This made me chuckle, the event on February 21st maybe giving a clue about the future of the venue?

Mark ,Brilliant! Speed in the Empress Suite!. {the main dance floor } The Palaise Suite {Mr M,s of Course} featuring one Pete Conway ,father of Tunstalls finest ,Robbie Williams? In its heyday in the 50s and 60,s the biulding was a true leisure complex with  Cafe {Beachcomber, and Billiard Hall } Google  Empress Ballroom  to see its true splendour ,sadly it became a sad shell under the auspices of Marshall ,Walker and Wigan Council members, the true villains of its sad demise !  Guess the advert would be around 71 ,due to arrival of decimal currency .The 50p for a  night out equates to about  7 quid in todays money ,Cheers John,Malaga ,Spain.

6 minutes ago, John Hart said:

Mark ,Brilliant! Speed in the Empress Suite!. {the main dance floor } The Palaise Suite {Mr M,s of Course} featuring one Pete Conway ,father of Tunstalls finest ,Robbie Williams? In its heyday in the 50s and 60,s the biulding was a true leisure complex with  Cafe {Beachcomber, and Billiard Hall } Google  Empress Ballroom  to see its true splendour ,sadly it became a sad shell under the auspices of Marshall ,Walker and Wigan Council members, the true villains of its sad demise !  Guess the advert would be around 71 ,due to arrival of decimal currency .The 50p for a  night out equates to about  7 quid in todays money ,Cheers John,Malaga ,Spain.

Looking back, the place was falling apart just like every old council building in every town in the country . Most places the councils had turn these old theatre/ dance hall's into cinemas.  So i guess we where lucky in that we managed to get to spend time there.

I wouldn't have missed the six greatest / happiest years of my life spent in the now legendary venue between 1975 until it's closure 1981 and it's made me who I am today 

Steve 

14 minutes ago, John Hart said:

Mark ,Brilliant! Speed in the Empress Suite!. {the main dance floor } The Palaise Suite {Mr M,s of Course} 

So is this advert for what we know as Mr M’s John?

17 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Looking back, the place was falling apart just like every old council building in every town in the country . Most places the councils had turn these old theatre/ dance hall's into cinemas.  So i guess we where lucky in that we managed to get to spend time there.

I wouldn't have missed the six greatest / happiest years of my life spent in the now legendary venue between 1975 until it's closure 1981 and it's made me who I am today 

Steve 

I was thinking about the Casino today and I suddenly remembered what it was like when you walked through those doors at the rear of the main dance floor when it was busy and that smell of sweat/adrenaline/euphoria/amphetamines smacked you in the face.  It was like a thick fog of joy!

It was unique, and we are so lucky to have experienced it.

Edited August 3, 20186 yr by woolie mark

I found this in an old shoe box when I recently moved house

49 minutes ago, woolie mark said:

I was thinking about the Casino today and I suddenly remembered what it was like when you walked through those doors at the rear of the main dance floor when it was busy and that smell of sweat/adrenaline/euphoria/amphetamines smacked you in the face.  It was like a thick fog of joy!

It was unique, and we are so lucky to have experienced it.

Not forgetting the lovely drips of condensation mixed with tobacco stains off the ceiling that made a proper mess of any light coloured clothes that you happened to be wearing .

Plus the heat, they think it's hot now summer of 76 was almost pass out heat in the casino and that was without even dancing. 

Steve 

1 minute ago, Winsford Soul said:

Not forgetting the lovely drips of condensation mixed with tobacco stains off the ceiling that made a proper mess of any light coloured clothes that you happened to be wearing .

Plus the heat, they think it's hot now summer of 76 was almost pass out heat in the casino and that was without even dancing. 

Steve 

I remember sweat literally running down the back wall in the record room.

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

 

I wouldn't have missed the six greatest / happiest years of my life spent in the now legendary venue between 1975 until it's closure 1981 and it's made me who I am today 

Steve 

C'mon Ste, anyone knows the Casino was a piss soaked Shithole that only played Pop Music...... any of the 14.5 million people who said they went will tell you that. 

Gaz.. Trust you and the lovely Debs are well mate . 

On the posters it's advertising Casino car stickers at 30 p . I would want more than that for mine. 

I wouldn't put it in any of my cars until a few years ago then I thought sod it. 

 

Edited August 3, 20186 yr by Winsford Soul

1 hour ago, Zed1 said:

C'mon Ste, anyone knows the Casino was a piss soaked Shithole that only played Pop Music...... any of the 14.5 million people who said they went will tell you that. 

