ARTICLES. Some articles written on the Nottingham music scene, music in general and other rock and roll trivia. Lists and notes.
A short look into the the childrens Saturday morning cinema club and a few of the pop groups that played at the Metropole Cinema in Sherwood, Nottingham during the 1960’s.
The ‘Metropole Minors’ was the name of the childrens Saturday morning cinema club.
Established by ABC Cinemas in the early 1940’s, the early morning cinema clubs for children became very popular around the country particularly through the 1950’s and 1960’s showing a variety of entertainment that would include films, serials, cartoons and occasionally competitons and visiting entertainers.
Before each session the “ABC Minors” song was sung to the the tune of ‘Blaze Away’ by the gathered kids who would sometimes follow a bouncing red ball on-screen to help them keep the place.
“We are the boys and girls well known as
Minors of the ABC
And every Saturday all line up
To see the films we like, and shout aloud with glee
We like to laugh and have a singsong
Such a happy crowd are we.
We’re all pals together.
We’re minors of the A-B-C.”
Members of the club would get a badge and participate in a Conker competition, a Guy Fawkes competition, Christmas celebrations and numerous miming and dancing competitions. One of these clubs was the “Metropole Minors” at the Metropole Cinema on Mansfield Road and the corner of Elmswood Gardens, Sherwood, Nottingham.
The Metropole Cinema opened on 2nd August 1937 (not the 3rd as is offered from other resources). The 2nd was still a Summer Bank Holiday in England during the 1930’s, it still exists as one in Scotland to this day. There was an afternoon showing and the first film shown was “Champagne Waltz”, a light hearted musical. It was the largest surburban cinema to be built in Nottingham up until that date seating 1,700 customers and had luxurious seats and fittings. The Metropole was taken over by the ABC chain in 1943 and closed as a cinema on 27 October 1973. After that it became a bingo club, then various supermarkets until the building was demolished in 2006 and a fresh building built in its place. The new building was, again a supermarket, but now is a gymnasium and fitness centre.
POP GROUPS AT THE METROPOLE
The ‘Metropole Minors’ started in 1948 and during the late 1950’s, as a new youth culture was developing, rock and roll and beat music were in the air and becoming difficult for the older geneartion to ignore. Occasionally, some musical entertainment was provided at the Metropole Minors club in the form of a young group, and as Beatlemania swept the country in the early sixties this increased to become a fairly regular thing.
THE BEATMEN
By far and away the biggest group to play at the Metropole were The Beatmen, an Arnold group, who released two records on PYE Records in 1964-65 and becoming the first ‘beat’ group from Nottingham to do so. They were local heroes, touring nationally and in Europe, before coming to an end in 1966. They played the Metropole at least four times, three in 1964 and once in 1966. You can read the story of The Beatmen here.
Bill Brazier (Lead guitar)
Paul Mountain (Bass)
Phil Severn (Drums)
Barrie Heald (Saxophone)
Bill Mosley (Rhythm Guitar)
THE ELECTRONS
Formed in late 1963, these 15 year old lads, all local to the Arnold area, were the house band at the Metropole through most of 1964.
Dave Smith: Drums
Dave Micklelthwaite: Lead Guitar
Barry Lupton: Bass, Vocals
David Morris: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Read a little more about them here.
THE VOLCANIC VULCANS
Billed as the Volcanic Vulcans in August 1963 this is probably The Rockin Vulcans, a Nottingham rock and roll beat combo on the scene circa 1960-63.
THE ROAD-RUNNERS
Another short lived beat group from the Nottingham area in 1964.
Line up:
Richard Farrow: Drums
Alan Sterry: Bass
Dave Pendleton: Lead Guitar
Michael Chapman: Rhythm Guitar
Philip Wilson: Vocals
Richard lived in Sherwood, Alan in Woodthorpe, Dave in Bulwell, Michael in Broxtoe and Philip in Cinderhill. They all went to High Pavement School.
They played for the Metropole Minors in November and December 1964 at the Metropole Cinema in Sherwood, Nottingham all aged 14 at the time. Also on this page.
THE ATOMS
Formed in the summer of 1964 they played at least three gigs at the Metropole.
D. Simmens: Drums
T. Keetley: Vocals
J. Davison: Guitar
J. Parker: Guitar
M. Parker: Guitar
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