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The Locarno Ballroom
On 1 October 1929 the Locarno Dance Hall opened in Streatham, just down the hill from the new Streatham Hill Theatre which was preparing its own opening in November 1929.
Opened by band leader Billy Cotton, it was a glittering occasion attended by over 1,500 dancers.
It operated under several different names, closing in 2004, and ultimately being demolished as part of the London Square redevelopment of the site.
I visited the Streatham Locarno many times each week between 1964 to 1969 many happy times.
So sad it was demolished as it was an Art-Deco building
Unfortunate, we have lost so many fine buildings that remain in peoples memories for great experiences that now cannot be repeated in similar surroundings. So keep supporting Streatham Hill Theatre campaign, it is a fine building and retains so much of its high days not least the stage machinery.
Hi Richard, can you remember the name of the band that played regularly at the time you were there? I’m wracking my brain out trying to remember it. I was 18 in 1964, so know I was a regular there and the bowling alley.
Was that the Monday Mod Night ?
Barry Tyrell: is this the band (mid-60s)
https://youtu.be/qnGYThOy_4w
Extract from ‘The ROXY our story’
Andrew and Susan’s story began at the Locarno Ballroom on Streatham High Road in South London, when the 16-year-old Susan met Andrew at the Monday Mod Night. Having kept a diary since childhood, Susan duly noted their first dance on January 17th 1966. The following week, Andrew walked her home. They have been inseparable ever since. With his goatee beard, cream mohair suit, green leather shoes and matching green silk handkerchief, Andrew possessed a modernist sharpness belying his own 16 years. Susan meanwhile favoured a simple dogtooth patterned jacket and mini skirt which she ran up at home, topped off with a hand-made, matching trilby hat. In comparison to the regulars which flocked to the Locarno in formal cocktail dresses and lounge suits harking By the beginning of 1966, the Locarno and its spinning glitter ball
had lost its allure with the advent of rock clubs. From Richmond to Regent Street, London was jumping, although many venues carried a distinctly American note, including The Crawdaddy, The Marquee, The Flamingo, Whiskey a Go-Go and The Troubadour. When the fever for US-style venues reached his home turf, Andrew was primed. “I was given a flyer for the launch of the Ram Jam club on Brixton High Road by none other than Jimmy Savile. He was one of the big name DJs at the time and they got him to promote the club, after driving around South London on an open topped double decker bus. Savile arrived in Brixton with a gaggle of mini skirted go-go girls handing out flyers. The Flamingo and Ram Jam Club were sister clubs as both were owned by the Gunnell brothers, who dominated the post-war London club scene.