69th Year!  69th Year!
                          The Whole Story of The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline  
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    1963
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Summary:

George Keiller & His All Star Band maintained their resident duties (with The Harry Dewar Quartette on Fridays) until June when Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats took over.

The Red Hawks 'Twist Club' continued to be popular throughout 1963 on Wednesdays while they also played support for many touring acts.

Who could have foreseen the recent reformation of The Falcons when they made their Ballroom debut in January and played Saturdays throughout the year?

1963 also saw another important debut in April when local boys The Shadettes made the first of many Ballroom appearances with this name and later as Nazareth from 1970 to the present day. The Shadettes played the ballroom only once in 1963, 1964 and 1965 before landing a residency in November of 1966.

Another innovation to accommodate the burgeoning popularity of dancing was the Saturday afternoon dances introduced in June.

The Story of how The Beatles played The Kinema (OK, ... nearly).

On Friday 3rd August 1963 The Beatles played for the last time at The Cavern Club, Liverpool and nine weeks and a day later on Sunday 6th October 1963 they played two shows at The Carlton Theatre, Sinclairtown in Kirkcaldy (with Mike Berry and Freddy Starr & the Midnighters).

This wasn't their first choice though. The Kinema Ballroom's manager (Cecil R Hunter - 'Mr. Kinema Ballroom') turned them down and popular local legend has it that Cecil's decision was a purely financial one (that their £350 fee was too expensive!). However around the same time it seems, The Fab's manager Brian Epstein had ruled that the group would no longer play ballrooms and dancehalls and would only play seated venues such as theatres or cinemas. (Ref: Mark Lewisohn's book 'The Beatles Live!'). So then, which story is true?

The truth of the matter is that both stories are basically true.

1. The Beatles were in fact booked to play The Raith Ballroom in Kirkcaldy before they were moved to The Carlton Theatre. This helps to substantiate the Epstein 'theatres not ballrooms' ruling and,...

2. I have it on the best of authority (direct from Cecil Hunter's son, John) that Cecil did turn down their original enquiry to play The Kinema. However the decision was not made on the basis of finance. The simple fact of the matter is that Cecil's wife Sally "did not like the look of them". It was that simple. A case of early Girlpower surely!

So Cecil booked Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats instead and exactly seven days later, fifteen million people watched 'The Fab Four' perform on 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium' and Beatlemania was born. In March of 2006 a handbill advertising the Kirkcaldy Carlton gig above was advertised for sale on eBay for $3,500! (though did not sell).

Of course US President John F Kennedy was assassinated on Friday 22nd November 1963 and Robert McKenzie contacted me to say he clearly remembers a friend telling him the news in the Kinema that night when the music was once more provided by Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats.

 

Other highlights this year included:

The Baron Knights
Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
Craig Douglas
Jimmy Justice & The Exchequers
Eden Kane
Kathy Kirby
Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
Gerry & The Pacemakers
Anita Harris
Rolf Harris
The Original Checkmates


January 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
02/01/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks

03/01/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

04/01/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

05/01/1963SaturdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

06/01/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

09/01/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
10/01/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

11/01/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

12/01/1963SaturdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

16/01/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
17/01/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

18/01/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

19/01/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Dunfermline outfit reformed in 2005!
20/01/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

23/01/1963WednesdayAnita HarrisThe Red Hawks 
24/01/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

25/01/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

26/01/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

27/01/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

30/01/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
31/01/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

February 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/02/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

02/02/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

06/02/1963WednesdayRolf HarrisThe Red HawksTicket 4/-
07/02/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

08/02/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

09/02/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

10/02/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

12/02/1963TuesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
14/02/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

15/02/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

16/02/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

17/02/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

20/02/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
21/02/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

22/02/1963FridayThe Red Hawks

23/02/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

24/02/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

27/02/1963WednesdayThe Baron KnightsThe Red Hawks
28/02/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

March 1963
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/03/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

02/03/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

03/03/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

07/03/1963ThursdayKenny Ball & His JazzmenGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band 
08/03/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

