Legendary Liverpool Clubs Of Yesteryear.

[QUOTE=shytalk;20792]The Mardi Gras I went to from its' opening in 1958 was at the bottom of Mount Pleasant, previously it was a billiard hall, it was over Turners auction rooms. It was demolished to build a multi story car park and multi screen cinema, later to be the 051 club I think.
When did the Mardi Gras move to Bold St.?[/QUOTE]

About 1973.
From 1908 to 1929 it was a cinema called the Mount Pleasant Hall.
Renamed the Century just before it closed when it showed foreign films.

This 1966 photo is from "Ainscough's Liverpool", one of my favourite books.

Thanks PhilipG,
I was one of the first members there in about 1958. It was a great club, we used to go in the Beehive pub opposite for a few then on to the Mardi. It was opened by Stan Roberts and Jim Ireland, they went on to open numerous clubs and manage a lot of bands. The manager was Harry Ormesher who I knew previously from his 'photo shop in Seaforth Rd. He later became a world renowned photographer. The doorman was Alan Tanner, aka Alan Adrian a Jamaican ex boxer. There was rarely any trouble there. In those days you could park your car outside as long as you didn't obstruct the bus stop.
The building must have had extensive modification to make it 2 story as it was when I went there.
Thanks for the pic it brought back a lot of memories.

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Originally Posted by shytalk

The White Star isn't in Matthew St. the address is in Button St.

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So was Probe, so was replay records and the white star all on Button Street, but knew the area around there as Matthew Street

S'ok just an ex hackney driver being picky :)

Bloody taxi driver :)
only joking mate, you were right about the street, good little boozer the white star

Yes, I owned and drove taxis for 16 years then emmigrated to the USA in 1981.
Now retired and living up in the Ozark mountains.

I remember the Iron Door, The Pyramid. The Twenty One Club,and some clubs around Upper Parliment st.

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Originally Posted by shytalk

Thanks PhilipG,
I was one of the first members there in about 1958. It was a great club, we used to go in the Beehive pub opposite for a few then on to the Mardi. It was opened by Stan Roberts and Jim Ireland, they went on to open numerous clubs and manage a lot of bands. The manager was Harry Ormesher who I knew previously from his 'photo shop in Seaforth Rd. He later became a world renowned photographer. The doorman was Alan Tanner, aka Alan Adrian a Jamaican ex boxer. There was rarely any trouble there. In those days you could park your car outside as long as you didn't obstruct the bus stop.
The building must have had extensive modification to make it 2 story as it was when I went there.
Thanks for the pic it brought back a lot of memories.

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I've just posted a history of the building to the "Some Liverpool Cinemas" thread.

RE Erics...
Whilst browsing this thread and going on my own google tangent to look for pics I found this...

http://www.liverpoolthen.co.uk/

With pictures of this...
http://www.liverpoolthen.co.uk/erics04/011.jpg

and this
http://www.liverpoolthen.co.uk/erics04/014.jpg

Amd a tiny little forum here

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Originally Posted by christy

First ever club with mates was Milo's (formerly the Moonstone) in the precinct followed by Nightriders (freewheelers) in wood street. Used to watch bands in the Cumberland, Planet x (both Hannover street and the one off Dale street)

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I used to go to The Cave (Radio Jackie Norths the Cave! It had a DJ called Rik Dane who ran a pirate rock radio station of that name) which I think was really Brady's the successor to Erics after it had turned into a Rock club. The Nightriders/Freewheelers above the Bar Royale which was above the Wilsons pub and all owned by Sadie - Sloanes now the Krazyhouse. Always disliked Milos 'cos of its poodle RAWK :) I think it was named after John Mylett from local band Rage / Nutz and once drummer on childrens TV lunchtime show I think called Our Back Yard or something who'd died along with Alison his girlfriend in a car crash in Spain - hence the Alisons bar part at the top end of the pub and I spent many nights in the Planet at both locations as well.

