Been meaning to dig these out and post them up for yonks, anyway I finally got round to it.

I think the Royal Swan was in Huddersfield but things were a bit blurred in those days.

I sent off for the Cats application and was gonna hand it in when I got there, I didn't need, to as i went down with Alan Day the first time and got in for nowt !!!!!!!, after that I was never asked for membership.

 

 

Gracias ,kegsy ,you have cleared up one of lifes eternal mysteries. Went to The Birdcage ,always thought it was in Burnley! Now Iknow better,it was Barnsley. Of all the clubs youve listed [and what a "wasted" youth] the Catacombs has to be probably the best musically ,where else could you find such a top class collection of sounds,for me even better than the wheel.I still remember a cold winters night In temple street,crushing Benzedrex inhalers {over the counter in 69, and still legal in the USA,terrible come down!} And downing them with cans of orange juice,opened with those precious metal implements no ring pulls then! Thanks for the memories LOL Johnny

Great stuff mate - must try and find out all my old membership cards - know where my Catacombs card is - i seen it the other day, all held together with sellotape! Thought the Top Rank at Hanley was very underrated at the time.

Just a thought, not once is the term "Northern Soul" used in any of the flyers etc, we used to refer to it as "The 'Nighter Scene" in those days.

Eleven bob to get into an All Dayer, seventeen bob for an imported 7" single.  The £50 prize for best dancer at the Torch was an absolute fortune back then.  Great memorabilia.

Eleven bob to get into an All Dayer, seventeen bob for an imported 7" single.  The £50 prize for best dancer at the Torch was an absolute fortune back then.  Great memorabilia.

They were all pressings unfortunately.

Did the O'jays show actually take place - in the Torch February listing?  I guess it is referring to Feb '73 and it closed soon afterwards?    They must of been pretty hot at that time - a million seller with 'Backstabbers'...

Yes '73, not sure if the O'Jays did appear, but then again even if i'd been there I'm not sure I would have remembered much, things just seemed to just zip by in an instant in those days. I could have been jabbering away in a corner and completely missed them !.

Edited July 23, 20159 yr by Kegsy

Hi Kegsy,i've got a Torch card for the '75 reunion,like the Free Allnighter one,,...didnt go though.....PD told me it was a boot.!!

12 hour allniter at The Torch. Struth. Plenty of elite WGC merchandising to get you through that marathon, I'll bet.  "One didn't waltz around the Torch". Sir Tezza. 

Fantastic stuff mate, thanks for sharing

Gracias ,kegsy ,you have cleared up one of lifes eternal mysteries. Went to The Birdcage ,always thought it was in Burnley! Now Iknow better,it was Barnsley. Of all the clubs youve listed [and what a "wasted" youth] the Catacombs has to be probably the best musically ,where else could you find such a top class collection of sounds,for me even better than the wheel.I still remember a cold winters night In temple street,crushing Benzedrex inhalers {over the counter in 69, and still legal in the USA,terrible come down!} And downing them with cans of orange juice,opened with those precious metal implements no ring pulls then! Thanks for the memories LOL Johnny

No you were right all along. There was indeed a Birdcage in Brierfield which is just outside Burnley. Still running to this day believe it or not, but not sure if it's in the same building or not. 

No you were right all along. There was indeed a Birdcage in Brierfield which is just outside Burnley. Still running to this day believe it or not, but not sure if it's in the same building or not. 

I did wonder why me and Swish kept going to a Country and Western do on a Sunday night in Barnsley !!!!!!!!!!!, 

Edited July 23, 20159 yr by Kegsy

Great pics mate ... I must get round to putting mine up at some point ..

See the soul merchandising was at full crank as early as 1973. What the hell was the Work For Peace soul badge? 

Great memories ' i have membership cards from various clubs my self will dig them .

I remember the Royal Swan well,being a Huddersfielld lad myself, used to have some great nights there,along with my late brother Rob Ward, "Scoffer"(Kevin Haigh)and his wife Karen, Mick Hales,Julie from Luddendenfoot and Novver another friend from Huddersfield.Charlie & Pauline Atkinson and many more. It's such a long time ago that its difficult to remember everyone that used to go.

Wasn't there a club called the Birdcage in Ashton under Lyne where everyone used to go after the Wheel.

Regards Fred Ward 

No you were right all along. There was indeed a Birdcage in Brierfield which is just outside Burnley. Still running to this day believe it or not, but not sure if it's in the same building or not. 

Phil, It was the Birdtrap in Brierfield .(Walter street club) Still going.

Edited July 26, 20159 yr by Geoff B

Great stuff they really were quite unique places (Torch & Cats)

Great stuff. A few memories there. The Birdcage was indeed in Barnsley at Hoyland. First time I heard 'Cool Jerk' was at 'bud cage' as it was pronounced locally! 

Also, remember Terry Collins 'I LOVE You'  being played there as a new release a couple of years later. 

Good times!

Sean

I remember the Royal Swan well,being a Huddersfielld lad myself, used to have some great nights there,along with my late brother Rob Ward, "Scoffer"(Kevin Haigh)and his wife Karen, Mick Hales,Julie from Luddendenfoot and Novver another friend from Huddersfield.Charlie & Pauline Atkinson and many more. It's such a long time ago that its difficult to remember everyone that used to go.

Wasn't there a club called the Birdcage in Ashton under Lyne where everyone used to go after the Wheel.

Regards Fred Ward 

First place I heard Tobi Legend believe it or not.....

Ian D