Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that .

I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ?

It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night .

Yeah, he also had baggy trousers on and large pupils (thats eyes not fat schoolkids)

Just realised how stupid the vest/longhair comment was.

I used to dance at the front as me and Jethro danced in the same area and were goods pals, he was always better at spins than me, but I was the only one (at that time) who could do the russian cossack, which took a long time to learn. I heard about the "best dancers at the front" myth. Janie from Lancaster and Kim would dance there also.

It would kill me to try and dance now as I did then, nearly all night and I never took any drugs.

Most people know me a Rory, from Aycliife (not Jim G as on here)

Always danced at the front, only reason as others have said was to keep an eye on cassette recorder in bag.

I had boxes of those cassettes but chucked them all out when we moved house around 1991. Got back into the music in '95 and deeply regretted their loss.

You inconsiderate sod Ste.

Seeya tonight?

PM'd you Dennis :-)

h

Next to the Geordies then Martyn,

I was a good dancer back then .........or at least I thought I was ...... If you know what I mean

Remember you dancing on stage with The Four Tops in Eldon Recreation Centre.Long long time ago

Jimmy Todd

Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that .

I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ?

It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night .

Went to Wigan from Oct 73 - 76 dont recall the best dancers dancing at the front, I guess at that time though the posers hadnt formed the 'elite' clan of, look I can dance better than you group.

Chris

Anyone remember a guy called Frank Bupa, from Warrington/Widnes?

I've met & spoke to him a few times in recent years, his day was before my time, but I"m told he was something else.

I used to go to his house before heading onto The Casino , always had to wait an extra hour for his missus to get dolled up . Can't remember her name now though.

Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that .

I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ?

It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night .

As said by others, this is a total myth, at Wigan you danced wherever you wanted, we (The Wolverhampton Crowd) used to gather and dance at the far corner of the big room & also the back of Mr M's....great times & great people.

Our lot from Sheffield and the Long Eaton and Derby lads we hung about with always used to dance at the front right of the stage...why...so we could always find each other no matter what time we got in

Edited November 22, 201113 yr by daveyboy66

Near the front right for me although sometimes back left.

I was the one who had the fastest shuffle especially to Seventh Wonder - Captain of my ship

And I used to eat a whole loaf of Jam butties in one night!

Near the front right for me although sometimes back left.

I was the one who had the fastest shuffle especially to Seventh Wonder - Captain of my ship

And I used to eat a whole loaf of Jam butties in one night!

brilliant Ernie :-)

brilliant Ernie :-)

Can someone point me to a clip on YoyuTube which shows the good dancers, If you call hop skip and jump dancing, which is all youTube shows, then perhaps Wigan Dance Police were justifide :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:

Can someone point me to a clip on YoyuTube which shows the good dancers, If you call hop skip and jump dancing, which is all youTube shows, then perhaps Wigan Dance Police were justifide :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:

I've rethought the above sorry its a bit harsh.

OK, peeps seriously enjoying themselves, BUT, and its a big BUT, the UTube clips do tend to show poseurs who've taken vids in to vid themselves and nobody else.

Yeah they can spin, back drop whatever but non of them, in fairness, are a touch on the ol;d Wheel/Torch/Mecca/Catacombs, ESPECIALLY THE Catcombs dancers, and Frank Boooper could have taught them a thing or two.

I've rethought the above sorry its a bit harsh.

OK, peeps seriously enjoying themselves, BUT, and its a big BUT, the UTube clips do tend to show poseurs who've taken vids in to vid themselves and nobody else.

Yeah they can spin, back drop whatever but non of them, in fairness, are a touch on the ol;d Wheel/Torch/Mecca/Catacombs, ESPECIALLY THE Catcombs dancers, and Frank Boooper could have taught them a thing or two.

What people don't realise, or have forgotten, is that on those 2 nights that they filmed This England on, the vast majority of people did not want the cameras in and did not want to be a part of the program so although you did get one or two bona-fide proper dancers, the majority were shows offs, camera bandits, first timers and posers, and thats also why the dance floor is nowhere near full. Most people sat at the sides, hiding their eyes from the lights! I can also tell you that practically nobody did acrobatics at that period in time, only spins.

The outakes are a lot better especially the two lads at the end...one with a P Funk T shirt and the one in white trousers and braces.I'm sure the dancing on Out On The Floor (the BBC/ITV play was better as well..although I have lost that footage.

