The Browns Organisation

The Browns Organisation was originally set up by Tommy Brown and his first wife as dancing schools. They opened in Moston, Levenshulme and Stretford and they were known as Browns School of Dancing.

They were all in ex Coop halls, mainly I think because the rents were cheap and it suited the Coop to get these halls off their backs.

Having been reasonably successful as dancing schools the intrepid Tom Brown twigged that what the kids wanted were disco’s, so pretty quickly all the dancing schools were swapped over to disco’s and called various names.

When you consider how early in the disco scene this was maybe he wasn’t as mad as most people thought. In fact he most definitely wasn’t as he has only recently retired from the business having passed on his two establishments in Majorca to his children. He quickly rigged them all out as log cabins, which looked quite effective and was cheap as he had a deal going with the Forestry commission.

So out went the patent leather shoes and in came the twin decks operated by several different wannabe DJ’s and on the whole business was fairly good. He insisted to all his disc jockeys that several times a night they had to play the “Barn Dance and the Rich Rhythm”.

As can be imagined all the budding Jimmy Saville’s thought this was terribly uncool and tried to get out of it. But to no avail the word from Mr. Brown was play it or get out no negoition. In hindsight now I’ve got to say he was right because what it did was get the boys dancing and with constantly changing partners gave everybody a chance to pull.

People still talk to me 30/40 years later about the Rich Rhythm. When you consider what line dancing has done recently maybe he was 30 years before his time.

As time moved on things became a bit more sophisticated with the opening of discos in the city centre and it was time for the clubs to go licensed, and this was really the beginning of the end for both Moston and Levenshulme. Stretford managed to carry on for quite a while but really Mr. Brown had decided to move on with the jewel in his crown which was Uncle Toms Cabin in Little Hulton and later Uncle Toms Cabin in Darwin near Blackburn.

I have written separately about Uncle Toms Cabin as this is the place I know more about.

Kevin Lane - DJ

Browns included barn dancing amongst the pop music - it worked, but not for me.

Paul Mlynarz
webmaster /Phoenix City Smash

"Sometimes we used to venture into Manchester to clubs like Mr Smiths, Top of the Town, Takis, Spring Gardens and Sound, (how we ever got in I'll never know, my mother made me wear short ankle socks most of the time !!) but Browns remained a firm favourite. They used to have a lot of live acts on and we saw groups like the Showstoppers, various versions of the Drifters and lots of good local groups like the Fantastics and a particular favourite Sad Soul. The Phoenix City Smash Band also springs to mind but can't think what type of music they played."

"You mentioned the barn dancing at Browns not working for you ........it did for us as you got to move round the circle with the anticipation of ending up with that certain male you really fancied...more often than not though it was, disappointingly, another girl . We also did a really fast dance in a circle that I think was called the Ritz Rhythm not a clue why ?? Danced to one of my first Northern tracks doing that........ The Radiants - Hold On."

Browns Stretford (Moss Road) March 2004
picture courtesy Graham Pilkington

In more recent years it has been know as the "Stretford Banquetting Suite", but now sites idle. Even the car spares company down stairs have moved out.

Not sure what is happening with the building now :-(

Mike Williams

Sad to see the old building being demolished August 2009

I also remember Browns School of Dancing, but the one I went to was on Oldham Road, facing Monsall Road, I think it was over the top of a conservative club. Wow is it that long ago, about 1960.

I also remember going to Uncle Toms at Darwin to see an act called The Pickwicks, also I remember the resident drummer was a good skin basher called Fred Shawcross. Oh what memories, what would we do without them.

Keith Lock

I went to Uncle Toms at Little Hulton in the 60s. It was a great place to go. Me and my friend Barbara met our husbands there, my friends still married, but I divorced my husband after 17 years.

I'll always have fond memories of Toms. I remember Jimmy Ruffin being on there but I missed him because I went on a date to Swinton.

I also remember being in a competition who could eat the most cream crackers, I lost.

Jacqueline Carty

I started going to Brown's 1967 (only 15, don't know how I did it!)
It was a favorite hang out for a lot of my friends from school/Levenshulme High School.

We used to go there 3 and 4 times a week as I remember.  I loved the Rich (Ritz) Rhythm and met up with lots of cute guys ... I still remember how to do it especially when "Here Comes My Baby" is played on the radio. 

I can't remember any live bands there but we all enjoyed the music the DJ's played.   I can hear a song on the radio and be transported back to that club in a second! Those were the days!

Christine

Started going to Browns in Levenshulme during 1964 when I was about 14 & living in Longsight. I was allowed to go was because my Mum knew it as Browns School of Dancing, & as a dancing school, she knew it must be "respectable".
 
Absolutely loved it...... What a fabulous place for a night out!

