The Whole Story of The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline
(and Cinemas of Dunfermline & Rosyth)
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The Opening Ceremony By a coincidence, the number twenty-three played an important part in the opening of Dunfermline’s new ballroom in Pilmuir Street by Provost Hoggan on Friday evening this week. Friday was December 23rd and exactly 23 years ago to a day, The Palace Kinema which is owned by the same company and is near the new ballroom, was opened. The opening of The Palace Kinema, which was Dunfermline’s first “Super” cinema was recalled by guests who attended the opening ceremony of the ballroom. Many of them had been at the previous opening ceremony in December 23rd 1915 – after the War had been raging for over a year. At that time, there was the fear that the military authorities would seize the building immediately on its completion for the billeting of soldiers. There was great difficulty in getting supplies of material and when the final part of the furnishing of the hall – that of installing the seating accommodation - was about to be commenced, some of the directors of the new company went to Glasgow and saw the seats loaded in wagons for Dunfermline. The final installation was hurriedly completed and the hall opened. With the seats installed, the Army authorities thought better about taking the hall over for their uses. Provost’s Tribute In opening the hall on Friday night in the presence of a large gathering which included the directors, architects and contractors, Provost Hoggan said:- “I have been invited to come here and formally open this beautiful dance hall and I have had great pleasure in accepting.” “The owners are the same people who provided Dunfermline with its first ‘super’ cinema almost exactly twenty-three years ago and it is pleasing to notice that the passing years have not robbed them of their spirit of enterprise.” “It is a particular pleasure to see that private enterprise can furnish us with such finely equipped premises without having to appeal to the Town Council or The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust for support.” “These are days of keep-fit campaigns and I cannot imagine any finer way of keeping-fit than by dancing.” “The public will have ample opportunity of engaging in this healthy exercise in beautiful surroundings and by the careful discriminating employment of the latest features of the modern dancehall, a fine spring floor and the very latest in lighting effects." “I congratulate the owners upon their enterprise and wish them all success in the future.” “I have great pleasure in declaring the hall open.” Lights and Music The opening carnival dance was attended by a large crowd and the beautiful lighting effects were employed to the full during the evening. The dance music at the hall is being provided by Ernest Dobbie and his Swingtette – a combination that has been specifically raised for the hall. The players have extensive experience, Mr.Dobbie himself having been all over the world playing in orchestras on the Blue Star and Anchor Line liners. He has also been a member of the dance bands at Peebles Hydro and St. Andrews. The other members of the band are Jimmy McQuarry (trumpet) formerly of Nottingham Palais and Havana Club, Edinburgh; Jock Rutherford (drums) formerly of the West End restaurant, Edinburgh; Alex Sheill (piano and piano accordion) formerly of the West End restaurant, Edinburgh; Bob Whyte (bass) the only local member, who has experience in Dunblane Hydro and Cowdenbeath Hydro; and Henry Nolan formerly of Strathpeffer Hydro. Winners of the spot prizes were: 1 Rita Ramage and Mr. Andrew P Smith, Glasgow; 2 Mrs. Nellie Watt and Mr. George Easson Dunfermline; 3 Mrs. J Farrish and Mr. Landells Dunfermline. Dancing has been continued every night this week.
Sets New Standard Already proving popular as a social centre and rendezvous for celebrations on a large scale, The Kinema Ballroom sets a new standard in the way of assembly halls. Every detail of the construction and appointments has been carefully thought out and applied, the result being a triumph of beauty and design and absolute comfort. The floor, first in importance with dancers, is of the most modern swing type and shows thoroughly knowledgeable workmanship. The joiner work contractors were Messers Anderson & Pert, Dunfermline. Panelling in walnut and heavy flush panel doors of the same wood give an effect of grandeur and the beautiful decorations carried out by Messers Henry Hoggan & Son combine in an effect of cheerfulness and sunshine. There are spacious lounges, all beautifully carpeted by Wm. Stevenson & Son and there are exits to Pilmuir Street and Chapel Street in this handsome building which was constructed by Chas. Stewart & Sons Ltd. Dunfermline. The slater & roughcast was by John Robertson & Sons Ltd. 17 Campbell Street Dunfermline Tel No 322. Mr. George Hylands, manager of the Palace Kinema has shown enterprising showmanship in the number and quality of the attractions he has offered to the public this first week of the new Ballroom’s existence and many bookings for private events have already been made. Convenience is the keynote of the establishment and to this the up-to-date plumbing largely contributes. This was done by Messers James McKay, Chalmers Street, Dunfermline. The gorgeous lighting is a delight to the eye and the thermostatically controlled ventilation provided for by the architects Messers Muirhead & Rutherford plays an important part in catering for the pleasure of dancers. The measurer was Mr. John G. Hardie. The contractors were:
£31,000 Extension to Ballroom Plans for a £31,000 extension to The Kinema Ballroom, which will virtually mean the construction of a new dancehall with two bandstands, a bar, restaurant and café, were approved by Dunfermline Dean of Guild Court on Thursday. The main entrance to the new hall will be from Carnegie Street (now Carnegie Drive - Ghoulz) and the management are hoping to have their reconstructed premises open by April of next year. Presenting the plans to the Court, Mr. I Bruce, solicitor, who appeared for the petitioners said: “The proposed work is very extensive and is in fact almost going to create a completely new ballroom – an enlarged ballroom with greatly enlarged facilities. Instead of running east-west as at present, the new building will run north-south and will have its main entrance in Carnegie street instead of Pilmuir Street. The entrance will be in keeping with a new building and will be much better than the existing one. It will be provide the town with a much better place of entertainment and one which is in great demand. The Master of Works (Mr. Andrew Sinclair) said that the petitioners had already demolished old property at 45-51 Carnegie Street and they proposed to extend northwards from the rear portion of the existing ballroom by building a two-storey brick-built extension measuring approximately 95 feet by 51 feet. The dance floor would be made of Maple strip flooring and the ceiling would be made of fire resistant tiles. The whole proposal would provide a large modern dancehall with main entrance and foyer in Carnegie street and with male and female toilets, cloakrooms and staffrooms on the ground floor. Mr. Cecil Hunter, manager of the ballroom said this week that work on the extension would be carried out without the interruption of the normal dance sessions. He was hoping to have a big-name band playing on the official opening night when the new part of the hall would be brought into use. “The fact that we will have two bandstands will enable us to have bands playing non-stop throughout the evening” he said. “The existing café will become a lounge bar and the present bar will be used as a restaurant where we will serve meals.”
