Talk of the North
Eccles

The Talk of the North was converted into a Night Club from the old Majestic Cinema (where I first saw The Wizard of Oz').

I think this would be 1962-1963, I know that when St Pauls YC were running their monthly dances at Eccles Town Hall, that the 'Talk' was never that full. Joe Pullen started getting better acts on the night we had dances. With the demise of the YC in 1963, his competition had gone.
I remember lots of great nights at the 'Talk' for many years after. My sister worked there, so complimentary tickets were always available.

One evening I was stood at the bar with Tom O'Connor as he downed a couple of whiskies, 'dutch courage' before going on stage.

No matter what the venue it was always easy to rub shoulders with the performers before and after the show, there was not the madness associated with celebrity as it is today.

Albert Beckett
13/3/10

Before it was named the Talk of the North it was just The Majestic Club they had disco nights for youngsters.  I remember going there for the first time - I remember they played Cilla Black's Anyone who had a heart. It was 1964 and I was 13 years old

John Walker
8/8/10

I used to work at Barclays Bank next door to the Talk of the North and quite often went there - seem to remember it was OK to go with your mum and dad!!! and I think I saw David Whitfield there when I was with them - I have his autograph.... 

Janet Gregory
8/8/10

Does  anyone remember  my  dad? He  played  the  Talk of  the  North  on  several  occasions -   he  was  a  comedian  named  Ronnie [Cease] Smith.

I  would love  to  be  able to  get  a bill  poster  or  something  with  his name  on  it. I  have  not  got  any memorabelia  of my  father. Does  anyone  remember  him or  seen  him perform  and  is  there  anywhere I  can  get  a  acts  bill  poster  with  his  name  please help.

Mark  Smith
29/12/10

It must be 40 years since I was there, and I was in the area last week but could not locate a site where it might have been.

Somebody mentioned it was next door to Barclay's Bank  at 331 Liverpool Road, but the land is not big enough.

Please advise.

Keith Baron
29/12/10

Hi  Keith

I was the owner of this great club and  yes it was big enough. Please beleive me every time I drive past I even question myself to think that the international stars and the amount of people that this club used to get in is quite good. 

In fact it was  the brain child of Joe Pullin and Fred Talbot.

I often sit back and think about the artists that I had there and when Joe and Fred had it.

Thank you.

Roy Mozley
26/6/11  

This picture was taken in  the Talk of the North office when Joe Pullen owned it.

I was in Tenerife recently and Barbara Law who was quite famous as a glowing singer  gave this to me.

On it, from left to right, is Joe Pullen, Matt Munroe, Barbara Law, Tom Jones & I think, Mike Newman (comic).

They had all appeared there in the last few weeks.

Roy Mozley
7/2/11  

Hi  Janet Gregory

Am I correct to say your dad Ronnie C Smith was the comedian?  If so,  your dad was a great comic - well liked.

I am sorry to say I dont have any pictures or any adverts but will ask around!

Roy Mozley
12/3/11

Hi  Mark Smith

Ref your request were the site of the Talk of the North.

The club was pulled down about five years ago for appatrments that never got of the ground. 

The site was up for sale for many years  - it is an empty building site now   - still next door to Barclays Bank, Liverpool Rd, Patricroft, Eccles.

Roy Mozley
12/3/11

Advertised Sat, 19 Aug 1967

Joe Pullen and Roy Mozley
at the re-opening of the club

Roy Mozley receives the Club Mirror Award for The Best Club of the year from Drifter Johnny Moore. 

Image courtesy Roy Mozley

Another great pic from Roy Mozley!

