Bit Of Brief History Of The Casino A Little Bit Of A Paragraph About Wigan Casino
The song on this audio player ::- Sam Williams / Love Slipped Through My Fingers
Title. Wigan Casino
Northern Soul Wigan Casino ::- Wigan Casino (Form Sept 1973 ~ Dec 6th 1981)
Resident Dj's Russ Winstanley/Richard Searling/Kev Roberts ( and many many others)
Northern soul is the term used in the United Kingdom for a type of mid-tempo and up-tempo heavy-beat soul music (of mainly African American origin) that was popularized in Northern England from the mid 1960s onwards. The term also refers to the associated dance styles and fashions that emanated from the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester and spread to other dancehalls and nightclubs, such as the Golden Torch (in Stoke-upon-Trent), the Highland Rooms at the Blackpool Mecca and the Wigan Casino. Northern soul dancing was usually athletic, resembling the later dance styles of disco and break dancing. Featuring spins, flips, and backdrops, the northern soul dancing style was inspired by the stage performances of visiting American soul acts.
Unquestionably the World's most famous Soul Club, not only nationally, but internationally as well. The influential American music magazine 'Billboard' officially voted it 'The Best Disco in the World' ahead of New York's 'Studio 54' in 1978. Whist appreciating the honor bestowed upon it most of the Casino regulars hated the term 'Disco'. 'Disco' brings to mind expensive cocktails and sharp men in slick suits trying to 'pull' elegant women. None of this at the Casino! It served no alcohol whatsoever, it was too hot and sweaty to wear a suit, although we did and changed into our dancing clothes ready to do the business, and for the most part men and women ignored each other, unless of course they were discussing the latest soul releases. Forgiving our American Friends their ignorance the Casino was never a Disco, it was a Soul Club.
Despite not having the same financial baxkers as the Blackpool Mecca did the Casino was still remarkably successful in unearthing unknown soul obscurities. It also boasted a big turnaround of live American acts. This was not the main reason for its legendary reputation however as both the Torch and the Twisted Wheel brought them over on a more regular basis. It was much more to do with the venue itself which had begun life as a large post-Victorian theatre before turning into a Snooker hall. By the time it became a Soul Club it was more than a little dilapidated but was perfect for the soul lover's tastes. It's main room held a massive wooden dancefloor surrounded by a large balcony. There was plenty of seating downstairs where people could sit and replenish their bodily fluids purely on soft drinks. Just like the Mecca it also had a secondary room known as 'Mr. M's' which opened a couple of hours after the doors had opened. This room was purely oldies and concentrated exclusively on sixties Soul. The Casino had a predominantly R&B policy making it rare to hear anything with a funky influence, although a few did find their way to the turntables, nor did it concentrate exclusively on obscurities as normal issues were well integrated into the Casino playlists. This may well have been a significant factor in the Casino's success as any new member would almost certainly hear something with which they were familiar.
Unfortunately the Casino's success may well have contributed to its demise because as its reputation grew so did its commercial viability. At one stage it could boast a membership of over 100,000 people. Record companies started exploiting Northern Soul favorites by pushing them into the pop charts. White Bands such as Soft Cell started making poor cover versions of the Casino's discoveries in a bid for commercial success. Silly dancers appeared on Top Of The Pops calling themselves 'Wigan's Chosen Few' but the main reason was that DJ's were seduced by the hype and promises of untold riches. Instead of it being a cool underground movement it became embarrassing. The authentic Soul records of the sixties had SUPPOSEDLY all been 'DISCOVERED', try telling the Soulies of today that, so in an attempt to find new sounds they started introducing soul influenced pop songs and tried to pass them off as the genuine article ~ in other words 'crap'!. Alot of the true Soul Fans moved on as the Casino became increasingly populated by curious trendies all wanting to jump on the Northern Soul bandwagon. As well as the introduction of crap music there was the newcomers who only came along to take speed and pretend to be a part of the scene.
