GOLDBERGS - MURRAYGATE - 1970'S

Goldberg was a clothing shop the size of a department store and was to be found at 11 Murraygate, near the corner of Commercial Street where John Menzies were.

It was quite short-lived at this spot really, just there during the early 70's to mid 70's period.

Unlike other department stores, it didn't just sell standard everyday style clothes, it was actually surprisingly fashionable gear they had. The gents/boys dept was upstairs and items I can remember getting from here for example were a yellow & white paisley pattern shirt, psychedelic kipper tie and 2-tone trousers!

Still being at school however, meant I was only allowed to wear this kind of groovy stuff at weekends!

The ad from '72 says Goldbergs with an "S" but the shop front says Goldberg without the "S" - so take your pick! 

PAUL HAIG - FAT SAM'S - 1986

This is an NME review of Paul Haig's gig at Fat Sams - the gig taken place in August 1986.

I was at this one, me already being familiar with Paul live, having seen him play with Josef K in Edinburgh a few years before.

I can't recall too much from the Fatties set list other than he did perform all my favourite tracks from "The warp of pure fun" album (which I've still got on vinyl).

Staying on the fun theme...although this was a Paul Haig gig and NOT a Haig/Mackenzie gig, needless to say Billy Mackenzie did make an appearance and sang a couple of tunes. In between tracks, Billy pointed to Pauls fluffy cropped hairstyle and commented "He's got a head like a squeaky ba'" then pretended to squeeze it. Pure fun...and a good night had by all.

To read the review, click on the image to enlarge or download.

THE SEAHORSE - HILLTOWN - 1970'S

The Seahorse up the Hulltoon wasn't my local chip shop but this advert from 1976 reminded me that I used to pop in there quite a lot efter the futba on Saturdays & Wednesdays back in the 70's.

WAYFINDERS - 1966

I remember a lot of us wearing Wayfinders at Balerno school in the mid 60's. They appealed to primary aged kids because they were shoes with 2 novelties for the price of one. The first obvious one was the animal track soles for identifying various animal footprints. The second not so obvious novelty was a hidden working compass in the inside heel which needed the wearer to lift a wee round lid to get to it. The idea behind them was to encourage kids to have outdoor adventures, but the problem was, in order to see the animal tracks we had to stomp around in the mud which then lead to a bit of bother from parents when we came back home with messy shoes! Ok for snow unless they were bought in summer which usually meant the sole would be worn away by the time it snowed! Still good fun though.
I also seem to recall they came with a free wall chart or a booklet all about animal tracks.

BELLFIELD STREET PANELS - 1985

In the early 80's, the decision was made to regenerate the Blackness area which had become rather dilapidated by then. One of the ways they used to attract attention to the buildings was to use art. The example above was one of the many projects to catch the publics eye. These Dundee transport themed panels in Bellfield Street were the creation of Kenny Munro, and were made using silk screen prints on tiles.
I took this photo of the car in 1985.

SHERRIFF'S - VICTORIA ROAD - 1960'S/70'S

Brian Sherriff's shop at 93 Victoria Road was THE place to go to get Airfix models and radio control cars. Just looking in the shop window was fun, seeing all the ships, planes and vehicles. It had everything you needed for model making, the kits, spare parts, wee pots of paint and transfers. It's heyday was the 60's when it was as popular with dads as it was with kids.
The above picture was taken in the mid 70's when it closed down to make way for new development on the site. The wee side street with the big incline is Idvies Street.

ABC CINEMA - SEAGATE - 1971

This is how the ABC in the Seagate looked back in the days when cinema's only had one screen.

I used to visit it quite regularly in the 60's & 70's.

Whenever there were real big blockbusters on, the queues used to stretch way past Gellatly Street car park.

Another thing that I recall was when we were still at school, aged around 15/16, we used to get the bus into town at half-fare, then go see an X film!

A double victory for school kids!!

That was the only way to see Bruce Lee in action because videos hadn't been invented.

