(By Russell/Programme pics courtesy of Keith Belton)
It
had been a great day for the people of Bishop Auckland. The town's football
club won the FA Amateur Cup beating Willington 3-0 in the final. The County Durham
non-league clubs battled for silverware in the final staged at Roker Park,
Sunderland.
The
year was 1939, war was looming but for one day all eyes were on Roker Park. How
many of those who were at Roker Park that day walked across Wearmouth Bridge to
go to the Empire Theatre in the evening? Touring Britain at the time was Fats
Waller and his itinerary included a concert performance in Sunderland!*
The
above story was told by the Tees Valley Jazzmen's Keith Belton
on Aycliffe Radio's Jazz Time programme. Mr Belton, the sole surviving founding
member of the enduringly popular Dixieland outfit, is a big football fan and an
avid collector of match day programmes. An advertisement in the match day
programme that memorable day caught the eye of Belton...Fats Waller at
Sunderland Empire!
Assuming
some people in their teens - let's say 15 year olds - went to the Empire that
night in 1939 they would now be in their mid-nineties. Is there anyone out
there who remembers the day - going to Roker Park in the afternoon and on to
the Empire in the evening?
* The tour also included Newcastle Empire.Russell
3 comments :
... and the Mills Brothers on the same bill!
I wonder if Fats played solo or if he had some Britiish guys with him?
Some football scores that day:
Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Middlesbrough 2 Derby Co. 0
Newcastle 1 Swansea Town 2
New Brighton 0 Gateshead 1
Chester 0 Darlington 0
Barrow 1 Hartlepools Utd 1
My parents went to see Fats on the same tour at Newcastle Empire.
I remember asking her if she could remember anything about it.
She said he was just one of several acts and played and sang three tunes.
Ain't Misbehavin',My Very Good Friend the Milkman and a very fast number probably A Handful of Keys.
My late dad (1925 - 2019) heard Fats at the Empire. Fats appeared as a solo act.
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