EARLY 70'S DEMOLITION

I still have a small batch of photos remaining that my brother took in the early 70's around the city centre area, so thought I'd drop them in over the next few days.
Starting with this one here of 2 Trojan bulldozers shifting the rubble in Victoria Road.
No safety gear in these days, with the guy nearest wearing only a floppy hat! No dust masks either, so unless they had their hankies tied around their faces like we did as kids playing cowboys, then the 2 drivers would probably have pretty dusty lungs at the end of their shift!
There are quite a few photos from this period scattered around Retro, so if you want a wee reminder of how Victoria Road looked before/during & after demolition, there are a chunk of images to be found in the Retro June 2009 Archives.

WILDCAT - BONAR HALL - 1988

Wildcat theatre company received this rave review in local mag, Street Life, in November 1988.
The show they put on at the Bonar Hall was for Wildcat's 10th anniversary, and they really went to town with their production of "Fancy Rappin'".
It was a storming satirical rock drama filled with a variety of music styles and the main theme being a typical 80's youthful pastime - putting the boot into Thatchers loadsamoney society!
Meriting a well deserved round of appaws..!!
You'll probably need to click on the image to read the large version.

BETTY & BOABY'S MACBETH - REP - 1988

There was a wee twist on The Scottish Play when Betty & Boaby presented their version of "MacBeth" at Dundee Rep in Jan/Feb 1988.

Betty being Elaine C Smith, and Boaby played by Tony Roper.

Both Elaine and Tony are well known Scottish celebs now, but Tony has been acting on stage in Dundee since at least the 70's, appearing at the Rep when it was still in Lochee Road, in plays such as - A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE - THE RECRUITING OFFICER and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST.

He also directed a play at Lochee Rep back in 1977 - AN INSPECTOR CALLS - so he's no stranger to the city.

Local mag, Street Life, managed to have a wee chat with Elaine when she was at the Rep doing B&B's MacBeth, and the items above were the first of a 2 part interview spread over a couple of issues of the magazine in 1988.

It also contains a review of the play - and judging by the write-up, it sounded a bit of a hoot!
The 2 top items are, an original ad published in the local press and the original theatre programme.

Click on the images to read enlarged versions. 

MORGAN ACADEMY'S HMS PINAFORE - 1968

Dundee High School did Gilbert & Sullivan in the 60's, as did the Grove, and joining them was Morgan Academy who performed HMS Pinafore in their school hall in 1968.

Everything seems to have gone alright on the night, and along with the review of the show above, there are quite a few of the pupils named in the write-up too, so you may even be able to spot an old shipmate in there!

Click the review pages to read the enlarged versions.

DUNDEE HIGH SCHOOL'S HMS PINAFORE - 1965

Dundee High School used to (and maybe still does) put on an opera every 2 years.

Their choice for 1965 was Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera "HMS Pinafore".

Along with the everyday scholarly task of swotting up for their Highers, the pupils who got through the auditions also had to learn around 2 dozen songs for the show, so practice sessions actually began way back in May 1964.

Come 15th June '65, and over a years worth of rehearsals later, the real concert got underway at the College of Education.

The show was given very good reviews in the Courier and Journal, and it ran for 3 nights.

Mind you, the local reporters must have missed the final performance, because on the last night, one of the guys on stage stumbled and fell into the scenery, then one of the singers shouted out "Hooray!" during the wrong part of the song, and to top it off, during the curtain call one of the girls dresses split up the back!

Ah well, life's not always plain sailing!

JOANNA LUMLEY AT THE REP - 1980'S

Leaping forward a couple of decades from the old Rep in Nicoll Street to their purpose built theatre in Tay Square, here's a couple of plays featuring Joanna Lumley.

The first one is from March 1985 and is the Ibsen penned play - "Hedda Gabler".

The photo was taken at the Rep and has Joanna with actor, Richard Clews.

The second play is by Chekhov - "The Cherry Orchard" - and was running at the Rep in March 1989.

The review was written by our local cultural guide, Jock Ferguson, who seems to have found the pace of the play - Absolutely Ponderous!

Click on review to enlarge.

REP THEATRE - OUTSIDE & INSIDE

1st pic - This was the main entrance to the original Rep Theatre in Nicoll Street. It had been here since 1939 until a fire in May 1963 completely destroyed the interior, forcing the Theatre Company to move into new temporary premises in St Columbus church in Lochee Road, a picture of which can be seen in the January 2009 Retro archives.

2nd pic - This is part of a mural commissioned by the Rep and painted by the guy in the photo, Richard Demarco. It's called "The Spirit Of Culture Descending Upon Dundee" and features a selection of local landmarks compressed into a kind of semi abstract skyline of the city.

