Albert Bonici at a local dance in Elgin, Scotland accompanied with sister and friend.
Albert Bonici and the Two Red Shoes Ballroom – see Bonici article [Jan/2023] for overview: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/5290987/albert-bonici-elgin-showbiz-agent-the-beatles/?fbclid=IwAR2CyQV0Y68_adlMisPMcylsooNSAUAf46UJG409V1qNdgp2w71Bkfql7PY” Albert was always good to me. When MDW called it a day he offered me an ice cream van/ a job in Eight acres or a residency with the Two Red shoes band with Graeme Nairn until I joined the civil service. It was the Italian way not to let you leave with nothing. Rob Lawson was given a job in the agency booking the bands for the venues. I chose the Two Red Shoes band. Me, Findlay Grant and Glen Macintosh were the young ones but had great fun with the older guys like George Inch and some RAF guys.” Alexander “Ziggy” Slater, former member of My Dear Watson.
Albert Anthony Bonici was admired by many
Besides managing several family businesses, Mr. Bonici was an impresario who did much to bring popular music throughout the UK to the north of Scotland from the mid 1950s to 1980.
I first learned of the promoter, Albert A Bonici, while researching The Beatles January 1963 tour after their return visit to the Star Club in Hamburg – New Year’s Eve 1962. During my first visit to NE Scotland, friend [now spouse] Angela McKenzie, spoke about the Beatles visit to the north of Scotland besides dozens of pop groups who later became international stars though just starting out when touring in Scotland. I’ve since gained an understanding of Mr. Bonici’s entertainment business over the course of 30 years, and how he operated on a modest income compared to London standards.
He was well loved and respected in his community and those who worked for him, though rival, Malcolm Nixon Agency [Dundee] were displeased as efforts to present the Beatles and Rolling Stones were thwarted when LCB Agency gained control of their debut Scottish tours.
Working with Jack Fallon’s booking agency Cana Variety – London after musician/promoter Tito Burns introduced the two in the late 1950s, Albert managed and supported dozens of Scottish entertainers besides organizing Norco Records Ltd to record Scottish musicians who were often ignored in London.
One of the early beat groups he supported through recordings and gigs, was Johnny and The Copycats [AKA My Dear Watson]. Lead singer, John Stewart, wrote: “Albert came to see us one of the times we were in Germany performing at the Storyville in Frankfurt. Conveniently there was an Italian restaurant 2 doors away and of course we ate there. Albert had a long conversation with the owner and he introduced us to some of the finer choices in Italian food. When we were around Frankfurt we never went anywhere else. Albert wanted to look out for us in every aspect, even our eating habits… He was a genuinely thoughtful person who wanted to be fair with others and i never saw him loose his cool even under the most difficult circumstances. He was juggling a lot of balls trying to keep everyone happy and we know that’s impossible.” Many of those who were teenagers during the 1960’s have said that “Mr. B” was always willing to hear feedback and suggestions regarding musicians that they would like to see live and usually was able to accommodate…
The promoter, who managed the Bonici family’s businesses [including the Park Cafe and an ice cream concession] revamped the cafe in 1956 with a small stage until the family run dance hall, Two Red Shoes Ballroom, was opened in 1960 and offered dancing and entertainment until 1977 when revamped as a cabaret club [the Flamingo Room closed after 18 months].
In July, 1960, the Two Red Shoes Ballroom opened the eve of his 40th birthday and kicked it off with a TRS house-band comprised of talented Scottish musicians offering them full time employment. There was something new every week throughout NE Scotland and by 1963, Albert Bonici was bringing a touring bands and vocalist into Scotland ten day tours after the Beatles made their debut in Scotland, January 1963. Besides promoting bands, he managed Scottish talent and recorded a variety of Scottish musicians/vocalist under his Norco Records Ltd by 1963 https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/norco-records/ https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/two-red-shoes-album-2/.
Besides overlapping groups from down south, Scottish bands would have the opportunity of performing with top groups out of London, Liverpool, Manchester and beyond which challenged the local talent to excel besides creating a buzz in the youth scene and culture of the time.
In 1965, under Mr. Bonici’s management, the family built and opened the Eight Acres Hotel on the edge of Elgin which featured a popular discotheque called Straight Eight. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/17/ In 1968, he purchased the Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn, Scotland as Bonici’s LCB Agency were filling the large hall on a weekly basis. The Two Red Shoes https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/two-red-shoes-ballroom/ retained the house-band into the mid 1970s though closed it’s door in 1977. Later in the year, the hall was transformed into a club setting featuring cabaret including a jazz ensemble. I believe that there were various factors that caused the demise of the intimate setting in 1978. Firstly, though an over 18 room, they were not allowed to sell alcohol though they had a small charge to open bottles customers brought. I noticed that there was an issue securing the dancers in the beginning of 1978 [which may have been financial issues] and it closed shortly after…. Further references can be found at http://scotbeat.wordpress.com
Albert Bonici was born 100 years ago July 19, 1920 and opened the Two Red Shoes in July just after his 40th birthday. A planned tribute with various musicians and vocalist was cancelled during the pandemic.
In researching the “beat” music era of Scotland in the 1960s through early 1970s, I’ve gained insights both into the culture of the time besides a biographical overview of Scotland’s prominent promoter, Albert Anthony Bonici. Through the pages of my blog, http://scotbeat.wordpress.com. It is interesting to have heard from many who knew Albert or about his activities in Elgin and the north of Scotland.
Though a rival promoter from the Malcolm Nixon Agency described Mr Bonici as a “wide boy”, he was well loved and respected within his community and respected among associates in London. Years after his death [July 1990] people continue to remember Albert and the contributions he made to the community including merchants, entertainers, and the music fans who benefited from his efforts.
Though running a successful promotion business for 20 years, Albert Bonici remained an approachable figure who listened to the youth of the community when it came to hosting bands and co-creating a popular product line and ambiance for family owned Park Cafe where various entertainers visited when on tour. Albert drove a second hand car, lived in a family owned flat above the cafe and dance floor, adjacent to the offices of the PC Holding Company and LCB Agency. He usually worked 12 to 15 hours a day, managing several family businesses while his wife Betty, sisters and brother-in-laws Ugo Ruggeri and Stanley Williamson, helped with various aspects of family businesses. The Two Red Shoes was a successful endeavor beginning in mid 1960s when it opened with the Alex Sutherland house band. Besides music, the dance hall offered a variety of concessions besides entertainment most of the week.
