Mod to Suedehead

Brideshead said:

‘Just about as good as it gets’
We have had a flurry of activity and more recently a quieter period.
I wondered if it might be interesting (and of use for the book) if we were to record one or two really special moments from back in the day under the above heading. Things that that have stayed with you and still give off a warm glow even now when you think about them. I’ll kick off.
I have often referred to a holiday in Clacton in the summer of 1970. It was something of a turning point. It was the beginning of the end of skinhead for us and it was the last time we all went on holiday as a group (although we didn’t know that at the time!).
Perhaps that is why so many things about that holiday are still fresh in my mind – especially how I felt. I particularly recall one wet afternoon hanging around in one of those massive bar/dancehalls that Butlins used to have. Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles came on and was repeated a few times. Two girls were practicing their moves to the record. They were the only ones on the floor. They looked wonderful. Hair, make up, clothes all perfect. What I remember in particular was that their mohair skirts were knee length – something that was quite new to me at the time. They just looked ‘authentic’. Watching them with the Miracles blaring out and supping a pint with my mates – as good as it gets…

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circustavern777 said:

As good as it gets thats a hard one to me one time would be a summers day cos back then we had summers all out on the scooters may b 15 handed with our birds im still with mine been married ever since we were skins that to me is as good as it gets, getting ya wages when ya did plenty of overtime and spending the lot having the krac all weekend  20 handed at the pictures

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circustavern777 said:

very intersting gary what part of the world you from mate. what was the statement you guys were making it will be good to compare with other skins from the same era i am 56 so in 1969 i was 14 im wondering if you may be older as i remember the first wave of skins started with that work look even with the old collarless grandads shirt braces and army greens ect i think the music did matter

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Ed Vaughan said:

As an aside, I watched (again) 'Get Carter' this afternoon. And, when 'Carter' followed a baddie (Bernard Hepton), into a dance hall bogs, the lads stood at the urinals were all dressed very 1970... I wasn't knob-watching, honest.

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mastrollani said:

There are some photos here in black and white that appears as 80's but in fact are from 1970. I have the original photos as you can see here:

http://barcelona-vintage.blogspot.com.es/

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Little Queenie said:

One of my favourite films, Ed! Bob and I have often commented on the clothes the lads in the bogs are wearing in that bit of the film, so not so weird! Been in the Oxford a couple of times years ago. Shame they pulled down the Trinity Square car park: love that bit!

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Ed Vaughan said:

Oh, yes, Sunday nights in the local fleapit/bug hut, those with birds trying it on, those without, shouting at the picture - Dirty Harry, Hammer Horror or Kung-Fu classics - curry and chips from the local Chinese take-away on the way home... God, I miss being young.
Missed it for months, we were all getting older and the 'fun' was wearing thin, but one dark, cold, winter night, me and 'her' decided to pay a visit to the old place... it was a Sunday, as usual, we sauntered up to the door and were told we weren't welcome, and how we wouldn't enjoy it... the doorman was right, the place had started to show Hindi films... we exited and went to the pub.
Used to go to the Apollo Ardwick (now a decent-sized music venue) when there was a new film - a 'big one' as opposed to the dross that had done the rounds for three months - and always, without fail, I used to fall on the same step going upstairs.
My bird, at the time, used to be amazed... and the more I tried to avoid doing it... the more chance of my arse-ing up on another step.
Weirdo or what?

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circustavern777 said:

. Ok ed I loved them Kung Fu films one guy does the job on 50 they were just like us mate lol. Hammer horror Peter Cushing and chris Lee what a win double I remember a night that sticks out me and about 6 pals bunked in to our local pictures a Sunday night, one of our crew had gone in and opened the exit door, as we were crawling on all fours there was a film showing and all I remember was the song give peace a chance blaring out from the screen , but in front of us was the whole arena filled with skins all singing and stamping there boots in time to the song must have been 200 plus from all different manors

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