Teen hysteria arrived in Sheffield long before The Beatles

The rise of teen hysteria has often been blamed on The Beatles, but the Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1950s Sheffield says it was alive and screaming years before.
Hunter's Bar roundaboutHunter's Bar roundabout
Hunter's Bar roundabout

Although The Beatles were still a few years away, there is no doubt the female population was warming their vocal chords up with bouts of hysteria throughout the 1950s.

Paul Anka, Ronnie Hilton, Bill Haley, Billy Fury, Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Johnny Ray and scores of others were all subjected to this ear-splitting trait, guaranteed to totally ruin any gig for even the most mildly interested music fan.

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Patricia Eales said: “I remember going to see Paul Anka at Sheffield City Hall. I went with people from work and was really annoyed because one female colleague did nothing but scream all the way through the show. Diana was his big hit at the time. We were sat near the stage. It was really full.

Local star Dave Berry, left, that first rose to prominence in the 1950sLocal star Dave Berry, left, that first rose to prominence in the 1950s
Local star Dave Berry, left, that first rose to prominence in the 1950s

“We regularly went in Marsdens Milk Bar on Pinstone Street. My mum used to waitress there and we used to go and meet her.

“Seeing Ronnie Hilton was a big deal for me. I was in his fan club and everything. I used to wait at the stage door at the City Hall to meet him. He also made a special appearance at Cranes Record Shop. I queued to see him and I got to speak to him again. It was fantastic – I nearly fainted with excitement.

"Otherwise I’d normally get my records from Philip Cann on Dixon Lane which had booths so you could listen to the songs before you bought them.

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“I’d regularly go to Saturday night dances at the Sheffield City Hall Ballroom with my friend Denise and her brother Gordon who’d be there to look after us. There’d always be a dance band on.

Patricia Eales, right, and work colleaguesPatricia Eales, right, and work colleagues
Patricia Eales, right, and work colleagues

“We were also regulars at the Locarno. It was a bit strange as there was a sloping floor, left over from it being a cinema. We tried to jive occasionally, but were never very good.

“The City Hall dances were the best though. I remember there was always a man who would march up and down the queue outside with sandwich boards shouting ‘the end of the world is nigh’ – he’d be there every week!

“Denise and I would normally be wearing Dirndl skirts, blouses or dresses – we were always quite conservative. There was never anything short cut. I could never walk very well in high heels so I’d always bring them along in a small carry case and put them on when I got to the dance. I’d normally wear my hair up with a French plait. Denise normally had a big bouffant.

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“Pubs were always frowned upon and I’d never dare tell my mother if I'd been to one. I’d occasionally go to the Mulberry Tavern and the Yorkshireman.

Ronnie HiltonRonnie Hilton
Ronnie Hilton

“Tales from the El Mambo cafe used to scare the life out of me. I never dared go. I’m sure it can’t have been bad at all.

“I went to the Azena a couple of times, but can’t remember much about that, but I do remember dances at Nether Edge Hall and a drink in the Lord Byron nearby.”

Taken from the Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1950s Sheffield, available from www.dirtystopouts.com for £13.95

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