BIRKDSALE PALACE HOTEL

[13_temple_street]

I had ventured into promoting jazz bands in a large Edwardian-style hotel in Southport. The Birkdale Palace Hotel Walking into the reception area of the hotel transformed into an era long gone. Exotic plants were dotted around the reception area the focal point was a large open cast iron lift, complete with extravagant decorations, typical of the Victorian /Edwardian period the first time I ventured into this area I spotted a group of lady residents ascending for all to see, through the open cast iron framework.
At this point in the yarn, I pause to rekindle my thoughts,’ What on earth was I doing in this beautiful Edwardian building, promoting ‘ Trad Jazz’ bands, I cannot offer any plausible answer. I was promoted at least on eight occasions, I vaguely recollect meeting a man who introduced himself as the manager, arranging a fee for the hire, but I did not meet again.
I engaged a newly formed London jazz band, Alvin Roy Jazzmen simply because they had the look and style; they were also quite amiable to my request to wear period suits. The Edwardian-style decoration of the room and the layout of the Victorian furniture blended magnificently with the jazz sound perhaps flooding memories for some. There was a mixed crowd of all ages, ‘I did notice Neil English (Owner of the Sink Club in Hardman Street Liverpool) always with a large party from Liverpool. I wondered if any of the ladies I encountered in the lift attended.
At the end of a very successful evening, I made my way along a ground-floor corridor to the manager’s office, passing some slightly opened windows, the welcome sea breeze stirred up the stale air in the passageway, looking more closely through the glass the surprise sight of the Irish Sea loomed in the distance. The office was closed. I enjoyed the experience at ‘The Birkdale Palace Hotel. I decided to have another.
Duplicating the procedure of booking the ballroom on the telephone for a similar fee, I decided to promote a Temperance Seven style band, luckily the Temperance Seven were unavailable. ( I was not too keen on the band ) The Back of Town Syncopates were booked, this band had the potential of pleasing the residents, especially the ladies who graced us with their presence dressed in all their finery and jewels. ‘What a contrast to the hurly-burly back in Liverpool at the Iron Door Club. I experienced the antics of this band at close quarters; I promoted this band some months before at the Iron Door. Their pianist had made degrading remarks about the Iron Door piano, refusing to play on it. (We purchased this piano from Rushworth and Draper’s the invoice was for Five Thousand Pounds which included Five years of maintenance and tuning. Luckily he objected early in the afternoon before the evening’s event, Tommy Hughes borrowed his sister's piano who lived in Anfield, he hailed a passing coal lorry, and the driver agreed to transport the instrument to Temple Street Liverpool2. At the end of yet another successful evening at the Birkdale Palace Hotel, again I made my way to the Manager's office to pay for the hire of the ballroom plus the money for the last time. The office was closed one from the Birkdale Palace organization never asked me for any payment from any promotion I was involved with at this venue. In the agreement, I was responsible for controlling the door and admission money. (My old friends from the Corps of Commissioners certainly looked the part in that setting.) The Palace the bar and the takings which I believe were substantial.
I wondered what the posh ladies at Birkdale's reaction would be to Freddie Fowell. Freddie was now a smooth performer and was ready to move on to the big time, over the months since meeting Freddie and Bruce the three of us had quietly worked together as a team, also a great deal of commitment from the band, with one aim in mind for Freddie and the band to succeed. It was also a good experience for Bruce who faced the brunt of organizing the outside work I secured for the band. The call was made to hire the ballroom at the Birkdale Palace Hotel; Alvin Roy was now a particular favorite amongst the residents also jazz ‘enthusiasts around the area who regularly attended the events. The plan was to bring on Freddie and the Kansas City Five after a short interval. The publicity for these events consisted of adverts in the local weekly paper plus silk-screened posters placed in shop windows; whilst preparing the draft for the posters it occurred to me that looking at the name Freddie Fowell the name I had just written on the draft for the posters did not give the allure or glamour associated with show business; Freddie readily understood when I explained my thoughts to him ‘ Perhaps you should consider changing your name to establish a show business sounding name early on in your career, it’s a natural progression, Billy Fury and Marty Wild two good examples ‘. ‘’ I will tell you tomorrow what I have decided ‘’ the next day did not arrive quickly enough! Looking down Temple Street I could see the unmistakable figure of Freddie, I had popped into the street to quell my excitement at the thought of Freddie revealing his chosen show business name, I met him halfway I could not contain my excitement of Freddie revealing his newly chosen show business name ‘Well Freddie what have you chosen. ‘I have thought long and hard and have eliminated scores of names, the one name that stands out for me is Freddie Starr with two rrs so that’s what I want to be known as in future ‘( This little story is what happened. The posters were printed and distributed in shop windows around the town and surrounding area. Freddie Starr and the ‘Kansas City Five appearance at the Birkdale Palace was a resounding success.
`Shortly after this dramatic episode in This Yarn, Freddie approached me one afternoon in the coffee bar of the club, he was requesting me to ask Tony Cooper the Lawyer to draw up a contract to the effect that Freddie Starr and members of the Kansas City Five wished me to manage them . I was flattered and embarrassed. Tony drew up a specialized contract which we all signed.

ttps://www.spookyisles.com/birkdale-palace-hotel/

[13_temple_street]

The 'LIFT ' Similar to the one in the story. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/5496503295 ... ZLO1Cyl8oA

[13_temple_street]

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/3300294789 ... flashlight