Following several mentions in BBSH of the Emcee Five, I’m sure I remember seeing them playing at a club at the top of Northumberland Street, above what was then the News Theatre. I think the club was called the Pelican Club but I might be wrong about that. Has anyone recollections, or more info?Jack Goodwin.
(The above photo has Ian Carr in his pre Emcee Five days at the Pelican Club. Ronnie McLean is the trombonist and Don Armstrong the sax player - Lance.)
Was the club later called the 'Tatler' club? During the day it was a Chinese restaurant. Then about 9-00pm it became a night-club. Mike worked there in the resident band.
ReplyDeleteI was working as a 'fire-woman' in 1970 and after a late shift I used to get changed out of my uniform, get glammed up and walk up from Pilgrim Street Fire Station.
"Oh happy days"
p.s. There is photographic evidence of my career as a fire-woman (for those who may doubt it?..lol..)
Did you start fires or put them out?
ReplyDeleteI suppose when you say 'glammed up' it meant you went from hoses to hosiery.
I saw you wearing a fire-person's helmet on Facebook but I thought you were at a fancy dress party!
and yes, I think you are right about them being one and the same club.
I said that the Pelican Club was based in the News Theatre building. I now realise that it was in the same building which housed the Tatler cinema at the top of Northumberland Street. The News Theatre was in Pilgrim Street. But the club was definitely called The Pelican Club and my wife Audrey remembers going there - before we met, as it happens, at a Peter Deuchar jazz party!!
ReplyDeleteThere were in fact three News Theatres. One in Westgate Road, the one that is now the Tyneside Cinema and the Tatler which, according to the link, was originally Louis Bertorelli's café.It then the Pelican Club and then the Tatler night club.
ReplyDeleteI have the feeling that, in the 1940's it was also some form of Jazz Record Society on a Sunday afternoon.