Cried my eyes out watching this just now. Well into my 60s and the faith is still as strong even if the old legs have sadly gone the way of that rotten arthritis.
It really hits a spot in your heart watching this. I was a bit young to go Wigan and the Torch but we stomped the night away at Alsager Civic Centre Disco from 1977 Onwards A lad from Talke Pits turned up and the first song he danced to was Needle in a Haystack .The next week there was 5 of us dancing Never looked back since.
I went in 1978/9 used to climb out of my bedroom window onto the roof then down a drainpipe meet my mates & go wigan casino.. I returned To my bed the same way. Mum never new I used to go. My fave track is woman love thief stemmons express. Ian.. Keep on keeping on❤
I love Northern Soul, although I originally didn't know what it was and it had name. I grew up with the Jam,FYC, etc and my parents playing classic Motown. Now, Northern Soul is a love. I am 53, my neighbour is 64. When I play Northern Soul, Mod,Motown, etc. I usually get a complaint from him that the sound is too low and to turn it up, now that is a neighbour complaint I can quite happily live with.
I was introduced to northern soul by squaddies and raf members stationed in Northern Ireland in the 70s. They used to come to safe clubs here and dance. Good times, we hadnt seen anything like it before. Thanks guys.
I was brought up on bands like the stones and kinks! I discovered Northern soul when I was about 14! I'm 64 now and still listen to it! Occasionally go to soul nights and have a good dance! Lav it😻
What is it with Brits and music and raving and dancing and partying... Swinging London, Mods, Northern Soul, the '80s Summer of Love and then of corse the explosion of Rave culture ❤💥🔥😛👍🏼
Some of us worked in factories or other mundane and dead end jobs so come the weekend all you want to do is let rip and blow off steam , dressing up is all about identity and sticking two fingers up at the normals 🤣 you get to feel alive for 2 days then its back to the grind ....
Myself and friends used to go to Torquay every year on holiday, from London. Our destination every night was, The Compass Club. Those Wigan Casino boys used to meet up with us every night, every year! Damn...those boys could dance!!! Amazing people, amazing music, amazing times, 1973. We took tents and one MGB, one Lotus Escort, one Ford Prefect 100E. Memories.....
I was down there 1972 what a great time I had with my 3 m8s went down there in a Ford anglia we were from the Midlands met some great lads in the compass club what great times they were I was 17 at the time those memories will live with me till the day I die. God bless to those people I met back then they were happy times
hmm,i remember saying "oh well that's it" to a mate and leaving about 8.30 still having a good night !! ,looking at people sitting on the floor,it was only about a year later I started to realise there wasn't gona be another venue like it, a magical place,which if there's an after life, I think a hell of of lot of us will aim to recreate ,ah that's a bit heavy eh, thats how i feel
These were the days. Wigan...the Torch, Blackpool Mecca. Amazing. We had nothing except living for these moments. Those that were part of it will know what I mean. 1970s were harsh but oh so happy times. Old knees pretty much shot it now.
Lots of tears was shed when they took it down my heart ♥ is and always will be with northern soul there will never be music made like that ever and I am so proud to have been a part of that Godbless northern soul lives forever 💖💖💖💖
Fell in love with the music as a kid in the 70s and I'm still in love with it..❤ this was the time I really learned to dance fr! Butned into my soul like 🔥 Off to a do in 2 weeks time, even though I'm a bit knackered these days..can't wait. ✊✊✊
Wasn't a fan in the 70s, but my friends were. Over the years I've grown to love Northern and regret never being able to get to the Casino. I make up for it now though, dancing in my living room to 'Nobody But Me' & 'Long After Tonight's All Over' when no-one's around 😂. Still haven't learned to spin on a shag pile carpet, but I'm working on it!!
i lived in Wigan late 60s early 70s Standish was a posh place xx ive always loved this soul dancing and its music ,i wish i had gone to the Casino for a fab night out x lol Jane x
Personally thought it was nice to see the first person mentioned was Vernon Vernon Price from Bradford top dancer no one better and what a great bloke he was and still is am sure also noticed gaz from Harrogate wife is caz another great couple miss seeing old friends probably the best days of my life were spent on some dance floor or another somewhere far from home
The BBC wouldn't play Northern Soul, or any music that didn't fit there narrative at the time. That's why Northern Soul was an underground movement. Now the BBC are trying to cash in on what they refused to play in the first place!
and for a brief moment a lot of other tourists being " into it" hmm,i suppose we could think any kind of publicity is good.....though " do I love you " being played at a local coop made me smile !
