50's & 60's Clubs
Dancing the night away
The Carlton Club opened in 1934 with a ballroom "the modernity of which is not surpassed by any other dancehalls."1 The building was formerly a wool-scouring mill. The club's promoters wanted "the people of Rochdale to be architects in their ideas and to show that their behaviour in the hall was worthy of the conditions they were offering"
The Carlton witnessed ballroom dancing in the 30s, rock 'n' roll in the 60s, and all the dance crazes in between. The 1940s saw the thrill of the Jitterbug where "the skirts used to flare out, much to the delight of the lads watching"2.
In the 1960s the club even had its own formation dancing team and it hosted many a band leader including Geoff Love, Bob Sharples, Roy Fox, Freddie Platt, Lew Stone and Eddie Hilton. A refit in 1956 saw the introduction of a revolving stage and the "El Mambo" Bar. Schoolchildren were even warned by their headteachers of the dangers and depravity to be found lurking in the Carlton. During the 60s the club was used for both dancing and bingo but gradually bingo took centre stage.
Other Clubs
One of the most notorious nights in Rochdale's pop history occurred in April1 964 at the Cubi club on Slack Street. The Cubi was marketed as "the North's biggest R & B club" and was due to host The Rolling Stones. Sadly, only two of the band arrived. A near riot ensued as fans learned that their heroes would not be performing. The same year a letter to the Observer complained that "decent boys applied for membership of this club and were refused on the grounds they were not Mods".
The Cubi Riot
Another venue for live music was The Firestation on Maclure Road. Performers included Herman's Hermits, The Fly-B-nites, and local Disc Jockey Ron the One, who also appeared as resident DJ at the Lower Chamber Club. This club was in the cellars of the Town Hall. A group of teenagers took the initiative to redecorate and build a stage and DJ rostrum. They also clad the ceiling with eggboxes as a form of soundproofing!
Champness Hall was a venue for church services and classical concerts, inc but it also had a Youth Club that hosted a pop concert in March 1967, with chart regulars Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich topping the bill. Other popular clubs included the Limit in Middleton, the Seven Stars in Heywood.
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