Albert was known as a generous man who was considerate when it came to friends, family, and employees though finances were often a struggle with investments spread over several business including construction of the Eight Acres Hotel [1965]. After an early bankruptcy from a failed perfume venture [1945-50], he was less apt to gamble with the family holdings which originally included downtown properties in Inverness besides those in Elgin.
The nature of the music business included many calculated risks howbeit less than risky. When he had opportunity to re-schedule the Beatles in Scotland as their fame was spreading, he decided not to book them in Aberdeen for fear of losing money on the deal. Though Aberdeen promoter Gordon Hardie tentatively earmarked dates for another tour in northeast Scotland, they scheduled return Beatles Shows in Edinburgh and Glasgow and made tickets available to fans around Elgin and n/e Scotland including free tickets.
In 1977, a few years after The Two Red Shoes became less viable to host popular bands as the hall was small and there was limited revenue in concessions [no alcohol sold except for fundraisers], the take was smaller than The Ballerina [Nairn] which he eventually sold to a clothing merchant. Though the LCB Agency were still organizing music events at the Bonici family’s Eight Acres Hotel into the 1980’s, Albert reluctantly weaned the entertainment business, after revamping the Shoes to re-open as the “Flamingo, an over 18 night club that would help him secure a liquor licence and ease occasional tensions that developed between neighbors and loud teens who hung out after Two Red Shoes venues in the 1960s-’70s.
Though the Flamingo met with enthusiasm over the club that offered music, cabaret, dining, and dancing, the Moray Council prohibited Mr. Bonici’s organization from selling drinks though they made a slight profit opening drinks brought in. Another financial issue that affected the Flamingo room occurred they suddenly stopped featuring the cabaret dancers which may have come down to sluggish profitability of the business. The club soon became a squash court…
Many of those who came to perform in at the Two Red Shoes Ballroom and various venues hosted by Albert and Betty Bonici and staff, visited the Park Cafe to meet with Albert and to have a meal prepared by Betty. They had the option of hotels or nearby bed & Breakfast attended to by the McBeans at 27 Lossiewynd, Elgin. The first house band was directed by Alex. Sutherland [followed by Jimmy Martin and Graeme Nairn] who shared the stage with the various special guests including Dusty Springfield, The Beatles, The Who, Them, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, and many more… There were several other bands who became internationally known after touring in the north of Scotland including The Hollies https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/the-hollies/ and The Kinks https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/kinks-in-north-of-scotland/ who thrilled young fans and inspired the local bands sharing the bill in Elgin and around the north of Scotland…. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/stones-in-aberdeen/ Milne HS Fochabers near capitol city Elgin, provided a field trip for students to attend the “pop package” that included the Rolling Stones. Communities in and surrounding Morayshire [county] traditionally supported a variety of theatrical and music events when the 1,000 year old town of Elgin became a music “scene” in 1960s north of Scotland. Offering free bus service to and from concerts was an important service at the time. Whilst Albert Bonici operated LCB Agency, the family ran the PC Holding Company concessions for events besides owning/operating a fleet of concession vans and a petrol pump in the communities.
Surrounded by small towns and villages in rural Scotland, Albert Bonici began promoting live dances in the area in the early 1950s. At the time, he attended dances at Elgin’s St. Sylvester’s Catholic Church and other local venues. The Lido featured a house band and Drill Hall by Cooper Park brought in bands though not on a regular basis. Married in ’56, Albert and his wife Betty enjoyed attending attending live dances and often had to travel a distance to attend them. Though the local competition for throwing dances in Elgin was the Lido, Albert’s LCB Agency faced their biggest challenge in 1962 from a London promotion agency who operated an office in Dundee. That was the year Albert Bonici out maneuvered his competition to present most of the popular British bands to the north of Scotland and certainly in the north-east as he worked with localized promoters to offer full tours. Malcolm Nixon Agency of London proceeded to book entertainment in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and some of the northern regions of Scotland though Nixon rubbed some of the locals the wrong way. This did not escape the attention of Mr. Bonici who watched the market to find and secure the best acts available for LCB Agency. Towards the end of 1962, he included an exclusive rights clause and in November 1962, Brian Epstein agreed to allow AA Bonici the option to host all future Beatles concerts in Scotland [which he rescinded in a later negotiation]. Also, in order to stave off competition with the Nixon Agency, he began offering ten-day tours in Scotland rather than five in 1963. According to personal communications between Cana Variety’s Jack Fallon and Albert Bonici, it was noted on a few occasions that Malcolm Nixon put off some of the localized promoters in Scotland which gave Mr. Bonici an advantage. However, Nixon hired young agents to man the new Dundee office including Andy Lothian Jr, who had run shows for Albert and eventually started his own promotions known as ALP [Andy Lothian Promotions]. According to Andy, he also accompanied Albert Bonici on his first trip to see Brian Epstein. The intent of the visit was to negotiate tours featuring the Beatles besides co-hosting other bands. In 1964, Lothian was editor for “The Scottish Beat” for Malcolm Nixon in Dundee. Albert who did a joint show with Andy in Dundee that summer, advertised in the periodical. Editor Lothian listed Malcolm Nixon Agency and Albert Bonici as the two largest promotion agencies in Scotland.
Securing the Beatles for Scotland gigs: Jack Fallon – 6 February, 1963: Dear Albert, This is just a recap letter on some of the points we are discussing. “THE BEETLES. As you will see by the charts, this group are in the charts in three places, jumping in at number 9 with their latest record. He [Brian Epstein] is asking £100 for a period in April, £150 for a period in May, available May 11th – 15th; let me know.” Note: Brian Epstein replied to Albert’s response through Jack at Cana Variety 6 March. Mr. Epstein’s correspondence is currently missing from the Bonici Archives.
