Even before the war had ended there were shows on in 1945 at the corn exchange. Relwyskow gave it a go.
1961 Max Crabtree , so evident in Scotland at that time tried a show out. (Click for larger image)
But it was to be Cape Promotions who penetrated this market in a solid way by 1963. I have a good collection of bills and this was regular , I can only show you some.
These are top men from the opposition , probably the very best that could be mustered. Fred Wooley and Danny Flynn ran a great business and in a responsible way with not too much in the way of fraudulent advertising. Johnny Saint in 1964 had progressed from a ring erector for this outfit , only shows on the low side of the card.
For a good few years this name the Hangsman niggles at me. Did anyone see him and do we know who he was.
As you can see , a good tenure of years which has to indicate a successful business here in Berwick.
I really need help on the capacity of the Corn Exchange , today a listed building converted in to high end flats.
The seating capacity is evading me.
Situated in Sandgate pretty near the mouth of the Tweed Estuary. With a Barracks , Castle and Lighthouse , and a beautiful Viaduct , I regret it's a place I have never been to.
No price rises in the 1963-1967 period , those were the days.
Things must have been so good because Joint promotions had to have a go.
And Oh look the prices have gone up considerably. New tarrifs of 12/6 and 10/ have been introduced
12/6 in 1968 to see Mick McManus and standard by 1970.
By 1970 even the indy's could not hold the 5/ price any longer , but this bill with fake Dr Death and Outlaw does perhaps show that there was still room in town for them.
This bill on only 2 weeks after the Joint one featuring the evil Jimmy Saville .
If you ever saw him wrestle you would know he was pretty hopeless and yet he is headlining that bill.
I think I would have chosen the Klondykes v Campbells although a young Tony St Clair v Mal Kirk would have been decent.
Can anyone add anything to what we know here.
Another good find Ron. Good to see Dicky Swales on the bill there, and my favourite at the time, Angus. ust how did Bolton's Emil Foy become champion of Cornwall? Cape Promotions put on some very good bills, though they often suffered from quite a bit of rearrangement. They weren't averse to a bit of dodginess though - The Hunchback of Notre Dame was likely to be Danny Flynn, not Quasimodo, obviously Buddy Rogers wasn't Buddy Rogers, as for Nick McManners! As you say this Hangsman cropped up from time to time, I've no idea who he (or themm) was. A good guess that Angel Gonzales was Dave Finch from Preston. I wonder if Johnny Miller was Johnny Saint, Miller being his actual name.
As for that 1970 bill. I would agree and have gone to the indies show. But I suspect that we would have been disappointed and the Campbell Brothers were not Angus and Jock. They were both well in with Joint by that time. Angus had been in Altrincham the night before and Buxton the following night.
Nothing to add, other than I spent a day there, a few years ago, in Summer. It's a nice place, you can walk around the old castle walls, and the railway viaduct is very picturesque.
There was a principal room of around 85ft by 70ft, in the 1960s it was converted to a swimming pool I wonder if it was multi use with a floor over the pool . I know some shows were held in such venues. It would have had to be worthwhile for Joint so I think it would have to be close to 1000 capacity. The only other way is if they took in a number of Southern Scottish and Border dates .