The 1960's

Top Ten Night Club

Above: Watched by the Mayoress and Mrs Marsden, the Mayor takes a swing at a punch bag.

Weary night owls can rejuvenate themselves for the journey home in the gymnasium which forms part of the extensions opened last night at the Top Ten night club in Northgate, Huddersfield. Memories of his boxing career came back to the Mayor (Alderman, Jack Sykes). Who officially opened the extensions, as he was shown round the gym by club owner Mr Joe Marsden.
 “I couldn’t resist having a go at the punch bag. It reminded me of my training days many years ago,” said Alderman Sykes. Ex-policeman Mr Tommy Sharrocks a former British police boxing champion runs a keep fit class at the club gym which is equipped with rowing machines, the punch bag and chest expanders, and guests may also use the equipment to tone up after their evening’s entertainment. Opening the extensions which also include a large new room for gaming, Alderman Sykes said that they gave added comfort and refinement to an already successful night club. The evening’s cabaret was provided by Dan Dailey, an Australian vocalist who topped the poll on two successive weeks in the “Opportunity Knocks” television show last month and has just signed a seven year contract for films and records with United Artists and comedienne vocalist Dixie Lee.
0801121452 - The Mayor later in evening enjoying the cabaret
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0501121648 - The front of the Top Ten Night Club, Southgate in the early 60's, this was Joe's Cafe in 1950's. 0801121441 - Top Ten daytime shot
3012111302 - Top Ten day time shot 3012111251 - Nightime and ready for opening
3012111226 - Les on drums, Ryan Nesta, Johnny Marsden and Johnny Bedford
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1011111539 - Left Little Frankie, a great member, and a great Jive dancer, sat with Joe Marsden senior.
281220111534 - Johnny with dad and parrot 0801121519 - Mr and Mrs Marsden, Johnny and brother-in-law Donald Horsefall
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2402120229 - Johnny on the left with his TEDDY BOY friends with lady friends.
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The psychedelic Morris Van pictured was hand painted by Les Taylor, an Almondbury artist years before today's digital vehicle printing. Les's sister Susan worked for Johnny in the cloakroom at the Catacombs Cellar Club. Les was well known in the town by his nickname "Tats".
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In days of the Continental Palace Theatre in the Old Palace, Kirkgate many of the dancers, staff and acts including comedians Colin Crompton who went on the TV show Wheeltappers and Shunters Show and Bill Maynard who stars in Heartbeat would come round to the cafe after the show.

This is how Joe Senior got the idea to open the Top Ten Night Club.

Catacombs


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The Caveman, Head Doorman (Keith Nester) at the Catacombs.
Entry charge was a bone!


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2012111550 - Above a typical cashing up sheet for the Catacombs Club


2602121641 - Raymond Appleyard known as Appy, one of Johnny's helpers in the 1960's
(Have you any photos of the staff at the Catacombs club or Top Ten Nightclub to share with us?)


1001121455 - Gathering outside waiting for the catacombs to open.


2912111642 - A regular disc jockey working at the Catacombs Club


2912111623 - A regular disc jockey working at the Catacombs Club


Gilley, the DJ at the Catacombs with his hi-tech equipment which is a Newbold Bread tray turned upside down with two Garrard Decks, an eagle mixer and a ultra linear 30 watt amplifier, total cost from Leeds £55. Put together by Gilley and Johnny, this was the first time two record decks had been mixed in Huddersfield. The eagle mixer at £15 making it possible.


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1001121503 - Above is the amplifier Gilley and the other DJ's used at the Catacombs. In todays prices the cost is £10.50


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0801121400 - One of the dance areas in the Catacombs Club


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1011111537 - Graham Philpott running the Coffee bar at the Catacombs Club. Graham went on to be part of the band Welcome and Welcome were the last band to play the Builders Club on Wood Street.


1001121422 - Denny and the Witch Doctors a famous local band in the 60’s performing one of their stage acts.

1201121503 - Local band the Witch Doctors on their tour of France, top left Alex Keenan, middle Denny, bottom left Joe Smith, Lynne and Pete Whitecross on Sax.


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2912111649 - Terry and the All fours


0801121350 - Above Adrian Inman (The Drovers) on Hofner Violin Bass.
In 1963, The Drovers played regularly at the Catacombs. The line up was John McCoy (lead guitar/vocals), Ray Blackburn (rhythm guitar/vocals), later replaced by Graham Philpott (harp/vocals), Adrian Inman (bass/lead vocals) and Kevin (Mov) Mulvihill (vocals/drums).

The Drovers at the ABC Cinema. They had the same dressing room as The Beatles.

John McCoy from the Drovers pictured above and with the full band.


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0801121357 - John Robshaw on vocals with Johnny on drums.


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Above: Dino and The Travellers playing in the Catacombs in the 1960's.
Below: Dino and The Travellers playing at Johnny's Nightclub in the 1990's

Dino and The Travellers are celebrating their 50th anniversary year of gigging from May 2012 to May 2013


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1201121509 - Above Graham Philpott, staff member at the Catacombs taking a break in the Blue Lagoon Bar which was a part of Top Ten Night Club.


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Below is the trip to the Cavern in Liverpool in 1964


0501121646 - Johnny took the customers of the Catacombs in 1964 to The Cavern in Liverpool. A Huddersfield band, The Atmosphere's came as well and played at The Cavern.


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Do you have any photos of the Liverpool Cavern Club trip to share with us?


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Above are pictures of Catacombs members on the way by coach to the Cavern in 1964.


1001121458 - The Atmospheres a local band and the most popular band at Johnny’s Catacombs Cellar Club in the 1960’s locally famous for their Monday nights Rhythm and Blues. See above from the left, front row John, Kevin, Dixy and Shaun seen here playing at the famous original Cabin Club in Liverpool on the night of the Huddersfield Catacombs Trip to Liverpool.


All Catacombs customers on the trip were issued with a Cavern membership card. If you didnt collect yours, Johnny still has over 20 still waiting to be collected !

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