Soul Survivors Wigan Casino Story

Wigan Casino Photos
Soul Survivors Wigan Casino Story City
Wigan Casino Northern Soul
Soul Survivors Wigan Casino Story Movie
Soul Survivors The Wigan Casino Story

Soul Survivors: Wigan Casino Story 50 and surviving, Graham Jackson nearest the camera from wolverhampton. The sweaty energy of Wigan Casino, and more orange An online community archive.

About the Author:

Russ Winstanley, who first conceived the idea for the Wigan Casino all-nighters, was the resident DJ at the club from its beginnings in September 1973 to its closure in 1981. Voted Britain's number-one disco DJ three times, he has been a contributory factor in many chart successes, including top-ten hits for The Tavares, The O'Jays, Edwin Starr and Franki Valli. He worked on several documentaries about the Casino for radio and television. David Nowell was a regular at Wigan Casino from 1975 to 1981. He has been a journalist since 1974, working in various senior roles - from crime reporter to deputy editor - on several evening and weekly newspapers.

Synopsis:

Wigan Casino opened in 1973 and in eight years the all-night Northern Soul sessions achieved fame, notoriety and legendary status. Sixteen years later the timeless music and nocturnal lifestyle created is enjoying a revival. Written by the founder of the Casino and a former regular, presenting memories and anecdotes. Originally published in 1996.

'About this title' may belong to another edition of this title.

The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, England. Operating between 1973 and 1981,^[1] it became known as a primary venue for Northern soul music. It carried forward the legacy created by clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester, the Chateau Impney (Droitwich), the Catacombs (Wolverhampton) and the Golden Torch (Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent). It remains one of the most famous clubs in Northern England.^[2] In 1978, the American music magazine Billboard voted Wigan Casino 'The Best Disco in the World', ahead of New York's Studio 54.^[3]

Wigan Casino Photos

This England, a TV documentary about the Wigan Casino, was filmed in 1977. Russ Winstanley and Dave Nowell wrote a history of the club, Soul Survivors, The Wigan Casino Story, which was published in 1996. A stage play by Mick Martin about the Wigan Casino years, Once upon a time in Wigan, debuted in February 2003 at the Contact Theatre in Manchester and has since toured nationally.

History[edit]

Wigan Casino was the name of the last incarnation of a Wigan ballroom called the Empress. Local DJ Russ Winstanley and Wigan Casino manager Mike Walker approached lease owner Gerry Marshall to run all-nighters. Walker brought Winstanley, who had a DJ set at the local rugby club, to the Casino Club. At 2 am on Sunday 23 September 1973, Wigan Casino started its first-ever Northern soul all-nighter, with Winstanley as the DJ. After Winstanley and his helper Ian Fishwick, Kev Roberts was the third DJ at Casino all-nighters, who was quickly joined by Richard Searling^[4] Soul performers that performed there include Jackie Wilson, Edwin Starr and Junior Walker.

Young people from all over the UK regularly attended Wigan Casino to hear the latest northern soul artists and to dance. There were long queues to get in. The second dance floor, Mr M's, stayed open until 6 am and played oldies songs from a variety of DJs including Dave Evison and Steve Whittle. All-nighters generally ended with three songs that became known as the '3 before 8': 'Time Will Pass You By' by Tobi Legend, 'Long After Tonight Is All Over' by Jimmy Radcliffe, and 'I'm on My Way' by Dean Parrish.^[5] Parrish is still active on the Northern soul circuit.

Wigan Casino's 500th all-nighter was held on Saturday 16 May 1981, from midnight to 8 am. Over the eight years it was open, it had over four million people through its doors.^[6]

Wigan Council owned the building and wanted to extend the nearby Civic Centre, but short of funding, it never went ahead.^[6] The club closed on 6 December 1981; that final night of Wigan Casino in its Northern soul state was DJ'd by Winstanley, and the '3 before 8' were played three times consecutively at the end of the night. The crowd refused to leave; according to Winstanley, to 'break this spell of hysteria', he picked a 7' at random from his box and played that. This final Wigan Casino song became one of the most famous Northern soul songs of all time, Frank Wilson's 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)'.^{[citation needed]} Annual reunions are held in Wigan hosted by the original DJs.

The Casino is commemorated with a Blue plaque, which was installed in 2014, marking the place where the doors to the club once stood.^[7]

The site is now occupied by the Grand Arcade shopping centre, which pays homage to the club with its Casino Café.^[5]