July 2024

The Victoria Ballroom(Photo) was converted in the early 1960s from being the gymnasium for the Castlepark Barracks into a dancehall, becoming one of the most popular entertainment venues in Scotland. In the mid-1960s, it began to attract some of the top bands in the UK. One reason for its success as a dance hall was the quality of its floor and in an interview with Jim Herring, George Gillan, a band leader, stated that, because the army had built the gymnasium, the floor  was of the highest quality and much superior to most dance hall floors in Scotland. The following adverts are from the Haddingtonshire Courier in 1966 and found by Jim Herring in the John Gray Centre.

The advert below was from the Courier on 08 July 1966. The Yardbirds’ most successful song was For Your Love (video below) and reached No 6 in the pop charts. The two most famous guitarists who played in The Yardbirds at different times were Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck and both had very successful solo careers later.

The Yardbirds at the Victoria Ballroom in 1966 (Click on all photos to enlarge – recommended)

The second band which played at the Victoria Ballroom – known locally as The Vick – was Dave Dee, Dozy, Mick and Tich and the band played in Dunbar on Sunday 31 July 1966. The song in the video below Hold Tight got to number 4 in the pop charts in 1966, but their biggest hit came in 1968 with Legend of Xanadu (Youtube video). The group were backed by The Live Wires (Information and video). Tickets for Dave Dee etc gig were 8/- and this was 3/- more than the normal Saturday night admission to hear less known groups.

Victoria Ballroom band in 1966

The third major group to come to the Dunbar dance hall in 1966 were The Mindbenders who reached number 2  in both the UK and US charts in 1966 with A Groovy Kind of Love (video below). The advert below promoted the band who appeared in Dunbar on Sunday 10 June 1966. The “big” bands were always booked on a Sunday evening at the Victoria Ballroom. The Mindbenders were backed by Phil and the Flintstones and you can see a photos of this band and read more about them (including a TV appearance) here.

Group at the Victoria Ballroom in 1966

Members of a certain age will remember going along to the Victoria Ballroom as teenagers and watching many famous bands from the 1960s, as well as local band Nick and the Sinners. The Victoria Ballroom was where big bands played and boys met girls there every weekend. In some cases, romances which started at The Vick ended in lifelong marriages, whilst others were more short-lived but still very enjoyable!