Albert was an impresario (Italian impresa, meaning “an enterprise or undertaking” in every sense of the word. Though business dealings didn’t always go as smoothly as hoped, Mr. Bonici never lost his ambition and ability to create something new and enjoyable to introduce in the north of Scotland. As he liked attending dances with live entertainment besides the “2 i’s” cafe in Soho, London, his eventual occupation of bringing live entertainment to Scotland [mid 1950s] was a natural fit as much as creating a lively atmosphere in family run Park Café of Elgin. Through his career, Albert Bonici sought to create innovative products and services in the north of Scotland and helped to create a happening. The Park Café [PC Holding Company] was a popular spot and remembered for vinyl sofas ( the red ones in 1950 were later replaced with blue vinyl), a jukebox, fresh ice cream, coffee, and good eats besides the excitement when various musicians came through to meet with Bonici. The family sold their earlier café “The Savoy” and purchased the Park Café in 1946 [which had been an antique shop]. In 1960, after residents had moved into post war council flats from the small college house behind the café, Albert demolished the vacant properties to build a building that he called “Two Red Shoes Ballroom” [after a movie of the time]. The family owned the attached properties around the block [at the top of High Street, Elgin] and they lived and worked there as a team. Albert continued to utilize halls throughout the north of Scotland though he stopped booking nearby “Drill Hall” for dances. Gathering material regarding the 1960’s music in the north of Scotland and the business dealing of entrepreneur Albert A Bonici, has been both inspirational and enlightening. The result of what began as one man’s ambition in the early 1950s, continues to delight and affect those who are old enough to remember those bygone days of music and dancing in Scotland’s Grampian region. Young adults and teens regularly congregated in the small dance halls scattered throughout Scotland in the early twentieth century though, thanks to Albert Bonici and staff of LCB Agency, big name bands began to perform on a regular basis in small towns and villages in places like Nairn, Forres, Buckie, and Elgin and as far east as the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen. Many who are old enough to remember, have mentioned that it was at one of Bonici’s dances or listening to the jukebox at the Park Café, when they started dating their spouses or met lifelong friends. As part of the live performance package Albert Bonici offered each week, there was free bus service to get young folk to various dance halls around the region. This enabled interaction between the small communities besides something to look forward to… Inverness born Albert Bonici began promoting music through “LCB Agency” after hosting a swing band lead by Ray Ellington. Albert was interested in promoting dances to north-east Scotland [Inverness to Aberdeen] in the late ’30s though didn’t realize his ambition until the ’50s.
“I always love reading about Albert Bonici.” [John MacDonald] ‘ I worked for him way back in 1963. He decided to venture away from pop groups for a while and put together a variety show called “Three’s Company”. It starred Anita Harris , Steve Cameron, and Allan Bruce ( who was sacked by Albert shortly after the show started after various disagreements, and replaced by a Canadian Singer from England Ronnie Hall). I was a young instrumental supporting act at the ripe age of 15 on the show . ” The 3’s Company variety show featuring Anita Harris, Steve Cameron, John MacDonald, and Ronnie Hall, are featured below. John MacDonald We also did a TV series from Grampian in Aberdeen. Sadly no footage of the show was kept in there libraries – it was only a short weekly series. Alex Sutherland was the Musical Director for the TV show and the rest of the time we toured around the north east part of Scotland. Sadly it wasn’t the success Albert expected it to be and the show was split up. He later used Anita Harris for guest spots at the Two Red Shoes ballroom. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/anita-harris/ Meanwhile, myself and Steve Cameron were sent to the Webster hall in Arbroath by Albert to finish our contract in a Chalmers Wood Show called “Holiday time” – one of the acts on that summer season we replaced was a virtually unknown comedian who was struggling with the local Scottish audience because of his Liverpool accent. His name was Jimmy Tarbuck ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAV1xTGT54I Great memories of Albert and his wife Betty.. He certainly was a legend in the North East of Scotland. Shortly after i finished the tour he had signed the Beatles and the rest is History as they say.” John MacDonald http://ozmac52.wix.com/johnmacdonald ‘One critic recently wrote regarding John’s performance: “Ace accordionist John Macdonald demonstrated his ability brilliantly. His skillful playing and infectious good humor were a winning combination. His expertise on the Piano Accordion is simply magical, coupled to his rapport with the patrons”. Another critic wrote: “Accordion player and Musical genius John Macdonald – displayed both technical and musical mastery of his chosen instrument. His ebullient personality endeared him to the audience.” John Macdonald started his Showbiz career in his native Scotland at an early age, firstly playing the drums, piano, then his chosen instrument the piano accordion. In those formative years John toured throughout Scotland as featured accordionist working many Summer Seasons on the Theatre circuit, and also appeared regularly on Grampian Television in Aberdeen. In 1963 John settled in New Zealand, and quickly established himself as one the country’s leading cabaret, radio, and television performers. In 1970 he recorded his first album “The Dark Island” which was to be the first of many albums to be released . John has returned to New Zealand several times for appearances including a three month national tour.’ http://www.musicforaccordion.com/inform/jmacdonald/http://ozmac52.wix.com/johnmacdonaldhttps://bonici.wordpress.com/https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/aa-bonici-bio-notes-jim-wilkie/https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/17/ [photos] https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/albert-bonici/https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/mr-albert-bonici/
A rival promoter in his book “Are Ye Dancin’?” referred to Mr. Bonici as a “wide-boy” and sited his contract with The Beatles that gave him exclusive rights to book bands anywhere in Scotland. Others called him shrewd or “cunning” in thinking that Bonici took advantage of agents and managers in London, who had the perception of Scotland being considered a small market. Perhaps the biggest roadblocks in business dealings were others in the business community who were part of the Moray Council. They failed to renew his liquor licence at the Two Red Shoes Ballroom when there were complaints about disorderly conduct in the neighborhood. When he later closed the dance hall and opened a disco venue at the newly constructed Eight Acres Hotel, things went well for a few years until one neighbor began complaining about noise. The council gave him an ultimatum which led Bonici to pull the plug on the popular music venue… Albert Bonici was a well spoken business man and never brash or full of himself. Bill Dargarno, who worked in the same office as Albert, noted that his boss wouldn’t raise his voice though he knew how to read Albert’s expressions after frustration when there was a cancellation or a promise not kept. Albert Bonici who was good to his word with a gentleman’s handshake, was unrelenting and expected compensation when various agencies and managers sometimes made it impossible for MDE “Modern Dance Entertainment” [spearheaded by spouse Betty Bonici] to deliver the advertised goods to music fans in Scotland. There were those who may have resented being on the receiving end besides some envious of his stronghold in the north of Scotland but he was to be respected for his business dealings. His detractors who claim that Bonici took advantage or limited performances by his exclusive booking contracts, did not like that Albert Bonici controlled who managed events with popular groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones on tour. However, respected English promoter/managers like Brian Epstein knew that his acts would be looked after with Albert at the helm of LCB Agency. One author who wrote that AA Bonici was just “lucky” to sign the Beatles, misjudged a promoter who had been lining up acts for 8 years before signing the Liverpool group [which was followed by several of Epstein’s best acts]. It was Albert’s perseverance, intelligence, and ability to visualize how to achieve his goals that brought Albert success with several of his projects though he experienced failure in earlier ventures. Albert become more cautious with his expenditures when a perfume venture led to bankruptcy after encountering problems in distribution. However, he continued reinvest for the family and shareholders, which resulted in a successful career in the entertainment business. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/17/
Here is a brief overview of Albert Bonici’s work as a music promoter and dance hall owner. He operated his promotions from LCB Agency under the family owned PC Holding Company and was located across from the Elgin Museum. When the museum was closed during the Covid pandemic, they produced a video of my second exhibit although not complete at the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaiBR9uoIY.
