THE Majestic Ballroom was not the Majestic cinema on Bondgate. The Majestic cinema in the 1960s was trading as the Odeon.
No, the Majestic Ballroom was the former Arcade cinema in Skinnergate, which is now a bingo hall.
The Majestic opened in September 1956 as the fascination with films faded and the interest in new, brash forms of music started to grow – its opening coincided with the release of Rock Around the Clock.
In the afternoon at the Majestic there were tea dances with music by Frank Abbott and his Band; in the evening it was transformed into a place for teenagers and Beat music. Alma Cogan and the Swinging Blue Jeans, The Applejacks and The Tornadoes, Mannfred Mann and Petula Clark all played at the Majestic – as well as Them.
The Majestic Ballroom is now a Gala Bingo
The manager of the Majestic, John Wilson, is even said to have booked an unknown Merseyside band in early 1962, but changed his mind after they mucked him around. They then released Love Me Do and became globally famous as The Beatles.
The Majestic Ballroom – entrance round the rear in Salt Yard – closed on September 23, 1967, and became a bingo hall.
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