As is my understanding, around the time of the second world war, someone called Bernard Taylor performed at dances with his band at the City Hall.

I have a rough idea what kind of music they would have played, but does anyone know exactly what songs they did? Did they cover Noel Coward songs, for example?

And also, am I right in thinking these dances took place within the bowels of the City Hall? I've never been anywhere other than the main auditorium, but I'm sure the ballroom is downstairs. would I be right to assume that?

I don't know if he was at the City Hall during the War but he was there in the 50's and Early 60's..His Band used to play old time and Modern dance music he used to have a resident singer up front who used to croon all the latest ballards the like of Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Young, Frankie Lane etc:..My favourite was "A foggy day in London Town" I used to dance/shuffle around the Ballroom singing this song into my girlfriends earhole...I was told that "Bernard Taylor" was a Drummer before he formed his band...but I always remember him stood at the front conducting.

Hola Pilon, I remember Bernard Taylor's band down the City Hall, and you're right on the button saying 'the bowels', because the dances were held downstairs. They were very popular in the 50's and 60's when I used to go there. In all probability they were popular before that. It was a good band, with good musicians, good readers, soloists,etc,etc. The drummer sometimes had a singing spot, he was okeh, no big deal, but good enough. Well sure he played Noel Cowards stuff occasionly, but then again, the guy was a prolific writer so all dance bands of the period played his tunes. Dont forget we're talking of a time just before the music business went into free fall. Bernard Taylor's band had a 'book' two foot thick, so you had to be able to play!

Noel Coward Stuff ?

When I first started work as an apprentice in 1964 at Newton Chambers one of the men there was called Roy Whitham and I believe he played clarinet in the aforementioned band.

Oops! Sorry popps!

I can always remember the band playing "Lets take it nice and easy, it's going to be so easy" great memories of a differant era.I once had a strange chat up line in there,which was" which end of the bath do you sit"? I hadn't the heart to tell him, that at the Heeley slipper baths you didn't have time to dwell on such things, we were to busy cleaning the bath out some pink gritty stuff,as the world and his dog had just shared the same bath!

Bernard Taylor Is My Great Grandad!! (trouble5 daughter!)

He was my Grandfather.
He played Sinatra, Basie and all that type of jazz.
My Dad told me a story of him playing and the town hall being bombed. Grandad sent parts of the band all over the hall so that people that were stuck there until the bombing had finished would be entertained!
Any more information or memories would be lovely!

He was my Grandfather.
He played Sinatra, Basie and all that type of jazz.
My Dad told me a story of him playing and the town hall being bombed. Grandad sent parts of the band all over the hall so that people that were stuck there until the bombing had finished would be entertained!
Any more information or memories would be lovely!Hi I danced to Bernards music in the wartime and yrs after, mon, thurs, and sat nights Ioten recall those days and find myself humming one of the dance tunes Blue Moon don't know if that was the proper title, happy days [and nights] Arthur,

I had a relative who played the drums in the band. His name was Hayden Cook. I was young at that time but I can remember sitting up at night to listen to him on the radio.The boys in the band were top class musicians. Not like the so called bands we hear today who would not know a Bb from an Ab.

I seem to remember that in the early 60's they used to have 'tea' dances at city hall. Does anyone know what that was all about?

I seem to remember that in the early 60's they used to have 'tea' dances at city hall. Does anyone know what that was all about?

I think they still have tea dances on a Saturday afternoon.I can remember going to the city hall in the 50s&60s jiving the night away, amongst other things.

I think they still have tea dances on a Saturday afternoon.I can remember going to the city hall in the 50s&60s jiving the night away, amongst other things.

Oooh me too:hihi::thumbsup: perhaps we had a bit of a bop together at some time......:)

Oooh me too:hihi::thumbsup: perhaps we had a bit of a bop together at some time......:)

If you ever had your tootsies trod on, that was me.:hihi:Some of the names I remember were Joan Taylor,Josie Ashton,Victoria,Shirley,Chris,Arnie & John Allott & Don Cardwell.

Yeah old Hayden, he did sing a bit, his speciality was a song called 'Close your Eyes', great guy.

And also, am I right in thinking these dances took place within the bowels of the City Hall? I've never been anywhere other than the main auditorium, but I'm sure the ballroom is downstairs. would I be right to assume that?

as you face the city hall the door down to the ballroom is on the right hand side.
thats where we used to go to the drop club in the late 80s.

Yes,Poppins - Noel Coward stuff : " We'll gather lilacs ", etc.( I think ).