Family grave site is located in the old Elgin Cemetery off Linkwood Road Elgin
Below: Albert Anthony Bonici obituary [Northern Scot 3Jul90 pg 11] Elgin Public Library micro-fish. Albert’s death was sudden after suffering a heart attack in his home. He told his nephew, John Ruggeri that he wasn’t up to attending John’s birthday party on the 7th though no one expected his death the following day. Albert asked his wife, Betty, to call the ambulance before dying in the flat above the Park Cafe, where the couple lived and worked for 50 years.
Albert Anthony Bonici was of Italian ancestry though born and raised in Scotland. He was born in Inverness and went to a boarding school through his school years. He received a degree in electrical engineering though began managing the family businesses after a brief employment in an engineering firm.
His mother sold a concessions business in Inverness and bought the Savoy restaurant on Main Street, Elgin before purchasing a large section of property known as the Little Cross Building which eventually housed the LCB Agency. The building included the family home, The Park Cafe, Two Red Shoes Ballroom, The Copy Shop, and other concerns. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/bonici-business-sense/
Former Park Cafe right and the yellow door leading up to Bonici flat and stage door. Many of the top groups carried their equipment up the stairs and onto the stage of the Two Red Shoes. Throughout the 1960’s the Two Red Shoes was a swingin’ venue for modern jazz and beat music. Scottish teens were able to attend discos and live music venues every week as new dances were a hallmark of the era. Jive [c.djdills 2020]
In 1946, Albert Bonici’s mother Angelia, bought what is known as the Little Cross Buildings at the top of High Street, Elgin, Scotland. The purchase of the property was made after selling a confectionary business and property in Inverness and the Savoy cafe, another business venture on Elgin’s High Street close by. The family resided in a spacious flat above the Park Cafe, the first business on the cluster of attached properties.
Eventually, Albert and wife Betty became the sole occupants of the flat which looked out on Cooper Park [now with a road between the parking lot and park]. Sister Rosanna lived in another section of the property with husband Stanley Williamson and sister Julia was living in London with husband Ugo Ruggeri, though returned to Elgin when Albert was expanding the family business which included the Two Red Shoes and various entertainment venues throughout the north of Scotland.
On the beginning of November [2016], my spouse and I had the privilege of visiting the property where promoter Albert Bonici developed his entertainment business which attracted many of the top musicians of the 1960s. To the right of the cafe [which is now a Chinese restaurant] is the door where acts would come to sign contracts or to carry their equipment up a short flight of stairs to enter the stage door of the Two Red Shoes Ballroom. Directly to the right of the door was the entrance to Mr. Bonici’s main office [though he also did business in the kitchen area of his flat]. To the left of the stage door, is a spacious though modest flat where some of those who recorded with Norco Records Limited would lay down tracks on a reel to reel tape recorder to later be produced on vinyl records. Allen McKenzie [Alan & Hebbie in ’65] in an interview, mentioned that their songs were recorded in one take in Albert Bonici’s living room. Most friends and family members besides associates and incoming entertainers, would meet with Albert in the Park Cafe where he and Betty could entertain with food and [non alcoholic] drink. As with other family members, the couple worked long hours and Albert could be found in the front office facing the top of High Street whilst Betty was operating the Park Cafe with family and hired staff.
Albert’s sisters shared a flat around the corner from the Park Cafe besides taking on various tasks in the cafe and dance hall concessions besides brother-n-law Ugo Ruggeri who was in charge of procurement, the warehouse, and various functions of the operation. He met with Albert over coffee mid mornings at the Park Cafe before the two would start their day.
There are interesting stories about the comings and goings of musicians in the cafe and TRS. Amongst the memories, sister Rosanna remembers how female vocalists and entertainers [including Anita Harris, Dusty Springfield, and Lulu] used the street level flat to change into their outfits and ready themselves before going on stage . When a young Lulu came to perform her new release “Shout!” with her Gleneagles band, there was staff on hand to escort her out the door two down from the double doors leading up a short flight of stairs to the stage door since there was excitement amongst those in a line of young people around the block…
Below are a few photos from our visit to the what was the stage area besides the private abode of Albert and Betty Bonici…
Angela McKenzie-Dills was amongst those who knew Albert and brother-n-law Ugo Ruggeri and attended events in the TRS besides seeing bands come and go in the Park Cafe. Below: Bonici’s nephew, John Ruggeri with Angela in front of the door leading to stage, offices, and flat
entering the Bonici flat – with stage door at top of stairs
The former stage of the TRS was walled off from the dance floor in 2007 and is currently a storage unit. It contains some bits from the Park Cafe besides more photos of groups who played for Albert’s tour circuit [LCB Agency]. In spite of the stage is no longer in use, it was exciting to stand where the likes of many great jazz, folk, and beat musicians performed. You can read about them at http://scotbeat.wordpress.com… I think this would be a good spot to display photos, flyers, records, and others materials left behind from Albert Bonici’s business. What happened in this small corner of Scotland, was a phenomenon and an incredible time in British music for young fans. More talent came through the area than most of the big cities to the south.