Ok make that 1450001. Dont forget that hl the pop misic played wete the top 500 pop tunes of the day 

48 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Gaz.. Trust you and the lovely Debs are well mate . 

On the posters it's advertising Casino car stickers at 30 p . I would want more than that for mine. 

I wouldn't put it in any of my cars until a few years ago then I thought sod it. 

 

We're good Ste. Trust you are all Ok.

Stickers probably worth more than our cars now Ste!. 😀

1 minute ago, Zed1 said:

We're good Ste. Trust you are all Ok.

Stickers probably worth more than our cars now Ste!. 😀

Probably right there mate.  We all good thanks,  looking forward to playing out in Geordie land tomorrow at the Fed. Here's my contribution to the posters.  

Ste

Hi Mark ,

              Answering your follow on thread , ,Yes the Palais de dance was Mr Marshalls, 10/6 pence seems expensive ,but you got a Super Supper and The Olympics ,"Philly Dog" performed by Mrs Smallshaws Pupils ,Dance Troupe,  would guess this to be mid late Sixties any clues on newspaper date? Sounds very " Grace Brothers ,Carry On " times ,Nostalgia Rules!! Wonderful ,Mark ! LOL john .

1 hour ago, John Hart said:

Hi Mark ,

              Answering your follow on thread , ,Yes the Palais de dance was Mr Marshalls, 10/6 pence seems expensive ,but you got a Super Supper and The Olympics ,"Philly Dog" performed by Mrs Smallshaws Pupils ,Dance Troupe,  would guess this to be mid late Sixties any clues on newspaper date? Sounds very " Grace Brothers ,Carry On " times ,Nostalgia Rules!! Wonderful ,Mark ! LOL john .

I’m amazed you can remember so much John, I’ve forgotten a lot now but occasionally something pops out from my memory.  Like the smell, nowhere else smelled quite like the Casino.

Happy days 🙂

5 minutes ago, woolie mark said:

I’m amazed you can remember so much John, I’ve forgotten a lot now but occasionally something pops out from my memory.  Like the smell, nowhere else smelled quite like the Casino.

Happy days 🙂

Mark. That smell was unique.  I've been going nighters since 75 and I've been in some real old venues and nothing else has ever got close to that aroma.  😎

Steve 

 

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Probably right there mate.  We all good thanks,  looking forward to playing out in Geordie land tomorrow at the Fed. Here's my contribution to the posters.  

Ste

I'll see your one ...and raise you two.

8 minutes ago, Kenb said:

I'll see your one ...and raise you two.

Very nice.  Got membership and last nighter badge somewhere.  Actually got the badge as a tat on my arm 

Steve 

I know this is a bit sad, but one of the things I loved about the Casino was all the little staircases.

Is that just me?

7 hours ago, woolie mark said:

I found this in an old shoe box when I recently moved house

Did anyone ever actually win a “music centre” btw?  £500 was a lot of money in those days, easily would have bought you a Frank Wilson, wouldn’t it?

Edited August 3, 20186 yr by woolie mark

Nice to see the posters that were and still are works of art. Little did the creators of such work realise that their work would be a valuable item in the future changing hands for large sums of money. It's a shame that the advert always had the date on and was relative to that year albeit very few actually included the year, still nice pieces of Northern soul history and lots of memories are connected to them.

Regards Fred. 

Edited August 3, 20186 yr by Mr Fred

We all know the casino was a dump and how it was managed left a lot to be desired, but who wouldn't love to go back for just one night I certainly would. so glad my parents let me go as I was only fifteen when I first visited. Not the best allnighter I have visited but certainly one of the best venues in terms of being ideal for an allnighter. 

1 hour ago, Lucky one said:

We all know the casino was a dump and how it was managed left a lot to be desired, but who wouldn't love to go back for just one night I certainly would. so glad my parents let me go as I was only fifteen when I first visited. Not the best allnighter I have visited but certainly one of the best venues in terms of being ideal for an allnighter. 

Yeah, a veritable dump and a half, like so many soul venues before it, and very poorly managed. But like yourself, if I could be there for just one more night, say mid summer 74, as a blocked up teenager, I'd die a happy chap. As far as it being ideal for a Niter venue, yeah, it was, but not at first. People forget that in September 73 the Niter going crowd was relatively small, and the first few weeks at the Casino it was half empty. It was only after a few months, when the word got around, that it began to really fill up. By the time it'd been open a year, it was mental. 

7 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Gaz.. Trust you and the lovely Debs are well mate . 

On the posters it's advertising Casino car stickers at 30 p . I would want more than that for mine. 