I remember war time dances at the City Hall with Bernard Taylor and his band. They were always well attended,so there was'nt much room to indulge in fancy steps,even if you could. I don't remember him playing any Noel Coward songs,mostjy the popular songs of the time. He particularly liked to play 'Rampart street parade',and we all were glad to hear it . He had two vocalists,one male,and one female. One member of the band was Harry Zussman,a Saxophonist,he was in my class at school at one time. If you were a keen dancer,it was better to go to a Thursday afternoon tea dance (Half day closing) when there was more room on the floor. Any leave I got from the RN,a lot of the time was spent at the City hall dances,so I look back on those times with great affection.

It was when the big band swung into the Glen Miller stuff that still gives me the funny feelings and would get my feet going.....
Don't ever be with me in the supermarket when they play this over the public muzak system.....:hihi: You'd probably get run over with my trolley:banana::clap::banana:

THE 1942 kELLYS LISTS Bernard Taylor dance band 51 Dobcroft Rd. S7
Not listed in 1938 or 1951 at this address, unable to trace.

On attending one of tea dances, a well known City Hall character remarked, 'Reminds me of the play, Tea and Apathy.' One of Gerry's pals.

I have asked before, on other City Hall Dance threads, if anyone knew anything about Bob Stanley and what became of him. He was quite a bit older than most of us, wore Barney Goodman suits, drove a big American car and always had a few blondes in black dresses hanging on to him. I have never known what he did for a living although he was supposed to be rich.
Perhaps I should start a Bob Stanley thread.
Pattricia has claimed to be one of the blondes but has never come across with any other information.

I was only on nodding terms but I always thought he had a car showroom somewhere up Heeley. But then again it could've been two other guys.

I have asked before, on other City Hall Dance threads, if anyone knew anything about Bob Stanley and what became of him. He was quite a bit older than most of us, wore Barney Goodman suits, drove a big American car and always had a few blondes in black dresses hanging on to him. I have never known what he did for a living although he was supposed to be rich.
Perhaps I should start a Bob Stanley thread.
Pattricia has claimed to be one of the blondes but has never come across with any other information.
I think he was in the scrap business down Attercliffe.

I have asked before, on other City Hall Dance threads, if anyone knew anything about Bob Stanley and what became of him. He was quite a bit older than most of us, wore Barney Goodman suits, drove a big American car and always had a few blondes in black dresses hanging on to him. I have never known what he did for a living although he was supposed to be rich.
Perhaps I should start a Bob Stanley thread.
Pattricia has claimed to be one of the blondes but has never come across with any other information.

Sure I remember Bob Stanley Red, so does Hazel, wasn't he a pimp, I once baby sat for "One of his girls" she went out for the night, i was looking around her flat for something to read, under the stair case I found a big wicker basket full of money covered up with a towel....later on that night he rang up to see she had got home, i knew his voice right off.

He was a big fat man, always wore a cammel coat and a trilby.

PS. I didn;'t think Bernard Taylor was that old to have played in the second ww , he looked about 40 in the 60s

The man I am thinking of Poppins was I think called Johnny (Spizer?).
A large man always surrounded by glamourous girls and was always seen in a Box at the theatres. I was sort of warned of him by older girls but he was probably a perfect gentleman.
I thought he made his money in the theatre, he certainly was able to attract beautiful women.
I've gt an idea we are talking about the same man from diff angles
hazel

The man I am thinking of Poppins was I think called Johnny (Spizer?).
A large man always surrounded by glamourous girls and was always seen in a Box at the theatres. I was sort of warned of him by older girls but he was probably a perfect gentleman.
I thought he made his money in the theatre, he certainly was able to attract beautiful women.
I've gt an idea we are talking about the same man from diff angles
hazel

Oh your so right Hazel, the other names just rings a bell too, thanks.

I think he was in the scrap business down Attercliffe.

Liverpool Street wasn't it.....I knew the son. Grey MG TD I think it was. I understand he died in his late 20s early 30s. He used to knock around with Norman Emmens....coal people, also in Attercliffe.

Bob Stanley always stood down close to the band I think on the left side with his bevy of girls. Poppins and Hazel you may be right although he didn't ever offer any of his girls to me. If you were there in the early fifties you had to know of him.
Texas may be correct about the car dealer because it would not have been easy to get an American car at that time unless you were in the business.
Another character from the City Hall about that time was a young guy who had a really short crew cut, wore an extremely long Zoot suit, thick crepe sole shoes and very thick glasses. When he and his girl started bopping, everyone stopped to watch him - they were both really good. He told me that he had worked in a hotel in New York for year and had learned to jive there.

