The Marine Gardens

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By the summer of 1925 the Marine Gardens Ballroom had its own orchestra, The Portobello Marine Gardens Dixieland Orchestra and regular radio broadcasts started on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:15.

On 13 February 1926 the broadcast featured a new band, Jeffries and his Rialto Orchestra. Jeffries soon became a favourite, broadcasting every week throughout 1926.

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Jeffries released his second record Daybreak Daybreak Daybreak on 21 August. It was a waltz, featuring vocals by Elizabeth M. Pitkethly and could be purchased, price 2/- from Wilson, Nicolson Street, Pentland, Frederick Street etc.

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By kind permission of the Lawrence Wright Music Corporation, from the 8 December there was a special visit to the Martine Gardens by Murrey’s famous London band. They were the perfect combination that made dancing a delight. Mr. Jack Beeching, baritone, sang at all the evening sessions.

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In January 1927 the featured band for the radio broadcasts from the Marine Gardens changed from Jeffries New Rialto orchestra, to the New Dixieland Orchestra.

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Whilst getting his new football pitches up and running, Mr. Yool placed the following advert on 29 February 1928:

Corrugated Iron. Large quantity wanted. Must be in good condition, suitable for barricades. Manager, Marine Gardens Ballroom, Portobello.

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Speedway started at the Marine Gardens in May 1928.On 23 May a crowd of 5,000 watched the racing. The Scotsman reported that the racing was of a thrilling and interesting nature and though there were some falls, no accident occurred among the competitors.

In the Edinburgh Handicap only one of the cracks, Ivor Creek, England, advanced beyond the first stage and in winning his heat from Drew McQueen, Edinburgh, he was fortunate as the Edinburgh rider had a spill while leading round the final bend in the last lap. W. Galloway, Australia, after taking the lead in the second heat, had to stop owing to trouble with his chain. The final eventually resolved itself into a struggle between Rex Delahaye, Edinburgh and Drew McQueen, the former winning narrowly after a fine race.

Expert racing took Paddy Deans and Sprouts Elder into the final of the Flying Eight, a four laps event. In order that an attempt could be made on the record, the last stage, which should have been over six laps was run over four laps. Dean was on the lead throughout, Elder losing ground twice in endeavouring to gain the inside position and in the end the Australian won with half a lap to spare without, however, touching the world’s record.

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By the time of the first evening meeting the following Saturday, the crowd had risen to 19,000.

Better or more exciting racing had not been seen since the season started. It seemed as if fate had decided that all records must go, for not only was the crowd the largest yet, but two new speed records were established by the Glasgow rider J. Valente.

He won the Silver Gauntlet and it was in his heat of this race that he returned 1 min 37 and one fifth secs for the four laps, to displace Drew McQueen’s figures of 1 min 37 and three fifth secs.

In the semi-final he went a bit further and in covering the distance in 1 min 34 and four fifth secs he returned figures which were officially stated to be the best yet recorded on any track.

His time in the final was 1 min 36 and one fifth secs, so that in his three appearances he got inside the previous record.

His fourth outing was in the attempt on the lap record. The best time, 23 secs, stood to the credit of Al Johnson, Australia and prior to Valente’s effort Johnson went round the track and put up new figures, 22 and one fifth secs. Valente got inside even this and completed some remarkable evening performances by finishing the quarter mile track in 22 secs.

In face of this riding the Edinburgh cracks were rather overshadowed and Glasgow’s star was undoubtedly in the ascendent as another western rider W. Dickie won the Edinburgh Handicap.

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Earlier that afternoon Leith Athletic gave a disappointing display in their first League game at the Marine Gardens football ground. They should have done better than share points with Dunfermline Athletic but their forwards were inclined to carry cleverness just too far. Over 4000 spectators saw the Leith side start off strongly and open the scoring in fifteen minutes. Immediately after the restart the visitors stole a march on the home defenders and Young lofted the ball past Steele for the equaliser. Subsequent play ran entirely in favour of Leith Athletic and only a series of good saves by Harris kept the scores level.

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