” Wigan Casino ” Video Footage
The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Operating between 1973 and 1981, it was known as a primary venue for northern soul music. It carried forward the legacy created by clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Golden Torch in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. It remains one of the most famous clubs in Northern England.[1]
This England, a TV documentary about the venue, was filmed in 1977. In 1978, the American music magazine Billboard voted Wigan Casino “The Best Disco in the World”, ahead of New York City’s Studio 54[2]. Russ Winstanley and Dave Nowell wrote a history of the club, Soul Survivors, The Wigan Casino Story, which was published in 1996. A stage play by Mick Martin about the Wigan Casino years, Once upon a time in Wigan, debuted in February 2003 at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, and has since toured nationally.
[edit] History
Wigan Casino was the name of the last incarnation of a Wigan ballroom called the Empress.[3] The venue, previously called The Casino Club, was operated by Gerry Marshall as a cabaret club in the early 1970s. Alan Caine approached Marshall about running a soul music night in the Beachcomber Bar at the back of the club, to which Marshall agreed. Mike Walker recognised that at a local rugby club, Russ Winstanley had a similar evening that was more professionally operated than the one founded by Caine. Walker brought Winstanley from the rugby club to the Casino Club, and Wigan Casino opened in September 1973, with Winstanley as the DJ. Many famous soul performers performed there, including Jackie Wilson, Edwin Starr and Junior Walker.
Young people from all over the UK regularly made the trek to Wigan Casino to hear the latest northern soul artists and to dance. Queues to get in were sometimes five or six people deep, and stretched round the corner up into the town centre. The second dance floor, called Mr. M’s, stayed open until 6am and played oldies songs from a variety of DJs. Every all-nighter traditionally ended with three songs that became known as the 3 before 8: “Time Will Pass You By” by Tobi Legend, “Long After Tonight Is Over” by Jimmy Radcliffe, and “I’m On My Way” by Dean Parrish. Parrish is still active on the northern soul circuit.
Amphetamine and other drug abuse led to the downfall of the club, with pressure from the police and the local authority forcing it to close in 1981.[citation needed] The final night of Wigan Casino in its northern soul state was DJed by Winstanley, and the 3 before 8 were played three times consecutively at the end of the night. The crowd refused to leave, so according to Winstanley, to “break this spell of hysteria” he picked a 7″ at random from his box and played that. This final Wigan Casino song became one of the most famous northern soul songs of all time, Frank Wilson’s “Do I Love You”. The Wigan Casino building burned down a year after it closed.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Casino
Duration : 0:5:17
Tags: Casino, Jackson, lambretta, mods, Northern, Soul, vespa, Walte, wigan
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
hi anybody out …
hi anybody out there i am trying to find the song by little richie (i am not sure what the name of the song is) the chorus in the song gos something like this (and it looks like feels like and got the ear marks o ya ya its just another heaert break for me) can any body help and is it in you tube YOUR TRULY NORTHERNSOUL STILL KEEPING THE FAITH
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Without wishing to …
) keep the faith soulies!
Without wishing to sound smug – by god I was so lucky to be part of this – it has lived with me all my life. Once you are ‘touched’ by this music your are hooked. Funny thing though, we all knew at the time it was special at the time
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
the girl from 2.14 …
the girl from 2.14 -2.18 pops up on these videos a lot same with some of the blokes i look at this as social history as well as just bloody brilliant dancing and music , but cant help wondering what happened to these people , hope your all well and happy where ever you may be . KTF.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
does anyone …
does anyone remember Steve Maxwell and Thursday nights at the Aquarius night club in Hastings??? We used to get loads of guys doing their Northern Soul Magic. But actually I think they were from Birmingham mainly.
Isley Bros rule.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
on 1;35 im sure it …
on 1;35 im sure it is sandy holt, the Thaiboxer from bolton
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
my mum used to go
my mum used to go
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Search and join the …
Search and join the Official PETE MCKENNA NIGHTSHIFT facebook group.He is re releasing an updated edition of this book about growing up in and around Wigan Casino.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
whats the song ?
whats the song ?
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I suppose i should …
I suppose i should count myself lucky to have been part of the casino scene for a couple of years. Been to loads of niters since, but somehow none of them quite had the magic Wigan did.The only one that came close was Parr Hall, Warrington
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
3:37 – spangled..
3:37 – spangled..
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
(LOOKING FOR ANDY …
(LOOKING FOR ANDY JONES)
Hi,
Anyone know Andy Jones, went to Newent Comp H/S (Glos) 74 to 79 and went to Wigan Casino regularly with his Brother Kevin thru these years.
Went to school with him these years and would like to make contact with him, Andy where are you man ?
Chris G. (left UK 1980 for NZ and now in AUS)
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Karen,
Not sure if …
Karen,
Not sure if this is you, did you go to Newent Comp around 74 to 79 and knew Andy jones who I am trying to contact ?
Any help appreciated.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Went to wigan for …
Went to wigan for about 3 years 1972 to 1975, other places aswell dropped out when it became very commercial. I went to the Northern soul night at the metrodome Sat night it was fantastic, my feet never stopped wish I was 20 again.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I never went to …
I never went to Wigan Casino, Yes, samanthas, cleethorpes pier etc but gosh should have done. One huge regret in life is that. Anyways got the metrodome nown in Barnsley and well its an awesome night but ohhhh wish it was wigan 30 years ago.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
To davebbe123 get a …
To davebbe123 get a life how wasi it a gay bar normanI bet its party time at yours every night git ktf
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
we used to travel …
we used to travel from the midlands to the casino, and dance almost all night, no trouble, we were like , and still all one massive familly, keep the faith,
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
answer to goerge \/ …
answer to goerge \/ \/ \/
this was a gay bar
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
LOL at darlitaxdg’s …
LOL at darlitaxdg’s comment LOL
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Fantastic memories! …
Fantastic memories!! I just wish I could still dance like that!
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
They were fantastic …
They were fantastic times for sure, everybody got on really well and it was a good social event, I mainly used the upstairs room known as Mr.M’s because the music played in there was a lot of stuff from the Twisted Wheel and the Torch whilst in the main ballroom it was more new stuff and live acts too. Oh if I could turn back time!!
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
@Markpool – you’re …
@Markpool – you’re clearly an insider who knew the scene intimately. I am an interested ‘outsider’ who had heard of northern soul and have found these videos fascinating in a kind of ‘social history’ way….and the composition of the crowd was the 3rd thing that jumped out at me after the style (and skill) of the dancing and the music. I completely accept it was mainly straight. The dancing – rather than let’s say ‘romancing’ – was the primary reason for attending: atypical of club culture.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I’d say roughly …
I’d say roughly that would be the mix. Dancing was a big part of the scene and before you ask, yes we was all straight!! (Well mostly)
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Is it my …
Is it my imagination or was the dance floor 90% guys??
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
nice one,good time …
nice one,good time dancing,gave me good memories of the eadrly eighties scooter rallys,good music good times bless you for putting this out.wakefield knights scooter club 1984member
June 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
love the songs …
love the songs thanks great times