sydney nightclubs 1960s

WebFeb 07, 2018 In the late-60s, life in Sydney was often one of energetic pleasure seeking, and sometimes even risque behaviour. In the '60s there were a number of authentic, cheap Greek restaurants in Sydney where journalists, detectives, sex workers (back then called streetwalkers), university students and, of course, Greeks ate. Murray Hertz, travel editor for a Las Vegas newspaper and an acknowledged authority on international fleshpots, rates it the sixth best in the world. Of these, Sorlies was, by all accounts, the class-act, yet even its reputation for stylish sophistication did not exclude the genres of erotic entertainment from the bill. Hey Friend, Before You Go.. David Jones English Fair, 1968. Read more. [x] The Bobby Limb Show, episode 8, c. 1959, NFSA Title No. I saw Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald at Chequers in about 1962, it was quite something to see overseas entertainers. Luckily we had friends who looked out for one another. Perhaps not surprisingly, underworld figures were often said to frequent the club. Jonathan Bollen, Flinders University. He travelled the world, gaining accolades in the UK and the USA, and in the late 1960s he even had his own television show in Australia. I bought them, took them home and scanned them. With its vibrant nightlife, thriving arts and cultural scene, and its growing reputation as a surfers' paradise, Sydney in the 1960s was a truly exciting place to be. In Sydney 15 years later the same problems didnt arise. Waterside restaurants where the views are as beguiling as the food. Luckily we had friends who looked out for one another. Discover a new side of our sparkling city. Presentation at Beyond Burlesque, La Trobe University, Melbourne, 12 Feb 2010. Valley. This one was a favourite spot, and people enjoyed the quiet ambience. Some of the wine bars were quiet and set a romantic atmosphere, piano players would play requests or their own favourites. This was a time of great creativity, with many artists, musicians, and filmmakers pushing the boundaries of their respective fields. The Hunter Region in The Great War commemorates the Hunters role in the First World War of 1914-1918, using letters and diaries to tell the stories in the words of those who experienced the conflict. Cheerfulness kept creeping in." Stonewall Hotel Drag Nights, Friday and Saturday 175 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW, +61 2 9360 1963 Stonewall Hotel | Courtesy of Stonewall This Oxford St institution has been one of the jewels in the crown of Sydneys vibrant LGBTQI scene for two decades, delivering live entertainment seven nights a week. Lotus Room. Bars, clubs, live music, outdoor cinema, late-night art shows and stand up comedy theres so much happening in Sydney after dark. 11990; The Bobby Limb Show, episode 17, c. 1960 , NFSA Title No. 203 Elizabeth Street. These portrait photographs of Russia's ruling Romanovs were taken in 1903 at the Winter Palace in majestic. I think I saw Hank Marvin & The Shadows at Chequers in the late 60s or early 70s but cannot find anything to confirm that they did play there. [xvi] Thus what television producers declined as too hot to deliver as family entertainment on variety shows was served up cold as investigative exposs of seedy nightlife on prime-time current affairs which, as it turned out, were just the thing to draw a crowd to St Kilda and Kings Cross.[xvii]. Beaches such as Bondi and Manly became hotspots for surfers, with surf shops and surf schools popping up to cater to the growing demand. WebDuring the mid-1960s Chequers was the grandest nightclub in Sydney. [xi] Geoffrey Hutton, Lavish Lido revue, The Age, 2 February 1967, p.6. WebSydney, 1983, most listed venues: Strawberry Hills Hotel (Surry Hills) Tivoli (City) Sydney Trade Union Club (Surry Hills) Old Push (The Rocks) Britannia (Chippendale) Sylvania Hotel (Sylvania) Sefton Hotel (Sefton) Basement (Circular Quay) Cat and Fiddle (Balmain) Rose Shamrock and Thistle (Rozelle) Gigs listed in one week: 471 On those occasions when erotic burlesque broached the television screen, the producers of television variety were cautious to frame its eroticism within abstract or historical settings. [xvii] A journalist records that business had been lacklustre at Les Girls for quite some time, until out of the blue came television with their Glittering Mile [] and hey presto, you had to book a week in advance to get a table, Is it Tom, Dick or Harriet [no publication details], c.1967, Tracey Lee papers, SLNSW, Box 5 scrapbook. Luxor Gali Gali (Mahgoub Mohammed Hanafi). 444, Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 29 June 1957, QPAC collection. Few people understood the Kings Cross of the previous decade better than photographer Pat Stevenson who has spent the past 15 years shooting Australias nightlife scene. David Jones English Fair, 1968 -it is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. Come for the fantastic drag and cabaret shows, or a dance in the expansive basement. Nearby, Candelaria is a quirky addition to the Sydney nightlife scene a Latin club doing salsa, reggaeton and bachata beats, as well as delicious margaritas. It was also the grandest club in Sydney, Saw wrote. Farmer Wants A Wife's Andrew made a 'mind blowing' confession, quitting the show on Sunday night. Will you benefit? There was actually a time when rock groups didnt even have demo tapes to shop themselves with, and here's a place that let that happen. The young princess was photographed by her mother, the Princess of Wales in Windsor this weekend. Other clubs in Sydney at the time would usually pay no more than 600 a week, but Chequers paid 7500 a week to Sarah Vaughan, 6000 to Tony Martin and Shelley Berman and 5000 to Frances Faye. (NFSA Title 221923). Find sleek and sophisticated wine bars pouring the worlds top drops. When the NSW state government announced earlier this year that the lockout laws would be rolled back, Kings Cross was singled out as the only suburb where they would remain in place. Businesses have since been working to lure people back to the area by offering fine dining, wine bars and boutique shopping outlets, as well as events such as an Art Deco festival planned for the end of this year. She is about 75 now . The Phoencian Club on the corner of Broadway and Mountain Streets, Ultimo 1980s. Luckily we had friends who looked out for one another. Alongside his choreography for the Graham Kennedy Show, Bandstand and other television shows, Laine choreographed revues for the Pink Pussycat and Pink Panther clubs in Kings Cross. Australia Square, 1968. WebThe Dorchester nightclub in Potts Point 1959. Would it ever happen today? Discover a world of exciting games, from heart-pumping action to brain-teasing puzzles. Listen oniTunesU. Food and drink. I was surprised and interested to discover that they were mostly photographs of Sydneys famous Chequers nightclub, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1960s. Wonderful find . Do you have a story tip? Nightclub, Woollahra, 1 October 1960 (SLNSW) Sammy Lees Pigalle nightclub, Sydney, 26 October 1960 (SLNSW) Sammy Lees Pigalle nightclub, Sydney, 26 October 1960 (SLNSW) Pink Pussycat, Sydney, 1967 (SLNSW) Stripper at the George Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, ca. Amongst the Sharpies was a then teenage Graham Abo Henry, later to become one of Sydneys most feared underworld enforcers along with his buddy Neddy Smith. Not long afterwards a young Rhubarbs regular, waiting for a taxi with his girlfriend in nearby George Street was attacked by a group of Sharpies and kicked to death. Sydney was home to some iconic nightclubs during the 50s and 60s and showbiz stallwart John Burls remembers them all. 1960s. Destination NSW acknowledges and respects Aboriginal people as the states first people and nations and recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and occupants of New South Wales land and water. Inspired by Andy Warhols 1960s New York nightclub The Factory, Oxford Art Factory is one of Sydneys top live music venues and has launched the careers of many well-known local artists. Roselands Shopping Centre once the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere, 1968, David Jones English Fair, 1968 -it is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name, Sydney Opera House under construction, 1969, The village centre, Kings Cross, May 1970. But its a process haunted by its past reputation for debauchery and delinquency. Sheila Cruze who had worked on Harry Wrens variety shows in the 1950s was ballet mistress at Sydneys Chequers nightclub in the 1960s and also choreographed the Les Girls drag kings at Kings Cross. It was a decision that had the countrys only national newspaper, The Australian, wondering What is it that scares so many people about the place?, A parliamentary committee which recommended the laws be rolled back was reportedly concerned the Cross was not yet sufficiently changed to warrant a complete reversal with one politician saying: Kings Cross cannot be allowed to return to how it was.. The Echoes band entertaining dancers at Surf City, Sydney 1963. The Echoes band entertaining dancers at Surf City, Sydney 