But she is gone, her long reign over and it is time for change. Welcome home for the AIFs 9th Division, April 1943. 1958, Elma Jorgensen and Max Blake on stage with chorus and ballet Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 1950-1955, Peggy Ryan and ballet on stage, Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 1950-1955, Pastoral tableau with ballet and unidentified female singer, Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 1950-1955, Arrival of Gypsy Rose Lee at Mascot, 24 Sep 1954, Patrons watch the floorshow at Chequers Nightclub, c. 1961, Sammy Lee and Reg Booms Latin Quarter Theatre Restaurant (nightclub), Sydney, Singer Terri King at Sammy Lee and Reg Booms Latin Quarter Theatre Restaurant (nightclub), Pigalle (?) 1960s. Food and conversation, he continued, take the place of the gagman and his assistant. An entire band would often earn less than $50 a night for playing three or four sets. Hi Christine, Id love to see some photos of the souvenirs you retain. The decades youth culture was marked by the rise of rock and roll music, the popularity of hippie fashion, and the growing influence of the counterculture movement. [xiv] Champagne Flowed like water at party bare-tops too daring? This particular one had an agreement with neighbouring restaurants to provide meals for late stayers. [xvi] Michael Charlton looks at Sydneys night life, Four Corners, ABC Television, Sydney, transmitted 17 Nov 1962.7 Days: Sophisticated or Sick? Nobody then seemed to have much though for the future. Sadly he has passed and I wish I had some photos of him at work, at the place he so loved. Click on the new interactive map below for a step-by-step guide through Sydney by night. There was actually a time when rock groups didnt even have demo tapes to shop themselves with, and here's a place that let that happen. WebThe Dorchester nightclub in Potts Point 1959. [vi] The Sun records that three Australian show girls appeared at the Palladium with Gypsy Rose Lee, picturing Irene Bowtell in association with the review (Sun, 2 October 1954, p. 3) and Joy Jarvis two days later (Taking the joy out of stripping, Sun, 4 October 1954, p. 5). There were exotic shows featuring female dancers Lotus, the Dancer of the Seven Veils, Candy Castles, Can Can Dancer, Elaine, the Bombshell from Brazil, Cherry Hoy, Maid of Mystery and there were striptease, fan-dance and bathing shows by Desiree, Cherrie, Vanessa the Undresser, and Bubbles, an eighteen year old whose bubble bath act at the 1956 Melbourne Show attracted some attention from authorities. In the '60s there were a number of authentic, cheap Greek restaurants in Sydney where journalists, detectives, sex workers (back then called streetwalkers), university students and, of course, Greeks ate. WebSydney, 1983, most listed venues: Strawberry Hills Hotel (Surry Hills) Tivoli (City) Sydney Trade Union Club (Surry Hills) Old Push (The Rocks) Britannia (Chippendale) Sylvania Hotel (Sylvania) Sefton Hotel (Sefton) Basement (Circular Quay) Cat and Fiddle (Balmain) Rose Shamrock and Thistle (Rozelle) Gigs listed in one week: 471 Vibrant neighbourhoods brimming with charm, Inner city meets beach lifestyle & chilled vibes, Spectacular natural beauty & foodie delights, Famous national parks & beautiful beaches, A dynamic melting pot of cultures & cuisines, Classic Conjuring: Magic At Its Close-Up Best, The Australian Bee Gees Show - 25th Anniversary Tour - Sydney. WebFeb 07, 2018 In the late-60s, life in Sydney was often one of energetic pleasure seeking, and sometimes even risque behaviour. Terri Irwin has ditched her signature blonde locks for darker hair, debuting the new look at The Explorers Club Annual Dinner in New York. Find out more. This photo was in an envelope with a label that suggested the photographer was in the frame, apparently the man on the right. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. - Alexander Rodchenko, 1921, Donate or Subscribe Your Kind Generosity is Hugely Appreciated, The Newsletter A Weekly Pick-Me-Up & Shop Discounts, Photographs of Londons Kings Cross Before the Change c.1990, Photos of Topless Dancers and Bottomless Drinks At New York Citys Raciest Clubs c. 1977, Debbie Harry And Me Shooting The Blondie Singer in 1970s New York City, Jack Londons Extraordinary Photos of Londons East End in 1902, Photographs of The Romanovs Final Ball In Color, St Petersburg, Russia 1903, Eric Ravilious Visionary Views of England, Photographs of the Wonderful Diana Rigg (20 July 1938 10 September 2020), Photographer Updates Postcards Of 1960s Resorts Into Their Abandoned Ruins, Sex, Drugs, Jazz and Gangsters The Disreputable History of Gerrard Street in Londons Chinatown, The Brilliant Avant-Garde Movie Posters of the Soviet Union, Round The World With Charlotte and Meredith in 1959 and 1960, Stirring Photographs From The Western Front 1917, Behind the Scenes on The Ladykillers, The Killer Comic Crime Caper 1955, Newsletter Subscribers Get Shop Discounts. The ivy precinct on George Street is another huge venue with multiple bars and restaurants (including Bar Tottis, Felix and The Royal George), a rooftop pool club, regular free gigs and a much-loved Poof Doof night. Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best historical content straight into your inbox. Find sleek and sophisticated wine bars pouring the worlds top drops. Dismiss, Outside Chequers nightclub, Sydney, September 14, 1963. Drink in the views with a glass in hand at Sydneys best rooftop bars. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. Beaches such as Bondi and Manly became hotspots for surfers, with surf shops and surf schools popping up to cater to the growing demand. Web1960s, 1970s Australia Nightlife, Cocktail Bar, Nightclub, Sydney 2,670 views Aug 24, 2017 11 Dislike Share Save Kinolibrary 161K subscribers From the Kinolibrary Archive Film collections. Fitzroy Gardens, King Cross, 1968. Australia Square, 1968. Compared to todays live music clubs however, one rather significant thing was missing. Incidents that were memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. [x] The Bobby Limb Show, episode 8, c. 1959, NFSA Title No. This is what the experts think will happen. Something had to be done, there was a lot fights.. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop. Saw wrote that a pleasant, if not dissipated evening would cost about 5 a head at Chequers, which was considerably more expensive than its competitors. WebAfter the 1980s, Oxford Street garnered a reputation as Sydney's primary nightclub strip (firstly gay nightclubs in the 1980s followed by straight nightclubs in the 2000s) and subsequently saw a large increase in the number of crimes committed in the area. He never stopped talking about the days of Chequers. WebDuring that late 60s period a number of mainly short lived venues began to appear including Beatle Village in Oxford Street and the Bowl and the Beach House in Sydneys CBD. Her biggest success had been the 1958 Tivoli show she choreographed for Sabrina; mention of the British starlet in pre-opening publicity endowed the Lidos erotic appeal.[xii]. Your email address will not be published. Morris Landbergh, the Miami and Las Vegas hotel millionaire, visited Sydney in 1965 and said Chequers was better than either the Copacobana or the Latin Quarter in New York. Wren enlivened his nostalgic vaudeville shows Thanks for the Memory, The Good Old Days and Many Happy Returns with a vivacious and beautiful chorus [] and a few discreetly-placed nudes. An elegant French restaurant hidden below ground in the Sydney CBD, Hubert is reminiscent of post-war Paris. Sydney.com is the official tourism site for Destination NSW. They have been replaced by much quieter restaurants, wine bars, and the odd empty storefront as the iconic area closes in on a crucial moment in a fight to revamp itself and bring back the foot traffic. Choreographer Judd Laine who, in the 1950s, had worked at the Tivoli (Chez Paree 1951) and with Harry Wren (Thanks for the Memory 1953) also applied his practice to the new venues of the 1960s. Now in its, Enjoy the best of close-up magic with Dr Taliesin, master magician and member of the famous Magic Circle (UK), as he, Celebrating nine years and over 2800 shows headlining on the Las Vegas strip, The Australian Bee Gees Show will be heading, Vivid Sydney is an annual creative festival that showcases the soul of our city, in collaboration with the most brilliant. Stonewall Hotel takes its name from the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and the beginning of Gay Liberation as we know it. Her strip act was slotted into the penultimate spot on a variety bill, titled Burlesque The Gypsy Rose Lee Show. Wetnose instinct guided the golden retriever back to his old stomping ground on a 27-day trek. At the Central end of the city another club titled John Henrys featured a similar style of music, although there were no live bands playing. This is what we know. The pub rock sound that defined Australian popular music in the 70s and 80s was still years away. See also Carlotta 1994 He Did It Her Way Sydney, Ironback. Once happily presented among the varieties of family entertainment, erotic performance would only come to confirm the gendered conventions of erotic spectatorship whereby women perform for male spectators as it transitioned in the 1960s into the adult world of night club entertainment. If you enjoy what we do, please consider becoming a patron with a recurring monthly subscription of your choosing. 