I was still at school when I first discovered jazz at the Royal Arcade. It was early 1952 and you had to become a member. The card I was given was titled the Club Magnolia. As a 16 year old schoolboy I was more interested in listening and jiving to hot music than who was running the club. I remember that it was unlicensed and the 1st band spot was normally The High Society New Orleans Band (This outfit was a bit too traditional for me) The second spot featured the Bernicia Jazz Band which copied the Eddie Condon sound. Finally the evening would end with the Panama Jazz Band - I always loved to hear Joe McMullen on trumpet as he was a great admirer of Freddy Randell, and attempted to play similar trumpet/cornet licks. This club was my favourite place for jazz until national service in 1954. The club during that period may have changed it's name, although I never had any problem being admitted or asked for a new card. When I came out of the army in 1956, the jazz scene had changed radically; I was now married and so I lost touch with club attendance. You may be right in your assertions. It was a long time ago. I kept the original card in my wallet for years until it finally crumbled away. At 76 years I still love most styles of music except contemporary jazz. It must be my age. I should imagine most of the fans who could corrorobate my story have all passed on by now.
Newton Cleghorn.
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