Which was best, Golden Palms, Cavendish, Cats Whiskers or any such club!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

Twas indeed, a "Thwaites" house wii good card school mid/late 60s.

If I remember rightly I think Ken Pilling took over as Landlord at one time, after the Merchants

[barbless]

I worked at the Cav circa 1974/5 , the door staff always directed drunks to the Tophat aka The Flying Bottle[Cyril didnt seem to mind] ,one part time doorman called Harry directed an American and two local woman there,after he heard them whooping it up in the lift, the man said you dont know who I am and was told to come back when sober,it was only after they had gone back down to the street that another doorman told him that the man was Del Shannon the late singer/songwriter who was topping the bill and had been all week,Harry was able smooth things over using his blarney and the show went on, but Harry took sum stick over it.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by barbless

I worked at the Cav circa 1974/5 , the door staff always directed drunks to the Tophat aka The Flying Bottle[Cyril didnt seem to mind] ,one part time doorman called Harry directed an American and two local woman there,after he heard them whooping it up in the lift, the man said you dont know who I am and was told to come back when sober,it was only after they had gone back down to the street that another doorman told him that the man was Del Shannon the late singer/songwriter who was topping the bill and had been all week,Harry was able smooth things over using his blarney and the show went on, but Harry took sum stick over it.

Must have known you then, I was there 74/78 think the Harry your on about was a cockney, I certainly remember Del Shannon being there though he was one of the worst top liners that ever appeared at the Cav

[barbless]

No Harry was Irish and only worked Fri/Sat nights, there were much worse acts than Del Shannon, a Dutch duo called Mouth and McNeil spring to mind, a so called comedy act,also I recall The Platters with only one original member and he was ****ed every night and it showed, also Georgie Fame was stoned most nights much to the annoyance of Alan Price the former Animals keyboard player.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by barbless

No Harry was Irish and only worked Fri/Sat nights, there were much worse acts than Del Shannon, a Dutch duo called Mouth and McNeil spring to mind, a so called comedy act,also I recall The Platters with only one original member and he was ****ed every night and it showed, also Georgie Fame was stoned most nights much to the annoyance of Alan Price the former Animals keyboard player.

Ya Georgie was usually stoned, had an afternoon session in the Victoria pub in Many Rd with the band, one of um fancied the Landlords Daughter, The Platters the only existing member was Tony Williams and they were crap, can remember the Williams walking on the stage with smoke drifting out of his mouth, having just put a fag out, as for just working Fri/Sat, didn't happen it was minimum Thru/Fri/Sta, or Phil Rigby, the manager, wouldn't entertain you

[Alan Gilmartin]

Even so Georgie was a top act, just like now.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Alan Gilmartin

Even so Georgie was a top act, just like now.

Can't say I've seen him lately Alan, or even seen him advertised anywhere

[barbless]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Ya Georgie was usually stoned, had an afternoon session in the Victoria pub in Many Rd with the band, one of um fancied the Landlords Daughter, The Platters the only existing member was Tony Williams and they were crap, can remember the Williams walking on the stage with smoke drifting out of his mouth, having just put a fag out, as for just working Fri/Sat, didn't happen it was minimum Thru/Fri/Sta, or Phil Rigby, the manager, wouldn't entertain you

yes,Phil was a good guy and became good mate,Harry never left the door and always wore his own dark suit instead of the red Baileys jacket like the rest of us, he was good at stopping a lot of bother at the door being older and more experienced. Another good mate at that time was Frank the bass player from the house band, that was when Mike Allen was the band leader.The good acts of that time were Jimmy Helms,Four Tops,Smokey Robinson,Tommy Cooper[did you hear about the taxi driver and the teabag],Sha waddy waddy used pack the place put were so arrogant and used alot of backing tapes to mime to, who did you enjoy?

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by barbless

yes,Phil was a good guy and became good mate,Harry never left the door and always wore his own dark suit instead of the red Baileys jacket like the rest of us, he was good at stopping a lot of bother at the door being older and more experienced. Another good mate at that time was Frank the bass player from the house band, that was when Mike Allen was the band leader.The good acts of that time were Jimmy Helms,Four Tops,Smokey Robinson,Tommy Cooper[did you hear about the taxi driver and the teabag],Sha waddy waddy used pack the place put were so arrogant and used alot of backing tapes to mime to, who did you enjoy?

The taxi driver was called Tez worked for M & M cabs Manni and Marie, there place was next to the Saccumo Restaurant where a lot of us went for a meal and a drink after work, Tommy Cooper went for a meal there on the friday night. Sweet Dreams was one of my favorite acts to appear Polly Brown and Tony Jackson, Carl Wayne was a brilliant guy (ex lead singer with The Move married to miss Dianne from Crossroads) Spent a lot of time with Carl back stage, sadly he's no longer with us. The reception Manager at the Time was a guy from Darwen called Jimmy Balmer, small chap with glasses on always smiling, until the chips were down, never seen anybody remove their specs and deposit them in their top pocket quite like Jimmy. Phil's wife Dianne was a receptionist together with a really big woman whose husband was the Organist, can't think of her name. The Guy who was one of the first reception managers at the Cav came in early some Thursdays to give lessons in Martial Arts and self defence, was called Rod a very handy lad

[barbless]

Jimmy went to nut a mouthy punter one night, his glasses in top pocket as always when trouble was imminent ,due to myopia or alcohol he missed and hit the wall ,It took me ,Taffy ,Billy[scots lad] Pat and Jamal among others to convince him that he was not' losing it' and he had actually missed the guy. I know Phil and Dianne moved to the lakes as Phil was working as regional manager for Electricity Board,Paul Rigby, Phil's bro also worked at the Cav. Thanks for reminder about Carl Wayne what a voice, he had joined the Hollies just before he died as Alan Clark's voice was no longer up to it. As for the Sakumo ,'so many stories so little time'.

[mickw]

Originally Posted by gdm27

2 questions, was it the Concord in the market close to the Cavendish and what was the name of the pub, I think they did it up and changed the name in the early 70's, on the run to the Palms which you got to at the end of the path through the Cathedral from the bus station?

I think you mean the Clarence close to the Cav, never heard of a concord in Blackburn...the other pub on the way to to the Palms was possibly either the Merchants or the Wheatsheaf.

[gdm27]

One for you Jaysay (or anyone else who remembers) what was the name of the manager of the Cav just before it caught fire after the renovation in the late 60's or early 70's. Very good looking bloke with hair cut short and swept back which was the fashion at the time, good dresser also. Pilkington's did some of the work and I can't remember if you were there then!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by mickw

I think you mean the Clarence close to the Cav, never heard of a concord in Blackburn...the other pub on the way to to the Palms was possibly either the Merchants or the Wheatsheaf.

Concord was in the market building across from the Cav, all the Cav staff used to meet in there for a few bevies. Merchants was on Lord Street at the bottom of the street leading to the Palms, the Wheatsheaf was on the corner across from the Palms

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by gdm27

One for you Jaysay (or anyone else who remembers) what was the name of the manager of the Cav just before it caught fire after the renovation in the late 60's or early 70's. Very good looking bloke with hair cut short and swept back which was the fashion at the time, good dresser also. Pilkington's did some of the work and I can't remember if you were there then!

The Manager was Called Sid Stuart, Phil took over from Sid when he left to take over Baillies in Liverpool

[Alan Gilmartin]

It was the Clarence, jaysay, use to go out with the barmaid, spent a lot of time in there. & in the bar as well, if you know what I mean.