Princess Pavillions played host to many big name bands over the years, as well as being an outlet for local bands and dances.
Originally the site of the building formed part of the Gyllyngdune Estate. It was then acquired in 1838 by Rev WJ Cope, who was then Rector of Falmouth Parish Church. In 1903 Falmouth Town Council purchased the estate, building the pavillion building in 1910.
Over the years it has played host to a variety of musical and theatre performances. The venue would contain cinema style seating, which could be removed for dances. In the 60s the venue starting to put on beat dances and bands, as well as continuing to showcase other forms of entertainment.
Bands and dances were run by local dance promoter Monty Banks. He was also one time manager of local band Danny's Passion.
There would be two stages, the first smaller stage was located in front of the main stage and was raised only slightly off the floor. This would be used by support bands, with the main band performing on the higher normal staged area. Saturday night was beat dance night, with two bands performing. This would usually be a local act with a big named act on the main stage, or a visiting band from Devon.
The Statesmen, from Plymouth. Regular performers at the venue.
Falmouth's first disco, Annocatoes, opened in the town in 1969 which effectively killed off the Saturday night dances. It has something of a ressurection in the last few years with regular live entertainment taking place again.
 
 
  
 
A local remembers Princess Pavilions
The Magicians Workshop was Gerry Gills attempt at the Roundhouse in Falmouth - doomed from the start. We spent hours with old Aldis slide projectors experimenting with various oils and inks and on the grand opening day were perched on a ledge above the exit sign with three projectors to work. Only room for one at a time up there, so took it in half hour shifts. What with the heat from the projectors and the inflammable liquids being mixed by hand in semi darkness it is a wonder we survived!! Also in our battery of lighting equipment was a strobe light, but it was without a plug - so ramming a screwdriver into the top socket and thrusting the two bare wires into the others we were operational!
This was used when Bowie did his Tibetan mime act, unfortunately the lead for the strobe was very short so I operated on the stage crouched behind a speaker poking wires into the live socket on Bowies cue. Is this my claim to fame, appearing live onstage (although mostly unseen) with David Bowie? I wonder if he remembers me? As well as his mime act he also played acoustic guitar and I think that John Dummers Blues Band played and Also Mick Farren and the Social Deviants also Peter Sarsted was booked for a future appearance, but the whole venture had collapsed before this.
John Austen Big Band, 1970s
Princess Pavillions gigs
Here are a list of gigs that took place at the Princess Pavillions. Over time more will be added. These are all taken from advetisements placed in the local press, so there is a likelyhood that some didn't take place, or bands were changed. If you have any to add please get in touch.
1965
09 January 1965 |
Saturday |
Senators (Plymouth) |
Al Scott and The Klan |
|
16 January 1965 |
Saturday |
Meddy Evils |
The Hayseeds |
"Southamptons Great Group" |
23 January 1965 |
Saturday |
Clive Ritchie, Johnny Mason and The Couriers (Plymouth) |
Individuals |
|
30 January 1965 |
Saturday |
Dave, Dee, Beaky, Mitch and Titch |
The Lynx |
|
06 February 1965 |
Sunday |
Daniel Boone & The Emeralds |
|
cancelled? |
06 February 1965 |
Saturday |
Downlands and The Sound Tracks |
Misfits |
"Oriole Records, TV, Radio Shows" |
13 February 1965 |
Saturday |
Big 'E' Combo (Plymouth) |
Dee and the Dom Doms |
|
20 February 1965 |
Saturday |
Vampires |
Vandells |
"Plymouth's latest group" |
27 February 1965 |
Saturday |
Les Fleur De Lys |
Individuals |
"Southamptons Top Group" |
06 March 1965 |
Saturday |
Wayne and The Condors (Plymouth) |
Del Sparton and The Dominators |
|
13 March 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Misfits |
|
20 March 1965 |
Saturday |
Big 'E' Combo (Plymouth) |
Shades of Blue |
|
27 March 1965 |
Saturday |
Downlands and The Sound Tracks |
Vandells |
"from Southampton" |
03 April 1965 |
Saturday |
Meddyevils |
Geoff and the Climates |
"from Southampton" |