On December 6th. 1981 its doors closed for the last time as the local Council shut it down due to the bad reputation the club was getting from the regular drug busts and the local thugs trying to fight the soulies at the local hot dog van apart from the criminal element surrounding the amphetamines.. A few months later in a freak accident the Casino caught fire and was razed to the ground. Despite its later loss of direction the Casino will forever remain a treasured memory for those who were fortunate enough to attend. With Russ Winstanley reaching into his record box after playing the '3 before 8' three times and pulling out Frank Wilson that was the last ever sound played at Wigan ( Who would of guessed its now the worlds most expensive record and last exchanged hands for £15,000! Supposedly there has been 6 more copies surface but only rumors )
Northern Soul Wigan Casino ::- Wigan Casino (Form Sept 1973 ~ Dec 6th 1981)
Resident Dj's Russ Winstanley/Richard Searling/Kev Roberts ( and many many others)
Northern soul is the term used in the United Kingdom for a type of mid-tempo and up-tempo heavy-beat soul music (of mainly African American origin) that was popularized in Northern England from the mid 1960s onwards. The term also refers to the associated dance styles and fashions that emanated from the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester and spread to other dancehalls and nightclubs, such as the Golden Torch (in Stoke-upon-Trent), the Highland Rooms at the Blackpool Mecca and the Wigan Casino. Northern soul dancing was usually athletic, resembling the later dance styles of disco and break dancing. Featuring spins, flips, and backdrops, the northern soul dancing style was inspired by the stage performances of visiting American soul acts.
Unquestionably the World's most famous Soul Club, not only nationally, but internationally as well. The influential American music magazine 'Billboard' officially voted it 'The Best Disco in the World' ahead of New York's 'Studio 54' in 1978. Whist appreciating the honor bestowed upon it most of the Casino regulars hated the term 'Disco'. 'Disco' brings to mind expensive cocktails and sharp men in slick suits trying to 'pull' elegant women. None of this at the Casino! It served no alcohol whatsoever, it was too hot and sweaty to wear a suit, although we did and changed into our dancing clothes ready to do the business, and for the most part men and women ignored each other, unless of course they were discussing the latest soul releases. Forgiving our American Friends their ignorance the Casino was never a Disco, it was a Soul Club.
Despite not having the same financial baxkers as the Blackpool Mecca did the Casino was still remarkably successful in unearthing unknown soul obscurities. It also boasted a big turnaround of live American acts. This was not the main reason for its legendary reputation however as both the Torch and the Twisted Wheel brought them over on a more regular basis. It was much more to do with the venue itself which had begun life as a large post-Victorian theatre before turning into a Snooker hall. By the time it became a Soul Club it was more than a little dilapidated but was perfect for the soul lover's tastes. It's main room held a massive wooden dancefloor surrounded by a large balcony. There was plenty of seating downstairs where people could sit and replenish their bodily fluids purely on soft drinks. Just like the Mecca it also had a secondary room known as 'Mr. M's' which opened a couple of hours after the doors had opened. This room was purely oldies and concentrated exclusively on sixties Soul. The Casino had a predominantly R&B policy making it rare to hear anything with a funky influence, although a few did find their way to the turntables, nor did it concentrate exclusively on obscurities as normal issues were well integrated into the Casino playlists. This may well have been a significant factor in the Casino's success as any new member would almost certainly hear something with which they were familiar.
Unfortunately the Casino's success may well have contributed to its demise because as its reputation grew so did its commercial viability. At one stage it could boast a membership of over 100,000 people. Record companies started exploiting Northern Soul favorites by pushing them into the pop charts. White Bands such as Soft Cell started making poor cover versions of the Casino's discoveries in a bid for commercial success. Silly dancers appeared on Top Of The Pops calling themselves 'Wigan's Chosen Few' but the main reason was that DJ's were seduced by the hype and promises of untold riches. Instead of it being a cool underground movement it became embarrassing. The authentic Soul records of the sixties had SUPPOSEDLY all been 'DISCOVERED', try telling the Soulies of today that, so in an attempt to find new sounds they started introducing soul influenced pop songs and tried to pass them off as the genuine article ~ in other words 'crap'!. Alot of the true Soul Fans moved on as the Casino became increasingly populated by curious trendies all wanting to jump on the Northern Soul bandwagon. As well as the introduction of crap music there was the newcomers who only came along to take speed and pretend to be a part of the scene.
On December 6th. 1981 its doors closed for the last time as the local Council shut it down due to the bad reputation the club was getting from the regular drug busts and the local thugs trying to fight the soulies at the local hot dog van apart from the criminal element surrounding the amphetamines.. A few months later in a freak accident the Casino caught fire and was razed to the ground. Despite its later loss of direction the Casino will forever remain a treasured memory for those who were fortunate enough to attend. With Russ Winstanley reaching into his record box after playing the '3 before 8' three times and pulling out Frank Wilson that was the last ever sound played at Wigan ( Who would of guessed its now the worlds most expensive record and last exchanged hands for £15,000! Supposedly there has been 6 more copies surface but only rumors )