When the Law Hill Tunnel was no longer being used for railway purposes, it later became reused for 2 different purposes.
First, the locals used the tunnel to grow mushrooms.
The illustration below accompanied an article in July 1899 where it explained that there were 86 beds, with 100 lbs of mushrooms being gathered daily.
Second use was as an air raid shelter, the photo showing the Dundee A.R.P doing some work in preparation in Sep 1939.
First, the locals used the tunnel to grow mushrooms.
The illustration below accompanied an article in July 1899 where it explained that there were 86 beds, with 100 lbs of mushrooms being gathered daily.
Second use was as an air raid shelter, the photo showing the Dundee A.R.P doing some work in preparation in Sep 1939.
Here's a rather unusual shot of the Law memorial.
It looks like a negative but it was photographed at night, and it was the fact that a searchlight was aimed at it is why the monument is shining as if it is luminous!
This was in May 1937.
It looks like a negative but it was photographed at night, and it was the fact that a searchlight was aimed at it is why the monument is shining as if it is luminous!
This was in May 1937.
This display of searchlights outside Caird Hall was a recruiting campaign by the Territorials in April 1938.
Nowadays, you're more likely to see those strength of beams inside the Caird Hall at rock concerts!
Nowadays, you're more likely to see those strength of beams inside the Caird Hall at rock concerts!
Some famous ballet names to entertain Dundonians in the past.
One of the most famous names in ballet ever, Pavlova, was paying her second visit in November 1927.
The Caird Hall was a sell-out and Pavlova's performance received a sensational review in the next days press.
A couple of decades later, 2 of the world's most famous ballet company's were in Dundee.
June 1951 had Ballet Rambert perform at the Rep Theatre in Nicoll Street. Their digs was a little less glamorous, spending the night at the local YMCA.
November 1955 and Sadler's Wells Ballet dancers were performing at the Gaumont Theatre.
One of the most famous names in ballet ever, Pavlova, was paying her second visit in November 1927.
The Caird Hall was a sell-out and Pavlova's performance received a sensational review in the next days press.
A couple of decades later, 2 of the world's most famous ballet company's were in Dundee.
June 1951 had Ballet Rambert perform at the Rep Theatre in Nicoll Street. Their digs was a little less glamorous, spending the night at the local YMCA.
November 1955 and Sadler's Wells Ballet dancers were performing at the Gaumont Theatre.
Seems like an ordinary working day down at the docks, but with a little extra bit of info we discover they are loading a cargo of whisky bound for the United States, which was the first from Dundee since America introduced Prohibition.
This was in January 1934.
This was in January 1934.
This illustration was published in May 1936 and it shows all the countries Dundee were trading with, both imports and exports.
And stating the obvious, the arrows pointing towards Dundee are imports and the arrows pointing to countries are exports.
And stating the obvious, the arrows pointing towards Dundee are imports and the arrows pointing to countries are exports.
An advert published in October 1924.
If you look closely, you'll see A.BIRRELL AND SONS as part of the hieroglyphics, which is quite amusing. The Egyptian reference being a brand of Luxor shoes they were selling. What makes it even more amusing is that in the 1970's, Birrell's was the best shop in town to buy desert boots! |
This is a photo of the Chalet Roadhouse in April 1933.
It was a very popular nightspot in Broughty Ferry that lasted into the 1970's.
You can tell from these vintage adverts below that they liked to emphasise the fun aspect of the entertainment they put on.
These are just a very small sample, all from 1935...
A nonsense night with a demonstration of a new dance called The Non-Clasp Rumba.
A super crazy night featuring the Darktown Minstrels.
An even crazier night with Pasha Tolsona and his famous Oriental Band.
A grand Oriental night featuring Mahommed Polsona and his 4 Slaves, along with Fatima Robbo and her Dagger Dance of Death.
Their Continental Cafe Night had entertainment by Hu Chung Lung and his Lo Sing Hi Band.
They did manage some Scottish entertainment, only they have advertised it in a comedic Chinese-talk kind of style. I think this is a reference to a spate of films that were popular in the mid 30's featuring Charlie Chan.
Anyway, they also advise you to bring your opium pipe!
It was a very popular nightspot in Broughty Ferry that lasted into the 1970's.
You can tell from these vintage adverts below that they liked to emphasise the fun aspect of the entertainment they put on.
