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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Ritz Cinema

34 Comments

Ritz 1960s Poster
Ritz 1960s Poster
Photo: mike
Views: 4,631
Item #: 29979
Poster from the 60s when shows like this were shown often.

Comment by: Mick on 10th December 2017 at 12:05

"Syd and Eddie" on the bill were Little and Large, in one of their earlier incarnations.

Comment by: walt (north yorks) on 10th December 2017 at 12:06

A couple of years ago we were on holiday on Majorca and one night the entertainment was provided by 'Syd Little' minus Large but -- he was brilliant, a very funny man. Being a great fan of the sixties I may have seen this show at the Ritz and still get to see as many of the sixties acts as possible. There will never be a better time than the sixties and to cap it all - I was a teenager at the time.

Comment by: irene roberts on 10th December 2017 at 13:11

I would only have been a young girl, possibly 12 or so, but I remember most of the artistes well. We used to by "Record Song Books" from the newsagents with all the words of the latest songs in. I still have one.

Comment by: Veronica on 10th December 2017 at 14:02

I loved Gene Pitney - especially singing '24 hours from Tulsa' he had an extraordinary voice - he just epitomises the sixties for me as a teenager.

Comment by: joe on 10th December 2017 at 15:54

1965. I went to show,16 at the time,what a time it was.

Comment by: Owd viewer on 10th December 2017 at 16:01

Went watching the rolling stones in the 60s at the Ritz but can't remember who was on with them.

Comment by: John Brown on 10th December 2017 at 16:48

Great poster. I saw a few acts at the Ritz in the early 70s, including T Rex. Those were the days.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 10th December 2017 at 17:53

Didn't Gene Pitney used to wear trousers that were six inches too short for him, or am I thinking of The Righteous Brothers ?. I remember P.J. Proby used to wear trousers that had an alarming tendency to come apart at the seams in the most unfortunate places and on the most inopportune occasions.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 10th December 2017 at 19:36

I remember our family having used a coin-operated TV set, for a while during The Sixties.
It think it took a shilling piece for its 196o's re-boot, which only added to the fidgety task of frequently adjusting the set's horizontal hold ... Doh!
The chap who called to empty the coin box was instantly recognisable as being Geoff Taggart, the lead guitarist of the group that I had seen performing previously at Bispham Youth Club. His group may have been The Vogue, or Rita and the Vogue. Once he had sorted-out his shilling pieces, he found time to tell me, that after presenting some of his written music to The Shadows, Breakthru' had been accepted, and then recorded by the group.
A particular scribe informs that he originates from Liverpool, but I'm told that he is from Haydock, and by all accounts, that he is also a top class guitarist.
Ah yes, good old Bispham Youth Club.

Comment by: Anne Melling on 10th December 2017 at 20:41

We went to see this show Gene Pitney was fabulous. I think this was about 1964 I was 17 at the time. Lulu didn't come I think she was ill at the time, we saw lots of acts on the Ritz including the Beatles, Cilla Black, Kinks, Roy Orbison, ELO and many others lovely memories.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 10th December 2017 at 22:51

Ozy: You're on the premises ... Bill Medley wore seemingly shortened trousers.

Comment by: Linda Massa on 11th December 2017 at 07:16

Went to the Ritz to see PJ Proby but he was cancelled because his trousers kept splitting, the replacement act was a then unknown Tom Jones.

Comment by: JJP on 11th December 2017 at 10:47

Ozy, a couple of nights after the trouser splitting affair PJ Proby was supposed to be appearing at the Ritz, I took my girlfriend to see him but-- he had been replaced by none other than Tom Jones, brilliant show.

Comment by: Andy C on 11th December 2017 at 17:29

When Gene finished his late gig he jumped into his sports car and realised he was only 24 minutes from Tyldesley!

Comment by: AH on 12th December 2017 at 09:46

Linda:you are right PJ PROBY split his pants in luton I think and was replaced by an uknown TOM JONES in wigan:i think his backing group were the squires

Comment by: surter_tom on 12th December 2017 at 14:32

it was 1965 ann look at the bottom of the form eunice and tom was there great show

Comment by: Anne Melling on 12th December 2017 at 16:36

I wouldn't have been there in 1965 because I was married on 6th. November 1965 and then we went on honeymoon for a week I suppose it could have been 1963, or else it was repeated in '65

Comment by: mike on 12th December 2017 at 18:37

At th time of this concert Tom Jones had already been in th e charts 3 times,he was well known not a unknown singer.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 12th December 2017 at 21:49

I remember the Rockin' Berries doing, yoo hoooo, don't have to ter hell er mehee, he's in town. That was a belter. And wasn't George Harrison knocking off Peter Asher's sister?

