![David and Catherine Hughes at the dance championships, Palace Ballroom, c.1957. ‘Ballroom Archive’, FaceBook. [https://www.facebook.com/ballroomarchive/posts/at-the-isle-of-man-dance-championships-palace-ballroom-douglas-circa-1957-david-/2587143414857758/]One of the other notable events at the Palace in the 50s was the Theatrical Gala. 1957 saw swarming crowds for ‘one of the biggest events of the holiday season’, where over 50 artists and entertainers, along with five orchestras, performed in aid of local charities.The show was presented by Stella Hartley, an entertainment presenter in the 50s and 60s who regularly visited the island. It was reported by the Isle of Man Examiner that “...autograph hunters had a wonderful time in the star-studded Palace Gardens.”](/tindle-static/image/gef-import/gef-2023-10-Image-228-797x1024.jpg?width=752)
David and Catherine Hughes at the dance championships, Palace Ballroom, c.1957. ‘Ballroom Archive’, FaceBook. [https://www.facebook.com/ballroomarchive/posts/at-the-isle-of-man-dance-championships-palace-ballroom-douglas-circa-1957-david-/2587143414857758/]One of the other notable events at the Palace in the 50s was the Theatrical Gala. 1957 saw swarming crowds for ‘one of the biggest events of the holiday season’, where over 50 artists and entertainers, along with five orchestras, performed in aid of local charities.The show was presented by Stella Hartley, an entertainment presenter in the 50s and 60s who regularly visited the island. It was reported by the Isle of Man Examiner that “...autograph hunters had a wonderful time in the star-studded Palace Gardens.”
the beginning of a bit of a ‘face lift’ (according to Holiday News in 1966) for the Palace, with the ballroom being swathed from floor to ceiling in ‘sugar-candy colours of gold, pink and green’ cloth, making it an equipped cabaret theatre prime for ‘high-tech laser discos’. In May 1966, James Bond, in the form of Sean Connery, flew to the island to officially open the Palace Casino. He did so in style, taking the first spin of a roulette wheel. Sean Connery spinning the roulette wheel, May 1966. Manx National Heritage. It was towards the late 60s that the Ballroom began to become known as the Palace Lido, finalising its transformation. The Palace Lido and Casino. FaceBook, Dave Evans There were also many must-see bands performing at the Lido in the 60s. To name a few: The Kinks (‘66); and in star-studded 1967, The Who, Pink Floyd and Cream. Welsh legend Tom Jones also made an appearance in 1966... as a Cabaret act! 1970s The concept of the Lido and Casino were in full swing going into the 1970s. More big name bands continued to perform, such as Slade and Roxy Music in 1973; Queen (yes!) and Status Quo in 1974; Thin Lizzy for ‘75 and no other than AC/DC in 1976. Clearly this was where all the cool kids were going! Poster advertising Slade and Roxy Music playing at the Lido in 1973. FaceBook, Terry Holmes. 1980s It's around this time - the 1980s - that my mum and her friends would have come onto the scene (you know who you are). Characterising a night out at the Lido were the ‘four pint jugs’ of beer, secret snogging balcony which remained from the more sophisticated days of dancing and theatre and - I cannot forget to mention - the apparently delightfully sticky floor from all the spilt four pinters. I have heard it from several sources, so it must be true. It is no wonder the Palace Lido had a sticky floor. FaceBook, Lightman Mike.
The music scene did not falter, with Dr Feelgood and Motorhead coming to play at the Lido during the 80s, along with Girlschool - one of the longest running all-female rock bands - amongst others. For the year of 1986, the Palace Lido was also awarded ‘Discotheque of the Year’ in the United Kingdom. 1990s Sadly, our era ends with a not-so happily ever after for the Palace (as you might have guessed, if you have ever walked past it). But it didn’t go out without a bang. Many of you may remember the infamous TT Carnival that took place at the Lido until 1990. That is all I am going to say about that... what happened in the Lido, can stay in the Lido at this point. Queues like this were a regular sight to get into the Lido for the TT Carnival. Facebook, Kathy Atkinson In 1990, The Palace Lido was registered as a protected building, due to its architectural value. Yet, it was demolished four years later to ‘make room’ for an extension to the casino - which materialised as that shoddy old car park. The building was submitted to be de-registered in 1991 after an appeal claiming it did not fit the criteria of a registered building, stating that it was not a particularly architecturally significant building... This claim seems rather unfair when we think back to our beautiful ballroom and its historical journey beginning in the 1880s. It might be suggested that the motivating reason for this change of tune was the minimum of £1.2 million that needed spending on the building to maintain it. The Palace Lido was consequently de-registered as a protected building and demolished in 1994, leaving only our cinema building from the original complex. RIP! :( Demolition of the Lido in a newspaper clipping. FaceBook, Ryan Kelly. I hope you have enjoyed reading this three part series about the Palace, and remember to show that (really) old cinema some love. Ta ta for now!
![David and Catherine Hughes at the dance championships, Palace Ballroom, c.1957. ‘Ballroom Archive’, FaceBook. [https://www.facebook.com/ballroomarchive/posts/at-the-isle-of-man-dance-championships-palace-ballroom-douglas-circa-1957-david-/2587143414857758/]One of the other notable events at the Palace in the 50s was the Theatrical Gala. 1957 saw swarming crowds for ‘one of the biggest events of the holiday season’, where over 50 artists and entertainers, along with five orchestras, performed in aid of local charities.The show was presented by Stella Hartley, an entertainment presenter in the 50s and 60s who regularly visited the island. It was reported by the Isle of Man Examiner that “...autograph hunters had a wonderful time in the star-studded Palace Gardens.”](/tindle-static/image/gef-import/gef-2023-10-Image-228-797x1024.jpg)
David and Catherine Hughes at the dance championships, Palace Ballroom, c.1957. ‘Ballroom Archive’, FaceBook. [https://www.facebook.com/ballroomarchive/posts/at-the-isle-of-man-dance-championships-palace-ballroom-douglas-circa-1957-david-/2587143414857758/]One of the other notable events at the Palace in the 50s was the Theatrical Gala. 1957 saw swarming crowds for ‘one of the biggest events of the holiday season’, where over 50 artists and entertainers, along with five orchestras, performed in aid of local charities.The show was presented by Stella Hartley, an entertainment presenter in the 50s and 60s who regularly visited the island. It was reported by the Isle of Man Examiner that “...autograph hunters had a wonderful time in the star-studded Palace Gardens.”
the beginning of a bit of a ‘face lift’ (according to Holiday News in 1966) for the Palace, with the ballroom being swathed from floor to ceiling in ‘sugar-candy colours of gold, pink and green’ cloth, making it an equipped cabaret theatre prime for ‘high-tech laser discos’. In May 1966, James Bond, in the form of Sean Connery, flew to the island to officially open the Palace Casino. He did so in style, taking the first spin of a roulette wheel. Sean Connery spinning the roulette wheel, May 1966. Manx National Heritage. It was towards the late 60s that the Ballroom began to become known as the Palace Lido, finalising its transformation. The Palace Lido and Casino. FaceBook, Dave Evans There were also many must-see bands performing at the Lido in the 60s. To name a few: The Kinks (‘66); and in star-studded 1967, The Who, Pink Floyd and Cream. Welsh legend Tom Jones also made an appearance in 1966... as a Cabaret act! 1970s The concept of the Lido and Casino were in full swing going into the 1970s. More big name bands continued to perform, such as Slade and Roxy Music in 1973; Queen (yes!) and Status Quo in 1974; Thin Lizzy for ‘75 and no other than AC/DC in 1976. Clearly this was where all the cool kids were going! Poster advertising Slade and Roxy Music playing at the Lido in 1973. FaceBook, Terry Holmes. 1980s It's around this time - the 1980s - that my mum and her friends would have come onto the scene (you know who you are). Characterising a night out at the Lido were the ‘four pint jugs’ of beer, secret snogging balcony which remained from the more sophisticated days of dancing and theatre and - I cannot forget to mention - the apparently delightfully sticky floor from all the spilt four pinters. I have heard it from several sources, so it must be true. It is no wonder the Palace Lido had a sticky floor. FaceBook, Lightman Mike.
The music scene did not falter, with Dr Feelgood and Motorhead coming to play at the Lido during the 80s, along with Girlschool - one of the longest running all-female rock bands - amongst others. For the year of 1986, the Palace Lido was also awarded ‘Discotheque of the Year’ in the United Kingdom. 1990s Sadly, our era ends with a not-so happily ever after for the Palace (as you might have guessed, if you have ever walked past it). But it didn’t go out without a bang. Many of you may remember the infamous TT Carnival that took place at the Lido until 1990. That is all I am going to say about that... what happened in the Lido, can stay in the Lido at this point. Queues like this were a regular sight to get into the Lido for the TT Carnival. Facebook, Kathy Atkinson In 1990, The Palace Lido was registered as a protected building, due to its architectural value. Yet, it was demolished four years later to ‘make room’ for an extension to the casino - which materialised as that shoddy old car park. The building was submitted to be de-registered in 1991 after an appeal claiming it did not fit the criteria of a registered building, stating that it was not a particularly architecturally significant building... This claim seems rather unfair when we think back to our beautiful ballroom and its historical journey beginning in the 1880s. It might be suggested that the motivating reason for this change of tune was the minimum of £1.2 million that needed spending on the building to maintain it. The Palace Lido was consequently de-registered as a protected building and demolished in 1994, leaving only our cinema building from the original complex. RIP! :( Demolition of the Lido in a newspaper clipping. FaceBook, Ryan Kelly. I hope you have enjoyed reading this three part series about the Palace, and remember to show that (really) old cinema some love. Ta ta for now!
