often wonder what school attendences were like during this period, i know a few who slagged off school to queue up for tickets. slade - merry christmas everybody.mp3 Below the Hippodrome, Queen square, pictured from Victoria street. The building was destroyed by fire in the early 1950's and was consequently demolished. The space was later taken up by Times furnishing. I believe Yates wine lodge now occupies the site.  The Milano coffee bar. Located in a cellar in Darlington street, just off the junction with Waterloo road, and next to the gas offices, the Milano or "Mill" as it was universally known, was one of those places your parents warned you to keep away from. Despite this quite a few of us ignored the warnings and went in anyway. The Mill was a cellar, like any other, dark in places but with a few advantages. For a start our parents would not enter the place, they had a nice big shiny expresso coffee machine and the best hot chocolate in town. I believe the young lady who served behind the bar was called Maureen. I cannot say the place was totally drug free, i was on one occasion offered certain brain changing chemicals although i refused the offer.  Above, The Odeon cinema, Skinner street. The Gaumont cinema Although primarily a cinema, the relatively newly built Gaumont was also a leading venue for the bands of the day to perform. Bands such as the Beatles, Cliff brRichard and the Shadows all performed there. Below a playbill for a show starring the Walker brothers, Cat stevens, Jimi Hendrix and local band the Californians.  |