Comment by: Sniltub on 12th December 2017 at 23:04

Mike, Tom Jones did replace P.J. Proby after the incident with his trousers and at the time Tom Jones was relatively unheard of. I remember queueing in Station Road and everyone saying ‘who’s Tom Jones’ I think the concert was in February 1965 because as I remember it was about three weeks later on the 11th March 1965 that Tom Jones was number one in the charts with It’s not Unusual.

Comment by: Sniltub on 13th December 2017 at 00:24

Sorry should have added this concert is not the one in which Tom Jones replaced P.J.Proby The concert on this poster was later in 1965 possibly October by which time Tom was famous having been in the charts

Comment by: John G on 13th December 2017 at 09:28

Four years ago now I think it was, P J was on at the Southport theatre he came on with the big build up, then I saw a bald headed smurf with a big white beared,the lad sang well.

Comment by: Caroline B on 16th December 2017 at 16:49

I remember my cousin going to see the Stones at the Ritz and telling me that Charlie and Inez Fox, American Soul singers were on as support, I had never heard of them at the time. He said it was a brilliant show.

Comment by: Owd viewer on 16th December 2017 at 23:58

Thanks Caroline,I thought the group's where more better known and in the charts.?

Comment by: Caroline B on 17th December 2017 at 15:47

Hello Owd Viewer, I think Ike and Tina Turner may have been on as well, but this was before 'River Deep, Mountain High' was in the British charts.

Comment by: Kenee on 18th December 2017 at 15:24

Inez & Charlie Foxx had a top 40 hit in 1964 with
'Hurt By Love'. I don't remember it but I remember 'Mockingbird' about that time although it didn't chart until it was re-released in 1969.

Comment by: Jim Holding on 19th December 2017 at 14:48

Owd viewer,,,,,I was that show and it was Charlie and Inez Fox who were on it,,,they closed the first half of the show and dare I say it,,,they stole the show,,,and I was and still am an avid Rolling Stones fan,,,I was also at this Gene Pitney show as well,,,
Also saw The Rolling Stones at the Empress Ballroom on stage on A Monday night show,,,there used to be two acts one one the stage(usually Bill Unsworth Band)and a group in the bottom corner on a raised plinth.at the time The Searchers and Herman and the Hermits were regular acts but at the time everyone's favourites were Ronnie Carr and the Beat Boys,,,
This posting prompted good memories of happy times,

Comment by: Jim Holding on 19th December 2017 at 14:52

Owd viewer,,,,,I was that show and it was Charlie and Inez Fox who were on it,,,they closed the first half of the show and dare I say it,,,they stole the show,,,and I was and still am an avid Rolling Stones fan,,,I was also at this Gene Pitney show as well,,,
Also saw The Rolling Stones at the Empress Ballroom on stage on A Monday night show,,,there used to be two acts one one the stage(usually Bill Unsworth Band)and a group in the bottom corner on a raised plinth.at the time The Searchers and Herman and the Hermits were regular acts but at the time everyone's favourites were Ronnie Carr and the Beat Boys,,,
This posting prompted good memories of happy times,

Comment by: Eric on 19th December 2017 at 17:11

Went to watch Charlie and inex Foxx at Leigh casino in 1968 or 69

Comment by: Joan Beckett Wilding on 21st December 2017 at 18:41

You started repeating yourself Jim, I too was at the Rolling Stones and Gene Pitney concerts, great shows x

Comment by: Johnny on 31st December 2017 at 11:23

Linda Massa - I was at that gig when PJ was replaced by Tom Jones and the Squires. I recall Cilla Black topping the bill! I went to every show at the ABC, saw Stones and Beatles there. Great days !

Comment by: RON HUNT on 15th January 2021 at 14:07

The first LP I bought was called 'GENE PITNEY'S BIG SIXTEEN' I bought it from ROY HURST'S in the Market Hall I still have and it's still in near MINT condition..

Comment by: Dan on 9th November 2021 at 22:26

Don’t suppose you have a link to this poster for sale (repro) or an image without the watermark? I know someone who was there and it would make a nice little present

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