I went there 1979-1981, Sweaty" Pushing" and fight your way to the dancefloor, But had so many great happy soulful times there as a young Mad Soulie, But all good things must come to an end, Keep-The-Faith, ✊PATCH✊
It was very low key and most people barely knew that it was happening at the time. I knew of it as I was studying in Hull and one student there used to come in everyday with the trousers, the T-shirt and all the Wigan badges (the whole 'look'). Ironically one of the biggest hits in my last year there was a Northern Soul classic, Tainted Love, but covered by Soft Cell. I knew some other of the songs also which had been minor hits but that was about it. It was only later that I started to appreciate the music more.
@@backroom45s ¡Yes, exactly! The NORTHERN SOUL SCENE was anything but "SOBER". SPEED was, as far as I know, a super common ingredient in the allnighters (and it makes total sense that it was so, ¿right?)
And it's a myth that it was only the few that took, it was the majority, u got the few pious fuckers, I get high on the music, our coach got stopped by police cos pious fuckwit crashed his car. He fell asleep n one o his cohorts spotted our bus hence the coppers. Pricks.
I my self was into soul during the mid seventies.wigan along with all the other clubs and venues.the music was and still is fantastic .loads of artists on my phone.the 60 s stuff the mods along with soul and motown altogether brill.
I never liked Northern but so many of my mates did, I was more into glamrock and then Punk when it came along in 76, however I do like the fact it was so working class and never really sold its soul.
I was at the last night lots of people were upset afterwards as they had another two after the official last night. Still I had 5 years going to the Casino and still love Northern and Modern Soul KTF
Am a long life northernsoul boy have followed the scene from London to Aberdeen even during the quiet times now its busier than ever and am 60 now so dont dance to well but love the people music atmosphere at 724 i met that guy in wigan old courts the last two years .KTF krepsafe seeyou Blackpool tower November or hopefully festival july
The quieter times, the mid 80s were some of the best times, the thieving, the rip offs, fell away once it was less fashionable and the scene was better for it in my opinion. 😁
Sergio Tach T's, Baggies and Pods. 1977 Wigan Casino, We used to leave Friday morning from Bedfont ride up spend the weekend sleeping rough, or not sleeping with a pocketful of blues.
it was a magical place but in truth we didn't know "how" special it was at the time or how lucky we were to be a part of it. Its only hindsight that points that out. I was there '77 - '80 so wasn't there on the final night. I saw it change over my 3 short years though. The music from The Mecca was being played more and more in the big room & if there had been no Mr M's I wouldn't have lasted until '80. M's was my favourite place in the world - after my bed lol. I was there the night the BBC made that documentary and it was the worst night I ever had...........the lights were on until about 4.30am and the atmosphere was shite. Great days though, great people and great memories.................lots of people over the years have said they were there but weren't, just shows you how fortunate some of us were.
I missed the soul weekenders as I only hit 17 in 88. Luckily for me Blackburn was the centre of the world for Wharehouse parties. The only thing we didn't have the same was talcum powder,but we had every other kind 😉
missed the clubs but love the music, joined the RAF so never managed ot get to the meccas of Norther Soul be fore they closed, shame such a great scene. KTF
Not sure why the 'sit-in' wasn't mentioned at the 'End-of-an-Era' All-niter - hence the additional hour - 'cos none of us would leave! 'sposed to be the last one... but two further dates were programmed and advertised a week or so before this Niter on Piccadilly Radio's Mike Shaft show by Russ when he was guesting playing his 3 Northern records. I didn't manage to get to the very last night as I was still in school and couldn't afford to go two weeks or so in a row.
Lucky I just lived 15 minutes from there St Helens... and in its hayday great times great music goodnight Margaret gone to soon every song reminds me of you...
Went to all the last nights of the casino I was only 19 so was just starting out on the the journey what I will have to say that the casino was the best ktf
I didnt make it on that first night. my mate did. After hitching to vavas on the friday then again to mecca on saturday, I was so shattered I ended up sleeping in a bus shelter. KTF
@@57dogsbody .........Must admit - didn't go to the opening night [23 Sept 1973] as there was a rumour going around that the police were going to raid it. So went to the 2nd one [30 Sept 1973] and have to say it was good.
I think its APPALLING they let the Casino be knocked down for a few crappy shops??? That was the CENTRE of the Northern Soul Kingdom. Thats like demolishing Old Trafford and putting a co-op there! >:(((( KEEP THE FAITH beautiful people IT WILL NEVER END FOR US! Great to see all those pics and find the people that were there!
It had to be knocked down. A few months after it closed the Casino building was seriously damaged by fire. The fire made the building structurally unsafe...
