A picture of the Jubilee Hall in Leeds Street taken when the surrounding housing had been demolished so most likely in the 1970s. Not sure if it was owned by the Stockton Co-operative Society.
Photo and details courtesy of John Emmerson
Jubilee Hall
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Picture Stockton Archive 
Although it was a dance hall It was also used by other groups. Branch 5 of the AEU held their meetings there. Must remember Skipper Johnson’s ‘fish & chip shop across the road
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Leeds Street Fish shop at one time the best fish and chips in Stockton.
I think the Jubilee out lasted all the other Halls, Wilf a pal of mine was Doorman there for quite a few years.
Frank.
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I am sorry that I gave the impression the dancing stopped when the Dance Halls we knew and loved went rocking mad, more people were standing around the stage watching the antics than dancing.
We the old Brigade moved out to the Clubs who seeing profit in holding weekly dances stepped up to the mark. Norton Workmen’s, Buff’s. Portrack Cons and many others took up the slack as the old halls failed and became carpet warehouses and such like. My Wife Joan and I danced in the old Stockton Co-op Club renamed the Elmtree Club until Joan was too ill to dance.
We also went to Blackpool every year and danced in the Tower Ballroom, the Tea dance was always good as you had room to open your legs and move.
We went to Dinner Dances at the Swan, Billingham Arms and the Synthonia Club who also held weekly dances at that time, the big one was New Year at the Swallow Stockton High Street we booked in all our family friends and their families for always a wonderful meal then Dance, let in the New Year then fell into bed at the Swallow. A nice late leisurely breakfast next morning then home to sleep through the old films, we did that ten years in a row.
We travelled abroad and always found dances, in Austria Germany and Holland we were often asked to lead off the dance they seemed to think the English were good dancers. I suppose dancing your way across four Continents did give you an edge.
The Dancing never stopped for us or many of those brought up in the hey day of those wonderful dance halls, I danced in the Hammersmith in London the Nuffield club Tea Dances on Sunday afternoons when the girls from the shows dropped in for a free tea and to dance with us young Squaddies and many other places across the country.
I lost my wife Joan 9 years ago and have never danced since. Now my feet dance to the music whilst the rest of me “well” rests. You tend too dream of dancing to a Glen Millar classic or the big Tower Ballroom Organ, the memories never fade.
My girls who refused to learn our Dad dancing are now dancing having gone to dance school in later life, I think they now realise what they missed when they thought Mum and I old fashioned.
“Thanks for the memory” they should write a song about it.
Frank.
Anonymous if you still wish to talk I am OK with that.
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Frank
I respect your views that you thought that the dancing stopped in the Dance halls when the group’s appeared. But to us teenagers we were looking for something new and different to the music our parents had grown up with. We still danced to the music and enjoyed the new atmosphere. I also liked the music of Glen Miller and Ken Mackintosh etc and went to see Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and others at Newcastle. Most of us could also dance the more traditional dances but we enjoyed the new era of change Enjoy Christmas and here’s to a brighter new year.
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Had some great Sat nights in there in late 50,s.I seem to remember dancing to Wee Willie Harris,and Johnny Kidd and the pirates if my memory is correct.Great times in there and the Maison,Astoria and the Rink in Hartlepool.Amazing days on Teesside and fantastic mates.
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Yes indeed, The Jubilee Dance Hall was Co-op as was Leven Road, Billingham and others around the area. Learning the basic steps in the arms of Ladies I thought of as old at 10-11 years of age in Leven Road and from then on the flashing coloured lights the Glitter Ball and live band plus the whirling Dancers in their long dresses and nice suits enthralled me. Mother and Father were both Competition Dancers in the days you got money or goods I was taken there with them as the Baby sitter thought me a brat.
From Church halls and School Halls, the progress was via Cochrans Dance School to the Palais (Jack o Boyle) at 16 sometimes the Maison (Jack Marwood) and not very often the Jubilee considered much posher than the other two.
Coming back from abroad and on leave I managed to dance in the Palais and the Maison in one night (A long Story) met my future Wife and then the Jubilee became our hall of choice. More sedate smaller crowd very good band and so it was until the three chord bearded youth took over.
We still danced in Clubs around the area, Abroad to even doing a demonstration Viennese Waltz in Vienna, those were the days my friend, (they should write a song about it).
Many of my generation met their future partners in those dance halls they are remembered for the glamour of it all and the wonderful live bands long before dancing round your handbag became the vogue. I watch Strictly now and wonder what happened, a Tango to Metallica? what on earth is that.
I find plenty of the good old dance music on u-tube and my 91 year old feet still twitch to the steps I once did, the rest of me is not quite up to the feet but then memories are made of pictures like those on Picture Stockton. Keep up the good work.
Frank.
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Hello Frank Mee. Interesting, your comments about the dance hall scene. The Jubilee Hall, Astoria and others. One has recently been knocked down. The Marton Hotel and Country Club. You are probably aware of this fact. I can assure you that the ballroom dancing scene you refer to is alive and kicking and making a strong comeback. The suede sole dancing shoes, the sequins are all being worn regularly. Not forgetting of course the Glitter Ball. Thousands of dancers up and down the United Kingdom will be waiting for this current ban on dancing to be lifted. Unless you happen to have your own dance hall it is not easy to execute a Quickstep around the kitchen in most modern homes. Ask Picture Stockton for my email. I authorise them to let you have it if you wish to chat about this topic further. By the way, I first graced the dance floor at the Jubilee Hall at the age of 12 years. The lovely wonderful girls of Stockton on Tees taught my pals and I to dance that first night we attended. Oh yes, I agree with you about Metallica. Don’t worry, the modern ballroom dancing scene in this part of the country has no inclination towards music of that sort. The music you would hear in any ballroom dance classes or events would be the music and tunes that you danced to. La Cumparsita. Blue Tango. Autumn Leaves. September Song. You know the rest, I am sure. Maybe if those Strictly people danced to the right music they may make fewer mistakes.
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Used to go to the dance there board Inn at half time
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My friend Chris Evans and I went to ballroom dancing lessons here. I once left my purse in the phone box on the right, it had gone by the time I realised.
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Use to go there Friday night to dance
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I remember the Saturday night dances there in the early 60s. The start of the groups were just taking off.
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During my years working for the Stockton Co-operative building department I worked many times on the maintenance of the Jubilee Hall. I think for older residents of the town it will hold memories of the dance hall, along with the Maison and Palais.
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The ground floor, street level, used to be the CO-OP dairy. When it moved to Church Row it was used as a cannery for a while.
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