I was there every chance I got, usually with my schoolpal Bernard & my cousin Bill when he was home from the Merchant Navy. I couldn't get enough of Brown's.

Also couldn't wait for the Canadian Barn dance (progressive) to be announced, as it was a unique experience for me, enabling everyone to check out the talent at close range. Wow! Never danced with so many beautiful girls since.

As for the Rex Rhythm (pretty sure that's what it was called) a kinda jive version of the Canadian Barn Dance, well I never really got the hang of it, (sad to say Inever learned to jive), although it was great fun to take part in (when I wasn't trying to keep up with my image).

What an absolute brilliant mix of two generations.  The '50s rock 'n rollers meet the '60s merseybeat/rhythm n blues/soul/pop scene.

Many thanks to Tommy Brown for creating such a cool scene for young people.

Bob Mallon

3 December 1965

3 December 1965

I started going to Brown's School of Dancing as it opened in Moston around 1962. It was absolutely great. 

A respectable place to meet the opposite sex, but also a place where you could learn to dance properly, including taking medals. 

Tommy later opened a branch in Levenshulme which is where I met my husband (we have been married for forty years!)

Thank you, Tommy, if you ever read this.   

Catherine Russell (nee Hodgkinson)
29/1/09

Me & my mates use to go to Browns Stretford from 1969 - 71.  Friday & Sunday nights were the best, allthough I was only 17, Tiny the bouncer on the door used to let you into the bar.  Does anyone remember him?

After a few pints we would come out and join in the barn dance & the ritz rythmn as it was known.  These dances, especially the ritz, were a ideal way of chatting up the birds as it was known then - LOL.

I remember seeing Jimmy Ruffin there and will never forget when he patted me on the back that night.  I'm not to sure if Marvin Gaye was on there one night, singing with either Tammi Terrel or Kim Weston.

Memories of Browns and the later Inn Place will allways be with me - they were the best days of my life.

Bill Mottershead
20/2/09

I used to go to Browns on Moss Road from around 1968 -1971.  First junior Browns when you were not allowed in the bar, but we always sneaked in.  Progressing to senior Browns (over 18's)  I remember too seeing Jimmy Ruffin, he touched my hand.  There were lads hanging from the rafters in the ceiling.  It was packed.    Great night! 

I remember Keith Scholes used to be the DJ.  The barn dance and Ritz rythm were the highlight.  Great nights fondly remembered.  Later changed to the Inn Place.  Then the Sands opened in the precinct and a lot of us started going there.   

Janet Garner
14/3/09

Went to Browns a few times the dancing round the handbags rich rhythm tune was by the Glories "I love you babe but I gotta break away GIVE ME MY FREEDOM"

Bernard Roberts
17/3/09

Oh wow what a treat to find this thread.  I was just searching around on Google Maps to trace the steps of my youth and didn't expect to find this.  

I used to go to Browns in Stretford on a Thursday night (I think) as this was the under 18 night.  Probably started about 1967 when I was 15 and eventually progressed to the over 18 nights.  Used to love the Barn dances and met my first boyfried there. Very fond memories.   On the way back to the bus stop going home to Sale we would stop at the chip shop and buy a little tray of chips with gravy that we would share.  Used to see Sammy McIlroy in there nearly every week and often wondered if he stayed with the girlfriend he had then. 

Browns gave me my first taste of independence really and just thinking about the happy times I spent with friends there will put a smile of my face for the rest of the week!

Sheila
5/4/09

I loved going to Browns in Levenshulme, I used to go with my friends Marty Tobin Ann Hamlet Kath Honey loved the barn dance and ritz rythmn.  Rremember lots of levenshulme boys that use to go there, fancied alot of them,Browns use to hold looklikes shows and my friend mary always won the Sandie Shaw look alike,Also remembered a live group playing at Browns The Zodiacs, the DJ was called Jonny.  We used to finish the night of by going to the Don Fish shop.

Those were the great days in mt teens.

Pat Turner (Kerry)
13/4/09

NOW we're talking!  lol.  I spent time at 'most' of Tommy Brown's clubs, between '63 & '70.  Firstly as a punter, but latterly as an employee. 

I lived 100 yards from Browns Levenshulme, (Outside Inn) & ended up working the bars there. 

I also worked at Moss Road Stretford, the Platt Lane Rusholme club occasionally, and Uncle Tom's Cabin at Little Hulton. 

By the way, it's the RITZ Rythm!  Not RICH.  lol.  The Barn Dance, ohh those girls.  lol.  We would dance the Ritz Rythm to 'Fortune Teller' by the Merseybeats, and the Barn Dance to 'She Loves You' by the Beatles, amongst other old favourites of the day. 

'John Renda,' and 'Dave' were the regular DJ's at that time. 