He adds " I found this in my files one of the great summer seasons at Blackpool in 1964.  Tthe amount of star artists on this picture is un believable!  Here we go - Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Marty Wilde, Matt Munro, David Whitfield, Morcambe and Wise, Jimmy Clitheroe, Des O'connor, Karl Denver, Barbara Law, Eden Kane, The Dallas Boys, Sooty and Harry Corbett., Pinky and Perky, Peter Butterworth (Carry On films), Lonnie Donegan, Danny Williams, Edna Savage, Daley and Wayne, Jimmy Edwards, The Vernon Girls, Billy Fury (at the back of Cliff Richard, you can see the hair).

What a great photo!" 

Robbie Wiliams and Gary Barlow of Take That rehearsing  at
The Talk of the North  when I used to do some dates for them in 1992 - Roy Mozley

I worked at the Talk a couple of times with a duo called The Alexis Brothers before Roy took over. Joe Pullen was a stickler for tradition - ladies could not wear trousers and men had to wear shirt tie and jacket. We were told that we were welcome to have a drink in the club after our set but we had to put on shirt and tie etc!

We wore either white suits or hippie style kaftans and coloured jeans. One time we were told not to wear the suits because Frank Ifield was top of the bill and he wore a white suit. You may remember that the dressing rooms were under the stage and the stage rose on a hydraulic lift up to the club itself. On one of the nights the lift stuck halfway up and poor Frank had to climb up the last few feet to the actual stage, getting oil all over his suit!

He had a lovely young lady with him whom I eventually recognised as Ayshea Brough. I was told she was the daughter of Peter Brough, of Archie Andrews fame, and although Frank was pleasant with us in the dressing rooms she totally ignored us. I think she was a tv presenter on a children's programme but I can't be sure.  (She was, her program "Lift Off with Ayshea was produced by Granada and featured many local groups - Paul.)

The Talk was certainly "the" place to work.

Bob Ainsworth
29/12/11

Can anybody tell me when did Matt Monroe actually appear at the club. Myself and some friends went to see him but I can't remember when it was exactly.

Somebody told me that on one occasion a live animal circus act appeared at the club, can anybody verify that as a fact.
Thank you.

Alan Roberts
18/7/12

My father Jim Harvey  used, as a free lance photographer, to do  lots of work at Talk of the North and Joe Pullen gave the eulogy at my Dad's funeral in 2007.

Maybe his work would reveal some stars -not Robbie I'm sure; twas well before his time.

Deb Newell
26/8/12

I will never forget my mate's engagement at the Talk.  His name was the late Peter Walton - he turned up in a leather coat which in those days cost a few bob ,the bouncers Roy would not let him in, he ended running back to winton to change coats  - ruined the whole night.

Tony Bailey
12/10/12

I remember Roy Mosley when he lived on Grasmere Cresent over the road from my cusons Kevin & Steven Dunne starting up his own group, and later at the Brown Cow Pub Winton. 

Talking to my Mother today she was a cleaner at the talk for quite a while on about £3 week ha ha. in the 60s.  We talked about the old picture house and how it changed into a place for young generation to go to, queuing outside with Beatle boots, Dave Clark Five shirts, girls with bells sewn round hems of dresses.  It was the place to go massive queues down Liverpool Road. My Boy Lolly Pop number one ha ha how times change never to be seen again. 

Tony Bailey
22/10/12  

Browsing this site brought back many fond memories of the Talk. During the 70,s I palled around with Rory Hadfield the Bass guitarist with the Images, they used to play at the end of the evening for folks to dance.

During this time I had the pleasure of meeting many of the acts of that time, and even to enjoy a curry with some at the Medina restaurant on the bridge.

At this time Roy Mozley was a guitar/vocalist,who used to do a very good rendition of Dont let the sun catch you crying, its good to see how well he's done.

Joe pullen left me a lasting memory, for which I still have a photo when he invited me to dress in Edwardian clothing and to accompany him on a Xmas tour of Manchester on a stage coach. The best of times 

Mike Steward
14/11/12

Many happy memories at the Talk of the North.  Lived in Patricroft and Peel Green. I married Roy Talbot - his father Fred Talbot was a partner of Joe Pullens and they ran the the club together.  Fred is still going strong at 93. 

