Wigan Album

I'm sorry to criticise this photo but I am going to, and I have as much right to an opinion as anyone else. It drives me absolutely potty that men are quite happy to see women showing their breasts in clubs or on the "top-shelf" magazines in newsagent's shops for "entertainment", but if a woman is seen feeding her baby, (which is what her breasts were made for), in a public place, she is considered "disgusting", even if she does it as discreetly as possible, and is told she should feed her child in the toilets! I have actually seen this happen last year in a mill in Yorkshire where a lady feeding her baby had a scarf discreetly covering the area where the baby was feeding, and was told she should go in the toilet as she was "disgusting". The poor lady was actually in tears. I wonder how many men who ogled "The Ladybirds" would like to eat THEIR dinner in the toilet?

Well said Irene !!!

Totally agree with you Irene. The lady was only doing what comes naturally. The people who complain are out of touch with modern times.

Irene, I too can't understand why all the fuss that some folks create about a mother breastfeeding her child, it is after all the most natural way of feeding a baby. My mother breastfed my younger sister as did my aunt with my cousin, and I've seen other mothers with babies suckling and it doesn't bother me, it is au naturelle.

Ron, I heard it took Bill Batchelor 14 hours and ten rolls of film in trying to get the right angle of photo of this group.

As for the Ladybirds, their act did get them noticed and they became part of the international scene.

Though I do agree with the author in thinking 'they'll not be taking their tops off nowadays' when he says in the article in link below: "Frankly I don’t expect we’ll be seeing any sort of 50 year anniversary reunions from either of them."

https://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_ladybirds_the_worlds_first_all_girl_topless_rock_bands

Well said Irene !

I wonder if the Ladybirds regret what they did then. I think they let women down appearing like that. If that’s what they did to to attract attention to their music they couldn’t have been that good. I have never heard of them.
I remember flying back from Jersey on my own and was sat next to a lovely young woman with a little boy and a baby. She fed her baby in a very discreet way that you just would not have known. When she took the baby to be changed I looked after the little boy as there was hardly room for three of them in the toilet facilities. I admired her very much for doing what comes naturally on a plane full of passengers.

I have no problems and never will have any problems with Ladies feeding their children in any public place if she so desire's .I think the taboo that surrounds it is strero typical of BRITAIN stuck up toffee nosed folk who have nothing else to do ! Well got that of my chest .

Well thankyou everyone for your comments and support. I truly expected to be blasted by a number of people for my remarks, but it seems that people of both sexes share my views. I too had never heard of The Ladybirds but I share Veronica's view that they let women down. As Cyril says, "their act did get them noticed".....well, it would, wouldn't it? But sadly for the wrong reasons. I actually owned and could play a guitar at their age, (although my singing voice leaves a lot to be desired!), but I would never have lowered myself to that level. Thanks again everyone.

Think your being a bit prudish had 3 sisters all had babies see all being fed ,in the 60s things started to change for women for the better. went abroad see girls topless who really cares

I suppose it’s ok if the girls liked the leering and sexual innuendos Tom. Could you see your wife doing that though in front of an audience? “ There’s the rub” pardon the pun..

I suppose you neverdid any leering over the rock stars back then most of the girls did

The ladybirds were ladies harmony group in the 60s they travelled the world appeared on tv on various shows ,

Think the green eyed monster (jealousy ) of someone getting success

Irene, there is time, yet.
Weren't they Danish?
What I have found more amazing is, 1960's beat bands played in the King of Clubs and The Ladybirds performed on stage there.
By the way, what guitar did you have, Irene?

Henry , they don’t do ‘worlds’ on WW, only streets . I think only Mick and Veronica have jumped cover and survived.

Ah! But you didn’t answer the question.
No I can’t say I leered. I liked Elvis and a few others, but not in the way men would have ogled those girls in the photo. How they had the nerve is beyond me, plus I can’t sing or play an instrument either. I can’t see the point of a girl band showing half their body and playing those instruments. If somebody could explain why….they would have been far more alluring by leaving something to the imagination. IMO.

Dave I haven’t a clue what you’re on about but please don’t class my spelling with Mick’s.
If I have written Worlds then it’s a spellcheck.

Down with this sort of thing !

