 |  | | | Backcourt Buskers | There are 11 messages in this section. |
John CK Mathieson from Glasgow. Posted 14 May 2002.
Your stories surprise in that there is never any mention of the buskers who very often came round the backcourts and also entertained in the streets. During my childhood it was not unusual to have men coming round the backs and singing. Women would throw a copper or two wrapped in paper from the window to them, quite often a jeely piece would also be sailing down.
The songs, I think, were very carefully chosen - The Old Rugged Cross, Ramona and Ill Take You Home Again Kathleen. Not just singers appeared, yodellers and musicians had their turn as well. My favourites were the groups who performed on the main side streets. These could consist of a good number of men, there would perhaps be a drummer, a saxophonist, banjo, clarinetist, accordionist, cornetist and, of course, two acrobatic dancers. The street would be blocked as everyone gathered round and us kids sat on the kerb, the only interruption allowed was to let any of the very infrequent traffic pass.
Cap in hand the collector made his way around the crowd during the dance acts. After a show of maybe fifteen minutes, the men packed up and moved about 500 yards up the street followed by squads of kids. | | |
|  | Ann Young. Posted 16 Jun 2002.
Dear Mr Mathieson
I remember the buskers in Taylor Street Townhead. My mother was a widow but she always sent us out with a ha'penny and to ask "the man" if he would like a plate of soup which he always accepted. We were mortified at him having to sit in the close and eat the soup, but mother being a widow had her reputation to think about.
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| | Rena Barr from Austrsalia. Posted 27 Jan 2003.
I remember an old lady who used to come around the backyards of the gallowgate and denniston, she had an old fur coat, and she would sing the old rugged cross, those days were magic,
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| | Liz Piacentini from Philadelphia. Posted 17 Mar 2003.
I remember the buskers and the Candy apple man,,, and the Wilk man boy those were the days lol
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| | Allison from Tor. Canada. Posted 28 Apr 2003.
I can remember late40s early 50s going to the pictures, waiting in a queue and being entertained by the Buskers !!!
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| | Isabel Wilkie from Blackpool. Posted 3 Jul 2003.
I remember going to a pals house in Closeburn Street Possilpark and watching a backcourt singer standing at the back of the tenement buildings singin' his heart out and my pal's mammy throwing a couple of pennies down for him. This would be about 1965/66...
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| | Stephen Duff from edinburgh. Posted 14 Oct 2003.
can anyone remember Galloways the wholesale butchers in Cleland st. and the drivers who would take us kids for a hurl round Glasgow.
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| | Bill McLuin from Birmingham, England. Posted 27 May 2005.
I remember a guy who used to come round the back courts of Blackhill singing, he used to dress up as Charlie Chaplin.
At my pal's house who lived on the top floor, we'd heat an old ha'penny on the fire grate and throw it for him to catch.
Cruel, but it didn't half expand your vocabulary.
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| | Barbara McLuin from USA. Posted 3 Jun 2005.
Hello Bill, I was wondering if you are related to any McLuins in the US? there are very FEW McLuins in the world? Please email me :)
Bright blessings, Barbara McLuin
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| | Pete Young from Denmark. Posted 9 Nov 2005.
Dear Ann,
Was intrigued by your post which I've just come across. Pity there are no e-mail addresses here ... but I was wondering if you knew anything of a Margaret Young whom I believe was born on Taylor Street in about 1892. She was my father's mother. The family had moved from Montrose some years earlier and I believe Margaret's father worked with the railway. After my dad died in 1996 we discovered many unknown details about his life and background and have been trying to put together a basic family history. If you of any of the Youngs on Townhead and love to hear about it ... my father was born on Taylor Street on September 18, 1913.
Best wishes
Peter Young
Best
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| | Chantal Dahan from Glasgow. Posted 26 Apr 2006.
Hello,
I'm trying to locate an alley off Buchanan St. near Argyle St. where local musical performers (choirs, musical students...) which existed in 1955. I am currently doing an art project in Glasgow and I want to photograph this old "sonic stage". Can you help me?
Chantal from Canada
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