It's been a whole ten years since the Colosseum nightclub opened its doors and so naturally, those behind it want to celebrate - and they need your help. Promoter Richard Elms said the Colly wanted to also mark the anniversary of the Colly's home, 51 Primrose Hill Street, which has hosted entertainment for Cov folk for over 90 years.
 | | How it used to look as the the Orchid Ballroom |
The building, which is now owned by local business man Amarjit Kullar, first opened its doors as the Globe Picture Theatre in 1914, one of four cinemas erected in Hillfields around the time of the Great War. The silver screen was a huge success for more than 40 years but the curtains were drawn for good 1956 and the building was converted into the Majestic Ballroom a year later before being followed by the Orchid ballroom, which was under the stewardship of local music impresario and future manager of The Troggs Larry Page. The dance hall even spawned a successful girl band, The Orchids, who Larry discovered in a talent contest at the venue and they had a number of hits, including the superb Soldier Boy. Later still the venue became a bingo hall, The Tic Toc club and finally its current incarnation The Colosseum Nightclub in 1995. The club's management is now planning to fling open the doors for a unique historical display focusing on the building's past and will also host a special 50’s & 60’s night to recreate the big band sounds of the 1950s and the early rock ‘n’ roll fumblings of the 60s.
 | | The Colosseum in Coventry |
The event, which will be part of Coventry’s Heritage Weekend on 10 and 11 September but to make the eveny a success, the good folk of the Colly need your help. Rich has asked for anyone who has memories of the buildings past or who may have photographs, old posters or equipment from those days to contact him and these will be put together for a two-day display. He also wants people to come forward who would like to be involved in the proposed Sunday evening dance and concert. Rich said his idea came a couple of years ago when the club replaced its 1950s Canadian maple wood sprung dance floor with a more modern floor but decided to let the public who had fond memories of the old floor take away pieces as a memento. He said: “We were deluged with people wanting some of the old boards as a memento including three octogenarians who been regular cinema goers at the Globe, couples nearing retirement age who’d had their first dance at the Majestic, live music and theatre buffs from the days of the Orchid and the Tic Toc as well as lots of our Colosseum regulars. “ “This got us thinking seriously about the history of the building and the fact that it has been used almost continuously for 90 years as a place for entertainment, which is surely some kind of Coventry record.
 | | Tom Chaplin of Keane, who appeared at the Colly |
"Starting with the silent movie stars on the big screen at the start of the 20th century such as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, through to the big bands of the 50’s like the Ted Heath Orchestra to modern music stars such as Pete Doherty and Brit Award winners Keane.” Those with memories or mementos of the club's past should contact Richard Elms at the Colosseum Nightclub, Primrose Hill Street, Coventry CV1 5LY, call 02476 228459 or email richelmspromotions@tiscali.co.uk. We'd also like you to share your memories below, whether they're of the Orchid or the Tic Toc - or even of the Colly. | 
