I was too young to sample the MOJO so had to settle for
DOWN BROADWAY on High St.
I went down almost every Saturday night wearing a
suit top,my dad's military tie and faded jeans !!!!

I was told it wasn't as good as the MOJO but I loved it.
Great Motown and Soul Sounds.

When it was a bargain shoe basement a few years back
I went down those steps again and had a look round.
I could not believe how small the place was.

Remember the cloak room - a pile of coats in a corner !!

Also saw a few live acts there - I recall BANDWAGON -
("Tearing Down The Walls Of Heartache") were good.

After a year or two the Stringfellows decided to go upmarket
and it closed down. They then opened the PENTHOUSE
on Dixon Lane . Lots of steps !!!! and never the same.

Any memories of DB anyone ???

A bit surprised no one has responded to this one ------
must be some of the old MOJO crowd out there who sampled
DOWN BROADWAY.

Remember also no alco license so we had to get a pass out
and go in the Blue Bell next door (Now Cavells).

Hi Chris, yes I remember Down Broadway but very few MOJO goers went there for very long.
I remember the first record played on opening night but the place was just too small and attracted a different crowd, probably because it was in the City Centre.
It also had themed nights, soul one night , prog rock the next, blues on Wednesday etc. This had the effect of alienating the original MOJO crowd and the place died a death after a few months.
Next up was the Penthouse above the tailors in Castle Market but that was even more off beam, just a drinking club really and soon developed a bad reutation.
Then Stringfellow decided enough was enough and p****d off up to L***s. Cannot bring myself to use the word.

Andy

The DJs used to take their jobs very seriously Down Broadway. As well as Motown, they also pioneered a lot of the early reggae music, Trojan and all that. It was the place where I first heard Prince Buster's "Big 5"
One of the guys there used to use the Isley Borthers' version of "I Hear a Symphony" as his theme. Hearing that record, even The Supremes' version, still takes me back there.
I think Stringy took his good DJs up to the Penthouse with him.
I often wonder what would have happened in case of a fire!!

Was one of the first clubs I went to, wasn't old enough to drink so we'd get a pass out and go to the Stonehouse. Blue Bell was a bit too close, some m8's had been pulled in there for under age drinking. I remember they played some fab music. lots of the drifters, Motown and The Four Seasons. Songs I particularly remember where. Saturday Night at the Movies , My Cherie Amour and Shes Looking Good by Rodger Collins. Never had so much fun with so little alcohol since :)

In the late 60s and early 70s Down Broadway would not let anyone in who was wearing jeans including denim skirts.

The only way to do it was to hide the skirt in the handbag.

How did you get your faded jeans in

Was one of the first clubs I went to, wasn't old enough to drink so we'd get a pass out and go to the Stonehouse. Blue Bell was a bit too close, some m8's had been pulled in there for under age drinking. I remember they played some fab music. lots of the drifters, Motown and The Four Seasons. Songs I particularly remember where. Saturday Night at the Movies , My Cherie Amour and Shes Looking Good by Rodger Collins. Never had so much fun with so little alcohol since :)

I used to go there and IS MAD MICK? NEWEY WEDNESDAY ITE went on to be a steward you took more money than JACK CHARLTON if thats you can you believe we are doing this

My memory of Down Broadway is standing in the shoe shop doorway with my young sisters Paintwheels toy set to spell 'MOJO'. Rolling the wheel onto the back of my mate's hands. They then smudged it and never failed to get in until they caught on at the door and changed the passout stamp.
We used to go from there to the Mustard Seed.
Our drinking {under age} was done in the old Mulberry.

Wow - first started this thread in 2003. Still brings back memories when I walk past the old site in High Street.
Great pass out scam mickey.

Cheers Chris

Hi Folks,

Check out the recent Forum thread about a new Mojo book. Its about local Pop Art painted in some of Sheffields clubs in the 60s, including the Broadway. I did some of those paintings, Broadway included.

There is a book signing with all three authors including Peter Stringfellow on Nov 3 at Trippetts wine bar from 7.30 onwards.

Yes, the Broadway was amazingly small, and certainly was not the Mojo, but I did get some really good nights there. Incidentally, really good soul (now known as Northern) Ska, Blue Beat and Reggae had all regularly been played at the Mojo, so those sounds you heard at the Broadway were just continuing the that ideal.

Thanks for the info - the book sounds interesting - good Christmas pressy !

