Author Topic: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?  (Read 12951 times)

Paulina

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1050
West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« on: March 07, 2012, 07:02:15 PM »
 :D

Mary8790

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 83
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2012, 11:30:26 PM »
Yes I remember it well.  I used to go there at lunchtime, have a dance for an hour and then go back to work.

maggie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 25419
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2012, 07:33:28 AM »
 1949 to 1957, every Wednesday/Saturday night as an 
ordinary dancer, then on Sunday members only night..
 
Remember when Rock and Roll and Jitterbug first started there
we had a section ringed round  so that others could use the
rest of the floor, then it got so popular the ordinary dancers got ringed round and we had the most of the floor..
Can remember the long Red velvet curtains,pokey ladies room
going across the road for a drink with a stamp on our wrist
to show how we had paid...
The Rush at the end of the evening right down the town to
the Odeon Cinema to catch the last late bus,2 or 3 to a seat
and packed like sardines standing, no stops on my route
until Birchfields  dog track Do I remember  YES  I certainly do
do unto others as you would be done by

frederick

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 22926
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2012, 10:35:08 AM »
I went there a few times and then it was pulled down   :(
Failure to Prepare is to Prepare to Fail

Phil

  • Account Closed
  • *
  • Posts: 32653
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2012, 11:27:48 AM »
Yes I remember the West End as I have said elsewhere on this forum. I also remember the fights inside and out that no one else seems to remember. Perhaps that is down to the fact that like Fred I wasn't old enough to get in until not long before it closed and was demolished.
 
These two photos are of different times, the one harks back to the 30's and 40's the other is more from later.
 
Phil
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

maggie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 25419
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2012, 06:37:44 PM »
Hi Phil. I cant recall any fights during my membership at the West End, can tho remember a couple of" I,ll see you outside" but nothing came of it .   I.m not saying the crowds who went during my time where little angels  but we all seemed intent on dancing not brawling which seems more common these days..  One or two maybe scores got settled some place else but it was,n allowed inside.  Could be most of us had had our fill of war so did,nt want to start minor ones...
do unto others as you would be done by

Paulina

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1050
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2012, 07:40:13 PM »
 ;D Good to see that others remember the Westend Ballroom, we used to have good times there.  Yes, a rush for buses after the dance!  I didn't see any troubles there, we just had fun.

maggie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 25419
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2012, 07:44:00 PM »
Paulina, when did you use the Westend,my years or later?
do unto others as you would be done by

valens1

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2012, 01:49:17 PM »
Hi
Im new on the site...But remember going to this Ballroom in early 60s Just before they closed it down...Was a nice cinema next doot ro it as well ....The floor on the Ball room was really bouncy.
Paul :)

Phil

  • Account Closed
  • *
  • Posts: 32653
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2012, 02:15:50 PM »
Hi Paul
 
Welcome to the forum, I think the only film I ever saw at the West End Cinema was John Wayne's "The Alamo". The critics really panned the film and it nearly bankrupted him. I don't know why, if you take it for what it was entertainment then it wasn't a bad film.
 
Phil
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

valens1

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: West End Ballroom, Birmingham, does anyone remember it?
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2012, 02:20:03 PM »
Hi Phil
Its funny I saw that there as well...I loved the film ...I grew up on Westerns...I spent more time in the cinema than School..I love this site ive only just found it...Brings back such memories.
Paul


 

Terms of Use     Privacy Policy