Still got my 1973 membership card and entrance ticket £.1.00. went 1973 to 1976. I don't know why I gave my 1st anniversary badge away. The manager was someone named walker as I remember but this was 50 years ago.also it is nearly 50 years since catacombs closed July 1974.
@Jay tee ........Was a 'Cats' regular from 1972 and will always insist that it was [along with the Torch and Blackpool Mecca] the best ever Northern Soul venue. Brilliant tunes, great crowd and electric atmosphere. My brother and I were also very good friends with Ian 'Pep' Pereira [and his lovely lady Helen], who became a regular Cats DJ. Having said that, I went to the 2nd ever all-nighter at Wigan Casino in September 1973 [we all heard that the Police were going to raid the first 'nighter - so stayed away!] To be honest, that first year or two [late 1973 to mid-late1975] the Casino was pretty good - but slowly things began to change. More and more 'sightseers' and divs started coming along to see what all the fuss was about. Jethro and his pals did their 'NS dance performance' to Footsie on Top of the Pops. The standard of Northern Soul music began falling too. The writing was on the wall - so we started going to Blackpool Mecca every Saturday again, with the odd trip to Wigan afterwards thrown in every few weeks . Then in 1977, Granada TV rolled up to film the Casino for their documentary series 'This England'. It was the worst ever night I have had on the Northern Soul scene - the TV producers refused to turn the lights off and I spent the whole night huddled in a corner trying the block the glaring lights out of my eyes! I never ever went back to Wigan again.
This is where I spent my week ends with my friends Keith MichelJames willeams rich dale and the girls and lads from stoke on Trent the best days of my life and we went to the last 3 final nights thay put on there Keith was one of the DJ he passt away erleuer this year a sad day for Northern soul as well So keep the faith all of you we all DO
Still got my ticket but left quite early as I had work at 6, in Birmingham Market as a butcher. Got nicked by the old bill for hitch hiking on the motorway. Memorable for the right and wrong reasons. Didn't bother going to the extended nights as I thought it were a right rip off for the real devotees.
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about Wigan Casino. I didn't go on the opening night [23 September 1973] as there were rumours going around that it was going to be raided by the police/drug squad. So, I went the following weekend [30 September 1973] and never missed another Casino all-nighter for more than one and a half years. To be fair, that first year and a half was good. We would always go to the Catacombs in Wolverhampton first [we were Cats regulars from 1972] then catch the 'Gloucester coach' up to Wigan - arriving just as it opened. The 'crowd' at that time was made up of a lot of the Torch, Va-Va's, regulars [which I used to go to] as well as the other 'big' NS clubs of the early '70s. But from about late 1976/early 1977 Wigan [and Northern Soul generally] changed massively. The music at Wigan seemed to be getting sillier by the week and the crowd was now largely made up of 'tourists' and 'day-trippers' that had seen Jethro and his mates dancing on 'Top of the Pops' to Wigan's Chosen Few and decided to come and see what all the fuss was all about. Then in late 1977, Granada TV filmed its infamous documentary at Wigan Casino for their 'This England' series. I was there that night - and it was absolutely horrible. I couldn't wait for 8am to come so I could get out of the place. I never ever went back to Wigan. NEVER! I preferred going to Blackpool Mecca again [first went to the Mecca in 1972] and thought the crowd and atmosphere were much better. At the end of the day - Wigan played its part in continuing the 'journey' for the 'original' NS fans - but I can tell you now, clubs like the Torch pissed all over Wigan, and the Torch will always be the best all-nighter I ever went to bar none. Although I am glad I was a Casino regular from the time it first opened in Sept 1973, I also regret the impact it had on NS in the UK.
Feel sorry for younger people now there isn’t any culture musically like there was then all they’re interested in in the gym, steroids and social media, dance hall days have been over for along time such a shame.
I was there on the last night - I was there on the terrible nights the cameras were there- ruined the atmosphere. I ended up on 2 last nights. It was horrid - I cried. Burnley corner forever. KTF.
How sad. Knocked down and replaced with a sterile generic shopping center that could be anywhere...with a Casino cafe ...The coaches used to go up for the Casino all nighters from Coventry. That was a very big scene while it lasted.
