Christmas at Tooting Granada

Your ultimate festive warm-up is here on the steps of 'The Vegas of South London'! The roll call of star names who performed here is mind-blowing and they are back here on Planet Tooting to get your Christmas off to a super-sparkling start! Our gift to all those who love the music and the glorious memories is a historic blue plaque so the wider world knows about these magical moments, forever! Put down your shopping and your worldly cares and join us again outside the world famous Tooting Granada Buzz Bingo Hall as we take you through those golden years, reliving the tunes once performed here. We might even feel like a little singalong. Brace yourselves for another powerful hit of emotional 'Planet Tooting' nostalgia. This is your invitation to a unique party-on-the-street experience that should not be missed!

Here's the story... one hundred years ago, a young man called Sidney Bernstein went walking in the mountains of the Spanish Sierra Nevada. He came upon the glorious 13th century Alhambra Palace in Andalusia, 'A Paradise on Earth', one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture to grace western Europe. Returning to Britain and about to launch his new cinema chain, he was inspired to give it the name of the area he visited. He called his new enterprise 'Granada' and instructed his designer, Theodore Komisarjevsky to create a showpiece theatre evoking the Alhambra's exquisite grandeur. Somewhere to fire people's imaginations and help them escape the drudgeries of everyday life. In September 1931, the people of Tooting, south London were gifted one of the most outstandingly beautiful performance venues the world has ever seen.

Its been called 'The Vegas of South London' and Tooting SW17 has always been somewhere to go for a good time. Its just over 70 years since Frank Sinatra alighted here on the opening date of his first UK Tour. But even before Frankie the brightest stars in the firmament were lighting up Mitcham Road, a conveyer belt from the London Palladium organised by John Roberts brought to Tooting the likes of Danny Kaye, Carmen Miranda, Lena Horne, The Ink Spots and The Andrews Sisters. As the age of rock and roll dawned, Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis were followed by Little Richard and Sam Cooke performing on the same bill in October 1962 with a young Billy Preston on keyboards. Perhaps no story resonates more than 1st June 1963, the night The Beatles accompanied by Roy Orbison and Gerry and The Pacemakers kicked off the swinging sixties when they came to play The Granada and crashed out in Trevelyan Road. A ticket to see that lot cost the kids about the same as the price of a pint today. The following year, new Summerstown arrival Mark Feld (soon to become Bolan) took time out from flipping burgers across the road in Wimpy to see The Ronettes support the fledgling Rolling Stones. As the mods took over from the rockers, we welcomed The Kinks and The Hollies. The Beach Boys might have brought their Californian Good Vibrations but The Walker Brothers broke teenage Tooting hearts when they announced their break up. Jimi Hendrix, soon to be powered by the mighty WEM sound originated by Charlie Watkins from Tooting Market helped heal the wounds on the last night of his spellbinding first UK Tour.

Geoff Simmons runs a community history project in south west London called Summerstown182 alongside his job as a graphic designer. This involves Guided Walks and Talks, working with schools and putting up plaques. Over the last ten years a trail of these have emerged along the Wandle Valley, shining a light on some of the lesser-known history in this area. They range from the youngest soldier to serve this country in the First World War to a ground-breaking plaque acknowledging Romany Gypsy and Traveller heritage in Wandsworth. 'Planet Tooting' is an ongoing initiative championing the outstanding migrant contribution to our neighbourhood which resulted in a blue plaque on Tooting Market. Have a look on Geoff's blog for more details or follow @summerstown182 on social media.

Host or Publisher Geoff Simmons, Summerstown182