I remember seeing Rock Around The Clock at The Rialto in Hall Green . What a night that was. I had not been going out for very long with the future Mrs Spud and her father was a bit of a stickler had he known we had been there on the infamous night I doubt if she would ever have become Mrs Spud.The Rialto was a lovely old Cinema they had a organist named Foley Bates hardly a name you could forget and an usherette named Minnie a dear soul who lived a few doors from my parents house in Sparkhill. Doubt if either had heard of Bill Haley let alone his Comets. Every thing was going swimmingly until Bill belted out the first cords of Rock Around the Clock Watching from the Back Stalls the place erupted . The Circle above our heads began creaking groaning. It started with dancing in the aisles but the staff try as they did to control the audience it was just hopeless. I can still see seats being torn out. We managed to get out just as the Police Arrived to restore order. The Circle was damaged so much it was never to open again. Arriving home early-ish we told my Girl Friend's Dad that we had been to the Robin Hood
I saw 'Rock around the Clock' there in 1955. Because of Teddy Boy riots in London, the Castle Cinema was the only one locally that would show it so all the Teds in the area came. The police stood at the back and immediately ejected a couple that started dancing in the aisle. At that moment, someone let a banger off and there was uproar. No further trouble but the atmosphere was electric - magic!On another occasion, I was caught letting my mate in through the back door.
Arriving home early-ish we told my Girl Friend's Dad that we had been to the Robin Hood
Phil,It could of had war time bomb damage. But the front of the Church in your photo apart from the iron railings was all intact I have added a photo of one of my cousins weddings.