It's a Ball! Fife’s largest dance centre. That could be the “truth in advertising” slogan of the enlarged premises which The Kinema Ballroom Ltd open on Monday night with an exuberant fanfare played by two of Britain’s leading “pop” groups and the Kinema Ballroom’s two resident bands. Through the enterprise of the ballroom management, who have been catering for dancers here since 1937, [sic] (actually 1938 – Ghoulz) Dunfermline will have at this central site a dance floor with ample space for 1000 dancers, a café to seat 110 at tables for food, a spacious cocktail lounge and a licensed restaurant open from morning coffee-time until 11 o’clock at night. Expense has not been spared to combine luxury with spaciousness. Except for the new dance floor itself, every floor and stairway is richly carpeted and the décor everywhere is gay and contemporary. Cloakroom and toilet facilities are unusually ample compared with what is usually provided in public dance hall, the ladies powder-room having a long make-up counter with mirror back. But to begin at the entrance - the new entrance. Space to treble the size of the dance floor was created by demolishing old houses in Carnegie Street, and it is here that the new entrance and frontage to the premises have been added. The extension is a two-storey building and the entrance to it is recessed and pillared. Mahogany double doors with opaque glass panels open on to a carpeted vestibule which in turn opens onto a spacious foyer. Off the foyer are the cloakrooms, the ladies’ section being separated from the men’s’ by a handsome mahogany door – a replica of the entrance door. In the ladies’ cloakroom the walls are pink, the ceiling is midnight blue and the front of the counters is also a dark blue. The walls of the men’s cloakroom are in silver grey and the front of the counters is red but the ceiling is midnight blue. Twin stairways lead from the foyer to the new ballroom, foyer and stairways being covered alike in a carpet of leaf design on a maroon background. With treble the floor space of the old ballroom, the new has two orchestral platforms on which the two resident bands – ‘The Kinema Ballroom Band’ under the direction of Dougie Campbell and ‘The Red Hawks’, a beat group – will perform, playing alternately throughout the evening so that there is continuous dance music for the duration of the dance. Orange walls with black pillars edged in gold and concealed coloured lighting form the attractive décor of the new ballroom, the ceiling of which is in midnight blue. The old ballroom has been converted into an attractive café well supplied with imitation marble topped tables for four. The old bandstand space has been converted into a rest room for the musicians. There is a well appointed kitchen in the former ladies cloakroom. Upstairs is the cocktail lounge, its red Formica-topped round tables, cherry-coloured vaulted ceiling and quiet tone décor creating an atmosphere of comfort and repose. The bar is long and glittering. At present in the process of conversion is the old bar which is being made into an intimate restaurant with accommodation for about 70 diners. It will be served by a kitchen of its own. The entrance to it will be from Pilmuir Street and it should open its doors to the public soon. The former entrance to the Kinema Ballroom from Pilmuir Street now becomes an emergency exit. Monday’s opening dance should worthily enhance the enlarged and renovated premises. Music will be provided by ‘Tony Jackson and The Vibrations’ and ‘The Four Pennies’, two of the top groups in Britain and by the two resident bands. The opening night dance will run from 8pm till 1amand patrons will enjoy it at the bargain price of 6s. 6d. The management are providing a special buffet for all those who have taken part in the nine months-long task of enlarging and transforming the premises.
Cliff In Concert Pop idol Cliff Richard will be presenting a different image, when he appears in the Kinema Ballroom next month. Cliff will be taking part in a Sunday afternoon concert on 4th February as a practising Christian rather than the singer idolised by teen agers for the past fifteen years. Invited Well-known for his strong Christian convictions and his appearances at Jesus concerts and Gospel meetings, Cliff has been invited to Dunfermline by ‘The Dunfermline Christian Action Group’. Currently Cliff is appearing each week on television on the Cilla Black Show, singing the songs for Europe. This year Cliff will be representing Britain in The Eurovision Song Contest for the second time within five years. Bill Latham who organises Cliff’s religious commitments and functions will be speaking at the concert. He is a director of ‘TEAR’, The Evangelical Alliance Relief fund for overseas missionary work and any profit from the concert will go to the fund. In a supporting role, the Scottish group ‘Country Gospel Four’ will also be appearing at the concert. ‘The Dunfermline Christian Action Group’ have high hopes of the concert. Only last month they organised the very successful appearance of Larry Norman, one of the leading figures in the American Jesus Movement and ‘Parchment’ a Christian folk group from Liverpool at The Carnegie Hall. The group were disappointed at the response from the public when they opened their café, ‘The Howff’ last Friday. They hoped that young people would use ‘The Howff’ as somewhere to get together, drink coffee and discuss the Gospel. New Ideas ‘The Howff’ is still open each Friday and Sunday evening but the group are now reconsidering their approach and they plan to come up with some new ideas. They plan to put less emphasis on the Gospel aspect of the project and to change their approach to attract young people to ‘The Howff’.