Great picture Victoria I'll look forward to that site going live.:)

Fallows Too Ticket:

http://static.flickr.com/104/300999251_f40e478fc7.jpg

The Hippodrome, just about visible:

http://static.flickr.com/119/300999377_0b549c5a5f.jpg

lol I used to go to Fallows in Bootle or wherever it was on the rave nights they had there,I wasn't wrecked or nothing I just don't remember where it was honest.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Motorhemp

I used to go to The Cave (Radio Jackie Norths the Cave! It had a DJ called Rik Dane who ran a pirate rock radio station of that name) which I think was really Brady's the successor to Erics after it had turned into a Rock club. The Nightriders/Freewheelers above the Bar Royale which was above the Wilsons pub and all owned by Sadie - Sloanes now the Krazyhouse. Always disliked Milos 'cos of its poodle RAWK :) I think it was named after John Mylett from local band Rage / Nutz and once drummer on childrens TV lunchtime show I think called Our Back Yard or something who'd died along with Alison his girlfriend in a car crash in Spain - hence the Alisons bar part at the top end of the pub and I spent many nights in the Planet at both locations as well.

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Prefferred the women in Milo's, Nightriders women intimidated me at that age! Did you ever go to Rockfords ? We used to go over sometimes when Milo's shut at 1 o'clock, for the last hour or so. What was the name of the club (began with an 'S') behind probe upstairs (where Coast is now). Remember it was full of the reminents of the Punk, Rockabilly, Psyhcobilly thing, used to enjoy them giving each other a hiding to King Kurt or Jailhouse rock or something. The Pink Parrot was another alternative if fancied a change and some Goths. Such a shame that these clubs don't exist any more. Like the casa, for all the good the dockers have done with it, still preferred the old place. Once had a very strange night in there with my mates and Wayne Sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all

The Mardi Gras Club is very familiar to me although I don't believe I was ever in it. I just remember girls talking about "the Mardi." I was not a big club goer when I lived in Liverpool in the Sixties, though I did go to the Sink Club on Leece Street up from St. Luke's Church circa 1965, when Tony Jackson, ex of the Searchers played there, and I was later on quite a number of occasions in the Chequers Club on Seel Street.

Chris

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Originally Posted by christy

Prefferred the women in Milo's, Nightriders women intimidated me at that age! Did you ever go to Rockfords ? We used to go over sometimes when Milo's shut at 1 o'clock, for the last hour or so. What was the name of the club (began with an 'S') behind probe upstairs (where Coast is now). Remember it was full of the reminents of the Punk, Rockabilly, Psyhcobilly thing, used to enjoy them giving each other a hiding to King Kurt or Jailhouse rock or something. The Pink Parrot was another alternative if fancied a change and some Goths. Such a shame that these clubs don't exist any more. Like the casa, for all the good the dockers have done with it, still preferred the old place. Once had a very strange night in there with my mates and Wayne Sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Was it the swinging apple?

The PARADOX at Ormskirk Rd. Aintree was a real Liverpool venue.

Can anyone tell me when this club closed?

Also, where was The She? I've heard a few mentions of this club but don't know where it was.

And of course there was the famous "Shakey" in town.

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Originally Posted by john

Was it the swinging apple?

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Swinging Apple was the predecessor of Nightriders / Wilsons bar on Wood Street - not sure too, young at the time Rainfords was the rock club at the back of button street for a while. Rockfords was off St. Johns Garden by where the Italian and Chinese restaurants are now. Too many beers tonight (and then) to remember accurately... :) Liverpool has always had a large non-conformist music population - not always as cool as punk stuff but there and vibrant anyway...

