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ARNOLD Harrison has memories of a time when the clubs were king in the Bolton area.

He recalls going to the Cavendish Club, which he describes as being “on the way to Darwen”, to see Bob Monkhouse.

“That made a fabulous evening never to be forgotten,” he says.

Drinks were comparable in price to local pub prices, explains Arnold.

Arnold would spend many a Friday night at the Gaiety Club in Westhoughton, he says.

This building used to be a cinema before being closed and then re-opened as a club.

It provided entertainment seven days a week.

“We would be there on a Friday night sitting at our reserved table at the front of the house.

“We would see live entertainment including Kenny Ball and his jazzmen.

“Other acts included Max Wall and the American singer and film star Dick Haymes.”

Arnold particularly recalls a night when the famous American model and nightclub entertainer Jayne Mansfield was due to appear.

The rather well-endowed celebrity had created quite a stir and the place was packed to the gills.

“That Friday night we arrived early to claim our table.

“The club was bursting at the seams and when Jayne Mansfield appeared to thunderous applause of anticipation.

“She was carrying two small dogs.

She continuously referred to them with plenty of innuendo before handing them to an assistant.”

Arnold says his 15 minutes of fame followed when the house lights were dimmed.

With the spotlight directed onto her Jayne Mansfield walked to his table and promptly sat on her knee singing to him.

Arnold was the envy of all the men in the venue.

Sadly Jayne Mansfield was killed in a car accident back in America, not long after her visit to Westhoughton, explains Arnold

Arnold speaks fondly of the entertainment he enjoyed as a young man which included watching such famous acts as the Rolling Stones live, as well as Tom Jones and Peter Gordeno who was a dancer, singer and actor who had been born in Burma.

According to Arnold those really were the days but were they as amazing as he recalls?

Do you remember the days of theatre-going in Bolton?

If so we would love to hear your stories.

Perhaps you would visit the cinema once or twice a week and then managed to slot in a visit to the theatre for good measure.

Did you pop into the Pastie Shoppe for a tasty treat at the interval as you visited the theatre in Churchgate in Bolton town centre?

Get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk

Alternatively you can write to us as The Bolton News, Civic Centre, Wellsprings, Bolton BL1 1AR.

We will include your memories in a future edition of Looking Back when we write a further feature on entertainment in Bolton and its surrounding towns and villages.