Wigan casino will live on along with the Northern soul classic records and music the dancers from 1974 to 1981 the main building went up in smoke not good 😐 in 81 I was only 4 but some of the music I know and some never heard b4 but we k t f here in UK England Burnley lancs
Jay Man ........The term 'Northern Soul' didn't actually exist until 1970. However, 'rare' or 'uptempo' soul [as it was called prior to this] was being played in clubs like the Twisted Wheel and Pendulum [Manchester], Catacombs [Wolverhampton], Up the Junction [Crewe], Plaza [Oldhill] and Golden Torch [Stoke] in the late 1960's. In 1971, the Twisted Wheel closed - and the mantle effectively passed to the 'Torch' which held its first all-nighter on 11 March 1972. To many, this was the real starting point of 'Northern Soul'. Sadly, the Torch also closed down after just one year - and VaVa's Bolton as well as a number of other clubs spread around the north and in the Midlands began running all-nighters. Then on 22 September 1973, the infamous Wigan Casino opened. The Casino was [by far] the longest running Northern Soul all-nighter - eventually closing its doors on 16 May 1981. That said, there are many [myself included] who felt that the NS 'scene' was more or less over by the mid '70's - and certainly by 1977 when Wigan Casino decided to allow Granada TV inside to film a documentary. In my opinion [and that of many of the 'original' NS fans] NS was at its very best between 1973-74. A combination of brilliant music, a great crowd of people and excellent venues saw the sub-culture reach its zenith. Many actually left the NS 'scene' at the end of '74 as they saw the direction it was headed. Having said all that - Northern Soul will NEVER EVER die. If you were there at the beginning or even if you have only recently discovered Northern Soul, you are instantly captivated by the sheer energy and passion it inspires. For many it was the best time of our lives. The music, the people and the places - nothing will ever take that away from us.
Read his book where he proudly tells the story of how he discovered it in a wharehouse in America and brought it back to play it and break it to the scene. "Right record at the right time"
Cried my eyes out watching this just now. Well into my 60s and the faith is still as strong even if the old legs have sadly gone the way of that rotten arthritis.
It really hits a spot in your heart watching this. I was a bit young to go Wigan and the Torch but we stomped the night away at Alsager Civic Centre Disco from 1977 Onwards A lad from Talke Pits turned up and the first song he danced to was Needle in a Haystack .The next week there was 5 of us dancing Never looked back since.
I went in 1978/9 used to climb out of my bedroom window onto the roof then down a drainpipe meet my mates & go wigan casino.. I returned
To my bed the same way. Mum never new I used to go. My fave track is woman love thief stemmons express. Ian.. Keep on keeping on❤
I love Northern Soul, although I originally didn't know what it was and it had name. I grew up with the Jam,FYC, etc and my parents playing classic Motown. Now, Northern Soul is a love. I am 53, my neighbour is 64. When I play Northern Soul, Mod,Motown, etc. I usually get a complaint from him that the sound is too low and to turn it up, now that is a neighbour complaint I can quite happily live with.
I'm 61, from Blackburn. Lived and loved my way through it. Fantastic times ✊🙏😊
I was introduced to northern soul by squaddies and raf members stationed in Northern Ireland in the 70s. They used to come to safe clubs here and dance. Good times, we hadnt seen anything like it before. Thanks guys.
P
Ppppppp
I was brought up on bands like the stones and kinks! I discovered Northern soul when I was about 14! I'm 64 now and still listen to it! Occasionally go to soul nights and have a good dance! Lav it😻
What is it with Brits and music and raving and dancing and partying... Swinging London, Mods, Northern Soul, the '80s Summer of Love and then of corse the explosion of Rave culture ❤💥🔥😛👍🏼
Some of us worked in factories or other mundane and dead end jobs so come the weekend all you want to do is let rip and blow off steam , dressing up is all about identity and sticking two fingers up at the normals 🤣 you get to feel alive for 2 days then its back to the grind ....
@@andyallen7437 in one ktf
@@andyallen7437 sad lot
WTF 😂😂😂😂😂 total rubbish 😂😂😂😂
@@andyallen7437 absolutely
Absolutely loved it, I only went twice in 1976/78 but a fantastic atmosphere and made some fantastic friends.
Myself and friends used to go to Torquay every year on holiday, from London. Our destination every night was, The Compass Club. Those Wigan Casino boys used to meet up with us every night, every year! Damn...those boys could dance!!! Amazing people, amazing music, amazing times, 1973. We took tents and one MGB, one Lotus Escort, one Ford Prefect 100E. Memories.....
What a place loved it part of the Lancaster crew keep on keeping on
Brilliant times.
I was down there 1972 what a great time I had with my 3 m8s went down there in a Ford anglia we were from the Midlands met some great lads in the compass club what great times they were I was 17 at the time those memories will live with me till the day I die. God bless to those people I met back then they were happy times
hmm,i remember saying "oh well that's it" to a mate and leaving about 8.30 still having a good night !! ,looking at people sitting on the floor,it was only about a year later I started to realise there wasn't gona be another venue like it, a magical place,which if there's an after life, I think a hell of of lot of us will aim to recreate ,ah that's a bit heavy eh, thats how i feel
These were the days. Wigan...the Torch, Blackpool Mecca. Amazing. We had nothing except living for these moments. Those that were part of it will know what I mean. 1970s were harsh but oh so happy times. Old knees pretty much shot it now.
