BOLTON has always been known as a musical town. There are now, of course, numerous amateur operatic societies, Bolton Symphony Orchestra, Smithills School Brass Band among others, and jazz is popular, as recorded by my colleague, Fred Shawcross, in his regular column.

In the past there were regular visits by well-known professional orchestras such as the Halle, and dance bands at places such as the Palais and the Empress.

But what about the Bolton Rhythm Club?

It was formed in January, 1935, at a meeting of "hot" jazz enthusiasts in the Balmoral Hotel, according to the Evening News at the time, by "a nucleus of interested people who are anxious to propagate the gospel of advanced syncopated music in the Bolton district."

The meeting had been attended by about 50 young people - "mostly dance band leaders" - who were anxious "to learn more about the method of playing which Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, the Dorsey Bros. and other exponents have popularised. One of the principal features of the evening was a recital of 'hot' jazz records by Mr Frank Glover. If the tapping feet, the swaying heads, and the look of concentration on the faces of the audience were anything to go by, the records were a marked success."

The chairman of the Rhythm Club was James A Ryan, of Fern Street, Farnworth, and the president was the famous Boltonian Jack Hylton; by March 1935, a "house orchestra" of 12 players was formed, with the leader, Joe Marshall, and Al Stevenson as deputy leader.

"It is not intended that the band will compete against local dance bands by playing at ordinary dances," it was reported, "but its activities will be solely confined to functions held under the auspices of the club." This particular band, made up of members of other local bands, was the largest in Bolton and district, having 12 players against 10 in the local Palais band, the next biggest.

In May, 1936, Joe Marshall wrote a letter to the paper explaining that "the weekly meetings take the form of gramophone recitals and discussions on various subjects relating to modern dance music. Thus members are able to keep up to date with new ideas and styles that are continually being introduced."

He added that concerts were also organised, and so far the Palais "Astorians" and "Tommy Finnigan's Band" of Manchester had provided excellent entertainment.

Perhaps things weren't quite as calm and simple as it seems, though. Joe admitted that there was rivalry between various bands and bandsmen "but if attended by reasonable methods of business, straightforward dealings and fair prices, the dance musician will benefit in the end," he wrote.

What had brought on such a comment? Perhaps this may explain: "Regarding prices for engagements may I say that price cutting is the surest method of professional suicide. A band submitting a cut-price for an engagement admits its own inferiority and lack of confidence to give value for money. Dance promoters should note this."

Good heavens, who on earth could have been getting up to such underhand tactics? We may never know.

In January, 1936, the Rhythm Club left the Balmoral and moved to a new home at its own premises, 15, Mealhouse Lane (formerly occupied by the Bolton Liberal Association), on the second floor of a three-storey building, with business premises below. For one week in July, the Grand Theatre on Churchgate was converted into a minor edition of the Bolton Rhythm Club. Len Bermom, who was appearing there, had invited the club band to play with him on stage as part of his act.

"The band was featured in two numbers -- 'Swing' and 'The Man from Harlem' -- and accompanied Len in 'The Music Goes Around and Around'," reported the paper. "Conducted by Joe Marshall, the band gave a very creditable performance; especially when one considers that they appeared after only one short rehearsal."

But oh, dear! Back in Mealhouse Lane, in early 1937, on one Sunday night, the police raided the club premises, and, as a result, no fewer than 285 summonses were issued, including unlawfully using a room for public dancing and singing, the unlawful sale of intoxicants, and breaches of the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934 - the police, posing as customers and presumably in "mufti", had been allowed to enter the club without being members, and charged 6d (2p) to do so, then they were sold "draw" tickets at 2d and 1d, the prizes being a ticket to a dance hall or a bottle of wine.

It was stated in court by the prosecution that, to all intents and purposes, the club on that night had "been a public house except that they were having music, which was not allowed in public houses". Despite the defence putting up the argument that the offences had been of such an "innocuous character that no real damage had been done, that there had been no evidence of excessive drinking, misconduct, or impropriety, and that the people frequenting the place were of a decent, honest type, the majority interested in music", a total of fines of £126 16s was inflicted, the club was struck off the register, and the premises were disqualified from being used as a club for 12 months.

And there, the trail goes cold. I have visited the Archives and Local Studies Department at the Central Library, scoured our files in the Evening News' Library, but can find no more information.

Did the court case mean the end of the Bolton Rhythm Club? Does anyone have more details of what happened? If so, I would like to hear from you.