We thought you would like to see a list of the Mecca Dance Halls and Managers from Summer 1961.
Clearly there are many town and cities not mentioned – such as Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, and many many others, but perhaps there is a clue in the number of planned openings highlighted in the list below.
Basildon Locarno – Town Centre – Manager M Green
Belfast Plaza – Chichester Street – Manager D R Clark – Phone Belfast 25294
Blackburn Locarno – St Peter Street – Manager B Gee – Phone Blakewater 85538
Bolton Palais – Bridge Street – Manager W. McLeish – Phone Bolton 1451
Bradford Locarno – Manningham Lane – Manager Alan Boyce (Opening 9th September 1961)
Burnley Locarno – Manchester Road – Manager C Isherwood (Formerly the Mechanic`s Institute)
Bury Prince`s Ballroom – Bolton Street – Manager L Byron – Phone Bury 1705
Coventry Locarno – Smithford Way – Manager R Bloxham – Phone Coventry 24570
Derby Locarno – Babington Lane – Manager A Ferris – Phone Derby 41441
Edinburgh Palais – Fountainbridge – Manager G Knowles – Phone Fountainbridge 7427
Hull Locarno – Ferensway – Manager J Munro ( Opening 16th September 1961)
Ilford Palais – High Road – Manager B Foster – Phone Ilford 3128
Leeds Locarno – County Arcade – Manager J Savile – Phone Leeds 31046/7
Leicester Palais – Humberstone Gate – Manager G Pickavant – Phone 69967
Liverpool Grafton Rooms – West Derby Road – Manager T Reid – Phone Anfield 3928
London Lyceum – Wellington Street, The Strand – Manager D Preedy – Phone Temple Bar 3715
London Carlton Rooms – 140 Maida Vale, W 9 – Manager J H Richardson – Phone Maida Vale 5289
London Empire Rooms – Tottenham Court Road – Manager C Self – Phone Euston 4173
Manchester Plaza – Oxford Road – Manager P Wild – Phone Central 7441
Newcastle upon Tyne The Mayfair – (Planned for opening during October 1961)
Norwich Sampson and Hercules Ballroom – Tombland – Manager R V Shackell – Phone Norwich 21541
Norwich Norwood Rooms – Aylsham Road – Manager G Barbour – Phone Norwich 46751
Nottingham Sherwood Rooms – Greyfriar Gate – Manager N F Kemp – Phone Nottingham 50555
Nottingham Locarno – St Anns Well Road – Manager G Lloyd – Phone Nottingham 44354
Rochdale Carlton – Great George Street – – Manager E Mills – Phone Rochdale 3347
Sale Locarno – Washway Road – Manager J Goodings – Phone Sale 1508
Sale Embassy Rooms – Washway Road – Manager H Burnett – Phone Sale 7522
Sheffield Locarno – London Road – Manager M S Proctor – Phone Sheffield 22586
Stevenage Locarno – Manager B A Elmer-Smith (Opening September/October 1961)
Wakefield Locarno – Southgate – Manager R Keith – Phone Wakefield 6515/6