Lost most of my teeth outside Casablanca (as I still call it) to some scallys from Chauffers in the 80s - still prefer the old unilt Casa to modern version (30pence entrance if they bothered asking) but thats probably age - I especially remember the first room with just a jukebox for light and no way of telling what the girl you where chatting to looked like! Good job they couldn't either ;)

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Originally Posted by christy

Prefferred the women in Milo's, Nightriders women intimidated me at that age! Did you ever go to Rockfords ? We used to go over sometimes when Milo's shut at 1 o'clock, for the last hour or so. What was the name of the club (began with an 'S') behind probe upstairs (where Coast is now). Remember it was full of the reminents of the Punk, Rockabilly, Psyhcobilly thing, used to enjoy them giving each other a hiding to King Kurt or Jailhouse rock or something. The Pink Parrot was another alternative if fancied a change and some Goths. Such a shame that these clubs don't exist any more. Like the casa, for all the good the dockers have done with it, still preferred the old place. Once had a very strange night in there with my mates and Wayne Sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Now this is suddenly weird 'cos I remember meeting Wayne Sleep in the Casablanca!

I think the She was on Dale Street.

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Originally Posted by Motorhemp

I used to go to The Cave (Radio Jackie Norths the Cave! It had a DJ called Rik Dane who ran a pirate rock radio station of that name) .

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Bloody hell that takes me back - late 1970s. Rik used to DJ at the Lincolns Inn - a bikers club near where BHS cafe is now (dont know the street name) -behind Probe.

I remember him for always playing AC/DC no matter what you asked him for.

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Originally Posted by john

Was it the swinging apple?

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Sounds a bit seedy to me.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by john

I think the She was on Dale Street.

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I think it was by the Lisburn bar on Victoria st.
I never went to that club but I heard a lot about it !!
It was in the same league as Pickwicks or the Grafton 'grab a granny,' from what I could make out !! :unibrow:

The She club was in Victoria Street.

It was, I didn't mean Dale but Victoria :shock:

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Originally Posted by LABlue

Bloody hell that takes me back - late 1970s. Rik used to DJ at the Lincolns Inn - a bikers club near where BHS cafe is now (dont know the street name) -behind Probe.

I remember him for always playing AC/DC no matter what you asked him for.

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I think the Lincolns Inn was later Rainfords.

Rik died in 2002. He'd also been involved in Radio Atlantis another pirate radio station. There's an article on him including soundbites at link below.

http://www.conceptnews.org/rickdane/

1. Temptation @ the Uni circa 1989-1992. Loads of different rooms, underground corridors of intrigue, main dance area amazing, girls to fall in love with. Oh yeah and live bands like Suede.

2. The (old) Casablanca. Red light-bulbs, bitter old bassads, curry on chips, the occasional milf/ neurotic nympho's, nympho students, Lee Mavers, Marlon Brando and Somali blokes. Great for skanky underground magical memories untill about 94' or something when it closed and reopened without the seediness or the magic or the Somali's.

3. Planet X. Both in Temple St, and Hanover St this was an anti-scally institution. 1988-1992 were my years of rage!

4. The State. 1987, a time someone described as the club's 'Smith's years'. Grand.

5. Pink Parrot, Duke St. Like a lite version of the Planet. For a while it really worked.

6. Mardi Gras. Never had the finest of nights here, never really had a handle on the 'direction' of the place and the music was always a bit too obvious for me. Was a good space though, in retrospect, compromised by a lack of identity.

7.Heebeejeebee's. Mid 90's. Flu, girls, cliques, french pop, girls, cliques, snow, and flu.

8. Le Bateau. It works.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XI5Irrqjo24&search=Quadrant

Watch this clip of the Quad it's unbelievable there was nothing like it,at the end it's as if someone has just scored the winning goal in the last minute of a European Cup Final or something,truly great memories of one of Liverpool's finest clubs.:celb (23):

And then there's was the all nighter which was all of this plus 10,000 other party animals,fond memories indeed.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

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Originally Posted by Paul D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XI5Irrqjo24&search=Quadrant

Watch this clip of the Quad it's unbelievable there was nothing like it,at the end it's as if someone has just scored the winning goal in the last minute of a European Cup Final or something,truly great memories of one of Liverpool's finest clubs.:celb (23):

And then there's was the all nighter which was all of this plus 10,000 other party animals,fond memories indeed.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

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Amazing!

