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Samuel Ogden Street
Manchester
See also Drokiweeny |
"Mr Smiths was split into 2 parts. It later became a Hippy Club on a Sunday night.
As you entered you had a room with a stage, saw Curved Air & Atomic Rooster there. Then you went through a small tunnel into a room with a podium in the middle where they used to have a DJ."
Chris
I was surprised to see little about Mr Smiths club, another great place, cabaret room, disco room and a quite place for a drink they called the Bus Bar. The resident band were called The Ken Roy Sound, run by Ken and his brother Ronnie. We had some great times there after the club had closed at 2am, the owner used to crack open the champagne with the artist that had been on at the time. I would be sipping bubbly with the likes of Dick Emery and millionaires. Heady days, I was earning just £15 a week then! I remember once Selwyn Demmy sending me a brandy over. It seems unreal as I look back, it could never happen these days. Bring back the clubs I say.
Stuart
"In the very early sixties, most of the groups went to Mr Smiths for a drink, after they had finished their gigs and got back to town. You were always sure of bumping into some one you knew. Most of us got free membership, I don't know if it was because we were musicians or we just spent a lot of money there.
They nearly always had top line acts on, among others I remember seeing Johnnie Ray with the Derek Hilton Trio, they did a private show after the club closed, Johnnie was asking those who had stayed what was their favourite song, then he would sing it, he knew the words to every thing, I will never forget that night, what an entertainer.
Lonnie Donegan also did a week ( about 1963/4). I had a front table booked for the week, I think everybody I ever knew, turned up for a seat, even Diana Dors one night, I can't remember who she was with.
What a night club. "
Butch Mepham
This place holds very bitter memories for me. We heard that Denny Laine and his Electric String Band were appearing here and could hardly contain ourselves as we had just bought 'Say you don't mind' and loved it to bits.
I rolled up on the night with my best pal and fellow band member, Rod Gerrard, only to be informed that you had to be a member for 48 hours before being allowed in. We argued and begged but the management wouldn't relent, even though we played there on occasions.
Within months, Denny split the band and the chance of ever seing them live again dissappeared.
Geoff Parkinson
In the late sixties early seventies you could see the likes of Georgie Best and Mike Summerbee propping up the bar, ususally on a Saturday night after the match. We used to have a right good time with them. Boy did they think they were the bees knees, but they always insisted on paying for our drinks, and were really nice to us.
Valerie Parkinson-Fletcher
I worked at Mr Smiths in 1970 when a was a student. The mix of people was amazing. Whatever happened to the old crowd?
Christine Stephenson
I only have hazy memories of the club but I do remember a trio performing there whose drummer was called Garry Leeds. Garry who?
Well, he was the drummer with the Walker Brothers who had quite a huge following, mainly female and had charted on more than one occasion. This was not too long after the Walkers split and I'd guess about 1968/69. It could easily have been The Gary Leeds Trio but I just can't remember. (Was it Gary Walker's Rain?)
Tony Dixon
I was the entertainments manager at Smiths in the early '60s and remember well such acts as Dusty Springfield, Tommy Cooper and other top acts at that time.
Smiths also had a large casino and the General Manager was Bill McGleish, the owner was Paddy Mckiernan and the London Director was well known organist Alan Haven.
I had previously worked for the company at the Star Ballroom in Maidstone and the Witch Doctor at Hastings which had such groups as the Animals, Nashville Teens and a great favorite little Stevie Marriott with his band Steve Marriott's Moments.
John Warner
I was the General Manager in the mid sixties and introduced the gaming and the bus bar. As an entertainments promoter I did one of the best promotions ever - Miss Smith Mini-bikini beauty comp which was good for the era as the mini skirt and car were the rage.
It was a sell out, and the top prize was 10 pounds.
Peter Sheils
19/7/09
I worked with Brian Poole, ex Tremeloes as lead guitarist in his backing band, the Ovation.
We did Mr. Smiths a number of times in 1970. The resident band were Howard Morgan and the Saphire Wheel, I think!
It's along time ago. Anyone remember?
Terry Page
3/11/09
Does anyone remember a lady called "Pat" who worked at Mr Smiths in the early 60s? I believe she was a sandwich girl? She would have been in her early 20s, with blonde hair.
Penny Laine
19/11/09
I remember coming out of the disco part there one night and on our way out up on the little stage was Dick Emery doing his stage act. He had an audience of chicken in the basket people ! The record 'SIMON SAYS' was out at the time.
Philip Hindley
13/1/10
Funny coming across this site because I went to Mr Smiths in Catford must have been late 1960. I cannot remember exact dates but we also traveled up from London to Mr Smiths in Manchester.