This was actually thought "lost" in the 63 blaze, but apparently it was rescued and stored away until as recently as 2004, when it was rediscovered!

3rd pic - This then is the aftermath of the '63 Rep fire. Not much remaining inside. The gal sitting in amongst the charred debris is a student member of the Rep, Norma Longmiur.

PHOTO FINISH REVIEWS - 1963

Not only was the original Rep programme for "Photo Finish" kept, but here are the original reviews too.

Top one is a photo taken at the Rep of the play in full flow which appeared in the Tele on 26th April 1963.

Under it is a caricature of 4 of the actors in the play, published in the Peoples Journal the same weekend.

Then 5 reviews for you to dip into, from the Courier, Scotsman, Tele, Glasgow Herald and Journal.

All the reviews have the exact same opinion of the play, giving it a big thumbs up, while sharing one wee criticism that they thought the play went on just a touch too long - running for 3 hours!

Click on reviews to read large version.

DUNDEE REP PROGRAMME - 1963

I have a few original 60's Rep Theatre programmes in my collection.

So plucking an example out for Retro, this one here is for a play written by Peter Ustinov called "Photo Finish", which ran for a couple of weeks in April 1963.

You may recognise a couple of the actors in the play who later went on to be well known faces on TV - namely Hannah Gordon and Glyn Worsnip.

Also, if you look closely, you'll see a young Brian Cox listed as being assistant stage manager.

The Rep Theatre back then was in Nicoll Street.

Talented all-rounder Peter Ustinov became Dundee University Rector a few years later in 1968, a position he held till 1974.

Then lo & behold, our very own Brian Cox was inducted into the same role just earlier this year!

Quite a versatile wee troupe!

You may need to click onto the images to read the large versions.

UNIVERSAL GARDEN AD - 1974

Back to 204 Perth Road where we were a few days ago when it was the Underworld Cafe, only this time, a decade later, it has become the Universal Garden Chinese restaurant.
Plenty music to munch along to it seems, and a 3 course meal for 40p must have surely been the cheapest in town!
The ad is dated 1974.

HOT POTATO HOUSE AD - 1984

An ad from 1984 for the Hot Potato House in the Overgate.
Yeah I remember staggering into this place a couple of times at 2 o'clock in the morning!
I seem to recall it was located approximately opposite the Marketgait/Overgate steps.

THE BOULEVARD AD - 1988

This ad from 1988 is for French restaurant, The Boulevard, who were based at 10-12 Crichton Street.
I don't know anything about this place but I guess it must have been a rather upmarket joint judging by it's 7 course meals on offer!

THE RUSTY KETTLE AD - 1988

Whether you just fancied a cup of tea & a scone or you needed a full meal, The Rusty Kettle at 304 Perth Road would serve it up for you.
This ad is from 1988, but a wee slogan they had going in the mid 80's was - "The Best In The West"!

THE UNDERWORLD CAFE - 1960'S

The Underworld Cafe, on the go in the 60's, was to be found at 204 Perth Road, sharing the building with the Shakespeare Restaurant.
Owner was Alf Paladini, the guy in the picture.
Not sure if the interior designer had a split personality, but there seems to be a bit of a bizarre clash going on between a Swiss chalet look and a tropical island hut!
I like the tree trunk seats mind you.
By 1970, the place had changed to the Gold Lucky Chinese restaurant.
The advert is dated 1965.

THE CENTRAL BATHS - 60S/70S

The original Dundee Corporation Public Baths had 3 main salt water pools and a load of other bathing areas such as Turkish baths, plunge baths, foam baths, aeratone baths, as well as the other essential, a cafe.

The top photo was taken in March 1962 and features pupils from Harris Academy have a good splash about at their Gala day. It also shows the spectators balcony.

The picture under it is a couple of lads sharing a cubicle just before the baths closed its doors for good around 1974/75 because of the opening of the new Leisure Centre.

The baths were also known locally as the "Shorers" and I have a couple of hazy memories of being there in the 60's.

I'm sure this was the place where on one visit, our allotted time in the pool was up and the attendant blew his whistle to let everyone know it was time to get out. However, there were a small group who tried to stay in just that little bit longer, so the attendant went over to one of the cubicles, grabbed a handful of clothes, held them above the water and shouted "If you're not out of there in under a minute, the clothes get chucked in!". The mad dash to get out cleared the pool in no time!

DOUGLAS ENTERTAINS MARYFIELD - 70'S

This is Douglas Primary School's concert party entertaining the old folks up at Maryfield Hospital around the 1970/71 period.