In the photo above is a full length animation called "A Boy Named Charlie Brown", along with the advert published in the local press in April 1971.

It just so happens I have the movie in my collection. So below is a quick view of the intro for all those who would like a wee trip back in time.
By the way, the other film on with it is "Our man Flint".
Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.

EURYTHMICS - BARRACUDA - 1983

This was a gig organised by Dundee's Dance Factory, who used a variety of venues around town when presenting gigs before they eventually settled at Fat Sam's.
This one featuring the Eurythmics took place at the Barracuda in the Marketgait on 27th February 1983, a while before Fat Sam's opened.
Although I was at this one, I was too boozed up to remember much about it now. All I can recall is, because the venue was a disco, there was no stage for live acts to perform so the band were just tucked away at the side of the dancefloor. I can also remember Annie in her grey suit and cropped orange hair doing her robotic dance moves which was a bit of a fad at the time with clubbers!
The band line up: Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Clem Bourke (ex Blondie), Mickey Gallagher (ex Clash & Blockheads) and Eddy Reader doing backing vocals.
Click on the image to enlarge and read the other bits & pieces on the flyer.

NEW NIGHTCLUBS - 1986-88

Dundee's nightlife increased in the late 80's when the sight of new nightclubs appeared on the scene.

In April 1986, Tramps opened for biz. It had lots of well known acts from the past lined up for May & June, the list of which you can view on their grand opening advert.

De Stihl opened in March 1988, and the first celeb to perform their was Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes.

Da Vinci's had been around since the early 80's but closed down for a period in the mid 80's. However, it reopened in October 1988 to give it another go.

Dirty Den's took over the Fountain nightclub in December 1988, but the ad announcing the opening doesn't state anything special was planned.

Sessions had the Ronnie Scott Quintet for their opening celebrations in December 1988.

DAVID BOWIE - CAIRD HALL - 1973



A few months ago, my brother unearthed a batch of photographic slides he took at a David Bowie concert in the Caird Hall on 17th May 1973.
It wasn't a gig I was at but I do remember a few Craigie High schoolmates went to it.

This was a period when Bowie haircuts were very popular in school at the time too!
I did make up for missing out on this event a few years later, going to his 1978 gig at the Glasgow Apollo.
Anyway, the above colour images are the very ones from Bowie's '73 Dundee appearance, with quite a variety of costume changes during the concert as well, as you can see!
His backing band on stage were of course "The Spiders from Mars" and featured Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass and Mick Woodmansey on drums.

Click onto the photos to bring up the enlarged versions.

1960'S SCHOOL BAGS

Every kid in the 60's when first starting primary, wore a SATCHEL (A). This was the standard school bag starter for infants. It had a small window frame where we would place our name into.
Next was the DUFFLE BAG (B). A more casual bag. This was a popular choice with us kids because as we were getting more sporty, these bags were ideal for keeping your swimming gear and sannies in. They had a drawstring design for quick access.
As we progressed, around longers wearing age, it was time to carry the HAVERSACK (C). A rougher canvas bag that most of the seniors used. It was pretty handy for fighting too I seem to remember. A wallop on the head really hurt!
By the end of the 60's a new design hit the scene, the SPORTS BAG (D). These were colourful, trendy and had zips. They became even more popular in the 70's when they designed the bag in football team colours with club badges printed on the side of them.

WHITEHALL CRESCENT - 1980'S

There were 2 places worth a visit in the mid 80's in this section of Whitehall Crescent. The pub, Jack Daniels, on the left and Manifesto on the right, the fashion boutique which is still on the go.

THE MURRAYGATE - 1973

The 3 shops in the photo taken in the Murraygate in 1973 are :
Dolcis shoe shop.
The golden fronted one is the fab & groovy Miss Lewis, female boutique.
The green marble place next to it is Hendersons furniture store.

