below: click on an image to enlarge, click on large image to return	14.2.01 & 16.2.01 The building now occupied by Coventry’s Central Library was built as a dance hall. The Locarno, run by Mecca, opened in August 1960, and was renamed Tiffany’s in 1974. It closed in 1981, and the building re-opened as the library in 1986. We wanted to find out about the history of the the dance hall, and relate its layout to the current layout of the library. [click here to e-mail us if you can help!] The newspaper index card for ‘dance halls’ gave an initial thumbnail history: Work on site in Smithford Way 16.3.59 Progress of Mecca Dance Hall 18.9.69 Mosiac Panels on Dance Hall 5.5.60 Dance Hall nearing completion 30.7.60 Opening of Locarno Dance Hall 31.8.60 Public see Locarno 3.9.60 Hooliganism at Locarno 6.10.60 Boys trapped in lift at Locarno 21.3.62 Locarno has new resident band 12.5.71 Firemen battle to save ballroom 16.11.72* Locarno to be called Tiffany’s 14.2.74 Change of image 2.4.74 Tiffany’s lunch time dances 27.7.74 Tiffany’s to receive facelift 13.11.76 Tiffany’s to shut as losses mount 7.5.81 No last waltz at Tiffany’s as an era fizzles out 11.5.81 Ex-ballroom Mecca for book-lovers 29.1.83 SShh! Ballroom is now a library 18.1.86 Memories of the Locarno 10.2.90 Locarno dance hall tower designer dies 15.5.97 Locarno legends in reunion gig plans 29.9.97 (I wonder whether the librarian compiling the index card in the 1960s & 70s would have imagined that the card might end up in the dance hall a decade later?) * fire in heating ducts In 1997 the Library asked for people’s memories of the Locarno/Tiffany’s as part of National Library Week. Here are some of the contributions: Shelagh Monks went to the Locarno in 1967 with a friend (after having found the Lanchester College too noisy) and met her future husband (who was dressed as a page boy) Vivienne Pearson recalls: “Walking up those stairs with glass on either side was like ascending a ladder with no supports.” (The entrance was a glass tower with 39 steps, a spiral chandelier and mezano-style lift. It was demolished in 1990 to clear the view of the new Debenhams store). Penny Pearson: “On one occasion I wore a paper ‘throwaway’ dress!!.. it was also quite dangerous as in those days people smoked on the dance floor - I could have gone up in flames!” Sylvia Moore recalls the ‘Midnight’ dance which started at 1 minute past midnight on a Sunday night (in order to not breach licensing laws which disallowed dances on Sundays). Yvonne Pitt won the National Ballroom Queen heat at the Locarno in 1960, ‘judged on beauty, grace, charm and dancing ability’. The prize was a sewing machine. ‘Come Dancing’ was broadcast from the Locarno. Edie Collins was Cloakroom Staff Supervisor and according to her daughter “if there was any trouble with drunks or fights, she would be first on the scene sorting it out.” A special edition coin was produced and given out on 6.6.66 Sugar starched petticoats or whalebone edging meant you had to watch how you sat down. Thursday night - Rockhouse night (was this only at Tiffany's?) (live bands) Bands that played at the venue included: The Searchers, Joe Loss, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Stranglers, UB40, The Clash, The Pretenders, Siouxie & the Banshees, The Buzzcocks, Gary Glitter Pete Waterman (of Stock, Aitken and Waterman) used to DJ. Features of the dance hall - as recollected by library staff/users (can you add any more?): Lavish toilets, full of mirrors, gents situated on the left as you came in (approx where meeting room is now), ladies where enquiry desk is now. The ladies toilets featured fluffy pink mirror surrounds, and because they had 2 doors they afforded a means of escape from males left waiting outside... A cigarette kiosk was situated where the library toilets are now. Bally Hai Bar - situated on the balcony, and featuring a rockery (where School’s Library Service is now, near automobiles section) A Photo-me booth was situated on the balcony (now Social Studies/Law area). Up to 15 people attempted to get in there for a 21st birthday photo! Stage (situated where access@central internet access and history section is now) Bar - ground floor at far end (art/architecture sections) Revolving Stage (cookery section, soft furnishings, clock) Large glitterball hung above stage - is the mechanism still up there now? Phil has not so happy memories of the glass tower entrance - he came to see Stiff Little Fingers with some friends, but the lifts were switched off, denying access to wheelchair-users, and he couldn’t get in. There began his awareness of access issues. Piles of handbags on the dance floor. “My older sister went - but I had a very strict father and by the time it came to me he wouldn’t allow it.” Den remembers being sick from the side of the dancefloor (but covering a lot of the dancefloor!). The new library was designed by City Architects and building work done by Costain. It was opened by Roy Hattersley and had 30,000 visitors in the first week. “When I saw our new library it was like looking at a crystal palace.” “It was a dance hall - not my cup of tea - so I’ve always known it as a library.”
	What we're thinking of is a series of 'books' (which are actually small 3D sculptures contained within book-like outsides). Each 'book' somehow refers (relevantly) to the Locarno / Tiffany's, but also to the area where they are shelved. Eg: the handbag book in the middle of the dancefloor, catalogued and shelved with gender studies.
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