Pop Star Gives Gospel Message Capacity Crowd for Christian Action Concert. Over 1000 young fans packed The Kinema Ballroom on Sunday afternoon for the appearance of singing star, Cliff Richard. But it was not Cliff the pop idol they came to see, but Cliff the Christian. Cliff was appearing at a Gospel rally organised by The Dunfermline Christian Action Group. Glimpse Although the show was all-ticket, youngsters queued outside the Ballroom for some hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the star. Those lucky enough to get a seat gave Cliff a tumultuous welcome when he took the stage. Cliff is now well known for his publically expressed beliefs in Christianity and the work he does for ‘TEAR’, The Evangelical Alliance Relief fund. Criticism Each year he performs at least six concerts with a full backing but each week he also does about two concerts in aid of the fund. Since his decision seven years ago to become a practising Christian, Cliff has had to face considerable criticism. There was a lot of suspicion about his decision and he was constantly accused of publicity seeking. But Cliff flatly denies these charges. Decision “Quite frankly if I had wanted a publicity gimmick, I’m sure my manager could have found me a far better one. By aligning myself with Christianity, I had to face the fact that some people would look down on me and I might lose a lot of my fans.” His decision was made after a long period of dissatisfaction with his life. “I had just become completely disillusioned. After a show, The Shadows and I would go back to an hotel room and suddenly I realised I just wasn’t happy with my lot. My decision to become a Christian followed a long period of deep thought.” What of suggestions that Christianity was dull and cramping. Disappeared “All I can say is that, since becoming a Christian, all my previous dissatisfaction has disappeared and I think that is worth getting hysterical about.” “If it can happen for me it can happen for other people. I just felt I wanted them all to know.” The show was described as “a huge success” by one of the organisers, Mr Jack Pryde. “We estimate that about 75% of the people at the concert were non church-goers and this was more than we expected. After all the whole point of the rally was to make more people aware of Christianity.” Cheque A cheque for £100 was presented to Mr Bill Latham, Deputy Director of TEAR fund by Mr Bill Armstrong, 11 St. John’s Drive Dunfermline, leader of the local Action Group. The money was the proceeds of the concert. Compere Appearing at the rally were ‘The Country Gospel Four’, from Kilsyth. The show was compered by Bob Christie, BBC TV announcer. Best Tonic Val Could Have Got Twenty-Six year-old Val Harley lay ill in bed, disappointed at missing her idol, as Cliff gave his performance. But an hour later, a letter was delivered to her home at 39 Blair Drive Dunfermline, with Cliff’s best wishes for her recovery. Val, who is disabled, is Secretary of The Phoenix Club for the disabled. She had bought a ticket to attend the rally, but she became ill and could not go. Efforts were made to arrange for Cliff to maybe make a surprise visit to her home but because of his tight schedule, this proved impossible. Instead he sent her a letter telling her how sorry he was she had missed the concert. Said Val’s mother, “She was so disappointed at missing the concert, because of ‘flu but when the letter arrived she was very excited. It was a very kind of Cliff.”
Extension Plan for Ballroom A three-storey extension to The Kinema Ballroom was described to Dunfermline Burgh Licensing Court on Tuesday. Mr George Crichton Armitt, Ballroom Manager, was applying for a provisional certificate to proceed with the scheme. Representing him, Mr Ian Bruce explained that only very basic details had been decided so far. The proposals included restaurants, bars and a function room. The extension would fill a corner between Carnegie Drive and Pilmuir Street with access through the existing entrance foyer in Pilmuir Street. Chief Superintendant William Murray asked that some form of off-street car parking be included in the plans. Hazard “Otherwise this will add to the traffic hazard which already exists in Pilmuir Street.” “The Court may feel that this would be a better scheme if there was off-street parking included in it.” he said. The provisional licence was granted. Provost John Crawford, Chairman adding “We would ask the applicants to have regard to the comments of the Police.” Later, the court granted an application to transfer the licence of The Kinema Ballroom to Mr Armitt, from the former manager Mr Cecil Hunter who has retired. Mr Bruce explained that Mr Armitt (35) was married with three children and had been assistant manager at the Ballroom for five years. Note - I understand that these plans fell foul of the local planning dept as a 'Ballroom extension' and were re-thought as a separate public house and became 'The Castleton'. Ghoulz.
Ballroom Conjures up ‘Night Magic’ A facelift for the town’s Kinema Ballroom with a price tag “not a million miles short of £1/2 million” is under way. And with the new image that it is hoped will emerge from the six-figure investment, comes a new name – ‘Night Magic’. The Ballroom is undergoing major internal alterations to turn it into what Mr John Brewster; one of the Kinema Ballroom Ltd’s directors, described as “a higher class discotheque.” The dance-floor which took up the majority of the floor space is to be chopped by more than two-thirds, with the formation of two bars downstairs. The remaining floor-space is to be split-level with the addition of seating and tables. The company is also to invest in “revolutionary” lighting effects which are to include a laser, neon sculptures, infinity screens and smoke and wind machines. “The lighting is to be computer-controlled and will include the latest technology from America,” said Mr Brewster. The management expect that the premises will remain closed for a further three weeks to complete the alterations and a “Grand Gala Opening” is planned for Friday, 24th October.
