It had arrived. We were ready; the excitement had been building up for weeks. Tonight Rock Around The Clock was showing at the Kings Hall.

George, Tommy and I were already in the queue for the picture at 6.30 even though the doors didn’t open until 7. It was just as well the queue stretched half way down Newgate Street.

We were dressed in all our finery. I had on a fingertip jacket, brown edged with dark blue velvet collar and cuffs immaculate white shirt. Slim Jim tie with a Windsor knot and 14” bottom drainpipe trousers. Tommy and George were similarly attired but George as usual had stolen the show with his tie. It was a boot lace tie secured with a diamante clip at the throat similar to the ones the high rolling gamblers used to wear in the cowboy films. I must admit to being envious of that tie.
We were constantly combing our brylcreemed hair. We had the standard Tony Curtis combed back into a DA (ducks arse) at the back. I combed my hair constantly till at one point George said: Gordon I’m sure that comb’s glued to your hand. Every time your hand comes out of your pockets there’s a comb on the end of it! We all laughed and self-consciously I put the comb back for all of five minutes.
Someone in the queue started to play a guitar and there was several bouts of supposed to be rock and roll. The camaraderie within the queue was amazing. We were a11 here to have a good time and hear the music.
Inside the cinema there seemed to be a lot more ushers than usual and all male. Waiting for the trouble,’ commented George. I have never again experienced such excitement when watching a film the cinema was electrified. Bill Haley played Rock, Rock, Rock Everybody. Before I knew where we were Tommy and I were up bopping in the aisle. Other kids joined in and it was a near riot. Torches were flashing, ushers shouting, kids screaming encouragement. It was pandemonium. It was glorious. Wonderful, it was FAB. Suddenly the film whirred to a stop and the lights came up. The manager warned that any further disturbance and the film would be stopped permanently and we would have to leave. Silence followed and the film was re-started.
The Platters sang “Only You”, At the point where the lead singer’s voice breaks “0’0 Only You” all the girls screamed and swooned. I felt a churning feeling in my stomach. This was my kind of music. Years after when watching the film in repeats it appears tame in comparison with the modern day films but it still evokes memories of lost innocence, youth, excitement and friendships made to the death. I suppose most teen-agers go through these periods in their lives but I feel we were particularly lucky. They say the sixties was the time to be alive but believe me it started in 1954 and Rock Around the Clock was the film that lit the touch paper.
(539 words) 28 Nov 92