We saw all the good acts, Tom Jones was brilliant, most of the good comedians were on stage including Ted Lune, George Roper and one of my favourites Tommy Cooper who could drink anyone under the table when we stayed behind after a show. 

The Strand Show Band and Maori Volcanics were fantastic.  I remember the steaks being cooked to perfection.  And yes there were live animals on - y father in law tells us funny stories about acts with animals,  those were the days.  

Ann Talbot
19/1/13

Hi Deb Newall
Sorry to say this but I feel quite sure you are mistaken about the rules reference leather jackets. When Joe had it these was his rules and then as times changed it was Roy's rules and leather coats were allowed in with the doormen  - we still have quite a few photos of people in the club with leather coats.

Roy Mozley
18/1/13

Yes Matt Monroe was at the Talk of the North - I saw him about 1983 (not sure) I well remember a young girl asking me who was he! I knew a compere and got a free pass. I used to lean on the bar eating the glazed cherries until they took them away. What a great club!

Ken Partington
25/1/13

I remember working with Bob Monkhouse at the Talk when I was in a harmony trio called "Piece of Harmony ". On the first night Bob came into our changing room, and asked if anyone of us had a white handerchief, to put in his top pocket, we had one and let him use it. On our final show of the week, we came off stage to our changing room,to find 3 white silk handkies on our dressing room table. Still remember him being one of the nicest, immaculately dressed comedians I had ever met. A true gentleman.

Ted Tuksa
16/2/13

Hi. Good to see a memory about the Maori Volcanics from New Zealand who performed at the 'Talk' in the mid 70's. I was the drummer in the band at that time and have many terrific memories about our times in Manchester and playing at such a great club as the Talk of the North. Of interest, the band is based these days in Sydney Australia and still performs in this part of the the world. I live in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Dean Ruscoe
5/3/13

I've loved reading all the comments about the Talk. My nana worked at the Talk for years as head cleaner  - she's called Alice Foy for anyone that would remember her. I'm going to visit her next week and I'll ask her about the club and post some of her memories on here for you to read .

I do remember going with her to clean on a Saturday morning after the night before to get the place spruced up for the saturday night and the smell of tobacco and stale drink. I must of been about 7-8 ish so were talking late 70s and I remember sitting in one of the "booths" on the left as you walked in to the main room and playing with my barbie dolls whilst Nana cleaned.

I also remember the pictures of famous people on the walls on the corridor. What a fantastic place to go to as a kid.. And even now if I smell stale drink and tobacco it takes me right back to the Talk . 

Vicki Russell
5/3/13

We were regulars every Sunday night and always sat with Father Dalston on his table (prime position on the balcony).

Johnny Mansell was the compere there for years, whatever happened to him ? 

John Ackerley
17/3/13

Does anyone remember Ronnie 'Cease' Smith - comedian at the Talk late 50's, early 60's? 

Wendy Mattioli
3/4/13

Hi Janet Gregory and Wendy Mattioli, I worked with Ronnie Cease Smith many times in the early 60s Manchester club scene, particularly when I was resident compere at The College Club in 1965 and resident compere at The Talk of the North in 1966/67.

He went to Australia with Eddie Grant (comedian) when I was already there after 1974. You should try and contact Al Showman (comedian) who is still working in Australia, likewise Noel Talbot.  You will get them both on Facebook.

Will be working in Oz myself in May,so will make some enquiries.

Good Luck!

Paul Stevens
paulstevensentertains.info
22/4/13

Ronnie "Cease" Smith and I shared a bedroom Pro digs in the Argoed Arms South Wales and we worked together on a few occasions, a great guy and a great Comic, I was led to believe that the Cease was to do with Radio appearances, with only three minutes he didn't want the audiences laughter cutting short is time for patter.

We were also pals with another good "scouse" comic Al T Kossy.

Alec Owen
18/5/13