Photos and flyers from LCB Agency besides remains of Norco Records Limited. John’s uncle Albert used the kitchen as an office as couple ate in the Park Cafe
living room where Albert kept early television set and reel to reel tape recorder -original fireplace
utility room
a view from living room. note: road between lot and Cooper Park was added after Albert’s death in 1990. Betty pasted on in 2007. view from a bedroom – ruins of 13th century Elgin catherdral at end of Cooper Park
A view from a window in Albert Bonici’s upstairs flat. The phone box to the side of Elgin Museum was used by musicians coming to meet with the promoter who booked bands at Two Red Shoes, Elgin Town Hall, and The Ballerina Ballroom [Nairn] and other locations. John fondly remembers his uncle and aunt and happy family times around the Little Cross Buildings. Albert Bonici https://bonici.wordpress.com
This is the front of Little Cross Buildings. The Bonici family purchased part of it in 1946 though bought the section facing Elgin, Scotland High Street where Albert Bonici operated LCB Agency. People could see him in one of his colourful sweaters from the top window [far left] working into the night in the 1960s-70s. This circuit box was installed next to Mr. Bonici’s desk and acted as traffic light control for those who came to the door outside the LCB Agency office in Little Cross Building. It operated the foot traffic lights of green “enter”, amber “wait”, red “engaged” stationed at the right of the door.
Albert Bonici lived in Inverness growing up and went to boarding school. Before war broke out, the family enjoyed summer holidays together in Italy.
Albert bonici as a boy
Albert Bonici at a dance with sister Rosanna and friend.
In the mid 1950s, Albert Bonici began promoting dances and entertainment venues professionally though promoting had been an ambition since his teens. During his courting years to live long spouse, Betty, they enjoyed attending dances with a live band though often had to travel a distance for a night out. In 1952, when he and Henry Robertson co-organized a small tour with swing jazz band, Ray Ellington Quartet in the north Scotland, they could not have predicted the enormous success of the venture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN3IKiRT3pE From 1955 until his death in 1990, Albert Bonici developed a reputation as a clever promoter and impresario besides developing and supporting new businesses under family owned Park Café Holding Co. He also hosted, managed, and recorded talented Scottish musicians and vocalists through his LCB Agency and Norco Records Ltd [1963-72]. In Scotland, he was the driving force behind the beat music though grew up in a time when swing music and jazz was the rage.
Mr. Bonici, remembered for booking the Beatles at the beginning of their 1963 tours, booked entertainment venues from Glasgow to Orkney Island, opened the Two Red Shoes Ballroom [Elgin, Scotland] in 1960, the Eight Acres Hotel with discotheque [1965] , and purchased The Ballerina Ballroom [Nairn, Scotland] in 1968. During a career spanning three decades, he was responsible for having arranged a high volume of music venues throughout the north of Scotland to the delight of music lovers during the height of the jazz and beat music era.
Mr. B who received a degree in Engineering, was intelligent, well read, spoke several languages, and had many friends through travels and in his community. He listened to the young people who attended the shows and was mentor and inspiration to many who frequented the Park Café, attended events or worked within his business organizations. He was regularly coming up with business ideas and his hobbies were varied though an fan of aeronautics and writing a spy novel when he passed away.
Promoter Albert A Bonici [circa 1980s] Albert was an intelligent individual who marched to his own beat. Being well spoken and a risk taker who thought “outside the box” was to his advantage when becoming a promoter and entertainment manager. On the down side, risk-taking affected the family’s PC Holding Company when he went bankrupt over his perfume line. Fortunately, he landed back on his feet with family holdings intact. Mr. B was instrumental in creating several businesses including building a dance hall and hotel though often juggling finances to stay afloat. Never buying his own home, he and wife Betty lived in one of the Bonici family flats above the Park Cafe from 1948 until his death in 1990.
Albert Anthony Bonici Little Cross Buildings, Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Promoter Bonici threw some dances featuring the Ray Ellington Quartet through London booking agent/musician Tito Burns. He began booking “modern dance” gig regularly in 1953 and built a small stage in family owned Park Cafe [1956]. The family also submitted blueprints for the Two Red Shoes Ballroom [March ’56] though construction wasn’t complete until 1960. Five years later, the Bonici family had the Eight Acres Hotel built, and purchased the Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn in 1968.
Gordon Hardie, who was promoting music in the 1950′s and booking groups at the Beach Ballroom [Aberdeen] said, “I thought that I was the jazz person of north-east Scotland until I met Albert Bonici… his tactics were excellent.” He worked for Albert on many occasions thereafter. “It was a gentleman by the name of Albert Bonici that brought the new wave music scene to the North of Scotland.”
Mr. Bonici was “a courteous man with a sense of humour” for many that knew and worked with him. Satch McKenzie, who often played chess with Albert described him as a clever and “far thinking person who was way ahead of his time” besides being able to beat him whilst multi-tasking during a game . Whilst Albert could visualize and create successful businesses, he also survived bankruptcy after taking a gamble on a perfume line. Of course, Mr. Bonici was successful in several ventures including his gamble to pay a large sums of money to the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, for return performances of the group before they came to fame.