There was a guy from Stockport called Malcolm He always danced at the front at the Casino , not exactly your best dancer

More of a stomping on the spot and pulling imaginary things out of the air with his hands

he always wore a purple vest and had long blonde hair , you would always see him at the front in Mr M's and at the Ritz

Well he's still doing the allnighter circuit as i spoke to him at the Longfield about 18 months ago !

Edited December 17, 201113 yr by allnightandy

No dance police at Wigan - you danced where you wanted.....

Was at the Stoke nighter a few weeks ago and the only saving grace of the evening was watching some of the youngsters there who were fantastic dancers and had clearly been doing their 'homework', sadly the same couldn't be said for many of the rest who despite being into the music for 30+ years (they claim) failed to construct even the most rudimentary of 2-step northern soul dances - we came to the conclusion that some must have been listening to their i-pods as they were clearly not dancing to the same track as everyone else.

No dance police at Wigan - you danced where you wanted.....

Was at the Stoke nighter a few weeks ago and the only saving grace of the evening was watching some of the youngsters there who were fantastic dancers and had clearly been doing their 'homework', sadly the same couldn't be said for many of the rest who despite being into the music for 30+ years (they claim) failed to construct even the most rudimentary of 2-step northern soul dances - we came to the conclusion that some must have been listening to their i-pods as they were clearly not dancing to the same track as everyone else.

4 all-nighters a year don't mean they're into the music

No dance police at Wigan - you danced where you wanted.....

Was at the Stoke nighter a few weeks ago and the only saving grace of the evening was watching some of the youngsters there who were fantastic dancers and had clearly been doing their 'homework', sadly the same couldn't be said for many of the rest who despite being into the music for 30+ years (they claim) failed to construct even the most rudimentary of 2-step northern soul dances - we came to the conclusion that some must have been listening to their i-pods as they were clearly not dancing to the same track as everyone else.

ha ha ha quality

Zed-dead right,it`s pretty crap to see so many who can`t move in time to the beat.

When I see some people of 30+years of age it makes me think they are just at a niter because they`ve heard about it from regulars and it`s local for them,so there`s no trains/coaches/thumbing lifts to contend with.

It`s more often than not the oldies based all-niters that catch this crowd.

Humbug.

What people don't realise, or have forgotten, is that on those 2 nights that they filmed This England on, the vast majority of people did not want the cameras in and did not want to be a part of the program so although you did get one or two bona-fide proper dancers, the majority were shows offs, camera bandits, first timers and posers, and thats also why the dance floor is nowhere near full. Most people sat at the sides, hiding their eyes from the lights! I can also tell you that practically nobody did acrobatics at that period in time, only spins.

You got that right-we stayed well under the balcony till the lights went off.

I also seem to remember that a few weeks prior to that Mike Walker came on stage and asked if we wanted the cameras in.

The reply was a resounding NO !!

ATB

Tony

I remember seeing myself on the advert for the programme as I was the third person in that night and they shined a bloody big light in my eyes and I did the natural thing as I was tying my laces was to put my hand up infront of my face! They asked me to take it down and I did and just grinned at them!

Agree the outtakes were better and as Pete states not many people did acrobatics cos their was no bloody room usually!

All the best dancers at the casino did dance at the front of the stage, maybe things did change near the end of the casino when it was empty on the saturday nights. If anybody disagrees they obviously never went.

All the best dancers at the casino did dance at the front of the stage, maybe things did change near the end of the casino when it was empty on the saturday nights. If anybody disagrees they obviously never went.

Thats all i was trying to tell Carms before she started this thread!!

Maybe her terminogy on the Thread Header threw a few people!

I have to agree with Dennie Fitz and i went religeously from Nov 1973 till about 1977-78

Nige

Edited December 19, 201113 yr by Nige Brown

Dont know about being a myth in ref to the good dancers being at the front of the stage but BOOPER always danced front left of the stage !!!! Say no more the best dancer EVER to grace any dance floor, but there was others around him the Wolverhampton mob had loads of great dancers amongst them, some great spinners, great people straight from the Cats !!!!

best majestic dancer i ever saw is Craig from Shrewsbury............legend and a joy to watch

used to be everywhere

Thats all i was trying to tell Carms before she started this thread!!

Maybe her terminogy on the Thread Header threw a few people!

I have to agree with Dennie Fitz and i went religeously from Nov 1973 till about 1977-78

Nige

My fault ... I used to work for the Press you know:) I can't believe we are still debating this lol

Anyone remember a guy called Frank Bupa, from Warrington/Widnes?

