Wigan Casino The Last Night

[2pinklips]

I was always too young to go. Gutted ! Still I do the reunions though. not the same but not lost the appeal.

[joinerisme]

I was there & I,ll never forget it.

[17soulable]

@iryeproductions, thats the spirit. when i was 14 i used to go to northern soul events in edinburgh. they used to open the church halls for us to dance! we should go back to those times, will keep the kids on the straight and narrow... but not under the capitalist system, the class battle has intensified recently, a workers government would re-build the temple...

[baglamanify]

My last nighter at Wigan was the FIRST last allnighter at Wigan! I still have a hand full of green fliers advertising Tommy Hunt and other nights/days at Wigan though! Wish it was still here and I was still a teenager!!

[ModSoulbooy]

@baglamanify Wow you actually got to experiance the last all nighter of the casino! i would kill to go to any of the casinos all nighters the annoying thing is my farther wasted his chance to go to the casino or any other soul clubs.

[horsestache1]

Fu cKL

[horsestache1]

I was'nt there on the last night, but I was there for most nighters i wonder HOW many of YOU were

[WIGANRUGBY99]

i was there , remember it well, went awol to go and then they held another one two weeks later on the friday, so what was a two night awol turned into two weeks , my dad was going mental, had to hide in flint north wales with my mate pete steely happy days, got a months jail when i got back though, still smiling

[littleandy77]

Stumbled upon this - and, whoever posted is spot on. The 'official' last night was the first of several. If I had a pound for everybody who said they where there, I'd have enough to buy both copies of Frank Wilson. I love you all, 'Indeed I do'

[WIGANRUGBY99]

@littleandy77 i was there , remember it well, went awol to go and then they held another one two weeks later on the friday, so what was a two night awol turned into two weeks , my dad was going mental, had to hide in flint north wales with my mate pete steely happy days, got a months jail when i got back though, still smiling

[soulbrother61]

@littleandy77 frank wilson " i love you all" never heard that one mate

[littleandy77]

@soulbrother61 LOL - It wasn't meant to be the name of the tune - I was just paraphrasing 'Do I Love You - Indeed I do' - meaning I love you all!!

[soulbrother61]

@littleandy77 No worries, i just thought that you had uncovered a hidden gem that nobody had heard of..lol

[kerri494]

Long after tonight is all over is my fave song. I was too young to go to Wigan Casino, But my neighbours went there. I wished I could have been part of it. But I was in a way because I listened and danced to all the Northern Soul songs and they have stayed with me all my life. Dirty dancing could not touch this!

[mconnan1]

i close my eyes and the years fade away great times great memories

[seyeeyes]

ARK OF THE HEART TEAR

[john111257]

BLOODY FANTASTIC...

[dave2806]

very sad , amazed someone has not tried to start it again , it would be packed !

[medicdeano]

Loved this place- a tragedy it went!

[WildmanBorneo]

Was there at the all nighters then into Wigan swimming baths next morning with my addidas bag.....wish I could go back in time !

[nigel5772]

mrs woods rule,just back there again,x

[billstar01]

i went to tommymore high in wigan left in 77 i used to go to the rugby club not the casino (why ) i dont know but i do remember the beachcomber were my sister used to let me tag along also the lovely pies serverd at the emp cafe i can taste the gravy now whist typing , just wanted to say looking back i am now 49 i would have gone some of the dancing is my moves anyway so maybe next time i visit family in hindley , i maybe going to the monoco keep the faith u diehard fans + respect to you .

[Pasanonic]

Everybody and his brother seems to have been at the casino. It must have held a million people and let 5 year-olds through the door.

I don't remember it being so big ;) Good times and always worth the trip from Manchester.

[GlynisElgey]

Brings tears to my eyes every time..........I was there with so many others......thanks ....KTF

[iRyeProductions]

IM 14! When i go to the rollor rink at wigan at the end of the night i allways request the three songs before it finishes!

I LOVE NORTHERN SOUL DONT KEEP THE FAITH SHARE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davesdavi]

i was there on the last night. with my older brother. think i was only fourteen at the time,but wow still keeping the faith love love northern. thank you for uploading this

[masi31061]

I have the whole night on tape. 

[jam1966ful]

@masi31061

any way you can make a file and download it to me?

[SSoulQueen]

Wow omg goose bumps, tingles, tears - that night was so awesome I spent years at the Casino so many friends - were are they all now. Never missed an allnighter and the Oldies they were something else. I have a jukebox with all my soul records in and parka flooring where I stomp away - Casino might be dead but the wonderful music carries on along with the memories.

[17soulable]

i tried for a ticket... but to no avail... i sat all night with a massive carry out and played the old classics from my collection...i and others were there in spirit...

keep the faith.

[rickyhart1]

mrs green and andy ack on the till .

