Here are a few facts about the Jack Hawkins Band, found in the Evening News at the time.
the Arundel Street Locarno Ballroom opened on Monday 4 May 1964 with a “Gala Night” dance.
In August 1964, the Locarno introduced a kids’ event on Saturday mornings while parents went shopping, and afternoon dancing to “Big Beat” records for teenagers.
The weeks before Christmas 1964 were fairly low-key around the area. The Locarno ran over-21s “Gay Romantic Evenings”.
1965 . Local bandleader Jack Hawkins & his Orchestra went to Hammersmith Palais with supporters’ coaches.
Easter weekend was in mid-April 1965.The Locarno had a Palais Dance.
The Jack Hawkins Band was resident at the Mecca Locarno, Portsmouth.
Jack Hawkins took his 13-piece Locarno band to Botley’s Dolphin Hotel to perform to the jazz club, including the premiere of Terry Porter’s “Southern Suite” which was well received – the Downbeat column described it as “technically accomplished” and “very entertaining”.
1966 Jack Hawkins’ Orchestra broadcast live from the Locarno on the Light Programme and Spinner suggested Jack had “done as much as any to bring back dancing as entertainment”.
July 1966 Locarno bandleader Chris Allen teamed up with the Talismen in a local version of the collaborations between the Animals or Georgie Fame and big bands, but while these experiments met with some success, they were expensive.
1967 New Year’s Eve was once again fairly conventional in the city including Jack Hawkins’ Big Band at the Locarno with the Mel Douglas Four.
The Jack Hawkins Orchestra broadcast on the BBC Light Programme’s “Swingalong”.
The Manager of the Locarno challenged the city’s teenagers to “take up ballroom dancing and show how swinging Portsmouth is”.
June 1967 The Locarno offered a Miss United Kingdom Show.
1968
New Year’s Eve was once again fairly conventional in the city including Jack Hawkins’ Big Band at the Locarno with the Mel Douglas Four.