I've met & spoke to him a few times in recent years, his day was before my time, but I"m told he was something else.

Frank New!.....from Widnes, he`s still around, goes regularly to the Wheel. I spoke to him at Prestatyn a couple of years ago, he can still throw a few

He used to come in a black XJ6 which was ultra cool in them days.

All the best dancers at the casino did dance at the front of the stage, maybe things did change near the end of the casino when it was empty on the saturday nights. If anybody disagrees they obviously never went.

I went over 100 times and the best dancers did not dance at the front of the stage. Otherwise what was I doing there? They might have when it first opened.

Edited December 20, 201113 yr by Pete S

All the best dancers at the casino did dance at the front of the stage, maybe things did change near the end of the casino when it was empty on the saturday nights. If anybody disagrees they obviously never went.

"Best" is a subjective and quite personal description or opinion

I don't fully agree with you, but went most Saturdays for over 5 years (well obviously I didn't go, I imagined it because I don't agree with you - maybe I just heard all about it from Pete Waterman?)

Frank New!.....from Widnes, he`s still around, goes regularly to the Wheel. I spoke to him at Prestatyn a couple of years ago, he can still throw a few

He used to come in a black XJ6 which was ultra cool in them days.

At last-someone who actually knows his real name!

Never seen it posted before,it`s always Frank Booper!!!

Should be Frank " Booper " New.

Hooray to that man.

All the best dancers at the casino did dance at the front of the stage, maybe things did change near the end of the casino when it was empty on the saturday nights. If anybody disagrees they obviously never went.

nope top left,then back of mr m,s as time went on young lady , billy

..first time i went..April '74..there was definitely talk of ..best dancers at the front..i spent a good couple of hours watching Gethro dancing approx 6'-10' from the front.My first venture onto the floor was well towards the back..tho it was difficult to find a spot during the early days.Later i danced at the front, mostly to keep an eye on my bag which was on the stage, tho i was a fair dancer.Later i remember a guy who would dance side to side across the entire width of the floor, people would move out of his way..we nicknamed him typewriter..no idea who he was..

..first time i went..April '74..there was definitely talk of ..best dancers at the front..i spent a good couple of hours watching Gethro dancing approx 6'-10' from the front.My first venture onto the floor was well towards the back..tho it was difficult to find a spot during the early days.Later i danced at the front, mostly to keep an eye on my bag which was on the stage, tho i was a fair dancer.Later i remember a guy who would dance side to side across the entire width of the floor, people would move out of his way..we nicknamed him typewriter..no idea who he was..

When he got to the right hand side did you have to smack him on the head to get him back over to the left?

Edited January 5, 201213 yr by Marky Tee

What people don't realise, or have forgotten, is that on those 2 nights that they filmed This England on, the vast majority of people did not want the cameras in and did not want to be a part of the program so although you did get one or two bona-fide proper dancers, the majority were shows offs, camera bandits, first timers and posers, and thats also why the dance floor is nowhere near full. Most people sat at the sides, hiding their eyes from the lights! I can also tell you that practically nobody did acrobatics at that period in time, only spins.

very true..and many stayed away in a sort of protest..definitely not a true reflection of the casino at that time..tho the film is revered as it is probably the only in existance from that period.Unfortunatey at this time there is no footage of the great dancers who used to perform from 73-75 ..lost to memory..

Went to Wigan from Oct 73 - 76 dont recall the best dancers dancing at the front, I guess at that time though the posers hadnt formed the 'elite' clan of, look I can dance better than you group.

Chris

Have to agree same here 73 onwards , we grabbed any empty spot we could , which was difficult in its self

When he got to the right hand side did you have to smack him on the head to get him back over to the left?

FELT LIKE SMACKIN' HIM SOMETIMES..I PROB WASN'T THE ONLY ONE...

Do you wanna know what I reckon , and I never went , Great dancers were at the front and the not so great didn't dance near them cause they didn't want to be shown up ... image is everything when you are 17

At last-someone who actually knows his real name!

Never seen it posted before,it`s always Frank Booper!!!

Should be Frank " Booper " New.

Hooray to that man.

Well stone me, it is true, you do learn some thing every day , I ''attempted' to skank some of Boopers moves back in the early 70ts, thet were ''New'' to me, being from way down south, and in fairness I only ever heard him referred to as Booper, was never told it were'nt his straight name.

Edited January 9, 201213 yr by DanDare