I have many memories of Down Broadway - but can't remember the decor ?

Please support this everyone.

Cheers Chris

(Keep the faith)

I rember it well great nights does anyone out there remember the night Billy Stewart played he was AMAZING think he died not long after as never saw him anywhere else

Sadly missed the Billy Stewart gig - Must play SUMMERTIME again this weekend - what a record. Only group I saw was BANDWAGON and they were
good.

Cheers Chris

I was there for Billy Stewart. I called Pete Stringfellow a couple of days before to confirm that it really would be him (and not a "copy") since Jr Walker was appearing the same day at Retford's Broken Wheel. Pete assured me it was Billy. We (Rod Dale) and me went there and when we saw Billy we weren't sure. Then he sang. No doubt!

Many, many fond memories of Mojo, "Mojo in the City" - City Hall, and less so Down Broadway - anyone remember Cinderella's in Leeds? But certainly I remember Mojo with affection - even now I'm amazed at the calibre of artists I saw there!

I rember it well great nights does anyone out there remember the night Billy Stewart played he was AMAZING think he died not long after as never saw him anywhere else
I will never forget the Billy Stewart show. I may be wrong but was it not on a Sunday afternoon, I saw Billy and then rushed of to the Highway 61 to DJ, mind you it was a long time ago. Anyone remember seeing Fleetwood Mac there?

In 1971 or 72 I saw members of Yes (Chris Squire, Jon Anderson and Bill Bruford)walking up and down the High St obviously looking for someplace. The someplace turned out to be Down Broadway where they'd played before they became famous. I pointed out where it had been and gave them a potted history before we parted- me to work and them to the City Hall. I also remember seeing Jethro Tull and Johnny Johnsons Bandwagon at Down Broadway, and hearing Get Back played for the first time. It was also the place where I picked up (as opposed going out with someone I was already acquainted with) my first girlfriend only to be dumped when she discovered I hadn't got a scooter! Happy days!

It could have been a Sunday so so long ago.
I too went to the MOJO more then Broadway it was good but we will never have anything to equal the MOJO sorry for all those people who never got a chance to experience it.
Never went to Cinderellas tried the Penthouse a couple of times but not for me.

Yes it was a Sunday that Billy Stewart played the Broadway! Two reasons. Big name artists & groups were cheaper to book on Sundays, and yes it was the same day that Junior Walker and ther All Stars played the Broken Wheel.

I had real dilemma that day. Junior or Billy. Didn't have a car so couldnt do both. Went to see Junior at the Wheel who was a blast! Sad to miss Billy though. With some of his band dying with him that sound was gone forever.

Suppose I was lucky then saw Billy at Broadway and Jnr at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester yes he was a blast as you said.

I used to go to DB for the Monday progressive nights,in fact I was the (world's worst) DJ there,Peter S not knowing what to play.It was fun and I got to see a lot of good bands for free.As was mentioned earlier it was a very small place so they couldn't pull the money in to pay any established bands.But some bands who were just getting known played there.Everybody seems to know that Yes played there but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Jethro Tull.Also the Village featuring organ whizz kid Peter Bardens and later Elvis Costello bassist Bruce Thomas,Woody Kern from Nottingham one of whom was to be in the first version of Roxy Music,and Union Blues from London whose vocalist Nick Payn switched to sax and is currently with Bill Wyman having previously been with Gary Moore and Chas and Dave among many others.Of the local bands there were Shape of the Rain,Pharmaceutical Earthmover and possibly McCloskey's Apocalypse.Also,John Peel came one night and played all sorts of goodies.Incidentally,Fleetwwod Mac never played at either DB or the Mojo but their component members would have played at the latter.

Hi Sirglyn,

Just out of curiosity, what was your real, or DJ name then?

Does anyone remember when DB tried to introduce a classical music night? I went with my then boyfriend and we were interviewed by the Star. We enjoyed it but didn`t go again (can`t remember why not) and I don`t think the idea took off.

.Incidentally,Fleetwwod Mac never played at either DB or the Mojo but their component members would have played at the latter.

