DAL AND DADIO A DJs STORY

This story is dedicated to all the very many teenagers, perhaps thousands who attended both the Gaumont and the Majestic during our rock 'n' roll evenings.  Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I hope it will bring back good memories to them, and their families behind the scenes of Dal and Dadio.

1959-1961 

Ray Moore What more can I say about Ray mentioned many times in the book it was he who really brought rock 'n' roll to Bradford with his insight of what was required. Bradford's many rock 'n' roll groups all played many times over his period at the Gaumont ballroom.

1957-1961 

Laurie Lawrence Majestic Ballroom. I played with my group there a couple of times so knew him, but not as a DJ. Another of nature's gentlemen.

1961-62 

Bob Mitchell  Gaumont also later The Majestic.  From the South of Watford.  he didn't really follow where Ray had left off. We still had the groups and Stars but he also took over the Majestic when Mr. Lawrence left and would spend most of his time there. He put an embargo on how many records we could buy, and sadly Della had to go. He was Bingo orienteered, news to Dadio and me that this would be the end of this and other venues to Bingo. The Gaumont Ballroom closed in Jan 1962.

1962  The Majestic 

Bob Mitchell. I had moved to the Majestic in 1962 without Dadio on my own for some time. However, as more stars appeared there it was hard work sorting things out. I told Bob Mitchell who agreed for him to join me. And Dadio was back!

1962-63 The Majestic 

Carl Glass. After months of  Bob Mitchell who left and went back to the 'smoke', Carl was a disc jockey's dream. Small of stature, very smart in his dinner suit, quite young, but very efficient, and likable. 

In our introduction, we had a meeting in his office regarding records to buy, and to play how many, no problem. He would ask us about the local groups to choose from. He also had a Top Rank Monthly Newsletter for pop stars who he could book, and wanted our advice!. So, most of the stars and groups were really booked by Dal and  Dadio, up and well into 1963.

It was a secret Dadio and myself kept throughout our time together, Carl was a star. Carl was with us for over a year, our best days. I often wished to have a photograph of him (anyone out there got one, as he would be in, Stars of Another Kind.

Late 1963-65?

Harry Radley, from Nottingham, and from the sublime to the ridiculous. 

Both Dadio and I knew Carl would be a hard act to follow, and it was. From the start, back to cut down on buying the latest pop records which were embarrassing for us, so we couldn't play requests. We knew also that he was bingo bound. And he would later succeed  We went on to have some good nights and top stars. However, Terry left in late 1964, and I soon followed. 

A few months later in 1965, our wonderful rock 'n' roll days were now numbered as venues to play and dance like the Gaumont and the Majestic were now bingo halls. Very sad.

The Gaumont 1961-1962. 

Other amusements. 

Through the management of Ray Moore, there was a feature of many off-beat competitions for the girls, hairstyles, Miss Personality, and others, prizes were compacts or tins of hair lacquer. 

For the lads generally, solo bop is always a favourite, and nearly always won by Radar ( Robert Dewhirst).  Their prizes are brush and comb sets, as well as for the girls and boys free tickets for the pop stars appearing at the Gaumont Theatre.

The main competition would be for jiving couples, and always very good in which the winners were always given a prize of £1 each, all very well earned. In some of the competitions, Ray would have the prize awarded by some celebrity, like Bradford's wrestler Dennis Mitchell and Diana Winnard, winner of the Miss Bellair competition was judged and awarded with £10 and a year's supply of Bellair hair spray by top hairstylist Raymond, Mr.Teasy Weasy. 

Most of these were recorded by the Telegraph and Argus, however no longer available.

The christmases at both the Gaumont and the Majestic were always good with hundreds of balloons blown up by the staff, including Dal and Dadio. It was still soft drinks, but everyone always enjoyed themselves, lovely times. At the Majestic, The New Year celebrations were just the same although in 1963 I let the New Year in three minutes too early. And no, I had not been down to Viv's Bar for a quick half.

A Star of another kind was Barbara, a young girl who worked in the record department of Woods Music shop on Sunbridge Road. It was here that Dadio and myself purchased the recent hit records to play at the Gaumont, and Barbara and both the other girls Linda Wilkinson and Dawn Moss knew all the hits and were always spot on from their choice. At that time we both took the requests on the stage which was so popular that a queue would form, so as well as putting on the records, and taking the teenager's requests it was beginning to be a non-entity.