[TheKaren2158]

must have been 1979 was the lasttime i went to wigan Casino to this day i go to allnighters love of the music drives me there

[philsyard]

quite ironic that now the council and all other people of note praise our club and the undoubted fame brought to little mining of wigan an i know been here 50yrs . its dread we got a wigan casino cafe , all nighters, statues, murals, paintings by local artists are goin for a fortune , there is a whole cottage industry . we even got wrought iron work @ jn 25 M6 north just to greet all visitors to our little town. isnt time funny they love us they finally love us.glad i lived long enough to see i

[bobmonkhouse50]

I know there were more than just the one last niter at The Casino but I think the very last one was what would have been the Oldies niter on the first friday in December,1981. It broke our hearts as The Casino had been shut for weeks beforehand. 'Ain't No Soul' left in these old shoes-thats what it felt like leaving there for the very last time. Keep The Faith- Wigan Casino, a very, VERY special place. Bob and Sue Monkhouse.

[DJKODIEBLAK]

On you go.....i'm there right now listening to this..let me tell you...1,2,3, Clap...talc in the bag...change of clothes,brut aftershave...lol..Quality....s­oul within till i die...i'm black and i'm proud...on the outside you looking at me i'm "White"...I'm on my way.. :)..kodie :)

[MsJow27]

Like many others I was there too. I miss all my friends in the 'The backrow'..Tomo, Mud, John, carole, mandy no 7, Julie and so many more...Such great times love to you all, RIP Tomo and Mud x

[headmc2]

my name is beverley hughes we were there that night came from notts julie sterry from grantham we were there that night can any one remember us tyrrone from northamton the twinns frrom louthbough if you are listening to the the last night of wigan cASINO and you were there please contact beverley irwin@hot mail . co .uk

[northernsoul1962]

brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.Northern soul....it eats into you and never leaves why does it affect people like this.Its still underground and i,m glad lets us soulies keepit to ourselves

[piratedawn]

I remember the last night, and that the cigarette smoke dropped back down and covered you as it was all damp - didn't care it was magical

[lostjunkie36]

should have saved that building and revamped it, legend,it would still have attracted folks from all over the country.yanks would have bought the bricks and whitney could have sang brick by brick lmao

[oiyoumuppet]

Burning down was the best thing that happened

[007TheTrooper]

Hi, used to speed up from St Albans in a mini bus great fun!, Wigan Casino brilliant days all in our teens stomping all nighters, Tottenham Hotspur fc & school.

[haggvespaboy]

was there what a sad fucking night every one was fucking guted did not no what to do or were to go , fucking councils

[OrgashWoW]

What a place! Used to say staying with friends to my parents. Had breakfast at charnock richard services! Dean Parrish perfect end. alec

[haggvespaboy]

i was there was fucking gutted cryed me eyes out

[radcliffesoultimes]

that was just it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twister5960]

I was there too. Goose bump and lump in the throat tackle this. Keep the Faith.

[radcliffesoultimes]

wot a time

[RitmoNo1]

I went to the first of the last nights! Still got the badge. How many did they actually have..........I was so annoyed when I heard there was another one planned - remember a guy going on local radio challenging Russ for not letting it end with dignity, When was the very last one of the of last ones???????? But God love it - it was a magical place. Look how at our age we still all miss it. What other scene in the World can do that to people.

[SoulboyKTF]

I was there at the very last night. Most of the soul historians( including Russ say it was the 6th of December 1981).

The actual date was Saturday morning just after 9.00 a.m. on the 5th.

The atmosphere was a mixture of sadness and loss mixed with an undertone of aggression towards the faceless entities that were imposing their will to close The Casino.

As we left The Casino for the last time I remember thinking 'what do I do now'.

Life goes on, but the the memories still remain.

KTF

[surreytownsoulie]

Wow wow wow...never thought I'd hear this piece of history again....i was there with a big surrey crowd right in front of the large right speaker for the last 3 before 8 tears running down my face...this brings it all back !!!

Didn't he actually finish with "Do I love you " as an encore ?

[Alhambrasheff]

No speed no closure ,the real soulers suffered.

[allwayssoul]

I was there too !!! miss the atmosphere and good friends id made over the years!! Brilliant memories xx

[PAZBLA1]

I WAS THERE :))). GOOSEBUMPS !!!!

[iRyeProductions]

Its a shame that they knocked down the wigan casino it was very popular ! they should have kept it to its ariginal self !

[madmark62]

It burned down a year after it closed mate.

[madmark62]

It burned down a year after it closed mate.

[drwhatson]

True. They should have bricked it up - with the punters still inside! LOL

[twister5960]

Incredible. The handclaps. The atmosphere. The scene.

Thanks for posting.