Compare those girls stood like tripe twanging their guitars with just one scene in one of Elvis’s silly films where he and Ann- Margaret are dancing (fully clothed) she’s wearing tights on fabulous legs up to her armpits, Elvis is wearing a suit and they ooze sex appeal. That was talent.. in the sixties around the same time. I forget the name of the film it’s of no consequence….

Ian, it was a classical guitar, not an electric one, and I can't recall the manufacturer. I learned to play it in my teens but it was all folk music such as "The Shoals of Herring", "Dirty Old Town", etc, although I could do a little Spanish "twiddle" which sounded cleverer than it was! It was just for my own amusement as I have a voice like a cinder stuck under a door, so it was never going to be a career! Once my children came along, it ended up hung up on my living-room wall as an ornament, and I eventually passed it on to my nephew. Shannon, the green-eyed monster never reared its ugly head re The Ladybirds...let's face it, it wasn't their musical talent that got leering men in clubs ogling them, was it? Had they turned up on stage one night in jeans and t-shirts, the men would soon have gone back to discussing the football.

Veronica
Only you in this post has mentioned leering,sexual
Innuendo and I don't see any of that in this photo Irene didn't it wasn't about that

Careful now

They were lady harmony trio they toured the world ,they didn't always do there gigs topless they most have been good give them credit

Use your imagination Henry… can you honestly say there would be no leering or cat calls in that atmosphere of the photo at the time. Plus I did mention a young mother breastfeeding her child in a very discreet manner . The thread went then onto the ‘talents’ of the bare breasted ladies…

I respect all of the comments above however they have diverted attention away from the real reason that Ron posted the photograph. It shows a piece of Wigan’s history. It’s what happen at the time. Don’t stop such photographs.
Someone above mentioned he was surprised they appeared. Other surprises have come to Wigan…the Beatles, Rolling Stones.

Henry, what you don't see in this photo are some of the men in the audience who would be drooling upon seeing this act, just like how Father Jack did when he was thinking of his time visiting the Girl's High School at hockey times.

As for sexual innuendo it was these Ladybird girls who insinuated that the audience really enjoyed watching them doing their act practically in the nude, and maybe they did for a while, but they couldn't have been very talented musically because they soon disappeared into obscurity when the novelty of them appearing topless had wore off. Before this photo of The Ladybirds appeared on here I very much doubt that anyone in Wigan actually remembered, or had even heard of them appearing at the King of Clubs.

Remember when the dream boys and other male groups performed it was staggering how many lady's went to watch and enjoyed there shows you can't have it both ways!

I didn't say they had no musical talent. I never saw them so I can't judge on that. What I said that was that it wasn't their musical talents which drew in the men. If, as is claimed, they toured the world, and didn't always do their gigs topless, WHY did they feel the need to do it at all? The girls probably DID have talent which makes it all the sadder that they felt the need to perform as in the above photo. I can't imagine a queue of men forming down King Street to see Maria Callas, who was a hugely talented world-famous singer. Come on, get real.....we ALL know the men went to see them because they were topless, and we ALL know that's why they did it and we ALL know that's why the clubs booked them. I may not have a guitar between my "female charms" but I've got something between my ears....it's called a brain!

Mrs Doyle
For you information they had long careers well into the 90s so have some respect which you preach

Behave Veronica who gives a monkeys if a woman breast feeds her child and people see?in this day and age What you fail to understand it’s mainly woman that do the complaining on both scores , that’s my opinion

Phillip C. well said It's a part of Wigan's history. They have more clothes on than a lot of the girls that frequent that part of town at weekends..<g>

Irene in todays day and age with LGBT and all that crap you moan about something as trivial as that jeez , first of all you paint men as all being like childish boys ogling attractive women like we are all the sexual motivated monsters , as for breast feeding in public I doubt it’s all blokes complaining I would look a little closer to home isn’t it other woman that do most of the complaining?

Paul I don’t mind one jot a mum feeding her child. In public. That is what the breast is for in a particular instance. You have misinterpreted my comments.. That was the whole purpose of the post the difference between a baby being fed in public and people complaining of that. The difference with the Ladybirds uncovered and people (mainly men I presume, enjoying the scene). Which of course is up to the Ladybirds if that’s how they like to entertain.
They may well be competent musicians and they are attractive.. but why the need to perform bare breasted? That’s all…. And no one is complaining of that but yet people complain if a woman chooses to feed her child.

