In the 50’s the New Central Ballroom, on Cross Street (not to be confused with the Central Club on Short Street), in Aldershot was the rock n’ roll and big band dance venue. Then in the early to mid-60’s many of the big names passed through supported by local bands.
In the latter part of the 50’s, Aldershot’s The Skeleton Skiffle Group played the interval between The Mickey Kennedy Band sets. Dee Curtiss & The Tremors played there at least six times, including the 24 October ’63 supported by The Dave Oades Orchestra and the next month, on 14 November, with The Chris Allen Combo performing the support role. On 15 December ’63, The Plymouth Sounds rolled in to support Dee Curtiss & The Tremors and on Christmas Eve ’63 the venue held a Grand Xmas Gala Dance with The Stormers opening for The Dave Oades Orchestra. The Stormers returned five days later, on 29 December ’63, warming the audience for Londoners Grant Tracey and The Sunsets.
Dee Curtiss & The Tremors were back on 1 March ’64 supported by The Condors and again the month after, on 14 June ’64, supported by The Rock-A-Fellows. The Dave Oades Orchestra were still a regular feature at New Central in later ’64, playing the upper hall, while The Plannets played the lower hall on 14 November ’64 for example. The next night, 15 November, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers took the stage supported by The Diamonds. A few nights later The Seconds Thoughts, The St. Louis Checks, The Cromwells, and The Dave Oades Orchestra all took to the stage on 19 November ’64. Our final known gig at the venue by Dee Curtiss & The Tremors went down on 6 December ’64, supported by The Alleykats.
The Second Thoughts with Leeways featuring Belinda appeared on 3 January ’65. The Moody Blues, who were riding on the success of ‘Go Now!‘ and pushing ‘I Don’t Want to Go on Without You‘, performed twice on 7 April and 6 May ’65. Reading’s The Amboy Dukes, supported by Aldershot’s own The Moggies, dropped by on 16 September ’65, returning on 9 December ’65 with The Bystanders as openers.
The Hamilton Movement supported by The Nuetrons played on 21 May ’66; while Barry and the Strollers supported by The Commancheros appeared five days later. R&B soul band, Heart & Soul headlined on 15 October ’66 with The Total in support, while The Dark Ages supported The Storkers the following Saturday, 22 October ’66. The Riot Squad warmed the crowd for the returning Amboy Dukes on 10 November ’66. Many of these performances in ’66 through ’67, were part of The 221 Dance, which took place every Saturday, featuring two ‘top’ recording artists, two dances and one admission. The Amboy Dukes were back again, with Soul Society, on 19 January ’67. A couple of weeks later, on 4 February, Package Deal with Winchester based Forbidden Fruit played; followed on 9 February ’67 by The Motivation, who were supported by the Ziggy Turner Combo.
A fire broke out in the dance hall at some point, and it closed. The building was flattened, and the site is now the loading area for The Wellington Centre.
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