The Iron Door

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 1:38 am

Scouser: Were you ever in the Iron Door Club where the Searchers performed in the early days? I would like to know more about its atmosphere and manager. Did the Undertakers play there as well?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 4:44 am

Yes, we were regulars at the Iron Door Club. In fact the BBC documentary "The Mersey Sound", has possibly the only footage of the Undertakers (doing "Mashed Potatoes") in existence and this was shot at the Iron Door Club.

The club was only a few streets away from the Cavern. The atmosphere of the Iron Door was very much like that of the Cavern in that it was also located in a former warehouse and smelled of hot dogs and sweat. There was, however, a different physical layout in the Iron Door giving it the appearance of more open space for dancing et cetera. It was a very good gig to play and like the Cavern, people were packed in like sardines, especially on weekends. Unfortunately, one thing it didn't seem to have was the 'raw excitement' of the Cavern.

The PA system was identical to that of the Cavern, both of them having been supplied by Brian Kelly, who's systems were used at most venues around Merseyside. The typical system in the early days consisted of two 12" speakers, in open back enclosures (one each side of the stage) powered by a commercial grade 35 -50 watt power amplifier and four Reslo ribbon microphones. Both the Cavern and the OPB (Orrell Park Ballroom) upgraded their speaker enclosures, later on, to 2 x 12" speakers per cabinet.

Incidently, Brian Kelly was also a successful promoter running the extremely popular dances at venues such as Litherland Town Hall and Aintree Institute.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 5:15 am

Who owned the Iron Door and who managed the establishment?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 6:04 am

I don't think that I ever knew who actually owned the Iron Door. It had gone through a few incarnations including the Liverpool Jazz Society and the Storyville Jazz Club before the name change to the Iron Door.We were always booked into the club by local promoter, Sammy Leach.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 11:16 am

Chris: Thanks for your detailed information. Is the BBC Documentary, of which you speak, still in circulation?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 12:18 pm

It is still available from small companies that cater to collectors et cetera. I will look around although it's liable to take a few days to research it?

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 12:28 pm

Thanks I would also be interested in knowing whether there are any still photos of the Iron Door Club from the early to mid 1960s.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 20, 2001 1:36 am

Scouser: On what street was the Iron Door?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Tue Mar 20, 2001 9:38 am

The Iron Door was on Temple Street.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 20, 2001 9:45 am

Scouser: The "raw excitement" of the Cavern is an interesting comment. Was this excitement the venue, the music or both? A few Cavern photos have surfaced over the years, however, I have not seen any of the Iron Door? Would you happen to have any in your scrapbook?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Tue Mar 20, 2001 10:18 am

Peter,

The fact that the Cavern was the 'first kid on the block' had everything to do with the excitement and its success - it had a history! Also, the ambience, albeit the aroma of sweat and hot dogs unsuccessfully masked by the odor of disinfectant, was of a much higher order. Needless to say, most of the bands that played at one, played at the other. So it couldn't be the music... in the strictest sense.

In answer to your last question: I have only one photograph, a full-page posed color shot of the Undertakers, taken at the Iron Door for an article in a National teen magazine, circa 1963.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 12:27 am

If anyone saw the Searchers perform at the Iron Door, I would be very interested in your comments.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Apr 05, 2001 10:56 am

Thanks to Chris Huston and other Scousers I been able to find enough information pertaining to the Iron Door to write a brief article. At least some of this information is in the same spot now. The "Iron Door: In The Cavern's Shadow" can be found here along with several other articles relating to Liverpool. Your comments are always welcome. Please feel free to send them through email if you wish. I am looking for old photos.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Apr 22, 2001 3:46 am

There are recent updates to the Iron Door. Chris are you able to recall the performances of The Searchers at this club and if so would you comment on their style compared to other groups, The Undertakers included

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Sun Apr 22, 2001 7:12 am

Yes, I do remember the Searchers playing at the Iron Door. We shared the stage with them on several occasions. As far as comparing their style to other Merseyside groups, I would have to say that I remember them as a quite a little lighter in their performance as compared to The Undertakers. We were known for stamping holes in stages whereas the Searchers choice of material gave them a sweeter sound and lighter musical approach. In general the scope in performances, of Merseyside bands, ran the gambit from real heavy Rock'n'Roll to the lighter vocal/harmony oriented, which was only to be expected.