CUTHBERT'S ADS - 1970'S

2 ads for Cuthbert's Sunshine Bakery in Ure Street.

Top one is 1973, the one below it 1974.

Those of you who know your 70's TV catch phrases will recognise the "Ooh you are awful" one.

It's from the Dick Emery Show - vox pop with double entendres.

Where's Hawkill?

OLD STAMPING GROUND - 1982

I forgot all about this wee shop until I saw this photo - Dundee Philatelic Supplies at Sinderins, on the Perth Road / Hawkhill junction.
Can't say I was ever in it mind you, but passed it often enough.
The shop itself was being stamped out at the time of the photo which was taken on 23rd September 1982.
The corner seated area still remains today, but the wedge of shops that are boarded up, have all been demolished.
And is that a couple of Harris pupils plunking? Surely not!
The 3 white posters on the boards are for Hot Chocolate, who were playing at the Caird Hall in Sept '82, a review of which can be found in the Nov 2009 Retro Archive.
Leading us nicely into the start of another music theme in May.
It'll be mega. So stick around!
Photo by Neale Elder.

HAWKHILL BREWERS - MID 80'S

Hawkhill Brewers in Mid Wynd was a very short-lived business that started up in 1983 by Bob Welch and partners.
Bob was a home-brew enthusiast who used to make Buddon Ale in his garage. So the next step was to get himself proper brewing premises and start filling barrels with his own recipe's.
Hawkhill Brewers main ale was Old Bally (you may recall The Scout changed it's name to Bally's in 1983). They also produced 2 others, a beer called Witch's Brew and another alcoholic treat called Rocket Ale, a drink that was aptly named, because it was so strong it sent you into orbit!
Unfortunately, Hawkhill Brewers couldn't compete with the big dominant companies, and the place closed down just after 2 years in biz, in 1985.
Photo by John Alexander.

ABOUT THE SCOUT

There are 2 images of The Scout up on Retro already, but this one here is my favourite.
Taken in 1980, it shows what a weather beaten, run down, lived in, messed up gem of a drinking den it was.
Lifestyle designers would have charged a fortune in the 1990's to fake a distressed look as good as this!
The Scout was the real thing though, and delighted to say it was just as naturally shabby on the inside.
Hard to believe young boozers would queue up at weekends to get into a place that looked like this, but they did, with the queue often going around the corner into the Hackie. There they would be, waiting for a couple of people to leave the joint so's another couple could squeeze inside.
It was a pub where you could comfortably let yourself go, act daft, muck about, and nobody would give a hoot. In fact, the bar staff clearly encouraged craziness, and not only would they join in, they'd often be the ones to spark the madness off.
In the height of summer they'd keep the door wide open to try get some ventilation in the place but it never worked and everybody would be dripping in sweat!
George Thorogood would be blasting full volume out the PA, and they had their well known cartoon "Happiness is a life debauched" on the wall beside the bog!
Always a great laugh to be had there - you just had to keep going back for more!
You couldn't fake it..!!
Photo by DC Thomson.

BLACKHEATH PLACE / HAWKHILL - LATE 70'S

Following on from yesterday's disappearing streets, here's another one that no longer exists - Blackheath Place. This was on Hawkhill between Annfield Road and Ure Street, pretty much opposite Mid Wynd.
The wire fence, bottom left, was a car park area.
In fact, everything in the picture has now gone. The same location doesn't look anything like this now.
A nice touch with the Players No 10 advert though. It's like someone being granted their final request to have a cigarette before being executed!
There's a possibility the photo was taken in the early 80's, but I've settled for late 70's. Bit of a guess.
And no traffic...unlike the items next!

CUTHBERT'S ROLL VAN - 1971

This ad featuring a Cuthbert's delivery van is from 1971.
As you can see in the ad, their Sunshine Bakery was based in Ure Street, but their vans were everywhere!

IN HAWKES AD - 1988

A 1988 advert for In Hawkes Hairdressing in Westport.
Not sure whether "Hawkes" is supposed to mean "Hawkhill" in a more upmarket slang way, or if it's someones surname, but anyway, I do like that haircut!