Dunfermline Dancers Put in the Spotlight. One wonders just what Daniel Younger might have said. Younger opened the Kinema moving picture salon in Dunfermline in 1915; this weekend his grandson, John Brewster opens an entertainment palace which uses a different sort of projection – light. Night Magic in the former Kinema Ballroom, in the town’s Pilmuir Street is a spectacular new discotheque featuring some of the most sophisticated and innovative sound/light technology in the world. John Brewster, architect and his mother, Nan Brewster (Daniel Younger’s daughter) a director of the Kinema Ballroom Ltd., is carrying on the family tradition of providing entertainment for the people of Dunfermline. Night Magic, however seems likely to attract patrons from a wider area, as it boasts the most advanced disco lighting system in Britain, as well as a 16-channel control console which is making its debut in the world market for this kind of equipment. The Brewsters seem intent on perpetuating a family habit of investing in the entertainment business during dismal economic times. “My grandfather built the original Palace Kinema (cinema) during the First World War, then went on to build the Kinema Ballroom next door to it in 1938 just as we were coming out of the Depression and into the Second World War.” “We seem to inject investment when times are bad, but I have every confidence that, in Night Magic, we have created the leading discotheque in the country.” Kinema Ballroom Ltd. have invested more than a quarter of a million pounds in Night Magic, well over half of which has been devoted to the linked light and sound equipment which will ensure that the music and light show will rival the top discos of the world. Since it was opened in 1938, next door to the original cinema of the same name (now a bingo hall) The Kinema Ballroom has catered for the big band craze during and after the war years, before gradually moving into the pop music scene. In 1964, it underwent an extensive rebuilding which trebled its size. “Over the last ten years,” says John Brewster, “there has been a decline in dancing to live groups, and the disco craze, which has grown over the last couple of years or so, is very much dancing to records , rather than live bands. Live music, it seems is good for listening only.” John and his mother decided that if the Kinema was to attract new audiences, it would have to offer something really special. They contacted Bacchus International, specialists in the design, installation and running of sophisticated discotheques, much of whose striking work, since they were formed in 1974, has been abroad. “Young people are looking for a bit of style if they’re paying for a night out. We felt that we should really go for something out of the ordinary. We went to Bacchus because they are THE firm in the world for disco lighting effects.” “Other places spend all their money on plush seats and surroundings but neglect their sound and lighting systems. What we have done is to put our money into the best sound and light show you’ll find anywhere in Britain – I could almost say Europe, with some confidence.” Earlier this week as workmen rushed to get the 1000-capacity hall completed in time for last night’s opening, contractors’ scaffolding mingled with complex assemblies of neon tubing and reflective balls, creating a scene reminiscent of the laboratory sequences in James Whale’s early Frankenstein movies. The end result however, would be far closer to ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ judging by the ranks of spotlights arrayed across the ceiling. “The basic concept is to make the light show as theatrical as possible for those sitting at the side watching, as well as creating additional excitement for those dancing.” explains John Leefe, technical director and founder member of Bacchus. “We can make the lights work very closely in sympathy with the music.” Mr Leefe’s ‘theatrical experience’ includes massive curtains of light projected down by battery upon battery of parabolic reflector floodlights, this being the first time that powerful PAR 64 floods such as these have been used in Britain. Another first for Britain is the disco’s two watt argon laser beam which can create three-dimensional shapes in space, form cones of light to play over the dancers, or explode brilliant light bursts from the revolving reflective balls on the ceiling. Developed in the U.S. this particular laser has been fully attested by the American BRH (Bureau of Radiological Health) and a similar endorsement is expected from the Health & Safety Executive in this country. Columns of neon light rings hang from the ceiling – when operating, coloured light will appear to bubble up and down through them, while the centre-piece is what Mr Leefe describes as “a neon atomic ball display” in which neon light will give the impression of coloured ‘atoms’ flashing round reflective nuclei. All of these effects will be governed from a 16-channel computerised control console which is the first of its type in the world, designed specially for the Dunfermline discotheque. As Mr Leefe points out: “This controller will be able to create so many permutations of the various effects that it will be impossible to see them all in the space of one night”. As well as the potent fusions of light and music, the discotheque has some other tricks up its sleeve; two wind machines – “for physical effect” four cannons for firing confetti or ‘snow’ onto the dancers and a large dry ice manufacturing plant which can deluge the dancers with cascades of ‘smoke’ which will roll across the floor until it is dispersed by the wind machines. Isn’t this all liable to be somewhat overwhelming? “You can say that it is meant to create a fairly powerful impression,” agrees Leefe. This palace of animated light also features three bars, one on the raised area around one end of the dance floor, one at the other end of the floor and the third upstairs in the ‘quiet’ area with its balcony overlooking the dancers and their attendant neon pyrotechnics. As well as designing and installing the technology, Bacchus will provide the disc jockeys, all of whom, Mr Brewster assures will be top class. For the opening weekend, the master of ceremonies at the turntable is Abbi King, an accomplished DJ with experience gained all over the world. The first weekend also features the well-known go-go dance team ‘A Touch of Class’. “No Jeans, no T-Shirts.” is Brewster’s ruling for ‘Night Magic’, which he wants to preserve as an extra-special night-spot for the over 20s. “Until now you would have to go to Edinburgh for anything even remotely like this. Now we hope to attract not just folk from Dunfermline, but people from Edinburgh, and elsewhere within about an hour’s driving distance.” “People have asked me, ‘Why Dunfermline and not somewhere like Edinburgh?’ Well the family business was established here for one thing, and where in Edinburgh these days can you get a building which can hold 1000 people?” Asked if he is not concerned that the somewhat ephemeral fashion of the pop entertainment world might not change so fast as to outstrip the considerable investment in the discotheque, Brewster replies that he reckons Night Magic will pay for itself easily before demand has changed too much. He is aware however, of the need to watch these changes. “Even after three years we will have to look hard at the next possible phase for Night Magic. We can’t just sit back now. The technology for this sort of thing is changing so rapidly, that within six months time, there will be something new. We have the ability to incorporate these new developments into what we have here.
