Cabaret Club (Oxford Rd, Manchester)
This was a late-night top Cabaret Club on Oxford Road, that had all the top stars performing there and always a lot in the audience.
I played there so many times in my duo STRANGE BREW.
It was owned by Billy Kerfoot who owned a fabulous 1966 Gold Pontiac Parisienne that he had from new reg Number HRJ 8 D. My Partner in the duo bought it of him but that's another interesting story for another day.
I was doing a week there on the same bill with my old friend Billy Fury who was by nature a shy nervous kind of guy in the audience unbeknown to us at the time was Freddie Starr. Billy was on stage doing a bomb and was half way through Haflway to Paradise when Freddie came through the curtains on stage behind him and ushered to the audience to be quiet. As quick as a flash he had the mike of Billy sang one full verse sounding identical to Billy handed him back the mike never said a word and walked off. Everybody screamed laughing including Billy and the band. When we came off Freddie was in the dressing room and had us all in stitches laughing including Billy Kerfoot and his manager - I think his name was Phil. Other people I performed with there was Gerry Marsden The Searchesrs, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Grumbleweeds, Rockin Berries The Mersey Beats and so many more. This was a great club I so often think about the fantastic times all performers enjoyed there.
I hope this brings back memories for others who went to the Cabaret Club back in the day.
Ian Kinsey 11 January 2021
Comments
I think i got the name wrong, Alfie is the name I was thinking of. Did he have quite long black hair at the sides and not so much on top, He Used to take the money at the door as i recall. if so he was a great guy, I liked him ma lot. My partner in my duo STRANGE BREW Melvyn and I had many a good night with him there. Apologies it was a very long time ago.
Many a time, I had to put my school uniform on. My school satchel on my back. Go on the bus with Mum into Manchester. There was a couple of hundred pounds. In it. Went to a Tobacconist shop. Near St Ann's Square. To pay for the cigarette's? that Bill Benny bought to sell in his club.. Mum got a Taxi home every night. He payed for it . On top of her wage's.
Always made sure Mum was safe. She always told us kids. Who'd been on stage. We got so excited. When she told us. That Cliff Richards had kissed The back of her hand. As she shook his hand ?.
Sadly I have no photos at the Cabaret Club, as artists we didn't take cameras with us as we had so much equipment and stuff to organize before every performance. As Paul the webmaster will tell you not many people took photos back then in any venues. I have a million stories from the Cabaret Club as I performed there so many times, Incredible how many of my friends some of which were big stars in the day who not only performed there but frequented it as we did after there shows at other top venues. It had a great stage all lit up in many different colours from underneath the floor, the only problem was it after a short while made your feet very hot.