Bristol Mod Scooter Club

Following on from the success of our first Locarno Night, which everyone really enjoyed earlier this year, it gives me great pleasure to announce our second Locarno Night!

Like last time, the evening will be based on the fabulous music that would have been heard around the 'Mod' era at The Locarno Ballroom in Bristol during the second half of the sixties decade- Motown, Top Forty etc.

Our popular 'resident DJ ' BERNIE will be spinning the discs again for us, and as those of you who were at our last Locarno Night will testify, he puts on a truly fantastic show, with all the best 'Sounds of the Sixties'!

But that's not all- as well as Bernie doing his set, we will be having some live music, provided by PHASE ONE. They are a great four piece band, based on the classic sixties group line-up of drums (played by our very own Russ Thompson!) and three guitars. They'll be playing a selection of hit songs from the same era.

I think you'll agree, this promises to be a fantastic night, even better than the last one! This will be a free event again, and EVERYONE is most welcome- BMSC members and friends and anyone else who fancies a great night- the more the merrier- we will be dead chuffed to see everybody!

The venue is St. Bernadette's Old Boys RFC, Whitchurch, Bristol. We will have the use of a room (BIGGER than the one we had last time!) with bar facilities with a fine selection of ales at very reasonable prices!

This will take place on Saturday 22nd November 2008.

These arrangements have literally come together over the last few days, and finalised details - address/ directions/ start time etc., will be posted up shortly. A big THANK-YOU at this point must go to Graham Clark for getting the venue, Russ and his band for agreeing to play, and Bernie for making a night available in his busy schedule! Well done guys- thanx for all your help, co-operation and enthusiasm!

So, put the date in your diaries for our next exciting Locarno Night- even bigger and better than before- it's going to be GREAT!

See you there, Jim


<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r90/jimburnhammod/2918292857_e0cbbac1b5_o.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
This was designed by our good friend Myk- Excellent - Thanx mate!

Is Bernie OK for music or does he need more suggestions?

Chris

Same as last time- if anyone wants a particular record, please feel free to post it on here- I'm sure Bernie will be able to comply with any requests! (He's such a nice and obliging young man!)

o/k bernie
here is my list this time
lee dorsey ride your pony
- - working in a coal mine
- - holy cow

eddy floyd knock on wood

the who cant explain
- - wont get fooled again
- - pictures of lily

pink floyd emily play

beatles norwegian wood
- your mother should know
- blackbird

I hope this is a good starter

Prince Buster- "Al Capone"

.................forgot about that one last time!

Chris

just a thought Jim. Like the old days, why not charge people 3/6d (17p) to get in and give it to some charity? Nothing official like having a cashier (The Locarno ones long gone ), but say a bucket near Bernie.

Just a thought

Chris

I thought the bucket near Bernie was for when he's caught short- he does do a long set! Seriously though, I think a charity angle is a good idea - nothing too heavy- I have been considering a raffle, with all proceeds going to a charity ( to be decided ). It might be a bit of fun as well!

Jim

First Prize- a night out with Chris P
2nd Prize- 2 nights out with Chris P

I might pop along if that's ok with you guys

no probs Myk- that'll be 3 of us there then!

Myk- you would be very welcome!
Jim

I wonder if the Rugby Club will look anything like the original Locarno?



Who can remember the Locarno ballroom? Bristol's premiere 1960s dance venue in the new Bristol Centre with its famous illuminated ceiling.

Bristol . . . entertainments capital of the South West, and one of the entertainments attractions of Europe. That was the talk of the town when Mecca moved into Bristol, splashed out a fortune and began building the New Entertainments Centre in Frogmore Street, towering over the ancient Hatchet Inn and the Georgian and Regency streets nearby.

The New Entertainments Centre wasn't just big, it was enormous and it was what 60s leisure and fun-time were all about, Mecca promised. Here, slap bang in the middle of Bristol, the company was creating the largest entertainment centre in the whole of Europe. A dozen licensed bars, an ice rink, bowling lanes, a casino, cinema, a night club, a grand cinema, asumptuous ballroom and, naturally, a multi-storey car park to accommodate all those Zephyr Zodiacs, Anglias, Westminsters, Minis, Victors and Imps etc which would come pouring into town bringing the 5,000 or so customers who would flock to the centre every day.

London might have its famous West End. Bristol had its Frogmore Street palace of fun and the opening night of the biggest attraction of all, the Locarno Ballroom, on May 19th was the Night To Crown All First Nights, the Bristol Evening Post proudly announced. Sparkling lights, plastic palm trees in shadily-lit bars, a revolving stage, dolly birds in fishnet tights and grass skirts . . . this was glamour a la mid-60s and Bristol loved it.

Everyone wanted to be there'on Night One but the guest list was limited. It was, the Post reported the next day: "... a date to remember last night for 800 Bristol and West Country VIPs who saw the splendour of Mecca's new Locarno ballroom.

"At the New Bristol Centre were the mayors, the business chiefs and the top socialites of the city and neighbouring counties. "Mecca, having spent £2 million on building, spared no expense in making the opening of the ballroom one of the gayest nights of the year. "There was a gift of a commemmorative Churchill crown for every guest, including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Aid. and Mrs Tom Martin. "Aid. Wally Jenkins, chairman of the Public Works and Planning Committee, gave the ballroom Bristol's blessing in declaring the premises well and truly launched.

"When Mecca selected Bristol for their centre, they did not just do it with a pin, he said. "They knew that Bristol deserved and appreciated the best. Mecca had shown a swashbuckling and adventurous enterprise in providing it and Bristol would support it. "To tell the guests last night all they wanted to know about Mecca, there were half a dozen hostesses, including winners of the West Country heat of the Miss Great Britain contest—in plumes, fishnet tights and bikinis. "There were girls in grass skirts who brought on the pineapple confection for the buffet supper. "There was Sidney Jones and his Orchestra playing conventional ballroom music and Wilf Ray and his Orchestra— including an ex-member of the Cadillacs, one of the West's top beat groups—playing superbly competent swing.

"There was glitter and glow of myriad lights. "There was an atmosphere of rich opulent intimacy warming the place in a way not to be expected in a ballroom capable of holding more than 2,000 people. "Guests were served drinks in the South Seas climate of the Bali Hai bar, in the swish Le Club bar and by check-waist- coated, bowler hatted barmen in the Victorian bar".

That was just for starters. In mid- November the Lord Mayor was there to open the magnificent £100,000 ABC Cinema at the centre. A week later Miss World, a beautiful Indian medical student, Reita Faria, came to town to open the Craywood Club, the new casino. Bristol—Sixties entertainment capital of the West.

Bristol Ice Rink in Frogmore Street opened in 1966. Originally owned by Mecca they added an ice hockey arena in 1981. It is now part of the John Nike Leisuresport’s facilities offering skating lessons, junior ice hockey and ice karting.

*copied from brizzle born and bred's Flickr photostream

nice pic.

The stage was situated to the left on the photo (downstairs). When I saw The Who back in '67, I was sat in the front of the upper balcony (right hand side of the pic).

Should never have been demolished IMO. Gits

Chris

Blimey! That photo takes you back! I love the way the press reported it as "One of the gayest nights of the year!" How times have changed!

Jim

Bloody Typical !
This will possibily be the main event of the year, and I shall
be stuck in Hawaii with the missus/ Lol.
Colin[/b]