Mr Bonici, as he was address by the young folk that benefited from his music promotion business, was well respected in his community though rival music promoters may have questioned his success. He was a highly motivated man who worked with many dedicated people and could be seen working into the night in one of his colourful sweaters. He and business partner and brother-in-law, Ugo Ruggeri, would meet each afternoon for coffee in the family owned Park Café to discuss business. In 1960, after eight years promoting musicians, Albert opened the “Two Red Shoes Ballroom” which served as a local dance hall for residents around Elgin besides functioning for various affairs. A friend said that he spoke of making Elgin the music centre of the north of Scotland which came close to reality though some in the local council were not keen on it. Albert Anthony Bonici spearheaded several businesses and purchased properties between then and 1975, though is best known for bring the Beatles to Scotland for their first tour in 1963, besides building Elgin’s Two Red Shoes and the Eight Acres Hotel…
THE BEATLES Jan 1963
‘I was a jazz man and didn’t really listen to the pop groups much. On the Monday, I travelled to Aberdeen Station and was picked up by my associate, Gordon Hardie. We went as usual to Chivas Restaurant in Union Street, only this time we were surrounded by waitresses clamouring, “Who are these Beatles?” The group had apparently visited the restaurant earlier in the day and made a great impression. I don’t know if it was their personalities or the smart blue suits and rain coats into which the name “Beatle” was sewn, but they had certainly impressed the girls, and that made an impression on me.’ [ quote; Albert Bonici]
Albert Bonici brought dance music to NE Scotland through the 1950′s and ’60s introducing many groups who went on to be well loved musicians. He was best known for securing exclusive rights to Beatles performances in Scotland after hosting their first tour as The Beatles, in January of 1963. Albert Bonici [1920-90] was born in Inverness, Scotland to Giuseppi and Angelina Bonici. His siblings were Rossana, Giulia, and Aldolpho. His parents returned to Italy in 1923 and resettled in Elgin, Scotland in 1938 when the war broke out. Aldolpho was killed at 16 during the resistance and the rest of the family established themselves in NE Scotland working in business ventures. Albert’s cousin opened the Park Cafe and Bonici family including Giulia’s husband, Ugo Ruggeri, worked together to grow the restaurant business which included making their own ice cream. Albert, who was an intelligent child who inherited his father’s interest in languages, went off to St. Joseph’s College in Dumfries and got a degree in Engineering. Though initially employed as an electrical engineer for some time, Albert returned to Elgin and helped with the family business which expanded into various avenues.
In the early 50′s, Albert enjoyed playing a variety of sports and was a member of the Cricket Club when he booked his first band as a fundraiser for the club. He and his wife Betty also enjoyed dancing to the big bands and eventually organized gigs around NE Scotland. He had a connection with agent Tito Burns of London http://henrybebop.co.uk/tburns.htm and brought the Ray Ellington Quartet to NE Scotland in 1952 and sponsored dance events with Harry Robertson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Robertson_(musician) fellow Cricket Club member and reporter for The Currant at the time. They played in Aberdeen, Elgin, and Forres which was a huge success. This helped to establish himself as a promoter, bringing British and American artists to the small towns across NE Scotland and the Highlands. Mr Bonici also developed connections with Hendry “Harry” Robertson, director of popular music television show, “Oh Boy!” [1958-9], and with Jack Fallon of Cana Variety Agency London http://henrybebop.co.uk/music3.htm . Albert became friends with Robertson when he was a young journalist in Elgin who “helped him to raise money for to stage music shows which he put on in local church halls…” Nairn 2014
“Albert Bonici was an intelligent child who inherited his father’s interest in languages. He was educated at St. Joseph’s College in Dumfries and the family would holiday alternately in Scotland and Italy. As luck would have it, the outbreak of the Second World War found Albert and his mother in Scotland, while his father, younger brother, and sister were in Italy, and this precipitated a move to Elgin, where a cousin had a business – the Park Café.”
‘I used to pay 2s 6d a week to a Murphy’s pools agent, who filled out the coupon. One week, I won a few hundred pounds which was quite a lot of money – and it made me feel uneasy. I decided to cancel the coupon and a young journalist named Henry Robertson who worked on the Elgin Courant got to hear of this. He was a good musician who had been to university but had developed TB and was writing newspaper articles while he recuperated in Elgin. We became good friends and to help him raise money to stage the music shows which he put on in local church halls, I organised a Valentine’s Day dance. It made a fair bit of money.
My wife and I were keen dancers, but we had to travel to the Northern Meeting Rooms in Inverness to see the big bands, because they only did the major centres. The circuit was something like: Monday, Edinburgh Palais; Tuesday, Dundee Palais; Wednesday, Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen; Thursday, NMR Inverness; and Friday and Saturday, Green’s Playhouse in Glasgow. No one wanted to know about Elgin.
My brother-in-law [Ugo Ruggeri] had a connection with Tito Burns, the London agent who handled the Ray Ellington Quartet, and Burns said Ellington would come up if three venues could be found. There was still a great demand for dancing at this time so it was not a terrible great risk. The big bands toured once a month so I put the Ellington Quartet in between visits. They did the Beach Ballroom on a Wednesday, the Assembly Rooms Elgin on a Thursday, and Forres on a Friday. It was a big success…’ [ quote; Albert Bonici]http://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/aa-bonici-bio-notes-jim-wilkie/
Harry was recovering from TB at a sanatorium [now Elgin Golf Course] when he was working with Albert on promotions. Harry who was married to Lady Ziki Arbuthnot were also friends with Albert’s sister Julie and brother-n-law Ugo Ruggeri when the Ruggeris were living in London. Henry “Harry” Robertson went on to serve as composer and conductor for Oh Boy! besides composing and conducting music for other television and film projects. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/harry-robinson-musiciancomposer/
In summer of 1960, Albert opened his dance hall which was connected to the Park Cafe, named The Two Red Shoes, after the British film http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Shoes_(1948_film). To work with the structures already in place, the stage area had a distinctive shape, which years later, Ringo Starr complained of, as the bands were not centered stage, though the dancers had no problem seeing. It was not L shaped as has been said. John Ruggeri, who worked with Albert in 1970. wrote in response to Starr’s comment, “The hall was not L shaped but had a slightly longer wall on one side, you could see the stage in all areas although you may not have been able to see the whole stage if you were standing in the far left hand corner when facing the stage, the “bar” which we called the buffet was upstairs, I think Ringo’s memory is somewhat blurred or mixing the shoes up with another venue they played, as I don’t think anyone was wearing wellies.” Note: It may have been that some came with wellies as there was snow on the ground, but there was a dress code and they were “clean-cut” young people wanting to meet up and dance…
Bonici, having already established connections in London and throughout Scotland, had regular bookings each and every week until the Two Red Shoes [dance hall] closed in the early ’70s. He purchased the Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland, in 1970 and many great musicians continued to entertain the local youth. Albert Bonici invited guest bands into his office to speak about the virtues of drug-free living. Considering that both Syd Barrett [Pink Floyd], and Brian Ebstein [Beatles manager] of whom he had many dealing, it makes sense that Bonici was concerned to the youth of the nation. When Brian passed away from an overdose, he was quoted, “Brian was a charming man. His death came as quite a shock”.