One of the female staff who was particularly helpful was Barbara, who over the next few months was to helped to change the DJ lineup. It was the manager Ray who came up with the idea. Why not have some nice attractive girl on stage who could sit with us and make out the requests as well as have the record ready to play? It was Barbara who filled the criteria, being attractive, and conversant with the pop scene requests. 

So Barbara joined us for the Wednesday nights, and it was Ray who gave her the name DELLA. So it was now DAL, DELLA, and DADIO  with Della sitting by the side of us, and she was soon accepted by the teenagers and contributed well to the act. It was such a success she appeared with us on the "Sunday Big Night shows.

Both Dadio and I had been in a rock 'n' roll group and could sing. However, the odd time we did a number with our local group, the Everly Brothers Dream or Whole Lot of Shaking Going On, or better still if a piano was available for Dadio. 

Among those who put up with us were The Mel Clarke Four, Terry Sexton and the Shakes, The Toledoes, The Dingos, and even The Cresters. A few times with the Baronknights who were good friends at the time, and our favourite group,  Lee Walker and the Travellers. One time they were booked at the Majestic in Hull on a Saturday in October and asked us to come over to join them on stage. We had a wonderful night doing a few numbers. 

It was a trip in thick fog, very cold, and no motorways, in Terry's Ford car. And back home at 2 am. This story does not end there, before leaving Lee gave us each an envelope, inside was a signed photo of the group, and a £10 note.

It is Ironic that the Top Rank Majestic in Hull closed at the same time as our Majestic in 1965 to,you've guessed it. Bingo.

A tribute to our Gaumont and Majestic teenagers.

I must put on record that the teenagers at all our venues were great. They were all our friends, and we knew most of their names with many "hellos" and greetings. Dadio and me looking back could never remember any real problems, fall-outs or misbehaving over our time there.

We were very lucky and remember that most of us had gone through the war as children, and then working, and some were off doing their National Service.

It was hard some days for them but were always compensated with their laughter, smiles, joy, and happiness, for those few hours at The Gaumont and The Majestic.

I know that Dadio, the late Terence Moran would have said the same. Thank you to all our rock 'n' roll teenagers of that time.

Dal and Dadio

Great jivers and singers.

One thing about our teenagers, both male, and female they were terrific Jivers. One particular record was played at least twice a night especially for the top jivers, although everyone took part. It was called the 'Fickle Chicken'  by The Atmospheres. 

On a very crowded floor, it took off and soon had heads bobbing, skirts flaring, all gyrating and spinning around. After a while, a few would drop out, but many stayed on the dance floor. 

Sometimes we would put the speed faster shouting "Whose Chicken?", but only for a second or two. After 2 minutes and 4 seconds, we always stood up and gave them a clap, plus a "well done" through the mic, it was pure joy. This was the Majestic teenagers at their best.
I do hope, you may have been one of those teenagers who did 'The Fickle Chicken'.

Leroy Van Dyke's big hit was, 'Just Walk on by, wait on the corner'.

It was also a big hit for our Majestic teenagers for one thing only, they could join in. We used to sometimes say things during the playing of the records, one which was started by Dadio became a request many times. For a laugh. 

When it came to "wait on the corner"  the sound was turned down and the teenagers sang "wait by the Town Hall". All in fun, and they all joined in. 

Dal and Dadios Hello and Goodnight

Hello:  We never had an introduction theme to start the evening off. We would be on stage at 7 30 with plenty of banter, in between speaking of forthcoming stars or groups.  At 8 o'clock, now with the dance floor bouncing, we would say good evening and ask for requests. This always worked well, and 99% of the teenager knew the format.

Goodnight: There was a difference. At 10.20  there were two end-of-night discs we always played, and they knew it. Those lads and lasses had jobs in the morning. However, it was always the chance for ten minutes to say hello, or goodnight to a girlfriend, boyfriend, or someone they had just met, in fact, a smooch. Many would drift off for coats, but just as many couples had a few minutes to say goodnight. 

Near the end of the evening at 10:30 Dadio or myself would say "Goodnight everyone, goodnight" .
Here are the two records, we always played at 10:20.

The Cascades, 'Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain' 

Richard Anthony, 'Walking alone at night'.