2.0K members Join group About Discussion More About Discussion About this group Rules on joining this group are fairly simple and straightforward. The lockout laws had the strong endorsement of politicians, police as well as doctors and emergency service workers but weighed heavily on businesses that relied on late night trade. Lots of good clubs with different music genres are all gone, one person wrote. Sydney was home to some iconic nightclubs during the 50s and 60s and showbiz stallwart John Burls remembers them all. The RBA will meet again this week to decide whether homeowners will be forking out more money on their monthly repayments. It was a decision that had the countrys only national newspaper, The Australian, wondering What is it that scares so many people about the place?, A parliamentary committee which recommended the laws be rolled back was reportedly concerned the Cross was not yet sufficiently changed to warrant a complete reversal with one politician saying: Kings Cross cannot be allowed to return to how it was.. There was Andrews, the Athenian, the Iliad, the New Hellas, the Greek Club, and Diethnes. Like the Union Jack club, Rhubarbs was also a magnet for young UK immigrants, the first wave of local Mods, although there was no exclusivity and the venue attracted as diverse a crowd as Sydney at the time could offer. This one was a favourite spot, and people enjoyed the quiet ambience. Almost every night after we finished work we would meet up with friends at one of the the local wine bars converted small shops. Inspired by Andy Warhol's 1960s New York Factory, the Oxford Art Factory is an edgy, warehouse-like venue with multiple,. Whilst Kings Cross was booming, full of randy American soldiers here on their RNR from the Vietnam War, the CBD and Oxford Street were relatively quiet. Some pictures are confronting, some are visceral, some are lighthearted, but all of them are real and give us a chance to reflect on the experiences we had before the Nanny Nation decided to take our playground away.. The nudes that started our publishing career, Dinny OBriens legendary Newcastle pawnshop, From Julian to Barnaby, and points between, A Newcastle girls letters from the WW 1 home front, Board with games: when childhood was slow. Australia Square, 1968. As long as you looked relatively adult you could go to Rhubarbs when you were still at school and many of the patrons were no older than fifteen or sixteen. Ive played a lot of evil, ball-breaking women. Inspired by Andy Warhols 1960s New York nightclub The Factory, Oxford Art Factory is one of Sydneys top live music venues and has launched the careers of many well-known local artists. Theres always something tasty going on in the Harbour City. Across fashion, footwear, homewares and health; cruises, tours and package holidays; news, views and media. Post information only relevant to the subject heading. Reviewing the Lidos Hello Australia in 1967, Geoffrey Hutton observed that these new venues were considerably smaller than the variety theatres and the audience was, somehow, not quite the same. Read more. Manage Settings Cheerfulness kept creeping in." [xi] The Lido choreographer was Felicia Hallmark, also known as Tuppy Downs. The programs are consecutively numbered from the 90th weekly show, Long Legs and Laughter from 28 October 1950. After posting some old photos online recently, nostalgic social media users recalled the good, the bad and the ugly of Kings Cross in years gone by. A stomach bug, a nudge from a rival and an ill-timed safety car all conspired against Oscar Piastri over the weekend. There we would chat, listen to music, sip wine and nibble on appetisers for an hour or so before moving on to the theatre or a restaurant, or home if one was prudent and had to work the next day. Some 20 years ago, at the turn of the millennium, Sydney was world-famous for its 24-hour bars, thriving band scene and epic dance parties. WebFeb 07, 2018 In the late-60s, life in Sydney was often one of energetic pleasure seeking, and sometimes even risque behaviour. The outside world viewed Kings Cross as a now ghost town because it was absent of a party-like atmosphere, Mr Brigham told Yahoo News Australia. They speak fluent tequila (with more than 25 types on offer) and theyre crazy for, Barrio Cellar is a late-night tequileria and eatery specialising in tequila, Mexican street food and quality cocktails. Lotus Room. On opening night, five Sunday Mail Sun Girl finalists made a surprise stage decoration as part of a bevy of beauty in a finale scripted around them, but the show was carried by the comediansand former Royal Theatre regularsGeorge Wallace Junior, Eddie Edwards and Brian Tait. It's not a place that's built to be rainy or cold. WebSydney is a city that likes to stay up late. In the 1940s Billy Eckstine was a great singer and innovative band leader. Australia Square, 1968. While some acknowledged the violence, many lamented the hit to the music scene as venues closed down. , First, they brine the bird with a mix of salts spices, garlic and herbs. Enjoying our content? 