These are just a very small sample, all from 1935...
A nonsense night with a demonstration of a new dance called The Non-Clasp Rumba.
A super crazy night featuring the Darktown Minstrels.
An even crazier night with Pasha Tolsona and his famous Oriental Band.
A grand Oriental night featuring Mahommed Polsona and his 4 Slaves, along with Fatima Robbo and her Dagger Dance of Death.
Their Continental Cafe Night had entertainment by Hu Chung Lung and his Lo Sing Hi Band.
They did manage some Scottish entertainment, only they have advertised it in a comedic Chinese-talk kind of style. I think this is a reference to a spate of films that were popular in the mid 30's featuring Charlie Chan.
Anyway, they also advise you to bring your opium pipe!
The exotic sounds of Hawaii were to be heard in Dundee as early as 1918 when The Hawaiians & Leilani were performing at King's Theatre.
Hollywood musicals, however, popularised the music of Hawaii even more so in the 30's & 40's and one of the most well known acts was Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders. They played a couple of times locally, the Palace ad here dating from December 1942.
Dundee even got in on the act and produced its own Hawaiian-styled band called the Waikiki Islanders.
They played lots of gigs around town, the Palais, Chalet and so on, with this Locarno advert dated March 1938.
The band have also performed on radio, the show here from the Caird Hall, was broadcast on August 1938.
Waikiki Islanders line-up was...
John Robertson, 124 Hilltown.
William Nixon, 256 Hilltown.
Leslie Booth, 33 Sycamore Place.
Harry Rae, 29 Hill Street.
Later, John Robertson became the first guy in Dundee to have an electric guitar. He decided his slide guitar wasn't powerful enough!
Hollywood musicals, however, popularised the music of Hawaii even more so in the 30's & 40's and one of the most well known acts was Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders. They played a couple of times locally, the Palace ad here dating from December 1942.
Dundee even got in on the act and produced its own Hawaiian-styled band called the Waikiki Islanders.
They played lots of gigs around town, the Palais, Chalet and so on, with this Locarno advert dated March 1938.
The band have also performed on radio, the show here from the Caird Hall, was broadcast on August 1938.
Waikiki Islanders line-up was...
John Robertson, 124 Hilltown.
William Nixon, 256 Hilltown.
Leslie Booth, 33 Sycamore Place.
Harry Rae, 29 Hill Street.
Later, John Robertson became the first guy in Dundee to have an electric guitar. He decided his slide guitar wasn't powerful enough!
Vintage movies managed to influence a couple of Dundee bands, decades later.
August 1948 had the film "Forever Amber" on at the King's.
Then in the early 70's, local act, Forever Amber cropped up on the scene.
January 1952 had the movie "Meet Danny Wilson" on at the Gaumont.
3 decades later in the mid 80's, Dundee band, Danny Wilson appeared on the scene.
August 1948 had the film "Forever Amber" on at the King's.
Then in the early 70's, local act, Forever Amber cropped up on the scene.
January 1952 had the movie "Meet Danny Wilson" on at the Gaumont.
3 decades later in the mid 80's, Dundee band, Danny Wilson appeared on the scene.
There are lots of images of students in fancy dress from the past, most of which show them having fun at charity events, dances and such like.
This lot here though, look a bit on the creepy side at first glance. There's only 1 smiling, the rest appear to be quite threatening looking. Perhaps the cameraman caught them unprepared or something. Anyway, their heart was in the right place as they were out collecting money to go towards needy children at Christmas time. December 1929 was the date. |
I like the look of these 2 art exhibitions which were held at Dundee School of Art. If I were around back then, I think I would have checked them out. Both shows featuring sign-writers and decorators style work.
The first one (left) was in May 1929.
The second one was in May 1935.
The first one (left) was in May 1929.
The second one was in May 1935.
2 similar ideas with model boats being paraded around Dundee streets.
The first one was photographed in September 1924 and is a model steamer. The procession was a fund-raising event for the infirmary and the boat was entered by D.P & L.
The other one is a model of a fully-rigged sail ship called The Persevere and was out & about in aid of Lifeboat Day in June 1932.
The first one was photographed in September 1924 and is a model steamer. The procession was a fund-raising event for the infirmary and the boat was entered by D.P & L.
The other one is a model of a fully-rigged sail ship called The Persevere and was out & about in aid of Lifeboat Day in June 1932.