10 April 1965 |
Saturday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Rikki and the Layabots |
|
17 April 1965 |
Saturday |
Statesmen (Plymouth) |
Al Scott and The Klan |
|
19 April 1965 |
Monday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Buccanears |
|
24 April 1965 |
Saturday |
Johnny Cordell and the Variations |
Smokey Joes |
|
01 May 1965 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
Strangers |
|
08 May 1965 |
Saturday |
Tactics (Plymouth) |
Shades of Blue |
|
15 May 1965 |
Saturday |
Betterdays (Plymouth) |
Geoff and the Climates |
"Sensational London Group" |
22 May 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Buccanears |
|
29 May 1965 |
Saturday |
Statesmen (Plymouth) |
Strangers |
|
05 June 1965 |
Saturday |
Johnny Cordell and the Variations |
Jaguars |
|
07 June 1965 |
Monday |
Geoff and the Climates |
Strangers |
|
12 June 1965 |
Saturday |
Downlands and The Sound Tracks |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
19 June 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Buccanears |
|
26 June 1965 |
Saturday |
Rockets (Leicester) |
Smokey Joes |
|
01 July 1965 |
Thursday |
Applejacks |
|
|
03 July 1965 |
Saturday |
Les Fleur De Lys |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
08 July 1965 |
Thursday |
Heinz and The Wild Ones |
|
|
10 July 1965 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
Buccanears |
|
15 July 1965 |
Thursday |
The Litter |
Berkeley Squares |
"versitile show band from Leicester" |
22 July 1965 |
Thursday |
Fortunes |
Others |
cancelled and rescheduled for 16th September |
22 July 1965 |
Thursday |
Wayne Gibson |
Others |
|
24 July 1965 |
Saturday |
Tactics (Plymouth) |
Strangers |
|
29 July 1965 |
Thursday |
Merseybeats |
Misfits |
|
31 July 1965 |
Saturday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Al Scott and The Klan |
|
04 August 1965 |
Wednesday |
Dave Mills and his band |
Strangers |
|
05 August 1965 |
Thursday |
Dennisons |
Renegades |
Princess Pavillion logo changes on adverts |
07 August 1965 |
Saturday |
Drifters (Plymouth) |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
12 August 1965 |
Thursday |
Mojos |
Al Scott and The Klan |
cancelled? |
12 August 1965 |
Thursday |
Peter Jay and The Jaywalkers |
Al Scott and The Klan |
|
14 August 1965 |
Saturday |
Downlands and The Sound Tracks |
Johnny Quale & The Reactions |
|
19 August 1965 |
Thursday |
Mojos |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
21 August 1965 |
Saturday |
Statesmen (Plymouth) |
Blood and Sand |
|
26 August 1965 |
Thursday |
Les Fleur De Lys |
|
|
28 August 1965 |
Saturday |
Kevin and The Kinsmen |
Rikki and the Layabots |
" from Southampton" |
02 September 1965 |
Thursday |
Cherokees |
Rockets (Leicester) |
"from London" |
04 September 1965 |
Saturday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
09 September 1965 |
Thursday |
Mike Sheridan and the Night Riders |
|
|
11 September 1965 |
Saturday |
Variations (Exeter) |
Al Scott and The Klan |
|
16 September 1965 |
Thursday |
Fortunes |
|
|
18 September 1965 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
|
|
25 September 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Johnny Quale & The Reactions |
|
02 October 1965 |
Saturday |
Statesmen (Plymouth) |
Geoff and the Climates |
|
09 October 1965 |
Saturday |
Actualls (Plymouth) |
Dissatisfied |
|
16 October 1965 |
Saturday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Blood and Sand |
|
23 October 1965 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
Strangers |
|
30 October 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Rikki and the Layabots |
|
06 November 1965 |
Saturday |
Variations (Exeter) |
Climates |
|
13 November 1965 |
Saturday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Strangers |
|
20 November 1965 |
Saturday |
Rikki and the Layabouts |
Reaction |
|
27 November 1965 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
Blood and Sand |
|
11 December 1965 |
Saturday |
Drifters (Plymouth) |
Climates |
cancelled? |
11 December 1965 |
Saturday |
Couriers (Plymouth) |
Strangers |
|
18 December 1965 |
Saturday |
Layabouts (Plymouth) |
Blood and Sand |
|
27 December 1965 |
Monday |
Tactics (Plymouth) |
Blood and Sand |
|
31 December 1965 |
Friday |
Zoo (Plymouth) |
Climates |
|
01 January 1966 |
Saturday |
Jaguars |
Strangers |
|
|
