Wigan casino allnighters 1973-81
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Almost every member was a teenager or in there early 20's going home was a
subject never mentioned at all. I was just remembering the times the other day. I
had a CSE exam at 9 am Monday it was 2.15 am Monday morning. I was listening
to
Shelia Antony "living in love" in Sheffield at a flat the exam had no
interest to me at the time. As I had no way of getting to my Kidderminster
home in time you put the thoughts of doing the exam out of your mind. I woke
up on a Monday morning in beds all over the north west & east, Nottingham,
Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, and a list of other places. With girls I had known
since Friday or Saturday night but where now the best girl you had ever met
in your life. Because she had said you where a good dancer you now loved her
for that week anyway. The casino was never a place you fell in love at.
I became very affectionate and if it had been later in life. I would of
fell in love and maybe looked at a longer relationship. But at that
particular time. It never seemed to be expected or in most cases wanted.
It was'nt a case of using girls for sex either you where together.
Having the best time imaginable when the night finished. Neither of you
wanted it to end. So went to a flat discussed the night but ended up in
bed but felt hyper active still. Partners at home seemed unimportant but
satisfying the need then was greater. A long session of unreserved sex
was often the next step. Nothing sordid it was 2 young people satisfying
there needs at that particular time. You often remembered the time of
passion you shared but partners out of sight also. Where out of mind
what the eye does'nt see the heart does'nt grieve about was the
important thing.
Wigan casino was'nt a place to fall in love just 2 teenagers doing
what the precise moment in time required. As you never promised any kind
of long term commitment you remained friends even had a number of other
sex sessions together. But when you went home it was all in the
past just went to your normal partner. It was'nt really sordid or the
girls some old minger or 25 past 10. But the whole place was so charged
with emotion you could'nt keep it bottled up.
What is a good way to refresh your mind photo's.
There are a good selection for ex members. Of Wigan casino to
bring the casino era. As fresh in there minds as it was in the
1970's heyday. When the UK was talking about the strange world
of northern soul. At the time very little was known, other than
the strange habit of staying awake allnight dancing. There music
was fast uptempo rare USA soul. It became popular during the
1960's mod fashion. When it enjoyed the media's full attention.
In the latter part of the 1970's. Allnighters where well
established. They had been going for well over 10 years. It as
been established the first 1 was at the Twisted wheel in 1963. A
number of UK clubs followed. The Metro, the Torch, the
Catacomb's, va-va's, and Samantha's, are a lot of the more
successfull.
But the most successfull club in the UK, ever to hold allnighters
was Wigan casino it opened at 2am, 23rd of September 1973
closing in 1981. For the station road site to be redeveloped
into a shopping centre. Which stands there today. This page is
packed full of memories of Wigan casino. Any you disagree with
feel free to Email me, please don't send me anonymous Email's.
If you are going to call me a liar. Give me a chance to reply.
Your reply will not be kept or published. To respond is not
a invitation to start making stupid replies. But there was over
a 1000 people in the casino each week. I don't want a single
description of it the more descriptions the greater the
portrayal. To the next generation. Who wont have a clue what
life in 1960's UK was like.
So why does everybody who writes a account of it. All of a sudden
assume they have. Your portraying it to a audience from a
different era. So an explanation of how the UK was a different
country to the UK they know. Can sometimes be a usefull
thing to understand your book.
It is apparent to anybody with a brain cell. That Wigan casino
was such a perfect place for so many attributes it would happen
once. Since 1981 even thou I have attended numerous events. 1 that
got anywhere close to being as good is as rare as rocking horse
s***. The venue for 1 they announce King's hall Stoke the new Wigan
casino. In who's opinion it is nothing like it at all ok some of the
records are the same. I like Kings hall as a venue from this
millennium. I've got some really happy memories from Kings hall a
few years ago. But they happened in life not because of it. My
biggest complaint if I was asked about it would have to be it looses
emphasis on the music. The atmosphere seems to reach it's crescendo
earlier than other allnighters. This I might had is'nt they put
unknown DJ's on to try them out either. Many of the best sets have
come near to the end of the night. The crowd itself seem to
concentrate there attention earlier than other venues. When it gets
to 4am the dance floor at times is deserted.
This must make it a heartless task for the DJ's to generate any
atmosphere. With the entire dance floor acting like they cant
wait for the end. But fair play to the DJ's that have given the
service they have. In what must be a thank less task of getting
uninterested people off there ass and dancing. Been some great music
played right at the end the last few times I've been to Stoke.
