" Wigan Casino " Video Footage

The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Operating between 1973 and 1981, it was known as a primary venue for northern soul music. It carried forward the legacy created by clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Golden Torch in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. It remains one of the most famous clubs in Northern England.[1]

This England, a TV documentary about the venue, was filmed in 1977. In 1978, the American music magazine Billboard voted Wigan Casino "The Best Disco in the World", ahead of New York City's Studio 54[2]. Russ Winstanley and Dave Nowell wrote a history of the club, Soul Survivors, The Wigan Casino Story, which was published in 1996. A stage play by Mick Martin about the Wigan Casino years, Once upon a time in Wigan, debuted in February 2003 at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, and has since toured nationally.


[edit] History
Wigan Casino was the name of the last incarnation of a Wigan ballroom called the Empress.[3] The venue, previously called The Casino Club, was operated by Gerry Marshall as a cabaret club in the early 1970s. Alan Caine approached Marshall about running a soul music night in the Beachcomber Bar at the back of the club, to which Marshall agreed. Mike Walker recognised that at a local rugby club, Russ Winstanley had a similar evening that was more professionally operated than the one founded by Caine. Walker brought Winstanley from the rugby club to the Casino Club, and Wigan Casino opened in September 1973, with Winstanley as the DJ. Many famous soul performers performed there, including Jackie Wilson, Edwin Starr and Junior Walker.

Young people from all over the UK regularly made the trek to Wigan Casino to hear the latest northern soul artists and to dance. Queues to get in were sometimes five or six people deep, and stretched round the corner up into the town centre. The second dance floor, called Mr. M's, stayed open until 6am and played oldies songs from a variety of DJs. Every all-nighter traditionally ended with three songs that became known as the 3 before 8: "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend, "Long After Tonight Is Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe, and "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish. Parrish is still active on the northern soul circuit.

Amphetamine and other drug abuse led to the downfall of the club, with pressure from the police and the local authority forcing it to close in 1981.[citation needed] The final night of Wigan Casino in its northern soul state was DJed by Winstanley, and the 3 before 8 were played three times consecutively at the end of the night. The crowd refused to leave, so according to Winstanley, to "break this spell of hysteria" he picked a 7" at random from his box and played that. This final Wigan Casino song became one of the most famous northern soul songs of all time, Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You". The Wigan Casino building burned down a year after it closed.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Casino

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Walte
• Jackson
• Northern
• Soul
• wigan
• casino
• lambretta
• vespa
• mods

[spaddock123]

@mansfieldfolkhouse HOW CAN U SAY THAT MY FREIND WIGAN WAS THE CREAM OF THE CROP BRILLANT MUSIC IN ITS DAY

[andyjh736]

Have to admit it wasn't my favourite haunt, but it was special, as for the drug scene it was no worse than many other clubs at the time, it just seemed to get more attention, probably those not part of the in crowd. KTF

[TooDarnSoulful]

I was part of it and feel bloody lucky to have been to wigan casino - never have I experienced an atmosphere like that since and doubt I ever well. The music you can argue about maybe - but not the atmoshpere. Special place for me and always will be - keep the faith :)))

[Laureeen125]

Astounded at the hate on here. I would have loved to be at wigan, or around in any of the soul era, brilliant music. Wish I could move like that.

[oldgalsal]

@reeva1665

I'm assuming you never actually experienced a night there then??? Glad you was nowhere near it?????.........well thank god for that.........some poor feckers could have had their evening ruined with you in close vacinity :)

[mansfieldfolkhouse]

80% of wigan music was crap.so called djs unearthing rare music and making a fortune making pressings.it was all a con.they only played the tracks they want to make pressings of.it was a frieendly atmosphere though.but drug fuelled

[mansfieldfolkhouse]

wigan was junkies dancin to shite music

[spegangles]

Would just like to add that Wigan Casino was voted "Best Disco In The World" by Billboard Magazine in America in 1978. Ahead of Studio 54 in New York.

[spegangles]

Don't listen to any negative comments young soulsters! Once you've experienced the feeling it stays with you. I've loved the music for over 30 years and was just too young to make it to Wigan. People have always said that the music was dated. We organised our own dances and all-nighters in Glasgow throughout the eighties and nineties and it's great to see the scene is still thriving

[ModSoulbooy]

@discoreview hey,

a few of us these days do have the courage to learn the music we dont all follow what is being realesed at this time we dont all want to be brainwashed by these music companys trying to maximise profits using the braindead people of today (atleast 90% kids). Only been listening to soul for 2 years now and bands that are classed as mod for about 4 years but never liked modern music in my life. KEEP THE FAITH!