I wouldn't put it in any of my cars until a few years ago then I thought sod it. 

 

Still got mine on an old wooden record box made for me back in 79 how sad is that

7 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Probably right there mate.  We all good thanks,  looking forward to playing out in Geordie land tomorrow at the Fed. Here's my contribution to the posters.  

Ste

Still got mine it's a bit ragged

 

15 hours ago, John Hart said:

Mark ,Brilliant! Speed in the Empress Suite!. {the main dance floor } The Palaise Suite {Mr M,s of Course} featuring one Pete Conway ,father of Tunstalls finest ,Robbie Williams? In its heyday in the 50s and 60,s the biulding was a true leisure complex with  Cafe {Beachcomber, and Billiard Hall } Google  Empress Ballroom  to see its true splendour ,sadly it became a sad shell under the auspices of Marshall ,Walker and Wigan Council members, the true villains of its sad demise !  Guess the advert would be around 71 ,due to arrival of decimal currency .The 50p for a  night out equates to about  7 quid in todays money ,Cheers John,Malaga ,Spain.

Harsh criticism methinks. Gerry Marshall did a fine job of nursing the Casino through the twilight years. Mike Walker did a terrific job making us all welcome and ensuring the Allniters happened: not sure why he committed suicide but at this point, we all need to be grateful that he was around in the 70’s.

Sure, the council were behind the ultimate demise, and maybe behind the arson that finished the grand old lady off? More recently, the council could have included a rebuilt Empress Ballroom in the shopping centre redevelopment but it probably didn’t even occur to them.

My late grandmother worked at Trencherfield Mill and danced at the Casino ballroom when it was the ‘Emp’ in the 1930’s. This was the era of the big band and the dancehall would have been a magnificent sight in those days. Even in the 60’s, the venue hosted top acts such as the Beatles and many of the leading artists of the day. When we were going in the 70’s, it was still a place of awe and you could not fail to be blown away when passing through the double doors at the back of the main ballroom. Nobody in their teens or twenties regarded the venue as a ‘dump’ back in the day, and it would be more fitting if those who actually went said the Casino had seen better days and left it at that.

The posters, memorabilia, patches etc evoke such nostalgia, you can't help feeling the council missed a golden opportunity to rebuild an entertainment complex plus museum for future generations.

When I was 18 years old and on the Wigan Casino allnighter dance floor.

When the venue was packed with young vibrant Northern Soul fans making a brilliant atmosphere, and the latest amazing new discoveries are being played as cover/up's. 

Who cares if it wasn't a plush supper lounge with nice wallpaper and vases of flowers?!

I didn't and neither did the thousands who went back time after time to the very centre of the Northern Soul universe!

Edited August 6, 20186 yr by Guest

It was the centre of our universe.  The wheelers and torch goers would say exactly the same. 

Ste

Hi Frankie Crocker,

                                  Harsh Criticism ,I agree ,Villain wrong ,Architects of its lack of investment perhaps. Being an ex Wiganer I   new  the parties involved ! My post was focused on the loss of a great Building and social centre .In its NS heyday,the casino would have had a turnover of a million a year ,Russ Winstanley talks of 4 million plus visiting the venue in its heyday !!!. Perhaps some of that could have been put back into that " Crumbling Facade " { Tim Brown,s comment in his  Excellent book Wigan Casino 73 to 81. Cheers ,John Hart.

5 hours ago, solidsoul said:

When you are 18 years old and on the Wigan Casino allnighter dance floor. The place is packed with young vibrant Northern Soul fans with a brilliant atmosphere and the latest amazing new discoveries are being played as cover/up's. 

Who cares if it's not a plush supper lounge with nice wallpaper and vases of flowers?!

I didn't and neither did the thousands who went back time after time to the very centre of the Northern Soul universe!

It's interesting that at the time I never really gave the condition of Station Rd much thought, Most Public buildings and Pubs of the time were pretty much all ageing Victorian buildings anyway. 

It was all a very long time ago and we were all very different people in a very different age. I must admit though that sometimes I look around today's Venue's and see all these Fat old pensioners sat around large tables overflowing with Drink and think 'Northern Soul - Where did it all go Wrong?'..... 

Hmmmm..... Sound s like a good idea for an Adidas bag Patch. 😆

Edited August 4, 20186 yr by Zed1

21 hours ago, woolie mark said:

I know this is a bit sad, but one of the things I loved about the Casino was all the little staircases.

Is that just me?

