1969

January 01 – Moray Dance Club present New Year Special with Jim Martin Band plus The T-Set

January 02 – Aberdeen Students’ Charities Campaign presents Chartride starring the Jim Martin Quartet plus The Cresters

January 07 – M.D.E. Club presents The Cresters plus My Dear Watson

January 09 – Aberdeen Students’ Charities Campaign presents The Freedom Fighters

January 10 – The Cresters plus Jim Martin Band

M.D.E. Club discotheque every Sunday. 2.30 – 5.30 p.m.

February 10 – Monday Scene in the Two Red Shoes with Toy Shop

February 24 – Monday Scene in the Two Red Shoes with Marjorine

March 03 – Monday Scene in the Two Red Shoes with Colour Supplement (ex-Electric Circus)

Come dancing every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with The Jim Martin Band

April 13 – Midnight Revels starring My Dear Watson. Midnight – 2.30 a.m.

May 07, 09, 10 – The Three Days

By this time Albert Bonici was promoting dances at New Elgin Hall on Saturdays with a new band every week. After a few weeks he moved to Bishopmill Hall

May 21, 23, 24 – Meet Denise. Clublands most popular exotic dancer.

June 06, 07 – 2 Dimensions

June 18, 20, 21 – In the cabaret spot. A really dynamic girl singer. The gorgeous Rae Gordon

July 09, 11, 12 – Russ and Johnny

July 25, 26, 30 – For that something extra. See and hear four fabulous fillies. They’re delightful! They’re fantastic! They’re the Tender Plenty.

August 01, 02 – For Go-Go eyes. See Les Oiseaux. Two “with-it” scene dancers. Strangely, on Saturday August 2nd, they were also appearing at Bishopmill Hall in Elgin with Gully Foyle who ended up in trouble that night. It seems someone didn’t like the level of noise they were producing and they charged with a breach of the peace! The copy of the writ against the band seen below is public domain but was previously published in “Fit Like, New York?”

August 10, 11 – Local Holiday Hop. Tangerine Atmosphere plus My Dear Watson

August 15, 16, 20 – Meet the dynamic 5ft 3in. explosive “Little Jinny” with her own style of music

September 01 – Monday Beat Scene with King Size Keen

September 24, 26, 27 – Be seen at the special “Evening Express” sponsored dances starring the beautiful, curvaceous, scintillating Tina Jaen with her own special style of singing

September 28 – M.D.E. Sunday discotheque recommences

October 01, 03, 04 – Russ and Johnny

October 13 – Special M.D.E. club dance featuring The Elizabethans plus The T-Set

The Northern Scot dated Saturday October 4th, 1969 – Appearing as resident guest stars for the rest of October, Zany Rocky Pebble with Marie

October 08 – November 01 (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) – The “Zany” Rocky and Marie with The Jim Martin Band

M.D.E. Sunday Disco with our two DJs Vic and Jack

November 01, 05, 07, 08 – Rocky and Marie Pebble with The Jim Martin Band

November 12, 14 – Russ and Johnny with The Jim Martin Band

November 19 – For four weeks. It’s the lovely Hilda Herd as resident star vocalist

November 24 – M.D.E. Monday Special. Beat at its best starring Britain’s most talented all-girl group Girl Talk

December 17 – Wednesday Over 25’s Special Ladies Night (Ladies admitted at half price) Plus more expensive spot prizes.

December 25 – Xmas Day Drop-In with all the latest from DJs Vic and Jack (2.30 – 5.30 p.m.)

December 25 – Elgin Young Conservatives present A Tinseltingle with My Dear Watson plus Somerset

© Copyright 2008-2010. Roy Deane, Rockmine Archives. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be copied, redistributed, broadcast or published in any form without approval.

1968

January 01 – The Jim Martin Band plus the New Jacobeats

January 10, 12, 13 – Jim Martin Band

February 14, 16, 17 – Renee Barr – Although she was booked, the dates were cancelled due to illness and it seems no replacement was found

March 06, 08, 09 – London’s most exciting exotic dancer – Jill Chatrell

March 09 – Jill Chatrell will not be appearing. In her place will be the speciality and exotic dancer from North Of England Marie

March 22, 23 – The Settlers, Britains foremost vocal trio. Price increase to 7/6-

Come dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

May 03, 04 – Margo Delmar. Clubland’s most exciting exotic dancer

May 22, 24, The Allan James duo

May 31/June 01 – Nepenthe. The fabulous coloured American soul singer

June 17 – It’s a real rave-up with The Sponge. Beat at it’s best!

