Hetty Goes Clubbing

'Running a jazz club gave me an illuminating insight into what is quaintly described as 'human nature'. Most people didn't begrudge paying a mere five or six shillings to listen to the cream of the country's jazz musicians, but there were some to whom getting into a jazz club without paying was a cardinal principle. They wouldn't dream of entering a cinema or leaving a restaurant without paying, but jazz clubs involved a different morality. Why, I don't know, but it was one of the facts of a club promoter's life. Some of them would try any physical manouevre and exercise ingenious verbal ploys rather than pay for admission. I discovered that the musicians had an extraordinary number of friends willing to lend support - moral but not financial. My standard rejoinder, which never went down well with these mumpers, was that friendship for individuals on the bandstand was best expressed by paying to see them...

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A hazard peculiar to the Six Bells was the 'Chelsea Set' ..... "Oh don't be such a silly little man," spluttered one outraged Hetty when I politely requested payment. I'm six feet tall, but the appellation was indicative of social attitude rather than a reference to my height. "I know the band very well," she cried. "They've been to hundreds of my parties! Now let me pass!" was her most imperious demand.

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Her escort was silent until I remarked that she was very unpleasant. His contribution was straight from P.G. Wodehouse. "Oh, I say, look here. I shall jolly well have to ask you to take that back!" She eventually departed snarling malevolently at 'such a silly little man' and protesting that she could 'buy the place over and over again'. An odd claim to wealth from someone not prepared to pay a few shillings' entrance fee .....

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Generally we had little real trouble, although I quickly made the discovery that individuals in the more exalted professions don't necessarily have higher standards of behaviour. On the contrary. My problem people were actors, doctors and solicitors .......There was a solicitor, since struck off, who came along solely to conduct the band. He was ferret-like, middle-aged and slightly demented. He had a rival in Johnny the Conductor and one night the band had the benefit of two maestri, each with his own interpretation of tempi, nuance and rhythm ....'

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From All This And Many A Dog by Jim Godbolt

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You might have seen this film Momma Don't Allow by Karel Reisz and Tony Richardson featuring Wood Green Jazz Club with the Chris Barber band in 1956. It was at one time on YouTube but it is now watchable free from BFI HERE (scroll down to 'Watch for Free). It is valuable archive film from the time, but it is also relevent to Jim Goldbolt's story as the 'Chelsea Set' arrive later in the film.