The picture would be difficult to do a proper "from left to right" identity name check, so I opted for a second image with numbers to make the ID easy.

I can name 3 for starters...

#2 is Grant Roberts with the guitar, who kept his musical side going, playing in local clubby bands in later years.

#26 is Ralph Milne, yep the same one as yesterday. Dundee United superstar and gambler!

#27 is Craig Methven, who ten years later would be fronting the Scrotum Poles.

And what cheery tune do you think the Douglas troupe chose to play for the pensioners to sing along to?

Well it was one of the chart hits from back then - McGuinness Flint's "When I'm Dead And Gone"...!!

Big thanks to Craig

BROUGHTY FERRY U-14'S - 1982

Here's the Sunday Boys League team, Broughty Ferry Under 14's, pictured in 1982.
I suppose because I have none of the lads names, the main interest in the photo would have to be their coach, Ralph Milne (far left), who some of you may have heard of!
Their manager in the quilted jacket on the right is Charlie Mitchell.

STOBSWELL FOOTBALL TEAM - 1972

Here's a typical school team photo dating from 1972. It's Stobswell Under 15's football squad.
The image is taken from a newspaper so it's not too sharp, but the line-up is, L to R back - McGill - McKenzie - Burke - Stuart - Holden - Stewart - Aitken.
front - McDonald - Grieve - Dyer - McGregor - Strachan.
Despite some of them being Douglas guys, I only recognise Dave McGill (top left) who I've had a few knockabout games of futba with around my area in the early 70's.
Not exactly sure who the headmaster would have been in 72, but 2 who were on the go in the early 70's were Mr Crowe and Mr McLeary.
There were also 2 different jannies during the same period, Mr Rothwell and Mr Stratton. Take your pick!
Thanks to Ali Strachan.

DRYBURGH PLAYGROUND - 1972

Dryburgh Primary School in Lochee, was visited by local journalist David Phillips in 1972.
He was informing the youngsters what kids from his childhood got up to for fun, including demonstrating the Gird & Cleek, a metal hoop toy that never made a comeback with later generations!
The school headmaster at the time would either be Mr Soutar or Mr Harvey, not sure of the exact year in the early 70's the change took place.
Same goes for the jannie, so it would either be Mr Kidd or Mr Simpson.
I have no names for the pupils, but I'm sure someone out there will recognise one or two!

DUNDEE'S DUFF PISTOLS POSTER - 1976

It has been in circulation as a fact that, the Sex Pistols cancelled this 1st December Dundee gig "at the last minute" to appear on the infamous Bill Grundy TV show.
Well here below is a factual timeline sequence published in the music press that suggests otherwise...

On 13th November 1976 the music press published details of a punk tour to be co-headlined by Sex Pistols and The Ramones, with Talking Heads, Chris Spedding & The Vibrators the other acts.

The Dundee date arranged being 1st December.

Then on 20th November 1976 the music press published an announcement that all of the acts had pulled out of the tour except the Sex Pistols. The tour was then revamped with Sex Pistols the headline act and support bands being Johnny Thunder's Heart Breakers, The Damned and The Clash.

The 16th December was now the date for Dundee as a result of the revamped tour.

As you can see, the 1st December date on the poster has the second choice of bands (Sex Pistols, Johnny Thunder's Heart Breakers, The Damned and The Clash), but these acts weren't confirmed until the revamped tour dates for 16th December.   

If the gig poster WAS for the 1st December, it would have had the first choice of acts on it (The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, Chris Spedding & The Vibrators).

This confirms the Sex Pistols did not cancel the 1st December Dundee gig "at the last minute" to appear live on the Bill Grundy TV show because the revamped dates were confirmed 2 weeks before the TV show aired.

The only reason Sex Pistols appeared on Grundy was because Queen had to cancel their scheduled appearance the day before the show and Sex Pistols replaced them at the last minute.

There is no Dundee gig connection with Pistols on Grundy.

Furthermore, a different music press article from 13th November had Newcastle the date for 1st December punk tour package, so there was never anything definitely secured for that date. 

The real Anarchy In The UK tour officially started on 3rd December after the first attempt was scrapped.

The poster's date and support acts don't go together at all - the information is meaningless.

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The above is only a small sample of evidence.

There is much more wrong with the poster than just the date & support bands.

To read the detective work about it, you can download the full 13 page PDF in the link below.

Confirms that the poster is not connected to a gig, Tech College, Caird Hall or Pistols.

It's FAKE..!!

Pistols poster PDF

Or if you would prefer to read about it online, here is the link to Grant McPhee's summary of it.

Pistols poster online

Click items to enlarge images above.