Wiganer I am well passed the age of going out on the town but if the girls of today go clubbing wearing a minute thong and nothing else according to your logic , I am so glad I’m no longer young.

Henry, I've discussed it over a cup of tea with Bishop Brown and he assures me that the name of the all female group The Ladybirds may well have spanned out to the 1990s and appeared all the world, but in all those years they wasn't the same girls who appeared. He said to me, Joan as an example - do you think the punters would be happy if they were expecting to see topless Tiller Girls and it was The Roly Polys who came on stage? So you see I can't argue with Bishop Brown because for ecumenical matters, he had to go and see their act at the Ormonde Cinema over at Greystones.

Recently the male group the CHIPPENDALE's were very popular with the female sex..and I don't think they played any musical instruments..

Henry , they don’t do ‘worlds’ on WW, only streets . I think only Mick and Veronica have jumped cover and survived.

Mrs Doyle I am so glad you are on our side. I hope it isn’t interfering with you mending
the roof and I hope you are still using that big tea pot and managed to confiscate the Teasmade machine securely. I was really upset when I saw you flying past the window when you fell off the roof.

Mrs doyle
I Think I recognised bishop Brown I sure he was on the front row
waving the girls on ,

I believe they had an organ or two, Wiganer.

Actually it was Bishop Brennan applauding the lovely girls. after kicking Fr Ted up the a—-e.

I'm fine Veronica, we're tough us Doyle's, I take after my mam who was a Buxted woman, in fact my dad would always say she was bootiful but a tough old bird. Bishop Brennan and Father Ted have finally got back from the Vatican after their audience with the Pope. (we daren't tell them who Bishop Brown had an audience with, thankfully he's back in Limerick, so keep quiet Henry ) My 8 pint Brown Betty is now being put to good use again, Bishop Brown didn't like tea, and you know what the divel would get up to - only dicing death having a crafty swig or two of Father's Bushmills when Jack was comatose. The Teasmaid has been dragged into the cellar and none of the others will go down there as I told them there's rats as big as cats.

Good to know that Mrs Doyle. I would love to come to Craggy Island to help the lads judge “The Lovely Girl” contest and help you with the tea afterwards - with your permission of course. I could even take Fr Jack for a walk and push him over the cliffs in his wheelchair.
It’s good to know the Chippendales had an organ or two Irene. I must admit I never knew that.

Hello Veronica Joan here, I must have been swigging too much of Jack's Bushmills, either that or the Toilet Duck, as I was getting the TV shows mixed up and had Brendan O'Carroll's character Agnes playing Bishop Brown. I thought I may have got away with it in having Len and Ted away having an audience with Karol, but I see you noticed.

I'd imagine Agnes being an excellent Bishop Brown and ending up most likely being defrocked if she like Ted and Dougal had Bishop Brennan bending over to see the pareidolia on the bedroom wall and giving him a hefty kick up the Aris, though she could blame it on Himalaya Joe (Father Joe Briefly) who was visiting.

Never mind Mrs Doyle, just keep shoving cups o’ tea on everybody whether they like it or not. We’ll be banned on here if it carries on!

What a load of tripe. Shannon aka Mick, get a grip mon.

Vernonica and Irene. It is certainly meandering along.

On a topic of music: "it was a classical guitar, not an electric one". I was hoping that you were going to tell me that you had a wonderful 1960's Fender Telecaster or possibly a Gretsch, Irene.
Philip, I had read and heard about many of the famous groups performing in Wigan, such as: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, many 1960's groups and solo artists (D.D.,D.,M.& Tich, Troggs, Walker Brothers, Gene Pitney, Georgie Fame,...), The Motown artists (Supremes, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Martha & the Vandellas...). Also, many of the 1950's/60's stars, such as: Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard & the Drifters, Billy Fury, Roy Orbison...
Additionally, many rock bands played in Wigan and famous 1970's bands, such as "T.Rex".
But! I hadn't heard about "King of Clubs" having 1960's beat bands. So, this was new to me. By the way, I was not there (for any reason) as it was before my time.

Irene, your 'organ' comment tickled me. :-)

These ladies on here are playing games the messges on here are the same because they are using different names

Many have complained about what they consider to be irrelevant topics on WW ie lorries, people abroad etc. In my opinion this thread has gone down the same route.

Better explanation. I hope none of the above have complained about irrelevant topics

Note to Ian and anyone else who has complained about the ladies on here "playing games" and the thread "meandering along" ....the only comments I have made on this thread are in my own name, Irene Roberts, I have no idea who "Mrs. Doyle" is but it certainly isn't me.

Irene

May be Mrs Doyle and her friend could help you out the mess your being blamed for

I only use one name, but I noticed - long before Ron posted the above photograph - that certain people were posting under a selection of names; this is not only on "Wigan Album".
But! I could see where this was likely to go when I typed my words on the 28th, at 21:28, in response to Irene's words: " I truly expected to be blasted by a number of people for my remarks...".
Possibly, we could see this "THE LADYBIRDS 1968. KING OF CLUBS" being deleted, which would be questioned as it did occur in Wigan and at a time which many people remember well with great fondness.
If the nudity of the four girls is an issue, then Ron could cover those parts in a similar way to the picture cover of Queen's single "Bicycle Race" in which the original was regarded as inappropriate for the market and so the girl's bottom was mostly covered by painting a pink bikini (bottom half) over the revealing part.

Looks like some one has dropped you in it ,

Irene, I haven't complained. I only wrote the sentence "...meandering along" to say that you need to take care and to try and stop this thread from getting into a slanging match. Also, I became unsure whether other people were using names of people who had posted. I had no wish to offend anyone and I am sorry if you felt that I was attacking you - I certainly was not.
By the way, I have only posted under one name and my interest here is in regard to Wigan and music.

Better explanation. I hope none of the above have complained about irrelevant topics

Ian. I have posted an apology to you but it hasn't appeared as yet. In case it doesn't appear, I apologise again. I just saw red as I thought people suspected I was "Mrs, Doyle"

It was I who decided upon using the name Mrs Doyle because initially someone began posting as Father Ted, I can assure you I am not Irene or Veronica, though with them both being so excellent at sleuthing I sure they know who I am. This will be my last post as Mrs Doyle and I shall go back to using my real name when I post as I always normally do, a pity as I've quite enjoyed being Mrs Joan Doyle for a while. Also I wasn't out to deceive anyone and my only intention was to reply to comments that had been posted and hopefully to bring a bit of humour to the thread.

The comments made were based on true events. When a lot younger I was quite surprised to see some men in the audience of a pub striptease act actually open mouthed and dribbling at the sight of bare female flesh and some so excited as the act went along I can only explain as they began braying, as well as others shouting very much in a Cosmo Smallpiece way.

Thank you Mrs Doyle. I come on here using my own name and have never used any other. I have already posted two comments which haven’t appeared.
There’s so much misery going on in this world at the moment and a few whingers, whiners and moaners have to pick on a few comments, usually humourless folk. I admit the post went off track towards the end, but no harm done. Well done Mrs Doyle, I agree with all you say.

I can't understand why folks are trying to make mountains out of molehills, and no pun intended to The Ladybirds.

Irene was perfectly entitled to voice her opinion on this photograph as are other people who have posted their comments, and Irene has in no way said anything against the photograph being posted. A valid fact was pointed out that some folks would complain about mothers breastfeeding their babies in public places, even if doing so discreetly, and yet they would think nothing of going along to ogle topless women in a club.

Reading through the posts I can find nothing derogatory written about the photo, some of the posts are quite amusing to read and it is this banter between the posters that makes the site worthwhile looking at, and all the comments are worthwhile reading too.

Irene is quite upset with offering an apology and also enraged at being blamed for something she had no part in, but in my opinion she truly has nothing to apologise for as it was quite obvious she was not the one behind the posts in the name of Mrs Doyle. Though on the other hand I doubt the person who is posting under De Ceet, Dr Ceet and Shannon shall be doing any apologising anytime soon, it is plainly evident who their posts are aimed at, and to me they were being very provocative.

Thankyou so much Cyril and Ian.