Aye those where the days still loving the music & dancing before corona's kicked in never leaves u Best Days Of My Life KTF Love from Newcastle 💚
Lots of tears was shed when they took it down my heart ♥ is and always will be with northern soul there will never be music made like that ever and I am so proud to have been a part of that Godbless northern soul lives forever 💖💖💖💖
If only someone told us they were the times of our lives before we left them!
Let's not forget Samantha's Sheffield, Blackpool Mecca and Cleethorpes.
Fell in love with the music as a kid in the 70s and I'm still in love with it..❤ this was the time I really learned to dance fr! Butned into my soul like 🔥 Off to a do in 2 weeks time, even though I'm a bit knackered these days..can't wait. ✊✊✊
Wasn't a fan in the 70s, but my friends were. Over the years I've grown to love Northern and regret never being able to get to the Casino. I make up for it now though, dancing in my living room to 'Nobody But Me' & 'Long After Tonight's All Over' when no-one's around 😂. Still haven't learned to spin on a shag pile carpet, but I'm working on it!!
i lived in Wigan late 60s early 70s Standish was a posh place xx ive always loved this soul dancing and its music ,i wish i had gone to the Casino for a fab night out x lol Jane x
Personally thought it was nice to see the first person mentioned was Vernon Vernon Price from Bradford top dancer no one better and what a great bloke he was and still is am sure also noticed gaz from Harrogate wife is caz another great couple miss seeing old friends probably the best days of my life were spent on some dance floor or another somewhere far from home
The BBC wouldn't play Northern Soul, or any music that didn't fit there narrative at the time. That's why Northern Soul was an underground movement.
Now the BBC are trying to cash in on what they refused to play in the first place!
I'm glad they didn't, didn't want all the mainstream knobs flooding the Northern Soul scene KTF
Conserve , conserve, conserve the conservative conservation. No innovation here thx. Except that's what we parasite off.
and for a brief moment a lot of other tourists being " into it" hmm,i suppose we could think any kind of publicity is good.....though " do I love you " being played at a local coop made me smile !
Disagree.BBC would play the chart hits.Love on a Mountain top,Skiing in the snow,Out on the floor,etc,etc.
Secret Agent Cash in? It's an 8 minute segment on a daytime regional programme mate
Goosebumps watching this. I cried at the last night. Didn't want to travel home to Newcastle
Northern soul, A way of Life. KTF! ✊
I went there 1979-1981, Sweaty" Pushing" and fight your way to the dancefloor, But had so many great happy soulful times there as a young Mad Soulie, But all good things must come to an end, Keep-The-Faith, ✊PATCH✊
It was very low key and most people barely knew that it was happening at the time. I knew of it as I was studying in Hull and one student there used to come in everyday with the trousers, the T-shirt and all the Wigan badges (the whole 'look'). Ironically one of the biggest hits in my last year there was a Northern Soul classic, Tainted Love, but covered by Soft Cell. I knew some other of the songs also which had been minor hits but that was about it. It was only later that I started to appreciate the music more.
Wigan. Bloody marvellous. Love Northern Soul.
Member in 1976,up from Bournemouth, loved this place..
When the music and dance gave everyone a natural high 👌
.... and the speed added to it 🤪
@@backroom45s ¡Yes, exactly! The NORTHERN SOUL SCENE was anything but "SOBER".
SPEED was, as far as I know, a super common ingredient in the allnighters (and it makes total sense that it was so, ¿right?)
And it's a myth that it was only the few that took, it was the majority, u got the few pious fuckers, I get high on the music, our coach got stopped by police cos pious fuckwit crashed his car. He fell asleep n one o his cohorts spotted our bus hence the coppers. Pricks.
I my self was into soul during the mid seventies.wigan along with all the other clubs and venues.the music was and still is fantastic .loads of artists on my phone.the 60 s stuff the mods along with soul and motown altogether brill.
The Power of Photography; and some really great Norfurn Soul....
Absolutely brilliant 👏👏
That’s just brought me some amazing memories ❤️✊
I never liked Northern but so many of my mates did, I was more into glamrock and then Punk when it came along in 76, however I do like the fact it was so working class and never really sold its soul.