CAIRD'S IN REFORM STREET - 1960'S

Although I can remember visiting Caird's in Reform Street in the 60's, I don't recall being in this ladies department above. There's a chance I may have been dragged around it as a nipper with my mum I suppose but there wouldn't have been anything there that would have interested me!
I do have memories of the boys/gents department, although I must admit it wasn't very inspirational - it was more sensible kind of clothing than trendy and also they supplied school outfits. I do remember getting what was called a car coat from Cairds, complete with furry collar.
The picture was taken in November 1960.

Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.

CAIRD HALL ON FILM - EARLY 80'S

In the early 80's, the Caird Hall was filmed doubling as a Moscow theatre in a play by Alan Bennett called "An Englishman Abroad", about communist spy Guy Burgess. It was broadcast on TV, Tuesday 29th November 1983 on BBC.
Also in the hour long film are scenes filmed in Exchange Street and Dundee High School.
I have another 2 items on this subject in my July 2008 Archives.
Here below are a couple of scenes taken at Caird Hall, including the opening sequence.

UGANDA'S SCHOOL TRIPS - 1970's

Popular in the 70's were the "educational trips" on board the ship, Uganda. I wasn't on any myself mind you, but I do recall some Cragie High schoolmates ventured on trips in the early 70's to places like Gibraltar and Malta. These voyages were on offer to most UK schools, Dundee being just one of the stop-off points of departure.
Here below is a short film clip of the Uganda berthed at Dundee in 1973/74 dropping off some local lassies at the end of a Scandinavian tour. You may even recognise someone you know!

B.G. FORBES - VICTORIA ROAD - 1968

The building in the yellow & blue stripes in the picture is B.G. Forbes, the music shop up Victoria Road.

The ground floor sold musical instruments, sheet music and so on, while upstairs, (as you can see by the big PIANOS sign) they had the Music School.

There were different rooms for different instruments and I used to go to guitar lessons there every Saturday morning when I was primary school age - in fact it would have been around the same era this picture was taken, that being 1968.

Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.

FALLING AND LAUGHING - 1980'S FANZINE

Falling & Laughing was a local fanzine that cropped up on the scene in 1983.

It's main material was alternative music but they also touched on subjects like TV, theatre and so on.
Their HQ and editorial address was located in Strathmartine Road.
The example on display here is issue 5 which came out in June/July 1984.
The content includes new record release reviews, fanzine reviews, cassette reviews, TV review, live gigs, adverts and amusing graphics.
There is also a Manchester theme throughout which not only gives the lowdown on the Manchester scene but also has interviews with such Manchester acts as The Fall, Morrissey and Mark Riley.
Other acts from around the UK that are given either an overview or interview are Orson Family, Red Guitars, Prefab Sprout, Del Amitri and Implied Consent.
As regards the Dundee centred items, the page I've put up on view is a review of 2 local acts, namely Aaga and Altres, who brought out their own product on cassette (Whatalife and Rise) and both received a Falling & Laughing thumbs up!
Click on the cassettes page to read the large version.

MURIEL - TAY CENTRE - 1974

This is Muriel, photographed in the Tay Centre Hotel lounge in April 1974.
Reason for her visit was the Deep Purple gig at Caird Hall.
She was a London lass who ran a Deep Purple fan club called Purple Stars International Fan Club.
Prior to her Dundee visit she spent 8 days roughing it at Heathrow Airport waiting to greet Deep Purple who were flying in from L.A., only to discover that their plane was diverted to Gatwick!
Unperturbed, she then went to Kings Cross, jumped on a train to Dundee to catch the band's first gig of their UK tour at Caird Hall.
She booked into the Tay Centre Hotel, where the band were staying.
Muriel managed to get a pass for the show, joined them on stage during the sound-check and took a few photos.
When it was time for Deep Purple to appear, she was overcome with joy and started sobbing.
It wasn't so much the guys in the band, but the music she cared for.
After a short while, composed, she got back into concert mode and enjoyed the gig along with the rest of the Dundee crowd.
Enthusiasm, determination and result - mission complete.
Next day she departed Dundee for London.

THE TAY CENTRE IN THE 70'S / 80'S



Not much of a picture really but the 2 doors in the top image were once buzzing with life back in the 70's & 80's.

