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Finsbury Park Empire 1958

I was 10 years old and the family had moved to Edmonton, from Islington. I was not happy, a new school, a strange area, and all my friends in Islington.(10 years old that was a million miles away) To cheer me up my parents took me to see my favorite, Lonnie D at The Finsbury Park Empire. I can't recall much about it except (as someone else mentioned) it was so magic, the bright lights and it was in colour! (black & white TV's in those days) If I remember correct Des O'Connor was the compare and was wearing a bright blue jacket or suit, looked more like he should be working for Fred Pontin! I think Miki & Griff were part of the show as well. I don't recall anything else, just the colours and the spot light beams reflecting back of the instruments.

When I returned to my new school and started telling everyone that I'd seen Lonnie on stage, the ice melted and new friends were found, no one else had been to a show let alone seen THE MAN!

Many years have past, many different shows have been seen, but non will ever be so colourful as that night in 1958.

Dave

ROBIBSON CRUSOE 1959 or 1960?

Another memory that I have is seeing Lonnie in the panto Robinson Crusoe, this was at The Finsbury Park Empire Xmas 1959 or 60.

Other than at the end of the show Lonnie and his Group did there own session, I can't remember much about the show. But, what I do rember quite vividly is what happened after the show.

My parents decided to treat me and my sister to fish & chips from the chippy almost opposite the theatre. So there we were in the shop waiting our turn, when I suddenly realised who was in front of us -YES - Lonnie. Being a cheekie 11 or 12 year old, I tugged his jacket and thrusting the programme towards him, asked for his autograph, of cause you can have it sonny, or something similar came the reply ( the grey matter is a bit vague nowadays!)

Lonnie signed it To Dave bet wishes Lonnie D. He also treated us to our chip supper, now how many people can say that Lonnie treated them to a meal out?

Sadly that was the only time I ever met Lonnie, and I often wonder what happened to that programme? Possibly thrown out by my parents when my bedroom got a bit untidy? I don't know, but I wished I still had it. Little did I know that nearly 50 years later I would be an even bigger fan of his!

Dave

Thanks to john peel

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Thanks to John Peel

It`s diifficult to say exactly why I have started collecting Lonnie`s records but I`ve been in awe of the great man`s songs ever since hearing `Rock Island Line` on a John Peel radio show called `Peelin` Back The Years`. This was broadcast on a hungover Saturday morning in September,1987 and up until that moment I had never heard of Lonnie Donegan, or indeed `Skiffle music`. I was utterly knocked for six by `Rock Island Line` and rushed out the same day and bought the double `Hit Singles Collection` album. Later that night I gathered round a group of friends and a stack of beer and we all partied till the early hours listening over & over to those magical songs. We actually got busted by the police who thought we were all on drugs, such was the merryment!! I`ve had many a happy skiffle evening since then and also driven many a happy mile listening to my Lonnie compilation tape and I have to say that there is nothing or no-one else you can compare his music with. The originals by say, Leadbelly and Woody are great in their own way but in Lonnie`s hands the songs really take off.
I saw him play live only once, at the Fruitmarket, Glasgow, and shook his hand at the end of the show and shared a few words with him. I only wish there had been further shows... Anyway, those are my Lonnie credentials if you like and it`s all thanks to Mr Peel.

God Bless Ya!