Though The Pink Floyd played a memorable concert at the Two Red Shoes, 1967 was a challenging time for Albert Bonici. He was seasoned enough not to let business problems hold him back or the death of a friend. July 1967: Eric Clapton, said that Elgin was the “last time I played with the Yardbirds and it was rough. They just came to fight… not to watch us and they’d boo you off stage. It upsets me very much when you get that kind of audience.” August 1967: The Small Faces didn’t play the Ballerina Ballroom [Naine, Scotland] because of “poor security” but would return on Tuesday. Bonici said that “security would have been adequate” though offered return visits when their was an issue over a performance, cancelations, etc.
Ricky Gardiner, of Beggar’s Opera, who remembered an early tour up north, spoke of Albert Bonici as the “treasure of the North”. Beggars Opera’s first tour of the North of Scotland [summer ’70] “was marked by a request, prior to commencement of the tour, to attend the office of Mr Albert Bonici. We dutifully appeared and to my astonishment he rather forcefully entered upon a speech in which he berated the use of drugs. He informed us that whilst they may provide initial inspiration, their long term use would lead to breakdown, and a shattering of that which we sought. My surprise was all the more sharpened because Beggars Opera shunned the use of drugs in any case. I acknowledge that this was unusual at the time and spent many a time in dressing rooms observing talented people reduced to a state of uselessness through the use of drugs. I will be forever grateful to Albert Bonici for the courage and determination he showed to us and every other touring band, by his forthright denunciation of the use of drugs.” Ricky Gardiner [2014] Note: The group formed in Glasgow in 1969 and released “Act One” in late 1970. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN3WoKoMgbs
In addition to arranging accommodations for entertainers, Bonici offered guest bands food and coffee after gigs in Elgin which was an alternative to going out for drinks. . Week after week, he provided live music for the young people around the north-east Scotland besides an “over 25′s” come dancing night in mid week at the Two Red Shoes. He looked after the acts and those he served on a regular basis and is remembered fondly by many. What Albert Bonici is most noted for was hosting the Beatles on their first tour of Scotland with Ringo Starr 3Jan63. A week after their 5 day tour of the north-east, Albert and collague/promoter, Andi Lothian flew to Liverpool to rebook The Beatles. Two Red Shoes, house band leader, Alex. Sutherland, Andi, and others were impressed with the young group enough to encourage Bonici to visit Brian Epstein’s office at NEMS in Liverpool. He left the office, having gained exclusive rights for subsequent tours of Scotland later in the month. The contract [see Beatles Contract] was unprecedented as no band was making £500 per show at the time which Albert agreed to. “In fact, this tour was to put the north-east on the map as far as popular music was concerned and for the next 20 years or so, many of the small towns in Moray, Nairn, Banff, and Buchan were to enjoy a feast of British and American music.” from “Blue Suede Brogans” [2].
I asked John Ruggeri [Ugo’s son] what prompted Albert to give up on music promotions in 1975 after 23 years of work and he replied:
“It must have been around that time [1975], the reason being that a lot of big names had started booking their own venues realising that there was more money to be made coupled with the fact that if you wanted to book them they were asking crazy money and the venues up here didn’t hold enough people to make it profitable. Also we were in the throws of building the Eight Acres Hotel which took up a lot of his time.”
Kate Reid; The Bonici family “had an ice cream shop and the old man [Giuseppi] had three wheeler ice cream bike. The shop was opposite county buildings. Albert was a very private person. His sisters were happy to work quietly in the background. He was a man of great wisdom and was devoted to Betty. [Albert] was the brains behind many a business. From accounting, freezer shop, modern dancing enterprises, garage, pc holdings, photo copy service, entertainment agency, park cafe also offering outside catering, and Eight Acres Hotel.”
Kathleen Duncan; “Albert was a gentle soul with a kind word for everyone… As far as I know Albert owned a perfume factory in Elgin in the premises of Thompsons cod liver oil. This was in the 1940-50′s era and I think he went bankrupt. Undaunted, he opened the park cafe with his sisters husband Ugo Ruggeri and it became PC Holdings. His wife ran the cafe and he started Modern Dancing Enterprises which was entertainment for the adjoining red shoes ballroom. Every night at tea time after a hard days work Albert could be seen sitting in the front of the Park Cafe. They lived in the flat over the Café and were real night birds with the ballroom and all that. And I’ve just remembered Albert always wore a cardigan. Most nights he would have a steak followed by a knickerbocker [knickerbocker glory was an Italian ice cream in tall glass with fruit popular in the ’60s].”
Gillian Ogg: “They always employed family [in Park Café and Two Red Shoes]. My mother-in-law Charlotte worked in Park café and upstairs with Betty. My husband worked at the dances when he was a teenager and I worked at eight acres for years. Most of the family worked there at some time or other. I used to spend a lot of time there when I was little, auntie Rosanna made the best chicken curry ever. Albert was a really funny man I always had fun we him. I remember [Albert] hiding his Mr whippy [ice cream drink] under his carry so auntie Betty didn’t see him, he wasn’t supposed to have any with the diabetes. They used to waitress at dinner dance’s and functions. I just used to get fed… typical Italians feed you. I used to sit on the back stairs that went from the café to the two red shoes and watch everything going on and watched the food coming out the kitchen. Rosanna was always there cooking, and Betty Allan. I liked running round the dance floor before opening time when we got the place to ourselves.”