August 23 – Malcolm Clarke And The Cresters with the resident Jim Martin Band

September 18, 21 – For the singer with the way-way out revealing dresses. Meet Dawn Barrie. (Ed: I’m a bit confused by this  description. What way-out revealing dresses have to do with singing is anyone’s guess. Was this a way of describing yet another “exotic dancer” or stripper?)

September 27 – The M.D.E. Club’s Sunday Discotheque starts

September 28 – This act is provacative! It’s daring! It’s exciting! You must see Malaika Mandes, clubland’s sensational snake dancer.

October 14 – The M.D.E. Club’s Special Midnight Matinee. K.H.G. Rules plus The Hi-Steppin’ Damson Jam.

October 26 – The fabulous singing trio – The Freemen

November 23 – The top singing pair – The Bernie Tutton Duo

December 07 – The Darren Brothers vocal harmony and instrumental comedy

December 24 – Young Conservatives present Sockittomesanta with Charge Of The Light Brigade plus the Jim Martin Quartet

December 25 – Moray Dance Club presents Xmas Day Carnival with Jim Martin Band plus Soul Purpose

December 27 – Jim Martin Band

December 28 – Jim Martin Band

December 31 – Elgin Jazz Club presents Hogmanay Hop with The T-Set

© Copyright 2008-2010. Roy Deane, Rockmine Archives. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be copied, redistributed, broadcast or published in any form without approval.

1967

The contrast between The Two Red Shoes and The Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn is quite shocking. Only two big-name bands played Elgin in 1967 whereas at least 10 played Nairn. Why Bonici’s ballroom in the smaller of the two towns should have proved more successful at this period is a mystery.

What is clear however, is that the Elgin venue had become boring and outdated. There was little change in the resident band although Bonici did have several bands circulating around his other dance halls. No matter how popular The Jimmy Martin Band was, it was crazy to have them play almost every night the venue was open. It seems the glory days were really over for The Two Red Shoes despite Pink Floyd playing on July 19th. I’m assuming their appearance was once again down to the relationship built up with Brian Epstein. It’s possible that Albert was contracually obliged to take them for a set number of dates.

Regular dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to the Jimmy Martin resident band

January 18, 20, 21 – Julie Grant will be appearing as guest vocalist

Wednesdays – Over 25’s Night 9.30 – 11.45 p.m.

Fridays – Late Night 9.30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturdays – Palais Night 9 – 11.45 p.m.

February 8, 10, 11 – Miss Donna Douglas with Jimmy Martin Dance Band

February 14 – Valentine Dance with The Web from Manchester

March 01 – Dale Adriatico. All the way from the Phillipines. The most up and coming new vocalist with a voice like Sinatra

March 22 – Miss Jackie Day as guest vocalist

March 24 – Miss Jackie Day as guest vocalist

April 19, 21, 22 – Sheena Duff as guest vocalist

May 10, 12, 13 – Jackie Rogers as guest vocalist

May 30 – M.D.E. Queen Heat Two with Haddock’s Rockhouse plus The T-Set

June 27 – They’re back: Scotland’s top group after yet another action-packed German Tour. The scene is set for the fabulous Copycats plus The Dollies and The Mixture

July 12, 14, 15 – Donna Douglas as guest vocalist

July 20 – Pink Floyd plus The Copycats. I’ve been told that only 12 people attended this concert. The advert above is typical of Albert Bonici‘s over the top promotion skills. It turns out that the way-out lighting was provided by Graham Nairn who took charge of the Two Red Shoes Light(s) and tried to add some atmosphere to the event!

To give you a taste of what Pink Floyd were like and what their way-out light show should have been like, here they are at the legendary UFO CLub in London from March of this year. The footage is from a German documentary film called Die Jungen Nachtwandler (The Young Nightcrawler), about the British musical scene in the sixties. The director Edmund Wolf also appears on the clip for a short comment. It’s fascinating as it shows how the audience reacted to the music as well as what it was like in a club at this time.

August 03 – Paul And Barry Ryan (seen above with “Have Pity On The Boy”) plus The Copycats

August 29 – Mama’s Little Children

September 05 – The Freddie Mack Show

September 06, 08, 09 – Sheena Duff

The advert above is from the Northern Scot and the listing below is from the Elgin Courant. Why neither contains the others date(s) is anyone’s guess.