Oh what a tangled web you weave , please will the reall Mrs doyle stand up

Love it! If females wish to show their bodies, then, good luck to them! Fr

I must say I do prefer photos like this one that shows a bit of something that is happening in Wigan

You're missing the point Mr. Eatock...the point being made was that men DO enjoy seeing the women's bodies up on a stage in a nightclub, but look embarrassed or disgusted if they see a woman feeding her child, which is what her body was designed for. I'm not saying YOU find that embarrassing or disgusting . but some people do. THAT was the whole point of my first comment, not the nudity.

Your talking nonsense again are we really that interested

I thought this topic had been put to bed. We all have our opinions and most of them were intelligently stated in a clear and concise manner. Not in a one liner! Irene is not talking nonsense she has a valid point whether you agree or not. If you are not interested Shannon why comment again?

Knickers, knackers, knockers

From what I remember of The King of Clubs, those girls are lucky they didn't end up stuck to the carpet!

It would have needed Mrs Doyle with a scrubbing brush and mop and bucket!

It sure would, and have taken a few bottles of PURGE Floor Polish too but Father Jack has drunk the last of them, and the island stores can't get any more till the boat comes next month, it'd have brung those floors up a treat and you'd have seen your face in them including the carpets. Well I'll have to go the Fathers will be wanting tea before Vespers. Do you want a cup of tea Veronica and DTease - go on, go on, Go On, maybe a little cup then. Just thinkin too 'my bucket's got a hole in it', strange, but I feel a song coming on, till next time, Joan.

Only in your best china Mrs Doyle…make sure the ‘lads’ don’t see these floozies. You know what happened when they got lost in the lingerie department ….!

Fathers Ted and Dougal have just got back from taking Father Jack on his daily cliff walk and they've gone upstairs to change, Father Jack was looking at the photo of these floozies and I asked what he'd like with his tea, "arse biscuits" he replied. I was telling Mrs Dineen later when we met at the cafe, anyway she gave me this recipe she got from Mrs O'Dwyer who got it from Mrs Dunne and who'd got it from Brian Noonan. So I'm off doing some baking though I'll have to call at John and Mary's for some coconut on the way back to the Parochial House. Yours Joan.
https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/nice-arse-biscuits/

Been to a few gigs by the great TOM JONES after the gigs there was knickers all over the stage.

Naughty naughty Joan

Apology shannon I should have said lingerie
Didn't mean to upset
Anyone

A good afternoon all, I'm sure you'll be having a good deal better weather than we are here on Craggy Island - it's very blustery and teeming with rain, and hoping you have all had a good Christmas, we've been quiet here except for Father Jack muttering about partridges and wanting to go out and look if any are in the pear trees down at Colm's orchard, unfortunately this morning he found the two bottles of Calvados that Father Stone had gifted to Father Ted for Christmas, and we are hoping he'll be asleep soon.

I've been asked if I am, but no I am not the Joan who has been posting on here. I am a Joan but my name is Joan Doyle and I am definitely not a fan of Tom Jones, I do like Daniel O'Donnell as do the Fathers, we also enjoy Dermot Kennedy and all think that he'll go far, he's a good singer and songwriter and we all wish him the very best.

Well can you believe it another year is only hours away, I'd better get on with the brack. The Fathers and I wish you all a happy and blessed 2023. Yours, Joan Doyle. (Mrs)

I remember seeing articles about them in 1966. Saw the first picture of them in 1968. Could have seen them in person in 1969 but got drafted and sent to Vietnam. Never heard anything about them until I saw pictures of them on internet in 2010. Couldn't believe the number of pictures, articles, and films of them. They played on American military bases in Southeast Asia in 1968. If you want to know more about them contact: vintagecutiesblogs. It is run by Manny Calavera. He seems to know the most about them.

WELL, The Ladybirds really threw the cat amongst the pigeons, creating quite a few ruffled feathers and controversy.
I was 20 in 1968 and in truth never heard of this group, the Birds and the Yardbirds yes and all the other local pop bands at the time playing at the Casino and other local places.
The pay at the King of Clubs must have been very bad as these poor girls clearly could not afford clothes, don't you think they deserve our sympathy?
I went into this establishment once, full of seedy older men, sticky carpets which made you shiver at what might have been on them, horrible place. Didn't Ken Cowap have something to do with it?

I am intrigued, would the real Mrs Doyle please stand up!

Come on Joan (Mrs Doyle), please respond, I miss your contributions from Craggy Island. Hope you are not detained in hospital after falling from another window!