I was at the last night lots of people were upset afterwards as they had another two after the official last night. Still I had 5 years going to the Casino and still love Northern and Modern Soul KTF
Am a long life northernsoul boy have followed the scene from London to Aberdeen even during the quiet times now its busier than ever and am 60 now so dont dance to well but love the people music atmosphere at 724 i met that guy in wigan old courts the last two years .KTF krepsafe seeyou Blackpool tower November or hopefully festival july
Northern soul stays with us even though we cant do what we wish on dance floor.. Memories KTF ✊✊✊
The quieter times, the mid 80s were some of the best times, the thieving, the rip offs, fell away once it was less fashionable and the scene was better for it in my opinion. 😁
💝💝💝💝 is the best músic! Cheers from Veracruz Mexico
I remember all the Northern soul from the scooter runs . It was the good old days
I was there 1978 dance Al nights great place love soul music
Thank you. Now, I'm homesick for a place and time and people that I never got to know.
Them numbers come in id make another wigan casino and keep the faith going northern soul will never die ktf Burnley here
Sergio Tach T's, Baggies and Pods. 1977 Wigan Casino, We used to leave Friday morning from Bedfont ride up spend the weekend sleeping rough, or not sleeping with a pocketful of blues.
Love from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪❤
Great stuff, haven't been out or given it a thought for ever and ever, so miss that part of my life
when this shits over ,have a look online & go to sumat mate,why not?
Edinburgh lad, spent my youth in there, happy day’s
it was a magical place but in truth we didn't know "how" special it was at the time or how lucky we were to be a part of it. Its only hindsight that points that out. I was there '77 - '80 so wasn't there on the final night. I saw it change over my 3 short years though. The music from The Mecca was being played more and more in the big room & if there had been no Mr M's I wouldn't have lasted until '80. M's was my favourite place in the world - after my bed lol. I was there the night the BBC made that documentary and it was the worst night I ever had...........the lights were on until about 4.30am and the atmosphere was shite. Great days though, great people and great memories.................lots of people over the years have said they were there but weren't, just shows you how fortunate some of us were.
I missed the soul weekenders as I only hit 17 in 88. Luckily for me Blackburn was the centre of the world for Wharehouse parties.
The only thing we didn't have the same was talcum powder,but we had every other kind 😉
Hey John John did you go to set ends before warehouse parties started in the convoy
Lol my friend told me he used to sneak out of his bedroom to go to Wigan casino and sneak back in when it was time to go home 😊😄👍
missed the clubs but love the music, joined the RAF so never managed ot get to the meccas of Norther Soul be fore they closed, shame such a great scene. KTF
i used to go there dancing as a 16 year old i loved it but then we where bopping lol
Brilliant, my wife went to Wigan
Casino !!!.
Not sure why the 'sit-in' wasn't mentioned at the 'End-of-an-Era' All-niter - hence the additional hour - 'cos none of us would leave! 'sposed to be the last one... but two further dates were programmed and advertised a week or so before this Niter on Piccadilly Radio's Mike Shaft show by Russ when he was guesting playing his 3 Northern records. I didn't manage to get to the very last night as I was still in school and couldn't afford to go two weeks or so in a row.
Lucky I just lived 15 minutes from there St Helens... and in its hayday great times great music goodnight Margaret gone to soon every song reminds me of you...
Wow, what a mission! Keep the Faith ❤️🔥 Keep on keepin on 🙏
The best music ever. NORTHERN SOUL RULES. X
Went to all the last nights of the casino I was only 19 so was just starting out on the the journey what I will have to say that the casino was the best ktf
I was there on the opening night - Membership Card Number 14
Me too. Still got my membership card No.0756. So I don't know what russ is on about saying there were only 650 poeple.
I didnt make it on that first night. my mate did. After hitching to vavas on the friday then again to mecca on saturday, I was so shattered I ended up sleeping in a bus shelter. KTF
you need to get that insured mate - will be worth a fortune (especially as its one of the first 20) - will be worth an absolute fortune!
I only went twice on a coach trip from Dreary Derbyshire. We had such a fantastic time & oh, what great music !
@@57dogsbody .........Must admit - didn't go to the opening night [23 Sept 1973] as there was a rumour going around that the police were going to raid it. So went to the 2nd one [30 Sept 1973] and have to say it was good.
👍 KEEP THE FAITH ✊ ❤
It was the same With the Rave Scene back in the Late Eighties/Early Nineties - #KeepTheFaith !
I think its APPALLING they let the Casino be knocked down for a few crappy shops??? That was the CENTRE of the Northern Soul Kingdom. Thats like demolishing Old Trafford and putting a co-op there! >:(((( KEEP THE FAITH beautiful people IT WILL NEVER END FOR US! Great to see all those pics and find the people that were there!
It had to be knocked down. A few months after it closed the Casino building was seriously damaged by fire. The fire made the building structurally unsafe...
KEEP THE FAITH!