09/03/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

10/03/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

13/03/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
14/03/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

15/03/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

16/03/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

17/03/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

19/03/1963TuesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
22/03/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

23/03/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

24/03/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

27/03/1963WednesdayCraig DouglasThe Red Hawks 
29/03/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

30/03/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

31/03/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

April 1963
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
03/04/1963WednesdayThe Original CheckmatesThe Red Hawks 
04/04/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

05/04/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

06/04/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

07/04/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

10/04/1963WednesdayEden KaneThe Red HawksTickets 5/-
11/04/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

12/04/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

13/04/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

14/04/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

17/04/1963WednesdayTommy Lister & The Dunfermline City Jazzmen

18/04/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

19/04/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

20/04/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

21/04/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

24/04/1963WednesdayThe Shadettes
The Shadettes first Ballroom gig. They would become 'Nazareth' in February 1970 (Tickets 3/-)
25/04/1963ThursdayAlan Elsdon & His Jazz Band
Featuring Mick Emery
26/04/1963FridayTania DayThe Harry Dewar Quartette 
27/04/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

28/04/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

May 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/05/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
02/05/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

03/05/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

04/05/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

05/05/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

08/05/1963WednesdayMalcolm ClarkeThe Crestas / The Red Hawks
09/05/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

10/05/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

11/05/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

12/05/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

15/05/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
16/05/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

17/05/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

18/05/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

19/05/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

22/05/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks

23/05/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

24/05/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

25/05/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

26/05/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

29/05/1963WednesdayBobby Dene & The DynamosThe Red Hawks
30/05/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

31/05/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

June 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/06/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
The Red Hawks play in the afternoon too.
02/06/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

05/06/1963WednesdayMike Berry & The InnocentsThe Red Hawks 
06/06/1963ThursdayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

07/06/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

08/06/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

09/06/1963SundayGeorge Keiller & His All Star Band

12/06/1963WednesdayThe Baron KnightsThe Red HawksFeaturing Duke D'Mond
14/06/1963FridayThe Trad Lads

15/06/1963SaturdayThe Falcons

18/06/1963TuesdayWes Sands & The LeroysThe Red HawksThe Red Hawks Twist Club
20/06/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

21/06/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

22/06/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
23/06/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

26/06/1963WednesdayPete Kerr's Scottish All-StarsThe Red HawksThe Red Hawks Twist Club ('Pete Kerr's Scottish All-Stars' were formerly known as 'The Clyde Valley Stompers').
27/06/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

28/06/1963FridayThe Harry Dewar Quartette

29/06/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
30/06/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

July 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
03/07/1963WednesdayJohnny Hudson & The Teenbeat ShowbandThe Red Hawks
04/07/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

05/07/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

06/07/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
07/07/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

10/07/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
11/07/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

12/07/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

13/07/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
14/07/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

17/07/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
18/07/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

19/07/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

20/07/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
21/07/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

23/07/1963TuesdayMike Satan & The HellcatsThe Red HawksThe Red Hawks Twist Club
25/07/1963ThursdayThe Chris Barber Show

26/07/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

27/07/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
28/07/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

31/07/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club

August 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/08/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

02/08/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

03/08/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
04/08/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

07/08/1963WednesdayGerry & The PacemakersThe Red Hawks
08/08/1963ThursdayThe Chris Barber Show
 
09/08/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

10/08/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
11/08/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

14/08/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
15/08/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

16/08/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

17/08/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
18/08/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

21/08/1963WednesdayThe Red Hawks
The Red Hawks Twist Club
22/08/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

23/08/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

24/08/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.
25/08/1963SundayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

28/08/1963WednesdayDev DouglasThe Red Hawks
29/08/1963ThursdayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

30/08/1963FridayHorace Demarco & The Kool Beats

31/08/1963SaturdayThe Falcons
Horace Demarco & The Kool Beats play in the afternoon too.

September 1963
 
DateDayHeadline ActSupport ActRemarks
01/09/1963<