The Final Dance at Belle Vue

• Belle Vue was popular as a dance and music venue until the end of 1970’s but after this time, fewer and fewer people went and only less important bands held concerts.

• The last big singer to play at Kings Hall was probably Rod Stewart on Dec 3rd

1978.

Are there any reasons why you think it should

have stayed open?

Are there any reasons why you think it was a

good thing that it closed?

Many people have very good memories of their nights out at Belle Vue.

As a teen, I remember having some great times dancing there! Carole Traynham Jacksonville, Florida, USA

I met my wife Anita dancing at Belle Vue….Great memories!

I used to go to the Top Ten Club-in fact I was one of the dancers there - one of the Six Belles (arrggh). It was a magical time, all the

stars we met. …. Lorraine

People came from all over the North West to see the biggest bands of the time play

• From brass bands…..

……and pop and rock bands

……to classical orchestra’s

But, even from the early 1900’s crime was a problem

• Read this article from 1906.

• What crime has someone committed?

• Why do you think the fact that it happened at the Brass Band Competition made it easier for the thief?

And by the 1940’s and 50’s Belle Vue had a reputation for being rowdy.

• In the 1940’s Belle Vue was popular because it was cheaper to get in than places like the Piccadilly Dance Salon in the centre of Manchester.

• But some people said that that meant it attracted crowds that didn’t always behave themselves.

• In the 1950’s Rock and Roll music attracted Teddy Boys who were often involved in gangs.– Teddy Boy Brian ‘Rockin’ Lewis’ Stuart, became a

Ted in the ‘50s and remembers a huge gang fight with Liverpool Teds at Belle Vue.

Drinking alcohol

• Often crimes, violence and rowdiness was linked to drinking too much alcohol.

• There were lots of pubs to choose from at Belle Vue, as well as bars inside the dancehalls.

Often the pubs were themed. These pictures

show “The Tudor Bar” and “The Bavarian Beer House”

which was set out like a German pub.

Some people say that by the 1970’s Kings Hall was not very safe….

• When the bands went on stage, people would run forward but this meant….. “it become so manic with the crush,

screaming and fainting of fans, it became very dangerous…..the “crush bars” didn’t really work”

The increasingly large lighting and sound rigs popular with major bands tested the old fashioned electricity

system to the limit….There were loads of power cuts….I am surprised there weren’t fires”

…..Nor very pleasant

• Phil Blinkhorn worked at Belle Vue in the 1970’s. He remembers…

In 1975-76, the famous singer Shirley Bassey appeared at Kings Hall. She complained that the Hall smelt like an animal house (the wooden structure did seem to hold all sorts of odd odours) and the dressing rooms were a disgrace. …In fact there weren’t any proper dressing rooms; the singers just used the old lounge area. The floors sloped and the rooms were bare and cold…..”

By the end, there was another more modern venue in Manchester

• The G Mex Centre was opened in 1982. It was much more modern and high-tech than Kings Hall – perfect for concerts, exhibitions and events! It is now called Manchester Central.