The music played at allnighters was very exclusive
content. A lot of people say it was played at Cleethorpes or
another allnighter. A long time before the casino. In most
cases this was rubbish it was sour grapes. From people who
failed to get attention in the no1 arena. So went to another
venue that never had the casino's higher class members.
Where they could make a better impact on people. Take it
from me Wigan casino had the best venue, records, and dj's
bar none. I went to almost every other venue at the time at
some stage. The dance floor in all cases where nowhere near
as good. The other allnighter's never had the atmosphere the
casino had. Almost every allnighter like st Ives +
Yate where much smaller and newer. Lacking the vastness and
character only found in the casino. I'm not implying other
clubs where not as good. I had some great nights at both
Yate + st Ives along with most other clubs in the 1970's.
The standard was excellent at every event held there.
the reasons why
it wont ever be equalled for brilliance
Unfortunately no other place got anywhere near Wigan casino.
I'm only referring to the early years before the
outside world got involved. When it remained a underground
escape from normality. The Wigan casino crowd where not
consistent. Solicitors talked on the same level as builders.
It made no real difference who you where. The social
type of person you came from. The only theatre to get judged
in was the immense dance floor in the main room of the
casino. Doing a great new dance sequence or some kind of
dynamic spin for one allnighter. May get you a comment but
you then had to do it at a alldayer. The following day keep
it going until the end of it. Late on Sunday night after no
sleep Saturday night. You suddenly came back to earth with a
bump.
When you came out the venue into the night. Realised you where a
long way from home. Absolutely worn out but had to be at
work at 7.30 am the next day. I had so many Mondays off by
the time they considered sacking me. I was a qualified
bricklayer completed my apprentiship and handed in my
notice. Left to go to live in Crewe, Cheshire at 19. Close
to the main area for northern soul events. I've never
regretted it I had a fantastic couple of years. With
friends I already knew off the northern soul scene. When
your young happy and enjoying life it's great. You think it
will last forever when you sober up. To realise life is full
of heartaches as well you still have the vision you created
in your mind. It's far better to have reached Nirvana once
in your life than never. At least the crowd at Wigan casino
knew what it felt like. To feel content doing something they
enjoyed to the best.
Only a minute ammount of people will ever achive it in there life.
To be able to say I've been there so young was great. Even
today people envy what you have in your past life. Maybe at
some point a club will exist that as very good media focus.
But containing the energy, atmosphere, and excitement you
found in Wigan casino. I very much doubt. Anybody who say's
they know what it felt like. But did'nt actually go to the
allnighter. Has'nt got a remote idea what Wigan casino felt
like.
Wigan casino the best allnighter
Wigan casino's status as no1
the casino venue an immense arena
The building that housed Wigan casino allnighter. Must be the
largest venue ever on the UK's scene. The immense area it
covered dwarfed the Twisted wheel and Torch for size. The first
time you climbed the stairs paid and climbed more stairs. Until
you pushed the black swing doors open to a huge area full of
sheer excitement. The moment you enter it stays in your mind
forever. In every visit to the casino allnighter. You felt like
it was like Christmas eve as a child. You just could'nt wait to
get on the dance floor. The casino tingle you felt at the back
of your neck. Never went even when the allnighter's great early
years ended and it became public knowledge it existed. Waiting
outside in Station road always felt very special. The casino
allnighter was the no1 venue in the UK for northern soul music.
You where waiting
outside
to be a part of it. In the early years it was
not yet established So it was a unknown future ahead at the
Wigan casino venue. It was normal every allnighter staged there.
To have a rumour circulating that it was the final allnighter to
be held.
never will be
equalled for quality and atmosphere
Which always turned out not to be true. It was closed eventually to
make way for redevelopment of the site. Which had circulated the
allnighter since the 2nd anniversary time. The building suffered
extensive damage in a fire shortly after it was closed in 1981.
The casino building was demolished after the extensive fire
damage. A new shopping centre was built on the Station road site
years after the casino was demolished. The shopping centre is
there still in 2011. But memories of the Wigan casino allnighter
will remain. In everybody's mind who ever attended it.
blues + soul advert
mrs Woods
mr M'S Oldies room
casino advert
Wolverhampton's casino
It is now March 2011 30 years since the Wigan casino
allnighter closed. But many people still come up with some
fantastic tales. How they where some kind of example to the
rest. I have heard so many complete lies it makes me wonder. I
danced by the stage on the left by the men's toilet not once but
for a number of years. Sandy Holt and other Manchester area
faces tended to be on the opposite side. It was'nt some kind of
segregation of Manchester and Wolverhampton. I would speak
to Sandy I still do. Others from the midlands would dance on the
right. I seem to remember Gethro always danced over the right
side. But I preferred the left Peter Kadic a very good friend
danced near he was from Blackburn. Dave Fisher, Mona, from
Alfreton Derbyshire and Lainnie from Redditch. All seemed to
favour that place.
