The exterior shot is of the doorway, but how's about this as an example of eccentric interior design!
It's Samanthas - the disco the old Palais turned into in 1976.
Its main entrance was in South Tay Street, but you could also get to it via a pub connecting to the back of Samanthas called, The Stage Door Bar, which was in the Marketgait.
The Stage Door Bar itself had a small dancefloor called Stage 1.
One of the resident DJ's at Samantha's was Sandy Martin, although they would also bring in big name DJ's from time to time.
Samanthas put bands on too - some being of the soul-funk variety, then later the punky new wave variety.
The end for Samanthas came around April '78, and was later remodeled into another disco called Bloomers in October '78.
Exterior photo by Hes.
Interior photo by Nicoll Russell Studios.
Jeez, that decor, totally Clockwork Orange, all we need is Alex and his Droogs sitting in a corner... Infact, from memory, I think there were some Droogs from the Hilltown who used to frequent the place. Another cracker from Retro Dundee. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThat is wild! I half expected to see Rod, Jane and Freddy come strolling around the corner, singing in 3 part harmony!
ReplyDeleteSaw the recently reformed Only Ones there one night great gig and could have been a good venue. Stage door bar was also a hang out of Tam Gemmell and a certain weeginger SPL manager
ReplyDeleteStage Door bar.......summer of '78 ......Emotional Rescue.....We're On The March Wi Ally's Army.....live gig by Lorna Bannon's band Rokotto ...... .horrible funk induced migraine .........good times
ReplyDeleteyip, table futba while you drank, ba ends up in big bruisers pint, oh oh, here we go!!!!!!!!!!!! RAMMY!!!! :) priceless!
ReplyDeleteNovelty funk band Black Gorilla once played their one hit wonder "Gimme dat banana" here in Samantha's. £1.50 admission in 1978.
ReplyDeleteSandy Martin - was he not better known as Gus? Also worked in Tiffany's on the Nethergate at the time when McDonald's Farm were resident band.
ReplyDeletegod just look at the pic at the top of page took me right back i was about 16-17 when i was there.danny pettigrew
ReplyDeleteops i mean 14-15 lol
ReplyDeletegreat days with Knocker,the smittys ,syrup of figs...me and Mick longmuir on the door...big black errol...ha ha ha and my mate Willie Smith and Dode Marshall R.I.P lads,,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I saw early Simple Minds there when Jim Kerr had his puddin bowl haircut
ReplyDeleteDid the rubettes play there
ReplyDeleteI don't yet have a date for the Rubettes playing at Samanthas.
DeleteThe only Dundee gig I have of the band is for the Caird Hall in December 1974.
Check out the Dundee Gig Time Machine for info.