Them were days that make these days better ktf
It's time the BBC dug out the old 16mm footage and scanned and cleaned it up, out-takes and all. I'm sure fans would be happy to pay for a DVD.
Still got my 1973 membership card and entrance ticket £.1.00. went 1973 to 1976. I don't know why I gave my 1st anniversary badge away. The manager was someone named walker as I remember but this was 50 years ago.also it is nearly 50 years since catacombs closed July 1974.
@Jay tee ........Was a 'Cats' regular from 1972 and will always insist that it was [along with the Torch and Blackpool Mecca] the best ever Northern Soul venue. Brilliant tunes, great crowd and electric atmosphere. My brother and I were also very good friends with Ian 'Pep' Pereira [and his lovely lady Helen], who became a regular Cats DJ.
Having said that, I went to the 2nd ever all-nighter at Wigan Casino in September 1973 [we all heard that the Police were going to raid the first 'nighter - so stayed away!] To be honest, that first year or two [late 1973 to mid-late1975] the Casino was pretty good - but slowly things began to change.
More and more 'sightseers' and divs started coming along to see what all the fuss was about. Jethro and his pals did their 'NS dance performance' to Footsie on Top of the Pops. The standard of Northern Soul music began falling too. The writing was on the wall - so we started going to Blackpool Mecca every Saturday again, with the odd trip to Wigan afterwards thrown in every few weeks .
Then in 1977, Granada TV rolled up to film the Casino for their documentary series 'This England'. It was the worst ever night I have had on the Northern Soul scene - the TV producers refused to turn the lights off and I spent the whole night huddled in a corner trying the block the glaring lights out of my eyes! I never ever went back to Wigan again.
The manager's name was Mike Walker. I heard he killed himself when the Casino closed down...
This is where I spent my week ends with my friends Keith MichelJames willeams rich dale and the girls and lads from stoke on Trent the best days of my life and we went to the last 3 final nights thay put on there Keith was one of the DJ he passt away erleuer this year a sad day for Northern soul as well So keep the faith all of you we all DO
Geez I used to go down to Wigan Casino.. I hired a car and four of us went down man those were the days....
From rare soul in London to northern soul wigan etc.. ..
Spent my youth there happy happy days ktf
Learned all my dance moves at Wigan casino. Long ago
Santa fe reunion7 piece soul band played there on a regular basis, great times...
You bet my soul brother xxx
Still got my ticket but left quite early as I had work at 6, in Birmingham Market as a butcher. Got nicked by the old bill for hitch hiking on the motorway.
Memorable for the right and wrong reasons.
Didn't bother going to the extended nights as I thought it were a right rip off for the real devotees.
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about Wigan Casino. I didn't go on the opening night [23 September 1973] as there were rumours going around that it was going to be raided by the police/drug squad. So, I went the following weekend [30 September 1973] and never missed another Casino all-nighter for more than one and a half years.
To be fair, that first year and a half was good. We would always go to the Catacombs in Wolverhampton first [we were Cats regulars from 1972] then catch the 'Gloucester coach' up to Wigan - arriving just as it opened.
The 'crowd' at that time was made up of a lot of the Torch, Va-Va's, regulars [which I used to go to] as well as the other 'big' NS clubs of the early '70s. But from about late 1976/early 1977 Wigan [and Northern Soul generally] changed massively.
The music at Wigan seemed to be getting sillier by the week and the crowd was now largely made up of 'tourists' and 'day-trippers' that had seen Jethro and his mates dancing on 'Top of the Pops' to Wigan's Chosen Few and decided to come and see what all the fuss was all about.
Then in late 1977, Granada TV filmed its infamous documentary at Wigan Casino for their 'This England' series.
I was there that night - and it was absolutely horrible. I couldn't wait for 8am to come so I could get out of the place. I never ever went back to Wigan. NEVER! I preferred going to Blackpool Mecca again [first went to the Mecca in 1972] and thought the crowd and atmosphere were much better.
At the end of the day - Wigan played its part in continuing the 'journey' for the 'original' NS fans - but I can tell you now, clubs like the Torch pissed all over Wigan, and the Torch will always be the best all-nighter I ever went to bar none. Although I am glad I was a Casino regular from the time it first opened in Sept 1973, I also regret the impact it had on NS in the UK.
Brilliant..
I was robbed of northern soul by my parents. They moved me down south aged 15, just as it was becoming important to me.
Never to late mate !
Such happy days, gone into the history books.
Wish I could have gone to wigan casino
when white boys could dance
Haha.Some of us had rythm the others liked rock and roll.
Yes you did miss out. All young people today are missing out on this sort of interaction.