The man I am thinking of Poppins was I think called Johnny (Spizer?).
A large man always surrounded by glamourous girls and was always seen in a Box at the theatres. I was sort of warned of him by older girls but he was probably a perfect gentleman.
I thought he made his money in the theatre, he certainly was able to attract beautiful women.
I've gt an idea we are talking about the same man from diff angles
hazelJohn Spitzer was the resident manager of the Empire theatre in the 1950's

Bob Stanley always stood down close to the band I think on the left side with his bevy of girls. Poppins and Hazel you may be right although he didn't ever offer any of his girls to me. If you were there in the early fifties you had to know of him.
Texas may be correct about the car dealer because it would not have been easy to get an American car at that time unless you were in the business.
Another character from the City Hall about that time was a young guy who had a really short crew cut, wore an extremely long Zoot suit, thick crepe sole shoes and very thick glasses. When he and his girl started bopping, everyone stopped to watch him - they were both really good. He told me that he had worked in a hotel in New York for year and had learned to jive there.

Off topis but can't PM you, My husbands in Norcross GA this week Red, do you know anything about that area ?

Can anyone remember anymore of the personnel of Bernard Taylor's orchestra? Did Bunny Harrison play tenor for a while? I remember the trumpet section having a real young looking kid in there, looked about 15years old.

How smart they all looked dresses in their black tuxes, all those shiny brass instruments, we hated it when they took a break.

I remember the bopper, together with his partner they were amazingly fast. we all stood round in a circle to watch and admire.
Think the glass floor with the lghts underneath made the City Hall floor seem more enticing to dance on together with the music from a real live band.
I never went to any of the tea dances, I thought at the time they were for a mixture of older people but I was probably wrong.

hazel

Another thought on Bob Stanley. I think he did a bit of scrap dealing also. I dont mean he actually chucked it on a cart, but he was in on it.

I think you may be right, Texas, either that or a Bookie. What I don't understand and I guess what intrigues me, is what he was doing at the City Hall dances. He was at least 20 years older than all of us, he hardly ever danced and he brought his own girls - it didn't seem as though he had anything in common with us.

C'mon Red, you're joking, right?

Hey, Texas, do you think that if I had had his money, his car and his blondes I would have been hanging around with you letcherous youths ? Not likely !!!!

Bob Stanley was amateur yorkshire champion dancer in his younger days ,he had a steel and scrap business on Liverpool st off newhall rd,his girlfriend was Evelyn Shortland, a high class ladies hairdresser, both were always immaculate when on the town ,l don't know if they got married or not, but l never saw him fat more of the film star type more like. Cheers Arthur.

Thanks, Arthur - that is what Lazyherbert said. I last saw him in 1951 and he was pretty heavy then.Do you know what happened to him later.

See Red, he went down there for the dancing.

Hi Redneck, l dropped out the dancing scene when l got married in 1946 and never met him again, as l said l don't know if he married Evelyn or not. Arthur.

Thanks Arthur. You know what they say ,Texas, the simplest answer is probably the right one.

First of all if you were a certain age everybody had heard of Bob Stanley, he had a haulage business, all his vehicles were immaculate, I seem to remember he had some large Austin 16's station wagons and a fleet of trucks all painted a beautiful bright green with gold lettering on the door. Anyway getting back to the City hall the Bernard Taylor band were terrific. If a visiting band were playing upstairs in a concert and they were featuring some showstopping number, the Taylor band would have an arrangement of it the following week. I have mentioned a tenor player nicknamed 'Digger' on another thread, he was great, he used to lead a small 'bebop' group when the big band took their intermission. Anybody remember the m.c. was his first name Cyril? Was there some unwritten law, that if a young lady was asked to dance she was obligated to accept. I visited Sheffield a couple of years ago and the City hall was under serious construction, I asked one of the workers if I could go downstairs to have a look around even wearing a hard hat, but they wouldnt let me. Had many hours of enjoyment in both the dance hall and the concert hall upstairs.