 Yep me too, .. quite a labyrimth & tricky trying to negotiate all the bodies on the floor in the dark, and im yet to see another cloakroom like that one. 😁

Edited August 4, 20186 yr by Mach

8 minutes ago, Mach said:

 Yep me too, .. quite a labyrimth & tricky trying to negotiate all the bodies on the floor in the dark, and im yet to see another cloakroom like that one. 😁

Do I remember correctly that some of the staircases just went up to the balcony, but some went up or down another level?  Not sure about that now, it was so long ago.

I have heard that some people who went never found the entrance to Mr M’s from the main ballroom.  I wonder if that’s true?

Mr M,s was pretty easy from left hand side of stage (by the gents) up the stairs turn back on yourself, pretty much little ginnells everywhere if you didnt care about you,d bump into 😟..as you know some dodgy folk lurking in the shadows .👍

1 hour ago, Mach said:

 Yep me too, .. quite a labyrimth & tricky trying to negotiate all the bodies on the floor in the dark, and im yet to see another cloakroom like that one. 😁

I used to love going for a wander around the place, I'd never been anywhere with such "character" and so many "characters" at that point in my life.

the building...

there was a beautiful stained glass window where the light shone through

Remember the mirrors in the record dealers room ?(behind the drinks bar) depicting musicians (I think) often thought if they were saved?........... Anybody got pictures of them?

16 hours ago, John Hart said:

Hi Frankie Crocker,

                                  Harsh Criticism ,I agree ,Villain wrong ,Architects of its lack of investment perhaps. Being an ex Wiganer I   new  the parties involved ! My post was focused on the loss of a great Building and social centre .In its NS heyday,the casino would have had a turnover of a million a year ,Russ Winstanley talks of 4 million plus visiting the venue in its heyday !!!. Perhaps some of that could have been put back into that " Crumbling Facade " { Tim Brown,s comment in his  Excellent book Wigan Casino 73 to 81. Cheers ,John Hart.

Valid point. There was a considerable revenue stream and little of it appeared to be invested in the fabric of the building apart from Mr M’s that seemed to have had a facelift. That said, the Victorian ballroom complex was reaching the end of its working life and probably approaching demolition, was not worth the major investment. Much of the revenue went on staff wages - look at the poster to see the team of people involved. A lot must have been spent on publicity with adverts in Blues and Soul, posters, badges etc. We know Russ had a raw deal as he opted for a fixed fee to DJ and missed out on a cut of the weekly takings. Bottom line is nightclubs are expensive to run, involve huge hassle, and legal issues often result in premature closure like it or not.

moved to aats

 

4 hours ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Valid point. There was a considerable revenue stream and little of it appeared to be invested in the fabric of the building apart from Mr M’s that seemed to have had a facelift. That said, the Victorian ballroom complex was reaching the end of its working life and probably approaching demolition, was not worth the major investment.

Yes, it’s a fact that it would have not been viable to renovate the entire building.  However, the facade could have been preserved/restored and a new shopping/leisure complex built behind the historic facade thereby preserving an important World Heritage Site.

Look at what Liverpool is doing with it’s reconstructed Cavern Club......Wigan could have had it’s own international cultural pilgrimage destination, with better foresight.

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&offset=0&gallery=Empress+Ballroom

 

Edited August 5, 20186 yr by de-to

49 minutes ago, de-to said:

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&offset=0&gallery=Empress+Ballroom

 

Ironic there was a Police Ball at the Emp.

10 hours ago, woolie mark said:

Yes, it’s a fact that it would have not been viable to renovate the entire building.  However, the facade could have been preserved/restored and a new shopping/leisure complex built behind the historic facade thereby preserving an important World Heritage Site

Look at what Liverpool is doing with it’s reconstructed Cavern Club......Wigan could have had it’s own international cultural pilgrimage destination, with better foresight.

It’s so sort sighted of Wigan Council not to have recognised what they had and what they could have achieved in commemorating the casino.

They did for a short time , in Wigan’s Heritage Centre at Wigan Pier .. I have the 18 display boards about the Casino that came out of that display when it finished ... and always thought it would be fitting to see them have a proper resting home back in Wigan ..I even contacted the council redevelopment office that was responsible and you know what ... they couldn’t really give a crap .. it’s all a distant memory for them and not a real happy one for most. 

Shame but maybe it’s just those of us that went or are still connected in some way with the music that wish there was some kind of fitting memorial . 

