Teddy boys and Elvis Presley
Thirty two cinemas
In the 1950s I used to go to the Gaiety Cinema; nearby there was a little cafe by the viaduct which used to sell the most delicious bread pudding at 1d a slice. Other cinemas I went to were the Arcadia, the Astoria (near the Telephone Exchange), Paris, Essoldo. At one time there were thirty two cinemas in Brighton and Hove. You were certainly never spoiled for choice in what films you wanted to see.
My new school
In 1950 I went to the new Stanmer Secondary School. The Headmaster was Mr Hobart, and teachers included Miss Cauderoy, Mr White, and Mr Lovell. I left there in 1954. Some pupils I remember were Maurice Glanville, David Richie and Pauline Nye. Sorry there were lots of other friends, but I am afraid that my memory is letting me down at the moment.
Elvis who?
I remember going to a music store near the Clock Tower – not sure of the name now. To listen to music we used to pick out the latest record, and go into a booth to listen to it. I bought Elvis ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ there and took it home put it on my Dansette recorder player. My Dad came in from work and said “Who’s that ?”, “Elvis Presley, Dad”, “Hhump! He won’t last five minutes!”. Oh ye of little faith. I have memories of the Teddy Boys and the cafes in Queens Road. Rock ‘n’ Roll was here and the world was changing fast.
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I remember the ’50s very well. I also went to Stanmer school about the same time. I was born John Mears and remember Rodney Fiest how player for England boys, others I remember are Tony Hubbard,who I believe now lives in Australia and Peter Packam – or was it Brian, like you the memory is not what it used to be. The Regent Dance Hall and the Aquarium were places I remember going, plus the Paris Lounge in the old Ice Stadium.
WHEN BRIGHTON WAS MINE
Is Brighton what it was, you ask?
Yes, it lives up to it’s name
But everything changes, even mountain ranges
Can’t forever stay the same.
Brighton was mine in ’55
From The Dukes to the Palace Pier
The memories of war were fading
And there was no cold-war fear.
I was fifteen, and thought, like James Dean,
That nobody understood.
My only connection was music
Rock ‘n’ roll was the neighbourhood.
In the dark old Whisky a Go Go
Smelling of coffee and sweat
For us there was no tomorrow
As we shared a cigarette.
A joy there was in dancing
Call it bopping or, ‘Come on, let’s jive.’
The Little Chef was calling
With it’s jukebox in ’55.
My Lurex suit from Burton’s
In the sun would make you dizzy
We Teddy Boys of Brighton Rock,
The Belvedere and Gizzi’s.
The Brighton slums were still there
Before they built the towers
I knew my way round Boston Street
And felt those streets were ours.
The coppers took backhanders
This everybody knew
But one day in ’57 saw them busted
The lock-up was overdue.
Country folks would get a call
From cheeky knocker boys
Your Chippendale is out the door
‘fore you can make a noise.
We couldn’t afford taxis
We rode a trolley bus
Sometimes when the pole would slip
There’d be an awful fuss.
Tommy Steele at the Hippodrome
There was jiving in the street
Merrydown from the Cider Bar
The Tin Hut once a week.
I came alive in ’55
And it happened in Be Right On
I was Brighton then, you see
I came and I’ll soon be gone.
Brighton’s not mine anymore, my friends
It’s over to you, my brother
Look after her and be kind
‘There’ll never be another!’
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