I will always remember it because I saw the Bonzo Doo-dah Band - anyone else see them there?
Jacky Williamson
19/1/10
Does anyone here know where the bands would have played in relation to the building as it is now? Be interesting to know. I think, by looking at the photo, that the building that was 'Mister Smiths' is still there now and is a Japanese Restaurant, next to Bannatynes gym?
Mark Jones
19/1/10
My late mother (Barbara) worked as a Croupier at Mr Smith's in the late '60s. I was about 10 at the time so never visited but loved to hear the stories of all the stars that visited, especially the Man Utd footballers and Coronation Street cast. I had a green autograph book which my mother took to work and it was filled with many autographs from celebrities of the day.
Unfortunately, a regular visitor to the casino table my mother worked on (I can't remember who but I think it was one of the Coronation Street Cast) offered to take the book away to get more autographs for me and managed to lose the book!
Collette
28/3/10
My dad, Bill McLeish, was the manager of Mr Smiths in Manchester in 1965 before we moved to London where he opened and managed Mr Smiths in Catford until 1967.
I can tell you Catford Smiths was a roller-coaster ride for dad and the family due to the unwanted attention the club received from competing London gangsters - the Haywards and the Richardsons along with their "enforcer" Mad Frankie Fraser. Basically both gangs wanted to "protect" the club and it all ended up in a wild west style shoot-out in March 1966 which sent one of the gangsters straight to hell and several others to Lewisham General Hospital with gunshot and various other nasty wounds.
Two good things came out of it - The Richardsons all got nabbed and my dad and the family went back to Smiths in Manchester - a much friendlier place let me tell you!
Bill McLeish
27/5/10
I remember The Sunday night sessions at Mr Smith's titled 'Electric Circus' (circa 1969-1970) part of the proceeds went to support the undergound magazine 'Grass Eye' and was part promoted by the brother of a girl friend. The premier band who played on a number of ocassions were Van Der Graaf, also Greasy Bear and Nazareth were also around.
Tony
29/5/10
These dates are from the Manchester Evening News:
- Denny Laine's Electric String Band - 17 September 1967
- The Move - 15 October 1967
Nick Warburton
26/6/10
I think the building has been knocked down. The white building in the picture is the Union (now the New Union) on Canal St. I think the building used to be on the junction of Brazil Street and Samuel Ogden Street by the side of the canal next to what is now Eden.
Alan
22/7/10
I worked for Paddy McKiernan between 1964 and 1968 first at the 'Witchdoctor in Hastings and then Mr Smith's in Manchester and Catford in London as Manager and assistant manager to John Warner and Bill Mcleish.
Great times at Mr Smith's, wonderful acts and wonderful staff and punters. Smith's on a Sunday night was the place to be and we were able to put some of the top act in the country. Cabaret at midnight during the week again was the place to be and be seen with many weeks sold out.
Happy days.
Tony Powell
18/8/10
I started in 1972 as a glass collector and became a semi-resident DJ there for a few years. They were honestly the best years! A prominent person was the head bouncer, who also worked as a wrestler, but I can't remember his name (perhaps Brian?).
I worked in the main bar, mid week it operated as a strip club with I think about 8 strippers on a Wednesday night, and just two on Fridays?
I have spent many hours researching this club because I would just love to see some inside photos, and yesterday I finally went back to Manchester all the way from Brighton after 30+ years to investigate.
I spent hours in the library, there were no photos there other than the one shown above. I found Brazil Street, now very shortened due to a massive redevelopment, and then found Samuel Ogdens Street, which again is interrupted by the new development.
I'm afraid that I had to conclude that the whole building and that part of the streets has been demolished by the new development.
When the club became the 'new Mr. Smiths Club' with new management I was quickly laid off, I still carry resentment after 30+ years! (Not really ;> )
My sister Janet Partington also worked behind the bar there. We had fantastic times.
Incidentally, all of the staff became quite immune to the strippers, (well you would after a while!) But there was ONE, who had a snake. When she did her spot, all of the staff used to stop working to watch her. It wasn't about sex; she was just very professional and compelling.
Regarding the music, it was mostly pop in the main room (Mr. Magic Man, Wilson Pickett ... Feel the need in me, Detroit Emeralds), while in the Drokiweeny it was more Soulish, perhaps Northern Soul mostly.
There was also a third room for chilling out in, and the rooms were linked by bright ultra violet corridors with pop art 60's walls.
With my visit to Manchester yesterday I am sad that the place no longer exists, I always had a dream of going inside it once more. If anyone has any internal pictures I would love to see them.
Ian Partington
24/8/2010
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