Night Magic Granted a Licence for a Spell Night Magic; Dunfermline’s most up-to-date entertainment centre, has been granted a licence to stay open until 2am on three nights a week – but for a trial period only. This was the decision of Dunfermline District Licensing Board, which met on Tuesday. Permission was sought for the three-hour licence extension – from Thursday to Sunday each week – by Kinema Ballroom Ltd., owners of Night Magic. The Board agreed by eight votes to two, that the extension be granted for Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings. In line with the Board’s present policy, however, an extension until 11:45pm only on Saturdays was approved. And the Board made it clear that the extension will last only until their March meeting, when it will be reviewed. Chief Superintendent L Wilson told the Board that the Police had no objection to the extension. Since the company had carried out a complete renovation, they had been successful in attracting an older clientele. The application should therefore be judged as being in respect of new premises, he said. An agent on behalf of Kinema Ballroom Ltd., said the facilities offered at Night Magic were reckoned to be among the best in Scotland and even Europe. It would be a credit to Dunfermline he added and was expected to attract clients from other towns and cities. He stressed the application was not for an extension of a liquor licence, but for an entertainments licence, although when questioned by Board members, he confirmed liquor would be on sale during the extended hours. Councillor J.A.S.F. Forrest said his opinion was that if customers went to Night Magic mainly for the entertainment it provided, the entertainment should be enough to keep them, without liquor being sold. He proposed the extension should be to 12:30 am only. Chairmen of the Board, Councillor D.S. Campbell, said Night Magic was in virtually new premises and although the 2am extension was a departure from the normal” for the Board, the night-spot should be given a chance to prove itself.
That’s Night Magic Ticket prices for The Kinema Ballroom’s Night Magic£250,000 debut soared dramatically – on the black market. The surprise development on the £2 tickets to view the latest advance in dance entertainment came within minutes of the doors opening on Friday. Rumours abounded that some of the 1000-strongcrowd had paid as much as £5 for tickets which had been sold-out a week in advance of the preview opening. An on-the-spot Dunfermline Press investigation discovered that many people had, in fact, paid £20and one man had been offered £25 for his ticket as he walked through the door. Two girls in their early twenties said they had each paid £7for tickets from a ‘friend’ two days before. Minutes later one man admitted paying £10 each for four tickets that morning. Another couple had been offered £15 for each of theirs as they queued to get into the Ballroom. In all cases, none of the people involved would disclose names and addresses and none who had bought the tickets at black market prices would name the seller or sellers. Uncovered In one hour and a half The Press uncovered 22 people who paid over the odds for the admission fee and a further eight who had refused to sell theirs at the door for prices up to an admitted £25. What could not be determined during the investigation was whether shrewd ‘operators’ had anticipated the last minute rush for tickets to get into the world’s most technologically advanced disco and had bought up supplies at an earlier date or whether individual ticket holders had merely succumbed to the temptation to make a small killing on the sudden last-minute clamour for tickets at almost any price. Manager Mr. George Armitt was staggered by the news. He said that never in his experience had he heard of tickets for dance entertainment being bought & sold for profit. But he did believe that this could be a clear indication of how Dunfermline District people may be forced to compete for tickets with people who were willing to travel from the cities – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Kirkcaldy. Standards “This hall is only equipped to take around a thousand people” he said “The only way they can guarantee themselves entrance is to book early – and abide by our standards of dress & behaviour” Many people in the hall had in fact travelled from these cities for the opening night. But kings of the disco world ‘Bacchus International Discotheque Services’ who were responsible for installing in Dunfermline the world’s most elaborate sight & sound system, were also taken aback by the black-market tickets. Mr. Richard Wright, the company’s sales manager said that they had been responsible for equipping discos throughout the world as well as providing the disc-jockeys and cabaret stars to launch them. “But this is the first time that I have come across this situation”. “World Cup football matches, yes.” “Internationals, yes.” “But for dance entertainment?” “I am sure this is another first for the world.” Despite first night gremlins, many of those who had paid up to ten times the original entrance fee felt that the eventual show the professionals did manage to put on was still well worth the money and still well ahead in the entertainment field. Doors opened late, for technicians had hit last minute snags; most of the technological effects refused to work. The main foyer infinity cubes remained dead black boxes – yet they had worked the day before. As over 900 ticket holders and 100 special guests poured into the upstairs ‘theatre’ an army of technicians were dismantling machines in a desperate attempt to find the faults that had never appeared when every part of the equipment had been tested only hours before. As the night wore on many of the ‘gremlins’ were flushed-out and bit by bit lights came alive, though top disc-jockey Abi King in a specially made space suit for the occasion, had to operate while technicians continued to search for the elusive gremlins that prevented the the huge atom structures, the vast columns of living lights, the strobes, the smoke, dry ice and confetti cannons coming in to play. Mesmerised Saving grace right from the start was Britain’s one and only argon laser which combined with the best sound system ever heard in a dance hall mesmerised the crowds. The versatility of the laser and the incalculable speed of the beam refracted from the atom structures provided showers of star dust bursts on and above the dance floor and lances of green light. Testimony to Mr King’s professionalism was that surrounding tables and chairs emptied rapidly and drinks were left un-drunk as he effortlessly packed the floor with a seething mass of happy humanity. The Cabaret of London dancers, ‘Touch of Class’ had the entire floor edged with people squatting, kneeling and standing 10 deep in appreciative silence as they went through their routines. Mr Wright for Bacchus, confessed himself baffled by the “technical hitches.” He said, “Every item of equipment was tested as it was constructed. It was tested before it was shipped to Dunfermline. We tested it all here on site. It worked during the tests but in the last few hours before opening, a fault occurred and we were unable to trace it.”
