Back in the day: What a mess

Last week’s photo...

Davana Thomas, Maureen Lewis, Sylvia Hayward, and the photographer himself, Al Wilson, filled in the gaps for last week’s selection of archive images.

First of all, the location is the Musicians & Entertainers Club (possibly also called the Arcadia Room), which apparently stood on the corner of Angle Street and Brunswick Street, and was owned by the W.E.R. