Follow up to myself.... looks like BBC Four has shown Ronnie's already last April (so hang on for it again).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pjcm

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2022-02-11 08:22:16)

Yes indeed - I read a couple of them too.  I hadn't realized about his depression but appreciate its reality. The pressures of keeping the club going were hard too on top.

We've read a lot of the same things I guess - Hanock, John Le Mes etc.  I find reading around Soho rather than 'at it' feels better. I do adore it but I've weaned myself off a lot as it has changed.  Still incredible to see Hammer House (as an example), the headquarters of Hammer Studios and the like.   Walk by the alley where The Scene was and so on.  Ah someone else's memories.

When you starting to read the darker side, David Litvinoff's book then what they couldn't even put in the book.....the glamour fell away.  That's what that film does.....

Only been to Ronnies the once, two or three years ago. I got the feeling it was becoming another stop on the tourist trail, maybe I’m being a bit harsh and need to give it another try?
We’ve been to Soho Pizza Express Jazz Club a few times. It’s smaller than Ronnies and is in a basement which has to be worth a few extra coolness points. Pizza is optional and you usually get to meet the artists in the interval.

As regards the dark side of the old Soho: I know a tailor who has worked there for forty + years and he told me how one of the Italian gangsters ordered a suit from him. When the guy came to collect it the tailor presented  his bill and received payment in the form of a good beating.

Loads of good stuff from everyone here - I must finally go watch Our Friends In The North. Just seems to of been a bit early for me to connect to it.

My experiences of Soho started in 69/70 with visits to Brewer Street. We would walk from Tottenham Court Rd station through Soho on our way to the Squire shop. I've told the story before, but one time a gang of 10/12 of us were celebrating a mates 17th birthday and we were visiting the Squire shop, but decided to visit a strip joint, in the middle of the day. They tried to rip us off with drinks and one mate tried to get on stage with one of the strippers. The doormen moved in and then it all kicked off. We were in a basement but managed to get upstairs and out into the street. There was then a face off with the doormen and their numbers increased as they got other Maltese blokes on their side. Their leader asked us to back down and I dont remember exactly what happened next but I think we were just laughing and clowning around. I avoided that street for years in case I was recognised. The Maltese were ruling that area at that time.

I didn't know the gangsters personally but it was generally known that the Maltese controlled Soho strip joints, prostitution etc. at that time. It was also thought that they had the Police in their back pocket.

Last edited by RobbieB (2022-02-11 09:37:37)

I think the vibe at Ronnie's is much to do with whose playing.
In my experience if you get somebody who is straight ahead the audience is much more appreciative of the artist. Less chatter but rounds of appluase for solos.
Unfortunately in order to pay the bills there are artists who aren't jazz and bring in a crowd who just want to claim to have been to the club. Fair enough if it keeps the club viable.
I once sat next to a couple who claimed to be members but stated they didn't like it when artists improvised. Go figure.
Ronnie Scott was an amazing musician. Apart from depression he suffered from a lack of confidence. He was in awe of his American contemporaries without recognising his own talents. Whilst he didn't record much it's all high quality.
On Youtube there are a few early eighties performances worth checking out including an appearance on 3-2-1 (Dusty Bin)