Spell-Blinding! Tripping the Light Fantastic! Until last week, no-one knew if the combined technologies of electronics, electrics, space-age sculpts and theatrics would gel to become the ultimate in discotheques. Right up to the last moment before Friday night’s grand opening, an army of craftsmen and technologists were putting the finishing touches to the old Kinema Ballroom Ltd.s new Night Magic disco. And that work included feeding in the last few yards of 10 miles of wiring, lining-up smoke & dry ice cannon, precision-setting the dreaded laser and debugging the latest in silicon chip computer-controllers. But the gremlins – without which no theatrical first night would be complete – refused to give-up without a fight! However, shortly after 8pm, despite the last-minute technical hitches, a crowd of around 900 strong were left in no doubt that Dunfermline was now amongst the disco capitals of the world. ‘Night Magic’ books that claim to fame with the most sophisticated range of synchronised sight & sound systems. A cool quarter of a million pounds worth. Enough of an investment to keep the ballroom management crossing their fingers for the five week lift–off into another world. For much of the five weeks the great bid to become supremeos of mind-blowing escapism was no more than bundles of blueprints, tons of equipment, piles of carpeting, wood, bricks, glass, neon tubes, 14000 hand-cut mirror facets, and enough transformers to give a combined electrical punch of 250000 volts. But in the minds and imaginations of the men with the budget, these drawings, these artefacts would put Dunfermline in front of the world in disco technology. As any artist knows, it is what you do with the basic materials that count: the materials themselves are secondary. Mr J Brewster director of the Kinema Ballroom Ltd. was the artist who brought together the acknowledged maestros of disco theatrics. There are none better. They list among their clients the richest names in the entertainment business; their orchestration of different technologies are dazzling disco devotees in three continents and upwards of twenty different countries. They call themselves Bacchus International Discotheque Services of London. And the system they installed in Night Magic is capable of so many variations, by using different types of strobes, lasers, atomic structures, neon scupts, infinity displays that the disco floorshow need two full-time DJs to operate it – one to keep the rolling thunder of music going and the other to manipulate the 16-channel controller that looks like the flight-deck of a fighter. The two DJs can saturate the mind with sights and sounds of infinite variety, always changing, rarely the same, and all skilfully judged to suit the mood of the music and the wants of the dancers. They put their show on four nights a week, starting every Thursday. With laser, smoke, dry ice & confetti, you can be sure of one thing - once on that vast floor, you are part of the great show. And the whole idea is that you lose. All this concentration of technology is designed to make you lose your cares, your worries, your anxieties, and then grow rich and excitement as you become part of a great new pulsating adventure into the accessible mystique of Night Magic. Last week’s star studded debut proved how easy it was how to become a fan, no matter what your age: 20, 30, 40 or 50. The man who bought the best, Mr John Brewster, whose family have run continuous entertainment in the town since the early days of this century, admitted that now Scotland would catch up on America, Canada and the continent, where disco dancing draws its diehard devotees from every age range; where people of all ages acknowledge the supremacy of escapism, where the power of pulsating colour and music can pump new energy into weary bodies and tired minds. “A good disco,” explained Mr Brewster, “Is today, show business”. People come to chuck the cares of the day, the oppressions of gloomy national news, the pressures of work. Pressures are so great in our society that good entertainment must successfully induce or produce relaxation. “Discos, the best that is, have relied on opulent surroundings until now. Music was secondary. But night magic emphasises music with the light show and theatrics all synchronised into one mesmeric experience. And, it is an experience that will be unique in the world for a long-time to come” Mr Brewster added that though music would be all embracing, with back-up speakers throughout the vast hall and its balcony, the bulk of the decibels would be zoned specifically onto the wooden floor and would drop in intensity dramatically off the dance floor. The £4,000 miracle of the disco where it all happens – is the silicon chip computer which drives the lights; selects sequences, sets off cannon and laser. The system is only matched by the latest in disco decks and sound reproduction. Said Mr Brewster “naturally, we have the very best that money can buy. The quality of the sound is unbelievable”. Mr John Leefe, technical director of Bacchus International, explained “the entire objective was to create a living theatrical show which could be enjoyed by participants and spectators alike.” “The purpose of this array of technology is to maintain variety so that disco fans can never get use to the same settings.” “In this way, we have created a very exciting atmosphere”. What night magic means structurally to the Carnegie drive complex is that the dance floor is now only half its original size, for those who fondly remember stepping it out to the big band sounds, the change might seem dramatic, for ballroom dancing for older generations was the very hub of entertainment. But in disco terms, the 16 by 10 metre dance floor inside the 32 by 16 metre hall makes it amongst the largest discos in the country. Big enough to take 900 people in comfort. Big enough to keep 3 bars going non-stop.