1963. WebDuring the mid-1960s Chequers was the grandest nightclub in Sydney. In an article in the Sydney Daily Mirror newspaper on September 15, 1965, journalist Ron Saw wrote that Chequers was the only club in Sydney to operate at a loss. Nearby, walk into a tiny hot dog store on Wentworth Avenue, open the door to a vintage Coca Cola fridge and youll find Soda Factory, a hidden nightclub with a retro 50s feel and DJ sets until 3am on weekends. Live music venues with a line-up oflocal artists. [ix] William Tell Strip, no. Stonewall Hotel Drag Nights, Friday and Saturday 175 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW, +61 2 9360 1963 Stonewall Hotel | Courtesy of Stonewall This Oxford St institution has been one of the jewels in the crown of Sydneys vibrant LGBTQI scene for two decades, delivering live entertainment seven nights a week. American singer Sarah Vaughan being interviewed by Australian broadcaster Ray Taylor at Chequers nightclub, Sydney, May 18, 1965. A Darlinghurst club called Union Jacks catered almost exclusively for UK immigrants although Australian born girls were also admitted. I would love to see any photos of the staff at Chequers particularly the Maitre D Andre Lambi and any waiters as my father Danny was a waiter there in the 60s. Nor was erotic entertainment confined to travelling shows. Get the latest versions of the top games in 2023. The transfer to television was a success, and the show ran for some seven years although, evidently, striptease from the likes of Carmelita was not among the variety acts that transitioned to Brisbanes television screens. With a staff of 120 and capable of seating more than 500 patrons, the club was famous for paying high prices to attract top-class acts. Id be very glad to hear from anybody with more information about Chequers and the people who performed there. The glamorous showgirls at Chequers, one of Sydney's leading nightclubs 1968. Book your tickets or find something free to do for your big night out in the city. This is what the experts think will happen. No fatalities reported after unidentified explosive device went off in Bryansk which is around 40 miles from the border with Ukraine, While she lived, the late Queen commanded a degree of respect, even among ardent republicans. With more details expected to be released in September, the hope is the process will lead to a recommendation for government to purchase the Minerva Theatre, which hasnt operated as a theatre for decades, to create a new anchor entertainment venue to draw people in. Now in its, Enjoy the best of close-up magic with Dr Taliesin, master magician and member of the famous Magic Circle (UK), as he, Celebrating nine years and over 2800 shows headlining on the Las Vegas strip, The Australian Bee Gees Show will be heading, Vivid Sydney is an annual creative festival that showcases the soul of our city, in collaboration with the most brilliant. In the '60s there were a number of authentic, cheap Greek restaurants in Sydney where journalists, detectives, sex workers (back then called streetwalkers), university students and, of course, Greeks ate. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. Reviewing the Lidos Hello Australia in 1967, Geoffrey Hutton observed that these new venues were considerably smaller than the variety theatres and the audience was, somehow, not quite the same. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. If you want to party the night away, theres a crop of glamorous nightclubs and darkened dancefloors waiting for you. For beats with a twist, The Cliff Dive is an under-the-sea-themed tiki club slinging out tropical cocktails and playing hip hop, grime, trap and RnB for its dancefloor crowds. Perhaps not surprisingly, underworld figures were often said to frequent the club. Destination New South Wales (Corporate site). Lotus Room. All rights reserved, Switch to Visit NSW to see more of the state, Set within the stripped back plaster and stunning industrial brickwork of a beautifully preserved building, The Soda Factory. #2 on TripAdvisor, Top 60 Theatre & Performances (second only to Sydney Opera House). Ive met some of my best friends on the floor of a nightclub at 3am, he said, reminiscing on an experience thats not so readily available for young adults today. Australia Square, 1968. Destination New South Wales (Corporate site). Enjoying our content? Whether this kind of violence affected the eventual demise of the club is open to question but the vibe inside the venue was always friendly and upbeat. WebThe 1960s was a decade of great change and growth for Sydney, a time when the city was transformed from a colonial outpost into a modern, cosmopolitan city. Nightlife and Creative Sector Advisory Panel, Support gathers for removal of Oxford Street clearway, Councillor defends right to ask questions, Apologise for anti-gay slur or face defamation action, Alex Greenwich warns Mark Latham. 