The Fifties

[TomG]

In the first post on this site I said the pianist was Cannonball Jones.  That's how I remember it but now I have my doubts.

I have been reading Tommy Steele's autobiography, Bermondsey Boy.  Included is a photo of the poster for his first appearance on stage, in Sunderland.  On the underbill is a Welsh pianist billed as Thunderclap Jones.  Was he my Cannonball?  Does anyone know?

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Tom, hope you are well.sorry cannot help with your request, but i might add, i saw Tommy Steel, play his first gig in the west end, it was at Al Burnetts ,Stork club,he was great, coping Elvis songs ,he did a couple of originals if i remember correctly, really set the place alight, if he had not, i would not remember it.
I also saw Tom Jones when he was in a group, at the Astor club,i have mentioned these because they were in the glory years of the 50s.our time aye Tom.

[TomG]

Hello Terry

Yeah, the fifties were great.  Remember all those Sunday Charity concerts.  I went to loads of them and saw some great acts.  They weren't allowed to use stage costumes, so the men wore dinner jackets and the ladies ordinary dresses.  I saw a lot in London, Empress Hall, Olympia etc and some more local including the Barking Odeon.  Grace and I had our first date there.  It's been redeveloped as offices now.  So sad the way the history has been destroyed in the area.

Pat Jolly told me she remembers your dog at the Rose.  King(?).  She also asked if Glen was still acting.  Is he?

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Tom, yes Glen is stil a actor more theatre than TV these days, that the only trouble having a top Series,as Londons burning was,you have to rest,until a completely new acting part comes along,other wise they keep comparing the new part with the old.

He has Reacently written a film scrip,based on Freddie Mills life,the BBC have it and seem interested in a film,
he has a good agent who is hoping to get a major film company interested,the Big screen is better than TV.
Bigger costs but bigger returns.
 Yes Pat Jolly was right, King was our great danes name,
when we moved to the Bridge house he got out ,and was stolen by somebody,luckly we had been asked if could mate, witch he did, so when the pups was born we had the pick of the litter,we called it Remus afer RDB.,My Wife Rita said our children use to play together with the Jollys,when we lived in Plaistow,we were in Braemer rd then,would she remember.

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Tom,yes i would like a copy of the picture of Cliff Anderson,i use to sit on his doorstep, and listen to his stories,in the forties he live just of Silvertown Way opposite the Essex Arms He inspired me, and a lot of us kids,i can still remember the fight with Al Phillips,did you ever go to his restuarant in barking rd,he left us at to young a age

[TomG]

Terry

I have sent the photo direct to you but I can post it here if you think it would  be of interest.  Cliff was robbed both times.  A true gent.

I never went to his restaurant, too young at the time I guess.  Wish I had gone though.

Didn't Jimmy Tibbs have a restaurant on the Barking Road?

TomG

[TerryMurphy]

yes Thanks Tom, post it on the forum,if you need any boxers records, you can get them on Boxrec.com think that it.yes Jimmy did have a cafe,next to Nat west bank.
might have been the same site as Cliffs

[TomG]

Terry

Can't seem to be able to post the photo.  Will resend it direct to you.

TomG

[TerryMurphy]

Thanks Tom ,got the pic okay but it was to big,to view,I will get Jeff to reduce it,.I remember the picture anyway,when we visited cliff Andersons house ,he would give us pictures,and this was one of them.

he had 87.fights lost 29. drew 11.thats a great record.he started boxing in Guyana in 1940 ,there hardly any boxing during the war, he first fight in England was.5.12.46.he k.o Billy Worthington in 1 round.he boxed East ham born Johny Carrington twice,
also  champions like Tommy McGovern(bc) gerald dryer(be).
a draw with Ronnie Clayton (BC)Elis Ask(Euro).Theo Medina(wc) Cliff Curvis.(bc).
beating the Bantam weight world champion from Scotland. Jackie Patterson.
And of course 2 Great fights with Al ,Phillips the second going the full 15 x 3 minute rounds,for the B .empire title.

Hes last fight was a lose to Frank Parks 18.5.1953
British champion(bc) world (wc)(euro)

[TomG]

In a recent post Terry mentioned that he won a Jive Competition at The Winter Hall.

Apart from we old fogies does anyone else remember Saturday Nights there? The Pass Outs to go over to The Hammers?  The stampede back to grab a girl?

Happy Days.

[TomG]

In my first post on this subject I mentioned a girl doing a "dress tease" at The Bridge.  In today's telegraph Rowan Pelling says that Immodesty Blaze does the same in her show and it gets the crowd going wild.

Sorry to lower the tone of the site!!

No I'm not!!

Come on all you septuganarians give us your memories of the pre music era.

[TomG]

At last I have contact with someone who remembers Thunderclap Jones.  The lady tells me she met him when her friend was involved with Tommy Steel. 

Does anyone else remember Thunderclap?

[TomG]

Looks like I'm the only person who is brave (honest?) enough to own up to seeing the Bridge in those pre music days.  Or perhaps I'm the only one old enough to remember those days.

[Oggy]

Hi tom , my dad used to say that Honor blackman used to frequent the bridgehouse in the early days, i know she was born and lived in cumberland road Plaistow.
 Regards
Oggy 

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Oggy hope your Dads Right,another name for the list,that one of the good things about this forum , getting info,i have recently found out that every  time the beach boys were in london Dave Marks use to come down,his english manager Phill Cooper told me this.

 the one i would lke to find out about is David Essex ,i have met him a few times but never ask him,, he lived about 100 yards from the Bridge, in Canning Town and was a drummer in a band that played in stratford, his mum still lives  in Noaks hill, havering,and he visit here by helicopter. and lands in her garden.T.M