In 1970, Albert brought his nephew, John [Ugo’s son] into the entertainment business when he purchased the Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn, Scotland. As was the practice with earlier venues, he offered bus service to the larger hall and brought in several popular acts through the 1970s when he stopped promoting in 1975. Bonici was driven as he was intelligent and thoughtful. His nephew, John Ruggeri, in response to another promoter’s comment, wrote; “I don’t think he was lucky, I think he saw an opportunity and had the guts to take it.” In my interview with Graeme Nairn, it was said how Albert Bonici was able to “think outside the box” in business dealings. To illustrate how Albert Bonici operated, Grame Nairn mentioned that Albert hired top designers to brand a perfume line developed in Elgin. He gave the same consideration for promoting bands. Besides the respect he was given from business associate, he was appreciated by those who benefited from his enterprises and consideration.
Though he wasn’t musically inclined, Mr. Bonici tried his hand at various projects including writing lyrics. In his personal affects, it was learned that he was writing an espionage novel before is death in 1990. “It was a cold war thriller in the John le Carre vein set in the 1960s but was never finished”. A family member who read it said that it was well written though unfinished.
Former colleague, Marina McLennan; “I worked for Albert for a number of years under the business name of P.C. Holdings. He and Betty were a lovely couple. Albert funded a number of local businesses to start up many of which are very successful and continue to this day. Mind you Albert was no fool.”
Nephew, John Ruggeri; “I never actually took over from Albert as a promoter but always worked with him in the ‘LCB Agency’ as it was called, LCB stood for Little Cross Buildings. My parents involvement in the Cafe apart from my Mother’s early days was much later when we moved from London to Elgin in 1960. My Mother lived in Elgin until she got married and then moved to London as my Father had retail business interests there. They spent a lot of holidays in Elgin and decided that the quality of life was far better up here, sold up and moved.”
As a promoter, Albert did more than book halls and bands and place ads in the newspapers. He started Norco, the first independent record company [1964] and recorded his house bands besides talented local musicians such as Johnny and The Copycats and Windy Miller. He also provided transportation to the music events around NE Scotland. The bands and and the music goers were looked after and the cost of a night of entertainment was kept within one’s budget. “Buses were free Fisherman’s hall Buckie on a Monday, two red shoes on a Thursday to see some top artists, Keith on a Friday, and Huntly on a Saterday night. great nights, great memories”. Besides buses into Elgin and some of the small villages surrounding, Bonici offered transportation from Elgin to Nairn after purchasing the Ballarina Ballroom some 20 plus miles away. In business, he was level headed and got the job done. J Ruggeri wrote, “Albert’s temperament was pretty even, he didn’t lose his temper very often as he always said ‘once you lose your temper, you’ve lost the argument.’” Though rival promoters may have been bothered that he maintained exclusive rights on several musicians touring in Scotland, Albert Bonici was thought of as a kind and charitable man who made a great contribution to his community.
Businessman who signed the Beatles:
THE “man who brought the Beatles to Elgin”, businessman and entrepreneur Mr Albert Bonici, died at his home on Sunday. Born in Inverness of Italian parents, Mr Bonici lived most of his adult life in Elgin, but his interests in the entertainment business earned his a considerable reputation throughout the world of pop music in the Sixties.
He signed up many big name performers to tour Scotland, appearing not only in the big cities but a venues like Elgin, Nairn, Forres and Cullen – towns which would find it difficult to attract major stars today. He will always be remembered as the man who booked The Beatles to play in Elgin early in 1963, just before they hit the big time, and he kept a framed copy of their contract signed by Brian Epstein in which they agreed to perform for a fee of £42. Accommodation was found for them in a bed-and=breakfast establishment in Lossie Wynd. Eight months later Mr Bonici broutht them back to Scotland at the height of “Beatlemania”, to play at sell-out concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow – staying this time in the best hotels and with a Rolls Royce for transport.
Mr Bonici’s parents had business interest in Inverness, then Elgin, and the family acquired what was to become the Park Café in 1944. A graduate in electrical engineering, Mr Bonici’s first forays into the entertainment business were the dances he organised in Elgin’s Drill Hall in the early Fifties, but in July 1960s he opened the Two Red Shoes Ballroom to the rear of the Park Café, and it became one of the North-easts most popular dance venues. Besides construction of the Two Red Shoes [1960] and the Eight Acres Hotel [1965 – featuring the “Straight Eight” disco hall], Albert Bonici purchased The Ballerina Ballroom [Nairn 1968] to continue hosting vocalist, musicians, and various acts. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/bonici-and-the-beat-scene-2/
During the Sixties and early Seventies, when groups were prepared to boost their records and their careers with personal appearances, he continued to bring major performers to Scotland, and the North-east in particular, including Kenny Ball, The Who, Lulu and The Rolling stones. His family struck up an enduring friendship with singer Anita Harris, who performed at the Two Red Shoes during that time.
The ballroom closed in the mid-Seventies, and now [1990] houses a freezer centre which includes the family company’s own-brand ice cream and prepared meals in its range. Although in his 70th year, Mr Bonici continued to take an active role in business – he was managing director of Sheriffmill Hotels Ltd, which runs the Eight Acres Hotel, Elgin. In private life, he was a source of encouragement and inspiration to many young people venturing into their own business or career, and could be relied on to provide sound advice, or a helping hand when needed. A courteous man with a sense of humour, and a gentleman in the true sense of the word, he won the affection of everyone who knew him. Mr Bonici is survived by his wife, Betty, and his sisters Guilia and Rosanna. [Betty died in 2007 and Guilia in 2015]. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2015/09/05/albert-bonici-promotions/https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/mr-albert-bonici/https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/aa-bonici-interview-jim-wilkie/
SCOTBEAT was created to share a bit of history about the BEAT years in Scotland and also a tribute to a man with a vision who, with the help of his family and staff, created a happening that is still fondly remembered by those who attended dances and concerts.
To explore the 1960s beat movement in NE Scotland [contracts, videos, and photos] visit http://scotbeat.wordpress.com
![Angela McKenzie - [from Ugo Ruggeri photo shoot Feb/1973]](https://bonici.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/angela-feb-1973.jpg)
![the former stage of the TRS was walled off from the dance floor in 2007 and is currently a storage unit. It contains some bits from the Park Cafe besides more photos of groups who played for Albert's tour circuit [LCB Agency]](https://bonici.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/a36.jpg)
![Promoter Albert A Bonici [circa 1980s]](https://bonici.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/albert-a-bonici.jpg)
Albert A Bonici 