2020 CityHub Media. Popular clubs such as Candy's Apartment fostered some well-known musical talent. The innovation raised few eyebrows, he writes, and by 1938 bare breasts were a feature of virtually every [Tivoli] revue. Scores of Chinese and foreigners have been ensnared by exit bans, according to a new report by the rights group Safeguard Defenders, while a Reuters analysis has found an apparent surge of court cases involving such bans in recent years, and foreign business lobbies are voicing concern about the trend. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. From cocktail bars to waterside pubs, secret small bars and sunny rooftops, theres the perfect place for every occasion. My grandfather was the night manager at Chequers and a producer at 2SM during the day. Morris Landbergh, the Miami and Las Vegas hotel millionaire, visited Sydney in 1965 and said Chequers was better than either the Copacobana or the Latin Quarter in New York. During lockdown Mr Stevenson has been going through old photos and is in the process of putting together a book to illustrate the rise and fall of the once infamous nightlife of Kings Cross. Some 20 years ago, at the turn of the millennium, Sydney was world-famous for its 24-hour bars, thriving band scene and epic dance parties. Your email address will not be published. The group which represents local businesses in Kings Cross found that foot traffic had fallen by 80 per cent in the area, according to City of Sydney research conducted in 2016. [i] The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) collection and the State Library of Queensland hold, between them, programs from 219 weekly variety shows at Brisbanes Theatre Royal, beginning with New Year Party from 8 January 1949. Renowned gay pub The Imperial has been the heart of the LGBTQIA+ community in the inner west since the 80s and was revamped, This quirky hip hop themed late night Italian restaurant and bar is from the team behind top Sydney small bars Shady Pines. Well wait.. [i], Frank van Straten records that, by the mid 1940s, artistic nudity was regularly presented to audiences at variety theatres in the nations capital cities. Located at The Star, Marquee regularly hosts music megastars, with Calvin Harris, Bruno Mars and Post Malone taking the stage in the past; Chinese Laundry attracts international DJs like Sasha, DJ Slink and James Holden; and those looking for RnB should make tracks for MVP Nightclub. Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. The longer we stay in business and the bigger we stay in business the better our name gets. Channel Nines The Glittering Mile dates from 1964 and the episode of 7 Days from 1966. Eat streets perfect for sharing plate-loads of cheap cuisine from all corners of the globe. WebSydney is a city that likes to stay up late. Smallbars hidden down alleyways. [iii] Nancye Bridges and Frank Cook, Curtain Call, Cassell, North Ryde and North Melbourne, 1980, p. 115. - Douglas Percy Bliss on his friend Eric Ravilious from their time at the Royal College of Art Eric Ravilious loved. 1960s. Required fields are marked *. During that late 60s period a number of mainly short lived venues began to appear including Beatle Village in Oxford Street and the Bowl and the Beach House in Sydneys CBD. Such framings obliquely diverted the performers erotic address, rendering it innocuously nostalgic and insulating middle class sensibilities from affront. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Nightlife Darlinghurst This Oxford Street haven is one of Sydneys oldest gay clubs and, if you can get in, a paradise of pop bangers from the past and present. They speak fluent tequila (with more than 25 types on offer) and theyre crazy for, Barrio Cellar is a late-night tequileria and eatery specialising in tequila, Mexican street food and quality cocktails. - Baz Luhrmann. DONATE, Before the money moved in, Kings Cross was a place for born-and-bred locals, clubs and crime, See what really went on during that time in NYC's topless go-go bars, Chris Stein 's photographs of Debbie Harry and friends take us back to a great era of music. Although Bondi Junction might be the last place youd expect to find a club known more for its malls than dancefloors The Junction (previously the Jam Gallery) is a great