WILLIE FREW IN HIS PUB - 1977

I thought I'd end this recent short, but cheery jaunt up Hawkhill, with how I started it - a visit to Frew's.
Here's the man himself emerging from behind the pillar.
The picture was taken by Moira Bird who, along with fellow Art College pal, Bob McGouldrick, would go there on Friday nights to sell tickets for the Students Union disco down Hawkhill Place.
Willie was known to slip them the odd free pint when they were broke!
The snapshot was taken around Christmas 1977.
Big thanks to Bob

RIGHT AS RAIN UP THE HACKIE

1st October 1982 : After leaving the Tav, blootered, me, Paula & Marian, decided to go for some grub along the Nethergate. It was raining, but we cared not a jot. Giggling and staggering about trying to negotiate the wee side streets beside the University, one of us suggested that we all change clothes. It seemed like a stoopid idea, so needless to say we all agreed. We found an alcove in one of the buildings where we proceeded to exchange togs. Luckily for me they weren't wearing anything too girly! Now that the 3 of us looked complete idiots, the laughter increased. Further down I spotted this overflowing ronepipe gushing like a waterfall, so we all dashed over and stood under it until we were absolutely drenched. It was all rather hysterical by the time we reached the Nethergate, but we managed to get to the Chinese takeaway. We trooped in like drooned rats, with the girl behind the counter looking a bit concerned. Off the top of my head I ended up telling her that we were over in Tayport, missed the last bus and so had to swim back across! Just for a couple of seconds she actually believed it, till we burst out laughing and gave the guff awa'..!!

THE CORNER BAR - HAWKHILL / PEDDIE ST

Moving further up the Hawkhill from yesterdays location, you'd find The Corner bar on the junction of Peddie Street.
In the 70's, when the pub was run by Jim Butters, one of The Corner bar regulars emigrated to Canada. Many years later in the mid 90's he came back to visit Dundee, and one of the first things he did was to venture up to his favourite pub. When he got there he was shocked to see that it had changed to the Hawkhill Tavern, along with a change of owner. He stepped inside and looked around it, half amazed, half saddened, then he spotted the new owner, Ray Martin, so he went over to greet him and exclaimed - "I can't believe it's not Butters!".
The above picture was taken in the early 80's, but below you can view the same corner from ground level, the footage dating from the late 60's.
It is believed that the guy walking by in the film clip is Dundee musician, Robin McKidd. A few folk who've viewed the footage recognised him instantly!
Oh yeah, and watch out for the ghost car..!!

FREW'S - HAWKHILL - 1978

Here's an image I bet many of you have been longing to see - Frew's on the Hawkhill.
It's another of Neale Elder's photographs, this one though he took when he was only 14 years old, using his first camera, a good old Polaroid.
A few years later when he was doing his Higher Art at Craigie High School, he made a model of this very tenement scene!
I suppose the pub and the location has inspired a few folk like artists and musicians. I know Frew's gets a mention in a poem called "Step Row Nights" written by author/poet Scott Martin.
If you check out the comments on Retro about city pubs I posted on 12th January 2010, the Captain gives the lowdown on a few aspects of the pub as well as the variety of characters who frequented it - a diverse a range as it could possibly be in fact - from the "Carry On" team to Jocky Wilson!
Captains log...
And when Willie Frew wasn't in his pub at 157a Hawkhill, he'd be home at 22 Finavon Place.
Both rather humble abodes for someone who has achieved such legendary status in the history of Dundee pubs!

RAINBOW MUSIC SHOP - HAWKHILL

I don't have the exact date of this ad for Rainbow Music, but I guess it's probably the late 70's, or possibly early 80's.
Hawkhill was the shop's original location. They are now in the Cowgate.
Thanks to DD

THE TWIST AND THE HI-FOUR

The dance hall, Robies, located in the Hawkhill area, held Scotland's first ever twist marathon in the early 60's. The contest attracted around 20,000 spectators over the 4 days it went on for. Dancer, Bobby Cannon eventually won it after having twisted himself dizzy for almost 95 hours! Runner up, Cathie Connelly later went on to become World Twisting Champion in 1964 down in Manchester, dancing for 102 hours and achieving a spot in the Guinness Book of records.
One of the local bands who entertained during the rest periods at Robies, was Johnny Hudson & the Hi-Four (above), a group that featured a young Dougie Martin on guitar (far right).
Below contains some footage of the actual twist contest.
Photo by DC Thomson.