1972 (Howard Bruce, NLA) Naomi Watts showed off her toned abs and sculpted legs in a bikini in a new Instagram photo. Been looking it up. As a nightclub, rather than a restaurant or the annexe of a hotel, it is by far the best in Sydney. Saw quoted Morris Lansburgh, the Miami and Las Vegas hotel millionaire, saying that Chequers was better than either the Copacabana or the Latin Quarter in New York. [xvi] Thus what television producers declined as too hot to deliver as family entertainment on variety shows was served up cold as investigative exposs of seedy nightlife on prime-time current affairs which, as it turned out, were just the thing to draw a crowd to St Kilda and Kings Cross.[xvii]. Do you have a story tip? The Sharpies and the Mods of Rhubarbs were bitter enemies and often clashed in incidents throughout the CBD. Raise the Rate not a tough choice, but the right choice, NSW Police to deploy more personnel on Oxford Street after Sydney anti-LGBT attacks, Princess Mary of Denmark cycles Sydneys Danish inspired streets in royal visit. Sydney was home to some iconic nightclubs during the 50s and 60s and showbiz stallwart John Burls remembers them all. My grandfather was the night manager at Chequers and a producer at 2SM during the day. Boogie Mountain was rumoured to be a little known commune that existed in the depths of Arizona during the 1970s. We dont expect to do everything at once. WebA renowned and ritzy nightclub hosting performers like Shirley Bassey in the 1960s, by the early 70s it was one of Sydney's most well known rock venues by reputation alone. The coverage is strongest for the years 1951-53 and 1957-59. Web673/5 Ann Street. Id be glad to learn his name and any details of his life and career. In an article in the Sydney Daily Mirror newspaper on September 15, 1965, journalist Ron Saw wrote that Chequers was the only club in Sydney to operate at a loss. Described as an old hand behind the glamour by the Age, Hallmark had been a Tivoli ballet mistress and dancer on the Fullers circuit. Yes I have a dark side, doesnt everyone? [v] BurlesqueThe Gypsy Rose Lee Show, theatre program, Palladium Theatre, Sydney, 1-12 October 1954, State Library of New South Wales. Farmer Wants A Wife's Andrew made a 'mind blowing' confession, quitting the show on Sunday night. Head to Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Surry Hills or Darling Harbour and get ready for a seriously good time. John chats with Kayley and Ian. Valley. [xvii] A journalist records that business had been lacklustre at Les Girls for quite some time, until out of the blue came television with their Glittering Mile [] and hey presto, you had to book a week in advance to get a table, Is it Tom, Dick or Harriet [no publication details], c.1967, Tracey Lee papers, SLNSW, Box 5 scrapbook. Sydney's nightlife in the 50s and 60s by Macquarie Media Limited Publication date 2017-01-11 Remember Chequers Nightclub? All the other big nightclubs have gone and were still here. Come for the fantastic drag and cabaret shows, or a dance in the expansive basement. You can search for bars, clubs, live music venues and late-night eats, or just see whats happening in the area around you. There was no alcohol!. Brisbane. Melissa Leong was busy promoting the newest season of MasterChef just hours before Jock Zonfrillo's death was announced. Post information only relevant to the subject heading. [ii], Entertainer Nancye Bridges recalls female performers at the Tivoli theatres who werent actually nude, but had the top halves of their bodies covered with gossamer-like fabric that left little to the imagination and who, true to the morality of the forties had to remain stock-still during their time on stage. Part sneaker store, part fried chicken restaurant, part champagne bar Butter ticks a lot of boxes. [xii] Old hand behind the glamour, The Age, 16 October 1965, p.6 mention of the British starlet no doubt endowed the Lidos opening with a certain erotic appeal. WebThe 1960s was a decade of great change and growth for Sydney, a time when the city was transformed from a colonial outpost into a modern, cosmopolitan city. I lost about 80 per cent of my [photography] work, Mr Stevenson said. Starts at 60 is just for over-60s. Krystynas dancing journey from Greta Migrant Camp to Sydneys Chequers Nightclub. Smallbars hidden down alleyways. Saw wrote that owners Dennis and Keith Wong made profits from their import and export, real estate, restaurants and showbusiness (Pan Pacific Promotions) that would more than cover their losses at Chequers. Choreographers carried the Tivoli traditions of showgirl revues into night clubs in Sydney as well. As the recently formed Nightlife and Creative Sector Advisory Panel (an initiative of the City of Sydney Council), meets to resurrect Sydney nightlife, its perhaps a good time to look back to a previous era where some valuable lessons may well be learned. There was Andrews, the Athenian, the Iliad, the New Hellas, the Greek Club, and Diethnes. WebPigalle (?) Angus Winnekes sets and costumes from the Tivoli were fitted into the smaller stage without any loss in effect and the whole performance is as fast as it is spectacular. [iv] Van Straten, Tivoli, pp. Photo dated January 1965. There was actually a time when rock groups didnt even have demo tapes to shop themselves with, and here's a place that let that happen. Other clubs in Sydney at the time would usually pay no more than 600 a week, but Chequers paid 7500 a week to Sarah Vaughan, 6000 to Tony Martin and Shelley Berman and 5000 to Frances Faye. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Food and drink. But for the revellers who populated it prior to the lockout laws, something important has been lost in Australian culture with the demise of Sydneys nightlife. This period of growth and development was reflected in the changing cityscape, with new shopping centers, apartment buildings, and office towers being built in the inner-city areas. I know a lady that used to dance the chorus line there. Become a Photo Time Tunnel member and receive deep discounts, subscriber-only content and a FREE BOOK with new 1-year subscriptions*! Relationships developed or faded away in those little wine bars. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. I read a little about Chequers and found that it was owned by Keith and Denis Wong, members of a well-known Sydney family active in the entertainment scene over a number of years. 1960s. Sydney was at one stage a leading nightlife destination and as such we fostered some of the best musical talent in a plethora of clubs around the city. Discover a world of exciting games, from heart-pumping action to brain-teasing puzzles. Well wait.. 0749, 8 March 1946, NFSA title no. [vi] One of the local girls explained to the Suns readers that their act conformed, for the most part, to the stage convention of static nudity: We Sydney girl[s] dont actually strip in front of the audience. In the late-60s, life in Sydney was often one of energetic pleasure seeking, and sometimes even risque behaviour. David Jones English Fair, 1968 -it is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. Despite the many changes and challenges of the 1960s, Sydney remained a vibrant and bustling city with a thriving arts and cultural scene. This was reflected in the citys vibrant nightlife, with popular music venues such as the El Rocco and the Cell Block offering a range of musical styles, including rock and roll, jazz, and rhythm and blues. The Echoes band entertaining dancers at Surf City, Sydney 1963. With its vibrant nightlife, thriving arts and cultural scene, and its growing reputation as a surfers' paradise, Sydney in the 1960s was a truly exciting place to be. Opportunities for spectators to see female flesh in erotic styles of performance were widespread and well-dispersed across genres of popular entertainment in mid-twentieth century Australia. Luckily we had friends who looked out for one another. [xiii] Yet by 1967 the prospect of topless girls at Melbournes Lido reported in Melbournes Truth as if it were something new saw advance bookings cancelled in their hundreds, drew the attention of the Acting Chief Secretary of the Victorian Parliament, and required the attendance of two vice squad detectives at a dress rehearsal before the show was pronounced not offensive and given license to proceed. A few years ago, while rummaging in a Newcastle antique shop, I found a box of photographic negatives that seemed to contain interesting images. Head to Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Surry Hills or Darling Harbour and get ready for a seriously good time. 203 Elizabeth Street. 1960s. Roselands Shopping Centre once the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere, 1968, David Jones English Fair, 1968 -it is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name, Sydney Opera House under construction, 1969, The village centre, Kings Cross, May 1970. These portrait photographs of Russia's ruling Romanovs were taken in 1903 at the Winter Palace in majestic. [v] Gypsy Rose was joined in performance by several showgirls from Sydney and at least one from America. To curate to the needs and wants of over-60s online and get members a better deal wherever possible through the power of our huge online community. It was her first job. Yet the opportunities to hear local bands, playing blues, soul and rnb were few and far between. In Sydney 15 years later the same problems didnt arise. Some 20 years ago, at the turn of the millennium, Sydney was world-famous for its 24-hour bars, thriving band scene and epic dance parties. The Echoes band entertaining dancers at Surf City, Sydney 1963. Privacy Policy. Moulin Rouge Night Club. 1960, At the entrance of the show, Sorlies Travelling Vaudeville Show, c. 1957-1962, Whip-strip, Sorlies Travelling Vaudeville Show, c. 1957-1962, A performer amongst the audience, Sorlies Travelling Vaudeville Show, c. 1957-1962, Former ballet dancer Margaret Webber as the fan dancer with Sorlies Show, Broken Hill, New South Wales, ca. Nightlife and Creative Sector Advisory Panel, Support gathers for removal of Oxford Street clearway, Councillor defends right to ask questions, Apologise for anti-gay slur or face defamation action, Alex Greenwich warns Mark Latham.