[twister5960]

Brought pure tears to my eyes xx

[twister5960]

I was there. Keep the Faith. x

[jimbell88]

Amazing music and a great following. Extremely sad that it had to come to an end. What happened to the Casino? Was it demolished?

[geoffplunkett]

I was a scruffy bastard back then LOL

[monikati51]

Impossible to destroy the Wigan Casino we have in our hearts.

Monica de Catella

soul girl from Brasil

k t f

[dadswizz]

best thing that ever happend to me getting taken down to wigan from newcastle. that was it HOOKED. keep the faith

[wailin1967]

Phew ! emotional stuff ! "I'm on my way..." Keep The Faith !

[dance40days]

this makes me want to cry.are the crowd chanting 'no,no,no'

[souledout91]

i was born in the wrong era i sware i am 91 i wish i was 17/ 18 back in the early days of soul and ska

[yizzle58]

Don't know if anyones interested but Russ Winstanley is on BBC Radio Lancashire every Saturday night 7pm till 8.

Listen via the web or BBC listen again...

[gigmillbaggie]

Ta yizz

G.b.

[7DDuncan]

what a very very sad night that was...

D.Duncan.(preston)

[isobella50]

Memories Eh!!! Sniff!

KTF

[adrianpeterjohn]

nice 1 went to wigan a few times oftern as i could mostly st ives was my local seein these video clips are good but i get gutted that alnighters and the atmosphere you got there, cant be replaced nowt comes close to wigan. it was a constant buzz for years northen soul,keep on keepin on,

[petegroover]

i thought my world had ended in 81,couldnt believe it-like many,then thatchers c--t britain,thankfully we have servived +theres lots of good tunes/events still+even dean parish giging,love the claping-there will only ever be 1 wigan

[mkcasual]

Think i was deffo born in the wrong era unforunatly i was born in 92, my nan and her mum etc etc and my mum was all born in wigan and me nan went to wigan casino all the time, shes only 60 odd now but we visit back wigan every year to see family and me grandads grave and all the time it ends up about us talking about her expericences at wigan casino/ southport/standish and other places

[iandon123456789]

Made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Been there, got the badge and loved it.

Ian Donohoe from Accy.

[twostrokedowse]

Hairs on the back of the neck!!

[spiritladysoul]

the start of an era indeed it is.

[k20ges]

brilliant,,,,, im sure thats dave evison from signal radio talking,

[MadMupp]

I'm only 28 so I was only 1 when it closed down, its not my music taste (Metal anyone? hehe) but I know when something is major, and it makes me proud to know something as big as this was in Wigan... to people thats not been back since it closed do you know theres a section dedicated to the Casino and northern soul in the new shopping mall in wigan! so go back there and look at the patches and posters! Stay cool you crazy diamonds (sorry I'm not sure of the lingo HAHA)

[jamessy39]

wow, i was too young to ever go to the Casino, plus i live down south, but i had goosebumps listening to that, love the music, the dancing, so wish i'd had a chance to visit the Casino, sounds like it was a fantastic place

[sarahkleen]

was on the dancefloor for this (it was rammed} and last oldies. ticket says "free draw at 3.30am for music centre !!!! -t.v.s,radios , ect "lol, and entrance fee was a fiver nearly a third of a weeks wages in those days , great to hear this thanks

[feethompson]

this is brilliant , i closed my eyes , and i got goose bumps remembering that night, so sad it closed those were really good times . ktf

[beebandloz]

Its so emotional at the end. Great thanks for posting

[door2yourheart]

Even though i wasnt there, this clip made me very emotional. I believe Russ played Frank Wilsons - Do i love you, after the final 3 before 8 that morning, and everybody was in tears. Thank you for posting this historic recording.

[soulboy111]

brilliant i just closed my eyes ad took myselfe back 30 years,oooh those memories,keep flooding back, the casino memories will never die, ktf,

[deamster10]

Check out planetrecords dot podbean dot com

for two live 45 minute Wigan sessions and two 30 minute Cleethorpes.

[tonydam]

Tonydam to be read with my other comment above. The picture i am on is a blow up of the poster at 4.15 I have some reel to reel tapes i taped at wigan and later at Clifton hall Rotherham Newies trying to get them on to the tube..KTF Tonydam

[tonydam]

I got the commemerative poster at 4.03 on the night .I am on it as well i am the guy who the skirt girls head just touches my knee with V kneck T shirton I took the guy in the white shirt with the white belt ,and 16 other in a mini bus that night, Picture actual taken on a newies Saturday night Tonydam

[itsmenicamon]

end of an era this closure was... i was only six but every weekend in preperation my mam would close the curtins and say come on nic dance with me she and my dad were amazing i remember the devestation when this place ceased. obviously scooter rallies northern soul weekends are the way forward!!

