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Jimmy's and The Rialto - Memories from Lorraine Bilton

In 1963 or ‘64 Mr Morden, the manager of the St James Hotel and Restaurant (affectionately known as "Jimmy's”) came up with the idea of a club for young people run by young people. An inaugural meeting was held and a president found - none other than Viscount Scarsdale. A committee was elected and for my sins, probably because I was the only one who could do shorthand, I was appointed the Secretary. “Jimmy's Beat Club” was duly launched.

The committee took turns to man the cloakroom, play the records and sit ‘on the door’ but eventually I played the records more and more often - perhaps because I was the only one who would use the mike to introduce the records and groups. For the technically minded, Messrs Playdon of Manton Electrics (Manton’s used to be next door to the back entrance to Jimmy’s on the Market Place – it’s not there now) made a twin record deck for the Club the controls of which could be operated with one hand, something unheard of in those days!

The bands came from all over - we had The Beatmen from Nottingham who later appeared on "Opportunity Knocks" (didn't win), Dave Kaye the Dykons came from Heanor way and I understand are still going strong (they had a very brief appearance in "That's The Way It Is" - an Elvis film) and of course our own Heralds, Rapids, Vibrons, Black Caps and Imps. I feel fairly sure that Shakin' Stevens and The Sunsets played Jimmy's in their early days as well but don't quote me!

The music played was typical 60s - The Stones. Roy Orbison, The Everley Brothers, Lulu, Peter & Gordon and of course, Elvis etc.

The entry fee was, as far as I can remember, was about five bob (25p for post decimalites). Compare this to Zanzibar today! I don't really remember the favourite drink of the day but I think it was a pint of bitter for the guys and babycham for the gals. As far as I knew there were no drugs touted around.

Eventually Mr Morden decided to branch out on his own and the Club moved up to the Rialto on the corner of Nightingale Road - the site is now a car park for Rolls Royce. By this time, the teenage committee had disbanded and the Club was run by Mr & Mrs Morden, my Mother and Bill the Bouncer. Yours truly was still the DJ however.

At the Rialto, we continued to feature the local groups and also had Heinz, Bert Weedon and Peter & Gordon. Unfortunately, Gordon's car got covered in lipstick messages, foam and his windscreen wipers stolen so he wasn't very happy - not surprisingly. On folk night the Spinners also appeared. As for the local "leading lights", the favourites with the regulars were the Imps, The Heralds and a group called the Vibrons.

As for ‘dress of the day’, most of the fella’s wore suits and those who didn't wore jacket and trousers and as far as I remember, all wore shirt and tie. Chelsea boots were also all the rage. As for the girls, they wore knee length shift dresses mostly, i.e. straight up and down, with pointed toe stiletto heel shoes - commonly known as "winkle pickers". These were of the 2.1/2" variety and not the 3/4" ones of the 50s and of course, the time I speak of was before hippies, flower power, and LSD.

I vaguely remember the group contests too but can't remember any details.

I also remember a contest being organised at the Palais in Nottingham between one of the Nottingham groups and the Imps. A bus was laid on from Derby for Imps fans and this broke down at the Blue Peter on the return journey (but that's another story). The Imps didn't win either but I suppose this was hardly surprising seeing as the other group were on their home territory.

The Rialto was a great place for its time despite problems like the stairs, which must have given guys carrying gear upstairs a hernia.

Unfortunately, there is no happy ending as the Club folded and Mr Morden went bankrupt.

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