Description
Dancers on the floor of a dance hall, Bolton.
The location of this photograph has not been proven. Film maker and Mass Observer Humphrey Jennings filmed in the same dance hall for his short film ‘Spare Time’ which was shot in Bolton, Manchester, Sheffield and Pontypridd (assuming all dance halls in Bolton did not have identical floors!).
The dance hall also features as a subject in a sketchbook by artist Graham Bell which is held in Bolton Museum’s collections. Bell was invited to work for Mass Observation in Bolton by Tom Harrisson who thought art was a useful tool for social research.
Comment from a visitor to the museum, who thinks the dance hall in this photograph is probably the Palais:
Mum remembers the Palais having a central wooden ‘motif’. She also mentioned it having one of the best sprung dance floors (sprung to 4-5 inches) & theoretically if everyone moved to one side the floor would actually tilt that way!
The Palais had a 12 piece orchestra; the Empress Club on Mealhouse Lane had two (one at either end); Mum also went dancing at a smaller dance hall next to/above Whitakers (Beales) which had a smaller ensemble playing.
Hi Matthew, Your Mum’s description of the motif at the Palais is correct but this is not the exact one. Hopefully this link will show you the floor of the Palais in Bolton. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153942836191847&set=p.10153942836191847&type=3&theater The photo on this site will have to remain unidentified as yet.