I have watched a few clips over on the quad site, I have a couple of the CDs too... Never will you find a club that rocks like that did.
Although I hear the reunions are pretty mad too.... :celb (23):

I am lovin this tune playing in this quad video too :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPgFDT5in94

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Originally Posted by victorialush

I am lovin this tune playing in this quad video too :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPgFDT5in94

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Crazy days them :celb (23):

Forty Years On

Their electric guitars jangled in our ears,
The Searchers, Liverpool, 1965--the stuffy
Sink Club. We two-stepped cheek to cheek

to "What Have They Done to the Rain?"
Afterward, the bus trip to Tunnel Road;
we kissed in a chandler's shop doorway.

I can still taste your Beechnut chewing gum.

Christopher T. George

Anyone remember Rotters,and as for bands A Flock of Seagulls never get the recognition they deserve,2 Grammies and millions of record sales.

yes to both

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Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge

Forty Years On

Their electric guitars jangled in our ears,
The Searchers, Liverpool, 1965--the stuffy
Sink Club. We two-stepped cheek to cheek

to "What Have They Done to the Rain?"
Afterward, the bus trip to Tunnel Road;
we kissed in a chandler's shop doorway.

I can still taste your Beechnut chewing gum.

Christopher T. George

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Chris, what a cracker:PDT_Piratz_26:
Beechnut chewing gum! What happened to it?

This thread has brought back so many memories of the clubs I used to go to. Right back to the teen scene days of the The Quad, and Fallows in Aintree, through to pre-Cream Nation and more recently Garlands.

For some reason, I never got to experience The State, something that guts me, given it's so legendary in Liverpool clubland.

Amazingly, I never got to go to Secret's in Litherland either (where I'm from), as they always said I looked too young. Strange, as I was frequenting gay and straight clubs in town from the age of 14 as I always looked much older than my mates. I did however go to the back club of Secret's called 'Clouds' around 86-87, anyone else remember that? Victoria perhaps?

Other clubs/bars from back in the day that I loved were Mardi Gras (especially the Kylie/Madonna nights from the early 90's), Macmillan's, Early Garland's, The She, Jody's, Reflections, Baa Bar, Escape (R.I.P), ESP.... too many, all mostly, and sadly, gone.

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Originally Posted by Fruit Machine

Amazingly, I never got to go to Secret's in Litherland either (where I'm from), as they always said I looked too young. Strange, as I was frequenting gay and straight clubs in town from the age of 14 as I always looked much older than my mates. I did however go to the back club of Secret's called 'Clouds' around 86-87, anyone else remember that? Victoria perhaps?

Other clubs/bars from back in the day that I loved were Mardi Gras (especially the Kylie/Madonna nights from the early 90's), Macmillan's, Early Garland's, The She, Jody's, Reflections, Baa Bar, Escape (R.I.P), ESP.... too many, all mostly, and sadly, gone.

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I remember Clouds, I was too young to go then... I think it was called Allinsons before Secrets and Clouds came along.
You never missed much with Secrets though, it was typical Hitman & Her stuff... bad light shows, bad DJs, watered down ale and sticky floors... 01:50 the slowies would start and you would get the lounge lizards come out, not bought you one drink all night but want a slow dance and a snog on the dancefloor from you... as if! :)

Went to Jody's too, my uncle is gay so we did a bit of a tour... think we ended up in Images... seen some sights that night :D

Baa Bar is still going isn't it?
Haven't been there for a good few years though... I have an old mixed CD from the Baa Bar, good stuff :PDT_Piratz_26:

Fallows is now the Time Out kids play area I've been told,I've been there loads of times with the kids and I never knew that,just shows you how wrecked I was when I used to go there.

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Originally Posted by Paul D

Fallows is now the Time Out kids play area I've been told,I've been there loads of times with the kids and I never knew that,just shows you how wrecked I was when I used to go there.

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Oh Paul, thats shocking, lol

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Originally Posted by victorialush

Oh Paul, thats shocking, lol

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Come on.:celb (23):