September 27, 29, 30 – Judy Cannon presents her own brand of music. Dancing to the music of The Jimmy Martin Band

November 04 – The Jimmy Martin Band with Kathleen Ogg

November 08, 10, 11 – By special request! The return of the irrepressible and vivacious Judy Cannon

November 17 – The Modelles

November 18 – Dancing for all with The Jimmy Martin Band

November 21 – Freddie Mack And His Road Show (all sixteen pieces of it)

November 28 – It’s the new Cash Boutique Queen. Heat 2. Win a fabulous nylon fur coat!

December 06, 08, 09 – Entertainment at its best with the scintillating and vivacious Sheena Duff

Come dancing every Wednesday – Over 25’s Night, Friday – Late Night, Saturday – Palais Night with The Jimmy Martin Band

December 24 – It’s the Midnight Special with Circle. Prizes! hats! Novelties! Streamers! Under the direction of top dee-jay Keith Taylor

December 25 – SJPA present The Jim Martin Band

December 27 – Young Liberals’ Association present The Jim Martin Band

December 29 – Jim Martin Band

December 30 – Jim Martin Band

© Copyright 2008-2010. Roy Deane, Rockmine Archives. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be copied, redistributed, broadcast or published in any form without approval.

1966

January 01 – Carnival Dance

January 03 – Elgin Jazz Club New Year Revels. Dancing to The Jimmy Martin Band

January 06 – Aberdeen Students’ Charities Campaign “Rout 66” Music by The Facells

January 17 – SJPA presents Sounds Incorporated plus Sol Byron and The Senate

On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays Dancing as usual to The Jimmy Martin Band with Alyson Armstrong

Starting Tuesday February 01 – The Verandah Discotheque dancing to top pops featuring disc jockey Douglas Eames in the colourful atmosphere of the London disc-clubs

February 03 – The Mindbenders

February 10 – The Copycats

Elgin Courant Wednesday February 16, 1966: Every Tuesday – Top Of The Pops presented by disc dolly Miss Eithnie Alexander

February 24 – The Poets

March 10 – Aberdeen Students’ Charities’ Campaign “Run Riot ’66” featuring The Four Pennies

April 01 – The Students Charities Ball. Bar, breakfasts, three bands

Wednesdays – Over 25’s Night, Fridays – Late Nite, Saturdays – Palais Nite with Allysun Armstrong and the Jimmy Martin Band

April 21 – The Return of that “With-It” B.B.C. TV show Stramash satrring Sol Byron – The Three Bells – The Senate

June 16 – Another big show special with The Mindbenders and The Drovers

July 21 – The Moody Blues and The Copycats

Elgin Courant for Wednesday, July 27 announces that as of Friday 29th July, the big centre for the Friday Night Beat Scene is now Keith.

Whatever Albert Bonici’s reasons were for moving the Thursday headline acts from Elgin to Keith it was a sign of problems with the Two Red Shoes. The Ballerina Ballroom had opened in January and already it had taken over from his Elgin venue. Why this should have been the case is anyone’s guess, Nairn had a much smaller population than Elgin and Keith’s was smaller still.

It has been suggested that Elgin was in the grip of a serious gang problem and it was no longer safe for dancers to come from places like Forres despite buses being laid on. Any insight into this would be most helpful.

Elgin Courant August 03 carries the advert “Regular dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to the Jimmy Martin Band with Eithnie Alexander

August 04 – The Whingdinger Beat Show with The Overlanders and The Copycats

Elgin Courant August 10 carries the advert “Regular dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to the Jimmy Martin Band and vocalist Deirdre Cameron

October 06 – For the Jet Set and High Camp followers, it’s Teen-Beat starring The Flintlocks. The fabulous Australian group now touring Britain with their own “Down-Under” sound.

December 15 – The Rebel Sound plus The T-Set

December 29 – Krazy Karnival Knight. Admission for only 1d if it’s dated 1953. Two admitted for 1d if it’s dated 1950 and six admitted for 1d if it’s dated 1951. Free entry for curly-toothed creeps or Bald Bearded Dolls. Starring The Agents plus The Throb

© Copyright 2008-2010. Roy Deane, Rockmine Archives. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be copied, redistributed, broadcast or published in any form without approval.