CYRIL STAPLETON_4436
This is Cyril Stapleton and his Orchestra
along with two of his singers who often played at Caproni's.
CHURCH STREET_4437
This is Church Street in 1900 with Bangor
Abbey spire in the distance towering over it. Over to the left it looks like
they have taken all the straw of the roof and going to replace it with slates.
While over to the right you can see that they are putting down a pavement
with kerbs. Still on the right is a lady holding a baby standing in what looks
like a shop doorway, next door is a little girl sitting on the dooorstep and
next door is another shop with a bag full of something in front of it on the
pavement. Further down is another lady standing in her doorway with a baby
in her arms, on down is a water pump and this is for the whole street for
none of the cottages have running water. Where the new roof is going on is
a young man sitting on the windowsill.
CHURCH STREET_4438
It's unbeliveable what a difference 10
years can make to Church Street and for the photographer to take the photograph
in more or less the same place. Gone are the cottages and now houses with
running water for the water pump has gone but the street lamp is in the same
place. Even Bangor Abbey's spire can still be seen but not as much due to
it has the houses in front of it. Back then the shutter speed of a camera
was very slow so you had to stay very still for a couple of minutes otherwise
it was blurred. An example is on the pavement opposite the horse and trap
with the driver is of a dog blurred because it is moving. The little boy out
in the road has moved his feet while the girl's bag as moved.
CAPRONI_4435
Looking across the road we have Caproni's,
it was built for Enrico Caproni in 1925 and saw everything, from the best
show bands to Lovely Legs competition. The alcohol-free dance hall offered
something for everyone including their famous ice-cream in Pokes and sliders.
Many remember the sign above the doorway that read: Through
these doors, from time to time, pass some of the most beautiful women in the
World. But if the attendant could smell alcohol on your breath
it was out the door you went.