I was thinking of trying to get some kind of reunion going, but HOW is the big question, AND where?  I'm still in contact with one or two 'old' buddies, & I know they'd like to be involved if anyone has any ideas?  They were great times for all of us.  If anyone remembers me, you can guarantee I'll remember you  !  GET IN TOUCH PLEASE?  Bring the grandkids!  lol.

Roy Stringfellow
25/5/09

Hi John Stringfellow, are u still going to get a reunion done for all the Browns fans  I think its a great idea.
Do you still live in Levenshulme  - my two brothers live in Levenshulme Tony and Roy Kerry they drink in the Levvy.  Do you know them ?

Pat Kerry
2/8/09

Yes I remember Johnny Renda, we started at CPC in Trafford Park on the same day !!!   Friend of Keith Scholes.   Remember Sammy Mc being at Browns, he was only 15... yes he eventually married the girlfriend at Browns.... Cyn !  

Great times. 

Anyone heard from Rob Tongue, Harry Khan, Nigel Vey, Ronnie Bannister ????

Janet Garner
5/6/09

During the 3 day week in the seventies I ran The Inn Place Stretford, with a mate of mine Brian Tomlinson.

I wonder if anyone can remember the nights when the electric went off, and we carried on with the help of 12 volt bulbs and low voltage disco decks ! The whole lot of them were powered from a car parked outside the club and cables connected to the battery. We took it in turns to sit in rhe car with the engine running.Those were the days !!!

Kenny Edmund
15/6/09

Hi everybody who remebers the great times at Browns in Stretford.  What a shame the building has gone.  I used to live on Moss Road practically opposite and was a member of the co-op club which inhabited the building before it became Browns, then I took ballroom dancing lessons with Mr Brown and his wife who had silver white hair with pink kiss curls at the front. I thought she was very glamorous!,   I watched the World Cup 1966 there as I was a member of Junior Browns, drank my first coke and kissed my first boyfriend - Roy Austin.

Names- Nige Vey Adrian Dowd Gary Hepellet, Tony Brommley, Barry McCafferty, Tommy Moore, Jean Rushton Harry Khan.kathy O,Shae, Rhona and Mike Gillespie.Phil SaxSpud, Dabber Pauline Columbine, Barbara and Liz Portas.Joan Priest, Les Wyatt ! and many more

PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE a reunion to be held early 2010 at the Greatstone Hotel Stretford.  A great venue...contact via facebook  Janet Holden-Ross or Janet Williams. See you there! Many 'Browns' faces are at Greatstone Hotel over 35s nights - every other Friday at the hotel.  A fab night with all the old tunes and some new ones too!

Janet Ross
15/11/09

Went to Brown's Stretford from about 67 when I was too young but managed to get in. Saw Jimmy Ruffin, Rufus Thomas, Fontella Bass. Carried on going there for years, Inn Place, Stretford Lodge etc. Few pints in the Melly then on to the Lodge!

The early years were the best, barn dance, ritz rythm. I was pretty short and too young and the faces on some of the girls when it was their turn to dance with the baby faced little kid were priceless.

Remember the miming contests; Eddy the rocker used to mime to Elvis. Terry McCafferty used to mime to Motown. The prize was a bottle of Pomaigne!

You'd really made it when you got your card to get into the bar. Funny how the under aged girls never had trouble getting in.  

Some names; Barry McCafferty and all those mentioned by Janet. In Oz these days but getting back in 2010, will definitely get to the Greatstone.

Tommy Moore
15/12/09

I was a social cripple in those days as I could not do the Ritz rythym or the barn dance but great days and astonishing that nearly FORTY years on we are still talking about it !!!! Any body who saw Jimmy Ruffin still remembers the night I suspect the Fire regulations were ignored that night.

There was a big team from Davyhulme that I used to knock about with, the Gillespies, the McMahons, Hank, Kev McManus, Dave and Paul Archer. In the later years do you remember Bingo on a Monday night ? Please please come to the reunion at the Greatstone Hotel we might even do a barn dance. And yes I remember you Tommy Moore.

Les Whyatt
16/1/10

I remember going to Browns in Stretford in the mid 1960s. Before that the room was used for kids it was called The Co-op Club.

I remember we all went to Rochdale to take part in a competion with other Co-op clubs from the north west. We had to answer questions on the history of the Co-op.  I remember we came last.

Great days.

Brian Burns
6/2/10

I went to Browns in Levenshulme from 65 until it closed after it lost its drinks licence about 1970.

The DJs were a guy called Dave and I also remember Ray (RAZ) Birch spinning some discs.

I met my first girlfriend there Barbara Reece and my best pal Billy Hyde married her friend Sue.

Browns was a big part of my teenage years and we even had coach trips to Blackpool and other Browns clubs.

I dont think there were many live acts at Levenshulme but the dancing was fab.

Jim Kirwin
6/02/10