TV Set to Hit Town! Dunfermline’s Hollywood Boulevard has proved a big hit with ace producer Pete Waterman and his TV sidekick Michaela Strachan. They were so delighted with ‘The Hitman & Her’ show recorded at the show in November that they have decided to make a quick return this month. Bill McGregor of Dean Entertainments said “Both Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan thought it was the best show they had had – and the bands loved it as well. They promised they would be back soon, but I did not think it would be this soon. Tickets went on sale on Christmas night at the disco and at Bailey’s in Kirkcaldy with postal applications being accepted at Dean Entertainment’s headquarters at Victoria Road Kirkcaldy. The return of ‘The Hitman & Her’ is another boost for Hollywood Boulevard which was this month named Scottish disco of the year by ‘Disco Mirror’. The show, featuring two chart acts each night (to be announced later) will be recorded on 27th and 28th January. The first night will be broadcast on 3rd February and the second a week later.
Revamped Nightspot to Re-open This Month One of Dunfermline’s most famous buildings will re-open to the public in just three weeks time. The owners of 45 Carnegie Drive – known first as ‘The Kinema Ballroom’ and then as ‘Night Magic’ and ‘Hollywood Boulevard’ – will unveil the new-look venue on Friday 27th November. Clubbers will be able to get their first glimpse of the new interior when door open at 9pm. And he area manager, for owners, Dean Entertainments, Dean Melville, is confident guests will be stunned by the £1 million revamp. He said, “We’ve had a few people from Dunfermline inside the building and they couldn’t believe the transformation. “It is a whole new design concept and we believe it has the potential to be one of Scotland’s best nightclubs.” Mr Melville is keeping the name under wraps for now but has revealed more details about the entertainment on offer. For the first time since the 1970s there will be live performances. ‘The Pasadenas’, a soul group with hits such as ‘Riding on a Train’, singer-songwriter ‘Leo Sayer’ who penned classics such as ‘When I Need You’ and ‘Tony Hadley’, former lead singer of ‘Spandau Ballet’ have already been lined-up to appear”. The club is expected to attract party-goers from across the Kingdom and Fife Police Chief Inspector Alan McIlravie acknowledged that it would have an impact on their limited resources. But he said there had been “very constructive discussions with the management of ‘Hollywood Boulevard’ regarding stewards therein and the potential for CCTV coverage inside and outside.” He added, “We will just have to deal with it as an operational Policing matter.”Reunion Plan to Mark 40 Years of the Ballroom With the likes of David Bowie and Elton John taking to it’s stage, it’s no wonder local entertainment historian Brian Nobile wants to celebrate a milestone for Dunfermline’s Ballroom. November will see the 40th anniversary of the re-opening of a refurbished & extended Kinema Ballroom, a birthday Brian would like to see celebrated by a reunion of local bands and singers who have performed at the venue over the last four decades in a charity concert. Brian explained the original Kinema Ballroom opened in 1938, however it was in 1964, due to an upsurge in popular recording artists touring the country, that it expanded. It went from a small town dance hall to one of the biggest and most popular in Fife if not Scotland as people came from all over. “Top chart bands came because it was on the Scottish circuit,” he said. So the likes of Cliff Richard, David Bowie, Elton John, Eric Clapton, The Kinks, Lulu and Sandie Shaw all performed to massive crowds at The Kinema, but the venue also supported local bands. One such outfit was ‘The Shadettes’, who evolved into Scottish legends ‘Nazareth’. “There were also ‘The Red Hawks’ who were one of the resident bands for six or seven years and local groups from Glasgow and Edinburgh got the chance to play live.” “It was a great time for music, there was something on most nights of the week. There were also private functions held there and it was very much a community venue so it was a great environment to grow up in.” said Brian. One huge difference was that there was only a licensed bar in the upstairs lounge. “In those days the bar was upstairs, so 12 and 13 year-olds were quite happy to go along and dance and see the bands without any bother. Now the whole premises sells alcohol so you have to be 18 or 20 to get in.” “I was six years into listening to live bands before I was 18.” he added. One of Brian’s earliest memories is as a Queen Anne pupil queuing up – unsuccessfully – to buy a ticket to see ‘Herman’s Hermits’. It quickly became one of the biggest and best folk music venues in the country when Dunfermline Folksong Club opened in 1966. Regularly on the bill were Barbara Dickson, John Watt and Jack Beck. “It was a Who’s Who of folk music and was so popular that they flew international folk musicians up here which had never been heard of before,” Brian said. Bands such as Slade, Elvis Costello & The Attractions and Deep Purple continued to play at the Ballroom into the 70s and 80s, but the advent of disco changed the emphasis of the entertainment. It became ‘Night Magic’ then Hollywood Boulevard’ before it closed for some time. It reopened several years ago renamed ‘The Ballroom’. Now Brian would like to mark the milestone with a charity concert this November. “It would be nice if we could pull together all the singers and various pop groups in the area to perform again.” Brian is appealing for Courier readers to write to him with memories of nights at the Ballroom, good or bad. He can be contacted at 88 Windmill Knowe Crossgates.