I for one would love to see it ... but maybe not like the Caven  

Hi chaps, loved reading all your articles ref the best days of our young lives at Wigan. I would have been one of those young girls in full circle skirt mesmerised at the young boys spinning and doing their thing hitting the floor as youngsters we could all do so well😉 No doubt you would have been on that dance floor same time as me having an amaaaazing time. The state of the old girl never occurred to me as me n pals made our way to bottom of stairs right and make our home for the night with our badged up bags. Top of stairs right was the classiest girls toilet where excited young girlies would congregate making a mad dash for it when the tune that sends you wild hit that turntable. I still get goose bumps now when I think back to the build up of those top tunes, the spinning, the back drops but nothing beats the sound of hundreds of hand claps smashing it at the same time. Like thunder. As a 1st timer to the big events the claps blew me away. Like you, what would we give at the opportunity to hit the casino floor one more time. Memories are ours eh 😃

Koko debs x

 

 

 

11 hours ago, stevegods said:

It’s so sort sighted of Wigan Council not to have recognised what they had and what they could have achieved in commemorating the casino.

They did for a short time , in Wigan’s Heritage Centre at Wigan Pier .. I have the 18 display boards about the Casino that came out of that display when it finished ... and always thought it would be fitting to see them have a proper resting home back in Wigan ..I even contacted the council redevelopment office that was responsible and you know what ... they couldn’t really give a crap .. it’s all a distant memory for them and not a real happy one for most. 

Shame but maybe it’s just those of us that went or are still connected in some way with the music that wish there was some kind of fitting memorial . 

I for one would love to see it ... but maybe not like the Caven  

Steve, look after those boards as one day they may find a fitting resting place... Were some of them used in the special museum exhibit a few years back? Sad that Wigan Pier did not establish itself as a tourist attraction but at least the council helped to preserve it.

Oddly enough, the car park adjacent to the Casino is still a derelict site as it was not developed as part of the shopping centre project. Now I’m thinking about it, there could have been scope to preserve the facade and put a museum in this part of the redevelopment. Along the road of course is another council aberration, the loss of an Olympic size swimming pool to accommodate offices. Maybe one day, the museum will be re-housed in an impressive building like the new library so the Casino exhibit could receive  better coverage.

Edited August 6, 20186 yr by FRANKIE CROCKER
typo

10 hours ago, stevegods said:

They did for a short time , in Wigan’s Heritage Centre at Wigan Pier .. I have the 18 display boards about the Casino that came out of that display when it finished ...

Could you post up some photos of the display boards please Steve?  I’d like to see them.

What was it about the wet side of the hills (Lancs) and the Casino name.

Seems back in the 60's, there was Wigan Casino Club, Bolton Casino Club, Westhoughton Casino Club, Leigh Casino Ballroom, Burnley Casino Club and Blackpool Casino (club or ballroom) .... and you couldn't bet in any of them at the time. 

Edited August 6, 20186 yr by Roburt

1 hour ago, woolie mark said:

Could you post up some photos of the display boards please Steve?  I’d like to see them.

 

Sure can fella , 

 

Will just have to dig them out of the loft and take some pics ... 

 

They where used to make up a small display inside Wigan Pier’s  “ They way we were “ historic exhibition. It all came to a standstill when developers wanted to turn the place into modern apartments . I tried to see if there was any chance the Council would consider some kind of lasting legacy to the Casino , but it all fell on stones ground. 

Maybe they could be persuaded otherwise if there was enough interest and the new library may be an option who knows . 

 

The only other real historic exhibition of Northern memrobillia I know of, is at Littledean Jail down near Lewes in Sussex , where Andy Jones has a really nice collection of all things Mod and Northern including some nice scoot's..

 

https://www.littledeanjail.com/index.php/home/what-s-inside/the-quadrophenia-collection

 

Will try and post some pics later 

On 03/08/2018 at 14:34, Winsford Soul said:

Gaz.. Trust you and the lovely Debs are well mate . 

On the posters it's advertising Casino car stickers at 30 p . I would want more than that for mine. 

I wouldn't put it in any of my cars until a few years ago then I thought sod it. 

 

Got a few that I’ve thought about putting on a car but only put the newer repro ones on in the end .

Did have my Cortina 1600E Car keys on the key ring at one point .... flip I wish I had that car now ... ended up in a ditch .

They're great Steve. Put them in the car mate. You can't take them with you, not that I want you to pop your mortal clogs.  I thought sod it and on the windscreen it went.

Steve 

2 hours ago, Roburt said:

What was it about the wet side of the hills (Lancs) and the Casino name.

Seems back in the 60's, there was Wigan Casino Club, Bolton Casino Club, Westhouses Casino Club, Leigh Casino Ballroom, Burnley Casino Club and Blackpool Casino (club or ballroom) .... and you couldn't bet in any of them at the time.