[sammious]

respect 2 u, and u mum,dad

[twostrokedowse]

Didnt even know what Northern Soul was back in 81, first heard it at Isle of Wight Scooter rally in 83, i remember asking my mate "whats this fantastic music they are playing", he replied "Its Northern Soul" been hooked eversince.now Dj'ing on the Scooter rallies, Love it!!

[ccmajc]

Again to Jonny Rotten? If you wer in the 'toilets' on a bust doesn't that say more about you? To others,on this page, my comments are documented but you are very sad. We didn't all hide we sorted stuff in other ways and it was such abit of stuff and if that is your only memories? And it is such a small part of something that still continues!The music nd the fantastic nites etc. So sorry if you remember hiding in toilets should we do a pole of who else has that memory?

[ironspider39]

hi mum

[ccmajc]

jonnyrottenwigan. What a very ,very sad person you are. You could never be a Jonny Rotten you haven't the intellegence? Life has you and if you have the ability be open to other experiencies/music and eras? If you do have intellegence it is about opening up to experiencies and times you may not understand or like but you should have an ability to appreciate them for the time/era they represent.

[bobacat21]

What can I say !!!....Thank You.

[herringthorpe]

What wit, what repartee.

[herringthorpe]

johnnyrottenwigancunt

[herringthorpe]

it was the likes of you that spoilt the place, with your silly fucking mind games, carrying knives to crack kids up. Bet you live within a thirty mile radius of Wigan.

[jackiemann20]

To keepthefaithuk1

I must be a youngster at 42 but still remember the sounds courtesy of my big sister keep the faith

[Funktion12]

Doesn't sound very empty to me,considering it was the last night and all, Jonny.

[keepthefaithuk1]

there were great times sorry so to it go loved danceing meet loads of good friend still go to all nighters even at the afe of 55 & can still dance lol

[geoffplunkett]

I was having a laugh when I said drug free ??

Roger Eagle The Wheel RIP

[stoneystag4eva]

sorry meant throat must av been comin down in the morning lol

[stoneystag4eva]

brought back the memories got alump in my throught glad i was there thankyou jenny

[ccmajc]

Sorry I will argue with anyone who says 'Drug free'. It was definately there if you wanted it and I agree most didn't but!

[geoffplunkett]

One Place Drug & Beer Free ??? on this planet

[squirrell57]

love it!

[std0555]

keep the faith ,, magic

[drtricky]

My god this brings back so many memories . Wigan Casino was such a big part of my life and my friends who i used to go with . Great stuff !!!!

[tomcoxon07]

words cant explain

[groinlard]

Wow!!! I was there and remember aving a lump in my throat dancing to three b4 eight. Good recording mate and its great to know WE were some of the choosen few to visit WIGAN CASINO. As N.F.Porter says KEEP ON KEEPING ON.Cheers man for the memory

[bernie12011959]

Brilliant.......I was in the W.R.A.F. when Wigan had it's last night!! But I'm glad I had a share in some fantastic times and I have my memories..........they will never die!! Keeep the Faith!!

[lyn1954o]

great memories of my teens, thanx for this

[urabus6488]

remember going there in me teens now a 50 yr old grandad also remember goin to the Torch.. in hanley Stoke also mufc now its FCUM times they are a changin....

[ccmajc]

I was there. Thankyou for this. I took pictures on the night and remember people recording it. Now I have the sound to my pics.(When this was recorded I was on the balcony and my pics show a dance floor so full. Great, fantastic night.

[silverspecial125]

i was there on the last night and seem to remember someone filming it!

not seen the film yet but this is good!!!

keep the faith!!

[presencefm]

Well done M8,how did you manage the Smellolisten :so many memory's specially driving back to york cryin all the way

Regards Gary

[rallyR1]

This was very emotional for me fookin amazing thanks

[chenmoss1]

Fantatitic -brings back so many happy memories - I still remenber that rythmic clapping that you have captured. Even though 45 I think I need to find a reunion night - still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

[f132dot]

nice one mate, missed wigan by about 3 years, but very emotional stuff! believe me would have died to have been there!

[allen63b]

Awesome

[soulandy]

Brilliant mate. I had all me tapes from the casino, including the last nite, nicked from me car never to be replaced. Cheers for this.

[soultimepromotions]

thanks from me, i was there also. loved it :) brought tears just listening - you'd undertsand if you were there :)

[prestonparasoccer]

Thanks for posting this, wasn't there but the last night is the suff of legends.

KTF

[rictic114]

i was there for both of the last nights & swore i would never dance to those three ever again i still haven't

[koyhayleth]

amazing !!!!! AMAZING !!!!!!!!AMAZING !!!!

[MunnkyJOE]

Poor sound quality, but boy close your eyes and you are back there again. Brilliant