The Con club - Page 3

susie123 · 06-02-2012, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Might be my memory playing tricks on me, but I'm sure they didn't have freestanding tables and chairs back in the day - just a row of tip-up seats fixed along the side and back walls.

Yes I would say the same for the early sixties.

Wynonie Harris · 06-02-2012, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

I noticed that wyn, just assumed it wasn't taken on a monday? Perhaps it was that way fer the sat night waltzes?

No, mate, it was like that Saturdays, as well...did you not go on Saturdays?

claytonx · 06-02-2012, 13:33

In the early to middle 50s Alec Higgins played snooker on the Con club tables, you could not get into the snooker room when he played. In those times there was dancing Wednesday nights and Saturday nights as a post said long queue's for Christmas or New Year dance tickets we were lucky we had a mate who worked at the printers so no problem getting them. As far as after's was concerned nothing better than a 1d platform ticket and a warm empty railway carraige which was parked up for the night.

steve50brown · 06-02-2012, 14:09

Yea definantly no tables and chairs around the side.If it kicked off can you imagine the carnage!!I also seem to remember they wouldn't serve bottles over the bar in case you took them onto the dance floor.I remember the doors at either side of the stage. The one to the right led to the coffee bar,I think there was another door leading to the landing. The stage was higher which created a good atmosphere.
p.s.Wasn't mondays ladies night or something????

wadey · 06-02-2012, 14:39

Higgins was born in 1949, I went to Birmingham to watch him win the World title in 1972

claytonx · 06-02-2012, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadey

Higgins was born in 1949, I went to Birmingham to watch him win the World title in 1972

Stand corrected must have been sixtys with Alex.

cashman · 06-02-2012, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by claytonx

Stand corrected must have been sixtys with Alex.

It was late 60s, He was living wi mate n i at the time.

cashman · 06-02-2012, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Another abiding memory of the Con club...being of a nervous disposition, I always found it a bit disturbing when mass punch-ups would suddenly erupt on the dancefloor for no apparent reason. There'd be a flurry of fists, the bouncers would wade in and then someone would come along and mop up the blood and relative calm would be restored...until the next time. There were certainly some lads up there who you'd take great care to avoid...most of whom, for some reason, were Cashy's mates!

Best to avoid em now, most of ems dead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

No, mate, it was like that Saturdays, as well...did you not go on Saturdays?

Nah never went sats, usually too boiled from the footy.

Wynonie Harris · 06-02-2012, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

It was late 60s, He was living wi mate n i at the time.

Hmmmm...that could explain a lot!

jaysay · 06-02-2012, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Might be my memory playing tricks on me, but I'm sure they didn't have freestanding tables and chairs back in the day - just a row of tip-up seats fixed along the side and back walls.

Na they didn't Wyn, think that Photo was taken in the 80s, later on it was refurbished again and the stage was moved to the other end altogether, that was early 90s

jaysay · 06-02-2012, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve50brown

Yea definitely no tables and chairs around the side.If it kicked off can you imagine the carnage!!I also seem to remember they wouldn't serve bottles over the bar in case you took them onto the dance floor.I remember the doors at either side of the stage. The one to the right led to the coffee bar,I think there was another door leading to the landing. The stage was higher which created a good atmosphere.
p.s.Wasn't mondays ladies night or something????

They didn't serve ale in the ball room period back in the 60s, well not on Monday or Saturday night, there was a soft drinks bar behind the stage. If you wanted a drink you had to be a member of the Middle Bar and you weren't allowed to take bottles or glasses through the door

jaysay · 06-02-2012, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadey

Higgins was born in 1949, I went to Birmingham to watch him win the World title in 1972

When he first came over from Ireland he live in a flat over a shop on catlow hall street in Ossy and his first Manager was a guy called Denis Broaderick, the last time I saw Alex was in Ossy Con one Saterday Lunch, with Denis, in the early 90s, he played a few of the lads in the snooker room, including yours truely

wadey · 06-02-2012, 21:53

He used to go all over the place and charged £25, he would take on the first team, beat them, raffle a cue and disappear having drunk about £50 worth of ale, never drove and was always late

Alan Gilmartin · 07-02-2012, 05:18

Yea I agree with all that, tip up seats, higher stage, they were wood & glass doors on the sides of the stage, Susan can't remember Jimmy Lightbown up the Con, maybe it wasnt cool enough for him. I cant recall where the records were played, was there a DJ, I cant remember anybody on the stage playing records, like they did at the Mecca.

cashman · 07-02-2012, 08:47

Yep Al there was a D.J. Think it was a small room behind the far corner of the stage, Never actually noticed it meself, But a lady ive known fer last 25 yrs or so,was the D.J. fer a while.Can recall a walkway i think behind stage just outa the dancehall, had a few tables etc, think i noticed it when yon, but never registered?