Photographs wanted or jivers, boppers and teddy girls and boys from the old Tower Ballroom in Townhill

IF you used to rock around the clock or picture yourself serenading your partner under the moonlight during dances at Swansea's Tower Ballroom, then a special project wants to hear from you.

And organisers are especially keen if you have the photographic evidence to prove it.

Remembering the Tower Ballroom, Townhill, was launched by Jen Wilson, a historian at Jazz Heritage Wales, based at Swansea's Metropolitan University, last year.

Working closely with the Phoenix Centre, which now occupies the site of the old ballroom, she is gathering stories, memories and photographs from people living in Townhill and Mayhill who remember days of dancing to the big bands and rock bands at the Tower.

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Ms Wilson said the project was progressing nicely, having held an open day for it last year.

"Memories stretched back to remembering the architect of the Tower Cinema, Charles Geddes, the twopenny and threepenny rushes for the kids on a Saturday morning, and waiting a week in great excitement to see what happened to the hero/heroine in the cliffhanger of a serial," she said.

"Dennis Stevens was the projectionist.

"Teddy Boys with their drape Edwardian suits and girl Boppers with stiffened petticoats and false ponytails remembered their jiving days.

"Some remembered dancing to the big bands such as Johnny Dankworth and Lou Preager.

"Photographs were brought in of the Fireflies rock band and the Staggerlees, as well as the Tower in its later reincarnation as a bingo hall."

However, she is still short of photographs form back in the day.

She said: "Remembering The Tower Ballroom is putting the word out for photographs of people dressed in their Saturday night finery to go dancing, jiving, boppin' or rockin' at the Tower Ballroom.

"As cameras during the 1950s and 1960s were not a household necessity as they are today with mobiles and smart phones, we would like people to search their attics for old albums kept by teddy girls and boys, ballroom dancers, jivers or boppers.

"Originals will be scanned and returned."

Built in 1937 as The Tower Cinema, one of its most significant moments came on August 1, 1958, when Swansea's Mayor and Mayoress of the day opened what was billed as the most modern ballroom in South Wales there.

Decorated with thousands of artificial flowers imported from Paris, the new attraction swung to the sounds of the Tower Ballroom Resident Orchestra, led by Ray Jones, while Oscar Dennis, as the ballroom's resident director took care of the cabaret, with compere Harvey Riscoe.

If you can help, contact Jen Wilson on 01792 482032 or email jazzheritagewales@smu.ac.uk