They were part of the Tay Centre Hotel building in Whitehall Place. These 2 doors, however, were situated around the side in Dock Street and were an upstairs / downstairs job.

The door on the left of the photo lead upstairs to the disco.

The disco in the mid 70's was called the FERRY BAR, and played rock music.

In the late 70's it became JUNCTION 9 and played a mix of rock, pop & punk - the photo showing the sign above the entrance and the ad dates from summer 1979.

By the time it reached August 1982 it was known as CLUB FEET, and was playing trendier New Wave music.

The Club Feet ads are from '83 and underneath it is a shot of the Club Feet dancefloor.

Around 1984 it had a short run under the name MR DEES.

Then afterward it became JASPERS who went full circle going back to playing rock music again, the ad dated 1986.

The other door next to it lead downstairs to a pub called the CENTRE BAR and in mid 80's was renamed the CELLAR BAR.

The interior shot is from mid 70's Centre Bar mode.

It too had DJ's that blasted out music, but no dancing took place - and anyway, it was so jam-packed most of the time, it was difficult enough to reach the bar for a round, never mind make any other kind of bodily movement!!

THE LOCHEE SWING - 1981

Here's a humorous slice of satire from the 80's.
A variety of aspirations centre around the simple concept of installing a kids swing - with a very real kinda punchline!
It's all rather self explanatory.
Click to enlarge.

OKHAI THE NOO!

The ad at the top dates from the mid 80's and is for the Okhai Group.
They manufactured a variety of items such as product packaging, sweets, fizzy drinks, stationery, etc.
You can read the full list of what they produced in more detail on the ad.
Their main depot was based at 34 Mains Loan.
They also came up with an amusing slogan with a touch of double wordplay - "Okhai The Noo".
When Keiller's closed down in the early 80's, the Okhai Group ended up using their empty Dundee factory to produce their own range of soft drinks, including Meri-Mate. The picture of the factory interior above is dated 1984.
After about a decade in business, Okhai closed down in the early 90's.
Photo by The Scotsman.Tints by GG.

THE 70'S MILK SACHET

In the 1970's, milk was available to buy in these plastic sachets shown above. A quick snip of the top corner, either using scissors or your teeth, and you had access to the contents. In addition, you could get plastic holders to place the sachets into which were designed to make it easier to pour and store at home. People used sachets a lot for their breaks at school and workplace.
I remember at Craigie High School we used to chuck them at each other in the playground. The idea was to catch the sachet without it bursting. Needless to say there were occassions when the bag did burst, resulting in sour blazers!!
Photo by The Scotsman.Tints by GG.

CHOC STIX - 1960'S

These sweets were popular when I was primary school age in the mid 60's. Most newsagents and confectioners in Dundee had them.
The twisted rope part was made of hard toffee and the centre was filled with chocolate all it's length. They were good value for money because of how big they were, (the full size of a sweet jar), which meant they lasted ages, like a stick of rock.

CLEAREX ASTRAL BLAZE - 1963

 

I remember this fire very well despite the fact that I was only 5 years old at the time.
It was on a Saturday in December 1963.
The Clearex Astral factory was based at Craigie Industrial Estate, in an area of factories between Longtown Road, Douglas Road and Milton of Craigie Road.
We just called the building The Astral, and it made components for fridges.
As you can see on the photo, the smoke was quite dramatic and seemed very close to us because we lived nearby in Craigie, where we were watching it from the back garden.
There were always lots of chemical drums at the factory location and a couple of them exploded, blowing part of a roof off which caused injuries to a couple of firemen while others had a narrow escape.
It took 10 fire engines to deal with it and eventually get the blaze under control.
I also remember my older brother ran to Douglas Road to get a closer view as there were lots of spectators.
The result of that was he ended up in one of the images published in the Courier - he was photographed running along Douglas Road.
We cut the article out and kept it as a souvenir, so that's probably why I recall the event clearly.
The different photo above is from one of the Sunday papers.