What memories!! By the time you went to the City Hall you had mastered your dancing skills at the smaller ballrooms in the city Page Hall Glossop Road Baths. (over the pool) The Abbeydale. only then would you go to the City Hall. As someone said you couldn't refuse to dance if you were asked so you had to be profficient!! I can remember Bob Stanley and Evelyn. Also Ralph Newman and the Lidgard Brothers and their Glamorous wives. They all used to go in the Roundabout Bar in the Grand Hotel before and during the interval. ( only soft drinks and tea etc in the ballroom) Only at private dances did they serve alcohol.These people were the Charactors of the era.Bob Stanley had a huge house with Stables at Mosborough in the old village.When Bernard Taylor was playing all the Stars performing at the various theatres around used to come and hang round the bandstand after they finished.

There was talk of Johnny Spitzer ( is the correct name I think) I believe he was the manager of the Empire theatre, he was always well manicured and extremely well turned out, I think he was the first person I ever saw close up wearing a tuxedo, he stood in the foyer and hobnobbed with everybody, another thing I found out I believe he lived at the Grande hotel, he was a jazz fan, if you went to the theatre to see a show you would hear a lot of jazz being played over the intercom, prior to show starts and when you were leaving, they were from his own vast 78's collection

Johnny Spitzer did live at the Grand and I think he lived there until he diad. There were some marvellous characters around at this time.Johnnie Spitzer used to go to Heeley Baths to the Steam Baths there I once saw him on his way there with Mat Munro, they got of the tram in London Road a lady at the tram stop asked for Mat Munro's autoghraph and he told her where they were going.I don't suppose many people will remember these people.The stars in those days weren't like they are today with bodyguards. If you were in town in those days you would often seeTop Stars shopping in what was then Walsh's and they were alway's friendly .

my grandfather and his brother played trumpet for bernard taylor they were the lobb brothers. they played during the war and beyond. my grandad tought me to play trumpet and i carried on playing only giving it up about 8 years ago. even after my grandad was in his late 70s and a falce set of teeth he was still a much better player than me. they must have been a realy good band. I still have on e of his trumpets

correct it's like being in a basement

my grandfather and his brother played trumpet for bernard taylor they were the lobb brothers. they played during the war and beyond. my grandad tought me to play trumpet and i carried on playing only giving it up about 8 years ago. even after my grandad was in his late 70s and a falce set of teeth he was still a much better player than me. they must have been a realy good band. I still have on e of his trumpets

Betty Lobb was my chief bridesmaid.

Betty Lobb was my chief bridesmaid.

Went to school with a Patricia (Pat) Lobb. I believe she had a younger sister called Elizabeth.

Betty Lobb was my chief bridesmaid.
my mother was betty lobb before she married she used to talk about you.

Went to school with a Patricia (Pat) Lobb. I believe she had a younger sister called Elizabeth.
i have heard of a pat lobb was her father called Clifford lobb. or she could have been related to my great grandad

my mother was betty lobb before she married she used to talk about you.

We came over to Sheffield on vacation and I phoned your Grandmother to find out where Betty lived as we had lost touch with one another only to discover that Betty had died two weeks before. I was devastated, we were such good friends and I spent many happy hours at your Grandparents home.
You were lucky to have such loving parents & Grandparents.

Cynthia.

We came over to Sheffield on vacation and I phoned your Grandmother to find out where Betty lived as we had lost touch with one another only to discover that Betty had died two weeks before. I was devastated, we were such good friends and I spent many happy hours at your Grandparents home.
You were lucky to have such loving parents & Grandparents.

Cynthia.

i am sorry that you did not manage to see mum before she died i would like to contact you but i am not sure how, so we can have a private talk are you on facebook i think i know your sirname does it begin with b

Hi, jcelli.
I have sent you a private message. Look at the left hand side -'Site Contents', click on Message Inbox and there it is.

Cynthia.

Hi, jcelli.
I have sent you a private message. Look at the left hand side -'Site Contents', click on Message Inbox and there it is.

Cynthia.


Why don't you both download SKYPE you will then be able to talk to each other as long as you like for free.

Why don't you both download SKYPE you will then be able to talk to each other as long as you like for free.

From Canada ?.

From Canada ?.
i will have to find out what that is and as i only have a note pad ie very small memory i may not be able to do it

Why don't you both download SKYPE you will then be able to talk to each other as long as you like for free.

Phone calls to Sheffield are not expensive from here, I phoned my sister-in-law last week chatted for 30 minutes, cost me in pence, 95 pence. Same charge whatever time of day I phone.

Phone calls to Sheffield are not expensive from here, I phoned my sister-in-law last week chatted for 30 minutes, cost me in pence, 95 pence. Same charge whatever time of day I phone.

I had a PM asking if it was 95p for 1 minute, no, 95p was the total cost for 30 minutes.