ST.PETER STREET MURAL - 1984

I took this photo around 1984, so the paint would still be pretty fresh.

It's the St.Peter Street mural showing various scene's associated with Dundee, such as the Tay whale, Dundee docks, DC Thomson, Tay bridge, plus a few other local references.

It's quite literally got Dundee stamped all over it.

The only thing is, it was painted by...er...the Edinburgh Artists Collective..!!
Glad they didn't sign it!!!

 

(Not that slaughtering whales makes us feel proud..!!)

A SEGMENT OF HAWKHILL IN THE 70'S

This segment of old Hawkhill is just before it's demise, and I'm 99% sure that the premises with the white door is The Tav.
If it is the Tav, I read somewhere that before the Tav building got knocked down, the interior fittings of the pub were moved across to the University where it has now become part of the Students Union bar.
Can anybody say for certain if this is an urban myth or if the Tav was indeed transferred, so to speak?

UP AN DOWN HAWKHILL IN THE 70'S

 

Here's a well trodden cobbled path....the view up Hawkhill from Westport.
I can recall on more than one occasion, me and my mates "galloping" up & down here from pub to pub, in the style of Monty Pythons human horses in the Holy Grail film..!! The silly sods that we were!!!
Keeping the Python humour going, a year or so later when one of our mob got married, a couple of us wore a "lupin" in our jacket lapel at the wedding!!
In fact, we actually had the smoker in the back room of the Tav.
Talking of the Tav, some of you may remember the excellent sketches of Dundee done by local artist, Stephen French. Well when these buildings on the right of the photo (MC Bar to The Globe) were restored in the 80's, he opened up a studio/shop in Johnston's Lane - next to the corner shop in the picture.
He sold sketches, quirky sculptures, and a range of other modern artefacts. I can remember even the blinds on the shop window were very arty, having a holographic design etched into them. Cutting edge interior design indeed.!!
I also have a hazy memory from back then that French had a stint as designer for "Memphis" of Milan. Memphis were a radical, avant garde design team who made outrageous interior décor, causing a bit of a sensation in the 80's, most of which are now only seen in art galleries and museums.
However, I can't find any info about the French/Memphis link anywhere, that is just one of those wee facts stored away in my mind that I assume must have got there by reading a piece about him in a magazine way back in the 80's.
All that superb stuff he done, and yet no details on any of it.
About time there was a book about him and his work.
Until then, this sketch above is one I have in my own collection at home. You may be able to make out that he personally signed it in 1977.
It is also one that used to be on display in the Tav.
The actual content of the sketch is pretty much the same location as the photo, but from the other end.

THE M.C. BAR - WESTPORT - 1970'S

Although it sounds like a pub you'd visit to catch live hip hop acts perform, the MC in the name stands for Mickey Coyle.
The MC Bar was on the Scout to Tav route in Hawkhill, and so we passed it hundreds of times. However, it had been shut for quite a lengthy period by then. It did eventually reopen again in the mid 80's after restoration, this time under the name of The Blue Mountains.
Shortly after though, it changed back to Mickey Coyle's.

THE GLOBE BAR - WESTPORT - 1970'S

Nowadays, the Globe occupies the full width of this building in Westport, which is all nice & tidy after its restoration. In my era, however, this is how it looked when we visited it, grubby, all the boards going up beside it and having to share the space with Kleen Wear.
Further up, out of shot on the right, many of the buildings had already started to be knocked down around the Hawkhill/Blackness area, with the demolition continuing well into the 80's.

TEMPLE LANE JUNCTION - 1970'S

A view along Temple Lane from Westport.
The shops still doing business in the picture are as follows - on the right corner is Hobbies & Handicrafts - the opposite corner has Dickson the Pawnbroker (you can see the pawnbroker sign) - next door is Nicol's Footwear and down from them is J.Scotland fruiterer.

WESTPORT AT HAWKHILL & BLACKNESS RD JUNCTION - 1970'S

A view looking up Westport in the other direction this time...up the Ha'kie and alang the Blackie...from the same period as the previous picture.
Most of the pubs and shops were still doing business during this period, even when some of the buildings around about were starting to be pulled down.
Yet despite it's grotty condition, it didn't influence the amount of fun we had when it came to drinking time!!