There was no hatred campaign between the north-west and midlands
that was rubbish. The only rivalry was on the dancefloor or the
smartest dressed nothing physical I can remember. The
competition remained on the dancing and dress not the ability to
fight. Both area's had people who looked like they could take
care of themselves. But other than the battles with the punk
rockers never had to. The casino revolved around it's electric
energy charged friendly atmosphere. The only need for the door
staff was to stop people sneaking into the allnighter free. Or
in the later years to chuck the barbed up idiots out of the
allnighter.
The big media invasion of Wigan casino. Also signalled the death of
it as well. Up until then it was still a very much hidden world
word of mouth was still evident as the best form of
recommendation for the best events. When "this England" was
screened on TV after a big vote of no to it. By the casino
regulars the week before it was filmed in the casino. I was
embarrassed to admit I was on it. Nothing shown had anything to
portray the real reason why over a 1000 teenagers where drawn to
Wigan. From all over the UK every week an event was on there. If
you don't understand it dismiss it.
The amount of arguments I had with people on the M6. Being left on
the hard-shoulder late on a winters night. Was a guaranteed way
to get a lift. People just had such stupid views of Wigan casino
they would not discuss it what they knew was right. I was
bought up to defend my opinion to the end. I will admit I
was a little bit of a handful then. We all got to the age when
you knew best. I never left it what I thought was either agree, or
keep away from me altogether. Maybe it was youth thinking I'm
right. Trouble with that, you never got to the stage you thought
you where wrong. My way was the only way anybody else's was
unheard of. Like it did not exist. To many including me they
did'nt. Wigan casino was a escape from normality. No
expectations or you had to reach the top. It was nothing but
what you wanted it to be the closest there is to a classless
society. If you think communist values are perfect as a way of
life, it was Karl Marx in a real life situation not intended I
think But the time, place, and era all incorperated perfectly
and it happened to create northern soul heaven on earth.
It remain's my opinion today the same as it did at the time.
OK in the eye's of the law taking amphetamine's is illegal and a
large percent of the people there. Where breaking the law but in
what context would have to be clarified more as some people
there did'nt even realise they had broken the law. So to list
some people as law breaking yobs was in my opinion unjust. They
saw others doing it quite openly at times they where nieve
enough to think it was a normal recreational pastime. Even the
people like me who where aware it was illegal the aspect of law
breaking. Was 0pen to interpretation as for most I was'nt a
supplier at the time I only took amphetamines to boost my
stamina to dance. I had a full time job. So every time I went to
allnighters it was financed by my wages. At the time almost all
amphetamines where obtained and taken before reaching Wigan. The
1960's had created a silent underground network for supply and
demand. If you wanted to ask around your hometown every town and
city in the UK had someone who knew a man who could get you
some. So even thou a majority of people there had taken
stimulants a minority had purchased or taken them in Wigan. It
was the time of underground network connections who you Knew was
how it happened. To the best of my knowledge there was'nt any
big pushers at the time but a strong word of mouth. If a supply
of good amphetamines was available in Leeds or anywhere else.
Word went out and people did'nt get some for others at a profit.
It was there that week mostly from burglaries at chemist shops
so SK+F and Riker. Being top pharmaceutical manufacturer's there
products where used at allnighters every event staged. Another
good source of supply was people who had attended previous
allnighters knew how the scene worked and was happy to pass on
there sources of supply.
There is no doubt in my mind. The casino allnighter would
only happen once. A repeat would be met with so much resistance
from the local police. It just would'nt be allowed to get a
licence the ancient bye laws that enabled the casino to stage
allnighters. Have been gone through by Government legal teams to
take away loopholes that allowed the Twisted wheel, the
GoldenTorch, and Wigan casino to use them to stage allnighters.
Let's face it the fun as been taken out of life. Now a clinical
no way round it policy as replaced the way you got round things.
Life today is so different to the relaxing environment of the
1960's I grew up in. A regular event staged every week of the
year with widespread lawbreaking must of either been over
looked. Or the drugs squad's presence was by officers naive to
the scale it was taking place. More or less under there nose,
the amount of drugs squad at each allnighter and the fact it
followed 2 clubs renown for it's members using amphetamines to
boost the tolerance for 8 hour gruelling dance sessions. I'm not
in the position to tell the reader. But will just have to let
the reader come to his or hers own conclusion.