Sheffield History Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 THE FIESTA CLUB LOCATION Sandwiched between Arundel Gate and Pond Street PICTURES The Whiteman Brothers Live At The Fiesta FACTS Quote 2 of the owners of the Fiesta Club were Keith and Peter Lipthorpe, They bought up an old Cinema in Norton, Stockton on Tees, and converted it into a Nightclub. They named this club "The Fiesta". "This was about 1970....It was very successful and had all the great Artistes of the period working there including "The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison , Pitney and lots of other great names..At the peak of their success they opened another club in Sheffield also called "The Fiesta"...Sadly in the end, both business ventures failed as did many other night clubs only to be replaced by Disco's." The Fiesta Club had a resident band - this was "The Terry Clayton Band" for most of the venue's lifetime but there was another resident band at one point, The Andy Wardough band that was accompanied by dancers. The manager of the Fiesta during the 70's was a man called Frank Pickering. There was a boxer by the name of Ronnie Crookes who was the much feared doorman. The bar staff were made to pull half pints into pint glasses whilst the acts were on, so that when it got busy between acts it was quicker to pull the pints for the customers !! One of the beers served was 'Camerons' and it's reported to not have tasted very nice ! Food was chicken in a basket, with lettuce and tomato or scampi and chips. (waitress service too) The club itself was very dark, with much of the only light coming from the lamps on the tables ! There's some people who have told us that there used to be telephones on each table too and you could call other tables up with them ? (can anyone confirm this ?) There was a hypnotist that played the club regularly - Martin St James who was a small man with a goatee beard who used to have a clinic just off high street. LIVE ACTS THAT PLAYED THE FIESTA Bee Gees Michael Jackson and The Jacksons Bob Monkhouse Bruce Forsyth Cilla Black Del Shannon (1971) Edwin Starr Eve Graham (full week of shows 22nd-28th September 1974) Freddie Starr Gene Pitney Gladys Knight Glen Campbell Hot Chocolate Jimmy Ruffin Joe Pass (1974) Junior Walker Ken Dodd Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen Les Dawson Larry Grayson Lou Christie Middle Of The Road Mike and Bernie Winters Mike Read Nookie Bear Norman Wisdom Showaddywaddy (21st, 22nd, 23rd Sept 1974 & 21st, 22nd, 23rd Sept 1978 & 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th Feb 1980) Stevie Wonder The Beach Boys (6 nights - November 29th to December 5th 1970) The Drifters The Dubliners (24th March 1973) The Four Tops The Jackson Five The New Seekers The Temptations Tommy Cooper Tommy Hunt Tony Christie *did you go to the Fiesta club ? do you know of any facts or bands that are missing from this post ? if so click 'reply' now and let us know !* LINKS Picture of the Fiesta - http://www.ronsandersoncollection.com/disp...3&gallery=2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted February 24, 2007 Author Share Posted February 24, 2007 There were 'Fiesta Fawns' - does anyone know what these are ? (bar staff/waitresses/dancers ?) They wore little purple dresses and silver fishnet tights. Later this was changed to red plastic hot pants and white plastic boots. Also Marc Bolan and his band T-Rex were booked to play at the Fiesta for one night. When they saw the place they refused to play, saying that the Fiesta was too grand and not the sort of place they played at ! The next day Marc Bolan was on a panel show on Radio Sheffield with local DJ Ray Stuart and spoke of the night before's happenings.. Bolan stated that the booking contract had stipulated a maximum entry fee of ten bob, but he had found that the Fiesta was charging much more, and so he pulled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickjj Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 My sister worked there for a few years from it opening and used to get us Comp tickets. We also got to meet a lot of the stars for autographs etc. My dad was in his element when he got to meet his musical heroes Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. More acts that played the Fiesta George Macrae Ella Fitzgerald Ray Charles Auther Connelly Sam & Dave The Grumbleweeds Detroit Emeralds Ben E King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tsavo Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Also, The Shadows and Brenda Lee. The Shadows roadie dropped one of the PA speakers off the stage and knackered it. I know, I was called in 20 minutes before they went on to try and fix it. No chance, it was a horrible mess. Brenda Lee was a disappointment, sang all her hits but in new arrangements. All the fans wanted were the originals. Had my most embarrasing moment there but will save that for another day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest knighty59 Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Jack Jones played the Fiesta. I know this as my parents went to see him, my late Mum being a big fan. They both spoke to him at the bar with his then girlfriend Susan George. I also saw Hot Gossip there towards the end of the Fiesta. There was some secretarial awards ceremony on that night (my girlfriend at the time was in the running for one of the prizes so i also went along) and Hot Gossip were booked for the entertainment......presumably to encourage the males to accompany their respective partners. The Black Abbotts (starring Russ Abbott before he went solo) also played there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tsavo Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 The resident band leader, Tony Clayton's family had a paint & wallpaper shop on Middlewood Rd near Darwin Rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickjj Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 Just remembered Seeing Neil Sedaka there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest knighty59 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I had tickets, bought for me as a birthday present, to see The Nolans but the club closed a few weeks before they were due to appear.............Can't believe i am actually admitting that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 The Nolans were ace and I heard they were fab live too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest knighty59 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Just been reminded by my Dad that The Fortunes also appeared at The Fiesta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 10, 2007 Author Share Posted March 10, 2007 I wish we could find some photo's of the place There just doesn't seem to be any of the inside of the place.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingpig Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Managed to get these couple of pics of the old Fiesta from a book somebody gave me a few years ago both photos according to the book were taken in 1976 I can remember now the stage being used as a dance floor when the acts had finished and during the intervals. Don't you think the girls outside the entrance look quite excited possibly about the tickets they have just bought but surley not for the Barron Knights?????. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 Fantastic - many thanks for posting that as it's something we've been looking for for quite some time !! I'd never seen inside the Fiesta before so it's great to see what it looks like ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejayone Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 I love 'people watching' on these old photos. The woman in the white dress, bottom-left, looks really excited (honest). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 Interesting to see a dancefloor actually up on a stage though These days dancefloors are usually sunk down so people look down onto thtem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingpig Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 The stage was used after the acts had finished using It, the resident band would start (or the DJ) and the audience were invited up to use the stage as a dance floor I suppose this would not be allowed now for health and safety reasons. Looks quite a drop to the floor level!!!!. there was also another room which was strictly used as a Disco complete with a real dance floor DJ lights etc. I went there many times and even spent my 21st birthday in there,also remember seeing the Jackson 5 in 1979 complete with the then babyfaced Michael. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 I wonder if anyone fell off the dancefloor and onto a table ? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingpig Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 It must have happened, surely all that alcohol, low lighting, loud music, a recipe for disaster :: :: :: :: :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 Imagine having chicken in a basket, only for 'Tracy' to come crashing down onto it in her 'ra ra' dress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingpig Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 It's the thought of the damage those knee high white boots could do that worries me!! :D :D :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest J.A.C. Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Hi There Saw Roy Orbison with full orchestra behind him a truly great night. Why can't we have venues like this nowadays. Regards Jim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 18, 2007 Author Share Posted March 18, 2007 Hi Jim (welcome to the site by the way !) I agree The cabaret circuit/clubs will definitely re-appear I have no doubt and I think that we'll soon see places like the Fiesta open again in the next 3 or 4 years. It's a huge gap in the market now and whoever opens this kind of venue in Sheffield will clean up (provided they do it right) It was the same with comedy clubs - thankfully Toby Foster and his gang of comedians sorted that by opening up in Sheffield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejayone Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 It was the same with comedy clubs - thankfully Toby Foster and his gang of comedians sorted that by opening up in Sheffield. 'ang on! The Last Laugh is the longest running comedy club in Yorkshire - and has been going in Sheffield for many years. It has and still does happen at The Lescar - which is ALWAYS sell-out. Standing room only at the back. A superb night out in a 'proper' small comedy club venue. They moved to The Roundhouse when the Lescar could have sold out more than 7 nights a week (and they were too lazy to do seven nights a week!). http://www.sheffieldcomedy.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 You miss my point They were in a small back room at The Lescar but that didn't fill the gap in the market that they filled by going big time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejayone Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 You miss my point They were in a small back room at The Lescar but that didn't fill the gap in the market that they filled by going big time Ahhh - see what you mean. I used to go to the Lescar every Thursday at one bit. Saw some brilliant acts there, including Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble, et al - all before they made it really big. Toby Foster is just brilliant as the Compare - although it is nice if you're a regular for another compare to fill in every so often. Anyway - I guess that's for another thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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