Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.

Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish

Posted by Norman Dunn on January 26, 2023, 9:16:52

Another of my Shields photos to make the expats homesick

This lovely postcard shows the Scala Theatre entrance. As Brian said earlier , there was another entrance around the corner on Mile End Road. The theatre was renamed the 'Gaumont' in later years.

Looking-from-Kings-St-into-Ocean-Rd-1930

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish

Posted by Allan Campbell on January 26, 2023, 9:35:57, in reply to "Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish"

Looking again at that photo the cyclist heading towards the sea could well be a Hebburn Vic lad.

Bike a good road bike just by the way he’s seated.

Would that be a photo taken on a Saturday as a lot of men about ?

The car parked on the left any idea what make etc. ?

Allan C.

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish

Posted by Allan Campbell on January 26, 2023, 9:50:40, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish"

Looked at the photo and the name La Strada popped into my head.

Now the name maybe wrong but Derek Wilson who worked with me in the squad 6 in Palmers DO in about 1965 used to go there often.

It was on Commercial St. just opposite the turn down to Mill Dam.

It’s long gone. Always remember it as I pass that point.

Allan C.

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan

Posted by Malcolm on January 26, 2023, 10:03:46, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish"

Yes, Allan, the name La Strada is correct. Before my time, but I recall my parents mentioning it, as they frequented it in the early 1960's. They must have gone quiet often, for the name to stick in my mind for 60 years!!

Is it on this photo? I can't spot it.

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan

Posted by Mac Hardy on January 26, 2023, 10:56:55, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan"

Wrong location Malcolm, the La Strada was on the corner of Commercial Road going down towards the Customs House.

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan

Posted by Malcolm on January 26, 2023, 11:38:43, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan"

OK, Thanks Mac. I never knew where it was. I recall being driven past it one day, and my Mam pointing it out. I recall being NOT impressed! They talked about the La Strada: very glitzy & glamourous. I guess, that was the inside. As a child, I was expecting something similar on the outside, but it just looked like all the surrounding buildings... The way a childs' mind works, I guess!!

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan

Posted by Colin Thompson on January 26, 2023, 12:46:56, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan"

Allan my father __who was a hebburn vics member was fined one shilling for furious riding of a bike down ocean Road. He was proud of that!! He was also a Palmers man from boy to retirement

La Strada for Allan

Posted by Norman Dunn on January 26, 2023, 14:32:14, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again-For Allan"

As Mac Hardy said the La Strada was not on Ocean Rd area.It opened 1961 & closed 1990s. Near the end it was nicknamed something like 'The sticky mat' or Sticky carpet.

Here it is from our Local Authority Archive who will sell you a copy for £3.

64c409ef80b4571abe8ac670826f963cdf0254f85cf2427181a21efcdf20a00c

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by Allan Campbell on January 26, 2023, 14:55:30, in reply to "La Strada for Allan"

Norman. That’s it but I would rarely go back to Hebburn that way.

I would come down past Redheads and go back via Chichester.

Don’t know why just did.

Allan C.

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by John Shearer on January 26, 2023, 15:00:28, in reply to "La Strada for Allan"

I was only ever in the La Strada once, and never again, as you say Norman the carpet was sodden with spilt drinks,

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by Les Gibson on January 26, 2023, 15:13:15, in reply to "Re: La Strada for Allan"

Went in once on a freebie. My uncle Alf(Gibson) was playing with his band. As was mentioned in an earlier thread he played a mean guitar, and that's how he earned a fairly good living with his various bands. His shops never made much profit.

Alf Gibson for Les

Posted by Mac Cummings on January 29, 2023, 16:07:35, in reply to "Re: La Strada for Allan"

Hi Les . As a lad I was often in Alf's company and in and out of the shops. He and my Dad were good friends being both in the music business.
What I recall, vaguely, is that Alf also organized my Dad's music stands in the 50's...very popular at the time.....and sort of based on USA big bands.
I wish I had a photo but I know that the were basically "v" shaped with HC one side. They were stored in the air raid shelter in Holly St until about 1958/9 when we moved to Bill Quay

Re: Alf Gibson for Les

Posted by Les Gibson on January 29, 2023, 19:02:49, in reply to "Alf Gibson for Les"

Thanks Mac. I vaguely remember that. He also made bongo drums and at one time was into spraying cars
Bit of a lad was my uncle Alf. Aunty Mary despaired of his not having what she called a real job. However they lived well and wanted for nothing. As has been said there were 3 girls, Jean, Alma and Joyce. Joyce still lives in Wellington street.

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by Malcolm on January 26, 2023, 18:16:12, in reply to "La Strada for Allan"

So my parents would have frequented it 1961-1964 (when we fled south) when it was new.

But not a very impressive front...as I mentioned.

What was it before the La Strada? Those windows look like it was a shop?

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by Malcolm on January 27, 2023, 17:52:35, in reply to "Re: La Strada for Allan"

To answer my own question: The building used to be an upholstery works of Smith’s furnishers before it became a nightclub. (courtesy Shields Gazette)

Re: La Strada for Allan

Posted by Geordieboy ns on January 30, 2023, 12:33:29, in reply to "Re: La Strada for Allan"

Stan , now aways the new buildings, sky scrappers , look like glass boxes , not much imagination there. A treat to look at the old arutexture, hopefully some will be saved.

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish

Posted by Alan Young on January 26, 2023, 15:35:45, in reply to "Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish"

I think on the left just passed the Scala was the Marine Technical College and then just further down Baring Street school where my Father attended in the early 1900's

Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish

Posted by Stan wears on January 29, 2023, 13:27:07, in reply to "Re: Thursday looking into Ocean Rd again, but 1930ish"

Next time you are all in South Shields talking about the buildings just look up and you will see works of art in stone and brick. It shows history at its best!

« Back to index