choice for live music. Described as an old hand behind the glamour by the Age, Hallmark had been a Tivoli ballet mistress and dancer on the Fullers circuit. [xv] Four Corners Channel 2, Glittering Mile Channel 9, 7 Days Channel 7 [and] Telescope Channel 10. Great Fire of Toronto 1904: Rare Historical Photos depict the Destruction and Aftermaths, Cocoanut Grove Fire: The Deadliest Nightclub Disaster Which Killed 492 People and Injured Hundreds in 1942, The Bizarre Meat-Packing Demonstration in which a Girl is Packed in Latex Balloon, 1939, Wonderful Photos of Slovakia in the 1990s After it became an Independent Nation, Before Black Friday: Fascinating Vintage photos show the Biggest Holiday Shopping Season at Macys in 1948, Historical Photos Show Everyday Life of Hong Kong in the 1900s. Angus Winnekes sets and costumes from the Tivoli were fitted into the smaller stage without any loss in effect and the whole performance is as fast as it is spectacular. 1960s. As the entertainment industry adjusted to the advent of television, audiences adjusted their relations to the erotic. Almost every night after we finished work we would meet up with friends at one of the the local wine bars converted small shops. [ii], Entertainer Nancye Bridges recalls female performers at the Tivoli theatres who werent actually nude, but had the top halves of their bodies covered with gossamer-like fabric that left little to the imagination and who, true to the morality of the forties had to remain stock-still during their time on stage. Naomi loves taking The Class with Taryn Toomey, who is her friend. Sydney.com is the official tourism site for Destination NSW. These pictures of Sydney are courtesy of Graham Cosserat his wonderful photographs can be found here. Inspired by Andy Warhols 1960s New York nightclub The Factory, Party with Sydneys vibrant LGBTQI community at. The main reason Chequers lost money, Saw wrote, was that it paid top fees to visiting artists. David Jones English Fair, 1968 -it is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. Some were so crowded it was difficult to get past the door others were more of a relaxed atmosphere. All rights reserved, Switch to Visit NSW to see more of the state, Patrons enjoying live music at the Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst, Set within the stripped back plaster and stunning industrial brickwork of a beautifully preserved building, The Soda Factory, Inspired by Andy Warhol's 1960s New York Factory, the Oxford Art Factory is an edgy, warehouse-like venue with multiple,. [iv] Van Straten, Tivoli, pp. The photos of Mr Stevenson a collection he has dubbed Gutter Confessions shows what he calls the last years of the era of Australian nightlife. Sydney was so wild and fun back in the 2000s, another said. 203 Elizabeth Street. Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. Choreographers carried the Tivoli traditions of showgirl revues into night clubs in Sydney as well. David Jones English Fair, 1968. On opening night, five Sunday Mail Sun Girl finalists made a surprise stage decoration as part of a bevy of beauty in a finale scripted around them, but the show was carried by the comediansand former Royal Theatre regularsGeorge Wallace Junior, Eddie Edwards and Brian Tait. Ms Landon and the girls mother had a violent encounter two years before the incident. Click on the new interactive map below for a step-by-step guide through Sydney by night. In the late-60s, life in Sydney was often one of energetic pleasure seeking, and sometimes even risque behaviour. Or the Silver Spade Room? Crowd gathered in front of an outdoor stage, Melbourne, n.d. Sugar & Spice and The Carumba Boys with Sheeba on parade outside sideshow tent, ca. Oxford Street Cycleway: A rejuvenation or added congestion? Historian Richard Broome records that performances of sexual enticement and allure were among the side-attractions at agricultural shows during the 1940s and 1950s. This particular one had an agreement with neighbouring restaurants to provide meals for late stayers. The ivy precinct on George Street is another huge venue with multiple bars and restaurants (including Bar Tottis, Felix and The Royal George), a rooftop pool club, regular free gigs and a much-loved Poof Doof night. Id be glad to learn his name and any details of his life and career. The objection was not that there were nudes in the show, but that photographs of near-nudity were visible from the street. An elegant French restaurant hidden below ground in the Sydney CBD, Hubert is reminiscent of post-war Paris.

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