Sorry, it was Chicken Shack that played there before they went to America and became Fleetwood Mac

Hi pfn,my name is Glyn Senior,maybe we met.Also,sorry Tommo,Chicken Shack didn't play there either although they were advertised.I'd met their guitarist Stan Webb in London a few days before and he introduced me to his manager Harry Simmmonds who told me he was pulling all his acts from DB.The ostensible reason was that the Stringfellows were messing them around regarding scheduling but the real reason was probably money.Anyway,I had the terrible task of giving the brothers the bad news which resulted in me getting talking to Peter about progressive music and Peter asking me to DJ on Mondays.I think he was more interested in me bringing my record collection than in my dubious microphone skills.He did,however,credit me with introducing him to what he called 'the new music' and we always got on very well.I remember he was very impressed by the Charles Lloyd Quartet.

Hi Sirglyn,
Your name is certainly familar, maybe we did meet. I used to go the Broadway fairly regularly. Interesting what you say about Peter Stringfellow and 'new music'. We were talking a bit about this last weekend when he came up for my book signing. At the Mojo, Peter was well OK with the soul & blue beat sounds, but by 67 was sometimes guessing a bit when it came to the likes of booking say Pink Floyd (booked on the strength of their single Arnold Lane, when of course their Mojo gig was all Interstellar Overdrive type material with a light show!) or Jimi Hendrix (who he advertised as the weirdo from NY and spelt his name Jimmie!) But overall he did fairly well and played a good selection of 'hippie type sounds and US west coast stuff like Love and the Doors.

But he said by the time of the Broadway the music scene was diversifying quite a lot, and he wasnt always sure what would go down well on a particular night. I suppose trying to have different sorts of music on different nights didnt help either!

BTW Peter did play the occasional classical music track up at the Mojo.

or Jimi Hendrix (who he advertised as the weirdo from NY and spelt his name Jimmie!)



BTW Peter did play the occasional classical music track up at the Mojo.

The Ad in the Star was for Jimmie Hendricks but in January 1967 he was not the household name he is today.

The only time I recall classical music being played was the 1812 overture as The Move took the stage to play "Night of Fear". If you were there an earth shattering moment as Sheffield was exposed to this new heavy music from Birmingham for the first time. The modern music press say the Kinks were the first heavy metal band but we know different. Still sends shivers down my spine when I think of that night.

Andyman
It's All Too Beautiful

[i used to go down broadway with my mate we used to love the music and would practise a new dance routine all week till we went there thursday nights.Iremember I used to fancy the guy who worked behind the counter selling soft drinks ect
The good old days they were a good crowd who went there,I met my huband there(Andrew Boyes)we have been married 33 years and have 2 lads
Clare

Down Broadway was one of the first nightclubs I went to. We used to go across the road to the old Mulberry Tavern which was down the side of what is now TJ Hughes but was Walshes back then. Can anyone remember seeing a group called Gospel Garden there, they changed their name to Gethsemane at some point. I was also there when Bandwagon came.

We used to go there to there used to be a man downstairs playing old songs on a piano unless Im getting mixed up with what used to be old number 12 down by the market,Happy Days

Think your getting mixed up The Mulberry was on 1 level and made up of just 2 rooms. We also used The Old Blue Belll (now Cavells) The Golden Ball on Campo Lane and The Dove and Rainbow

Maybe but we used to do exactly the same thing how strange maybe we were there at the same time,I only went to the broadway on thursdays and I fancied the lad behind the bar unfortunatly he wasnt interested and then I met my husband I was 16 and now i am 52
clare

Hi Sirglyn

I thought I remembered Jethro Tull playing there and mentioned it in another post but somebody said I was mistaken saying perhaps it was Blodwyn Pig. Perhaps you can but the record straight?

Tull definitely played at Down Broadway and Blodwyn Pig fronted by Mick Abrahams (Abrams?) who had broken away from Tull played at one of the Stringfellow promotions at the City hall.I think they were supporting the Nice.I was backstage and Mick A who had an air pistol shot up a load of City hall plates and glasses.The manager went effing spare.

Think your getting mixed up The Mulberry was on 1 level and made up of just 2 rooms. We also used The Old Blue Belll (now Cavells) The Golden Ball on Campo Lane and The Dove and Rainbow

Yes the Mulberry was just a 2 room pub. The door opened into the main room and there was another smaller room off to the left

Thats right do you remember that horid little dog that belonged to the landlady yappy thing

at the time of D B i played with a local band managed by stringfellow, we must have played there more than anyone as he would put us on if he couldn't book anybody or bands didn't turn up [which wasn't uncommon] the crowd hated us which wasn't a surprise
as we was pretty poor especially if you'd turned up to see andy bown. any guesses?

Does anyone remember the Golden Egg at the top of Fargate? It was much posher than Wimpey.