Nostalgia Gig to Recall Kinema’s Glory Years A charity concert to mark the 40th anniversary of Dunfermline’s Ballroom will be held on Sunday November 28. With the likes of David Bowie, Elton John and Cliff Richard on stage in its glory days, local entertainment historian Brian Nobile wanted to mark the milestone. So he and Wattie Robertson have pulled together musicians from the ballroom’s resident bands to stage the evening at Sinky’s in Pilmuir Street in aid of local charity Children with Learning Difficulties. This month sees the 40th anniversary of the re-opening of a revamped Kinema Ballroom. It first opened in 1938, then in 1964, amid an upsurge of pop stars touring the country, it expanded to become a top Scottish venue. It also hosted events for Dunfermline Folksong Club – regular performers were Barbara Dickson, John Watt and Jack Beck – and supported local bands, including The Shadettes, who evolved into Nazareth. It was from these local bands Brian hoped to enlist help and he said the response from them and the public had been “absolutely brilliant.” Playing will be musicians from The Red Hawks, The Nameless Ones, The Change, The Hurricanes, Argus, The Shadettes, The Hellcats and The Crusaders. “It will be a night of pure nostalgia to celebrate the 40th anniversary,” said Brian. Tickets for the evening, at £2.50 can be obtained by calling Brian on 01383 612076.
Bid to mark Folk Club milestone When we were Skids
by Gary Fitzpatrick
CLG Acquires Historic Fife Venue
It’s last orders for cheap booze offers by Gary Fitzpatrick BALLROOM: New owner to ban promotions and says city’s a shocker for drink-fuelled bad behaviour. THE new owner of the Ballroom has been shocked at the level of “drunkenness and bad behaviour” in Dunfermline fuelled by cheap drink promotions. Paul Smith, joint managing director of the Stirling-based Castle Leisure Group (CLG), said the situation in Dunfermline was the worst he has witnessed in the U.K. The company closed down the Ballroom this week for the time being to assess the local market before drawing up plans for it. No date has been set for its re-opening but it will be some time before the end of the year. The new look could mean a return of some live music to a venue that once hosted Elton John, David Bowie, Cream and many other legendary acts. One definite change will be an end to cheap drink promotions at the Ballroom where customers have been able to pay £12 admission and then enjoy ‘free’ drinks for the rest of the night on Wednesdays and Thursdays. CLG owns some of Scotland’s top venues, including the City nightclubs in Edinburgh and Perth, Fubar’s in Stirling and Rosie’s in Falkirk. It also has the Sportsters chain of bars, Cheers nightclub in Dumbarton and a new City club is scheduled to open in Falkirk later this year. “I’ve been in this industry for 26 years and the Ballroom is an institution,” said Mr Smith. “It’s had a reputation as a top nightclub across Scotland. “It’s quite sad to see how things are in Dunfermline at the moment. I was shocked to see drink promotions with all-night drinking for £10 and we hear cases of £8 and even £6. “I don’t think that serves Dunfermline well in terms of being socially responsible". “The situation with drink promotions fuelling drunkenness and bad behaviour in Dunfermline is the worst I’ve seen in Scotland.” Indeed, Mr Smith’s work with the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) takes him throughout the UK and he says he has not come across a situation as bad as in Dunfermline. However, Mr Smith is sure that both Dunfermline and the Ballroom can look ahead to better times – even though the famous nightspot may not be called that by then. “We’ve still to decide about the name and we’re right at the start of the process of looking at the local market,” he told the Press. "It’s a huge venue with a great history. The website about its gigs shows it’s had more bands there than the Glasgow Apollo.” The issue of cheap drink promotions has been raised regularly in the past by West Fife councillor Gerry McMullan, a member of the licensing board and chair of the regulation committee. “For too long Dunfermline’s suffered from these cheap booze promotions where the aim seems to be to get as much drink down your neck then act like absolute morons,” said Mr McMullan. “It’s setting a terrible example to kids of 17 and 18 to encourage them to drink like this and it can be a terrible waste of young lives. “I understand the new owners of the Ballroom have a strict policy on things like drunks and bad behaviour and I welcome any initiative that will improve Dunfermline in this regard. “This is a great place but we’ve got to tackle issues like this and change the culture of binge drinking.” CLG was set up by Mr Smith and his brother Stephen in 1981 when they were both still in their teens and it now employs over 500 people. The firm bought the Dunfermline venue, which also includes the Sinclair Arms pub, from Kirkcaldy-based Dean Entertainment. The closure of the bar, previously known as Sinky’s, has upset Rosyth man Richard Finlay. He wrote to the Press to express his “anger and utter disbelief” that his favourite pub had closed. “All the local musicians used to meet up every Thursday for jam sessions, which went down extremely well. “We all enjoyed it immensely. I, for one, used to look forward to these weekly sessions and it was a good way of letting off steam. “Now that it has gone, where else are we going to go? However, there now seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel for music lovers like Mr Finlay as CLG stages live events featuring some of the country’s top bands at Fubar’s in Stirling and could soon be expanding that to the Ballroom. FIFE police have welcomed the Ballroom’s plan to ditch cheap drink promotions. Community Inspector Fraser Downie said has was “ delighted” to hear of the news and added, “This is an example of the kind of responsible approach we are keen to promote in all the town centres of Fife.” He continued, “The licensing industry is a competitive one and nowhere more so than in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, where I think many people would probably now agree with the concerns Fife Constabulary have made in the past about the ever-increasing number of licensed premises". “We are working hard with our colleagues in the licensing trade to promote safe and responsible drinking. “A growing number of licensees are coming to realise that, over the long-term, most of the paying public don’t want to be in the kind of environment that some of the more irresponsible drinks promotions can encourage.” Inspector Downie said the Ballroom was not alone in the city centre in starting to move away from this type of marketing and added, “I hope we can continue to work with the trade in the area to bring about a similar response throughout Dunfermline.” Revamped nightclub promises live music boost for city centre |
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