So sad great place xx
wow 1.09 minutes grey levis sweatshirt memories only threw it out few years ago
That's you giving it some spin? Class!
Monoco Hindley is my town Godbless monoc keeping the faith 👋👋👋👋👋👋✌️✌️✌️✌️😙😙😙😙
I’m counting the days down… 50h ….💃✊🏽✊🏻🎶🎶🎶
*The film Northern Soul is on BBC iPlayer until 16 or 17 April 2023*
(Some of the cars are daft / unlikely but its good)
Bloke in hat doing hand stand is paul or ian biggs from carlisle , long time since ive seen him top dancer
Are you sure ?? Because it looks like Terry Nuttkins from the really wild show 🤔
Deffo paul , we all copied his puma trainers and bowie baggys , also he allways wore hat till we told him he looked a right twat
@@Rooticalsteppa that made me laugh puma trainers i.e looked a twat. Pmsl. 😂😂😂😂
Vernon at 4.20. His sister Crusita could dance as well.
I lent Vernon a fiver one night. He still hasn't paid me back...
Keep the faith
Feel sorry for younger people now there isn’t any culture musically like there was then all they’re interested in in the gym, steroids and social media, dance hall days have been over for along time such a shame.
Hate the BBC ....But Northern is a different story! Can’t wait for the next nighter ✊🏿
Like they say you had to be there.🎶💃🎫
57yr old auld wifeie here looking at his harrington jacket :P
I was there on the last night - I was there on the terrible nights the cameras were there- ruined the atmosphere. I ended up on 2 last nights. It was horrid - I cried. Burnley corner forever. KTF.
If the cameras weren't there this will die much sooner.
Documenting history is essential or it's lost forever.
I was there… got the book. I wonder 👀🕵🏼
How sad. Knocked down and replaced with a sterile generic shopping center that could be anywhere...with a Casino cafe ...The coaches used to go up for the Casino all nighters from Coventry. That was a very big scene while it lasted.
Keep the Faith
Wigan casino will live on along with the Northern soul classic records and music the dancers from 1974 to 1981 the main building went up in smoke not good 😐 in 81 I was only 4 but some of the music I know and some never heard b4 but we k t f here in UK England Burnley lancs
What years were the Northern Soul in vogue?
Jay Man ........The term 'Northern Soul' didn't actually exist until 1970. However, 'rare' or 'uptempo' soul [as it was called prior to this] was being played in clubs like the Twisted Wheel and Pendulum [Manchester], Catacombs [Wolverhampton], Up the Junction [Crewe], Plaza [Oldhill] and Golden Torch [Stoke] in the late 1960's.
In 1971, the Twisted Wheel closed - and the mantle effectively passed to the 'Torch' which held its first all-nighter on 11 March 1972. To many, this was the real starting point of 'Northern Soul'. Sadly, the Torch also closed down after just one year - and VaVa's Bolton as well as a number of other clubs spread around the north and in the Midlands began running all-nighters. Then on 22 September 1973, the infamous Wigan Casino opened.
The Casino was [by far] the longest running Northern Soul all-nighter - eventually closing its doors on 16 May 1981. That said, there are many [myself included] who felt that the NS 'scene' was more or less over by the mid '70's - and certainly by 1977 when Wigan Casino decided to allow Granada TV inside to film a documentary.
In my opinion [and that of many of the 'original' NS fans] NS was at its very best between 1973-74. A combination of brilliant music, a great crowd of people and excellent venues saw the sub-culture reach its zenith. Many actually left the NS 'scene' at the end of '74 as they saw the direction it was headed.
Having said all that - Northern Soul will NEVER EVER die. If you were there at the beginning or even if you have only recently discovered Northern Soul, you are instantly captivated by the sheer energy and passion it inspires. For many it was the best time of our lives. The music, the people and the places - nothing will ever take that away from us.
Nsoul didn't stop when Wigan closed, lots of brilliant niters across the UK after that, some o the best were in the 80s.
Never heard Richard , play Tainted Love , Ever .
Me neither Geoff!!!!
I have
He's definately gone down the pan then .
Richard discovered the record and was the first DJ to play it on the NS scene
Read his book where he proudly tells the story of how he discovered it in a wharehouse in America and brought it back to play it and break it to the scene. "Right record at the right time"
Iwas 15 travelling from Skegness would kids do it nw
Shopping centres are like morgues.
Black lad best dancer ever ❤
Ps my mum and dad went to Wigan my tony Green of Burnley ktf Burnley
the dj looked like Escobar
Paul Beggs Carlisle
😭😭😭😭😭
Who needs a new Civic Centre?
Stephen CHEVY Richards, proper northern soulie bought it to the black country. great days.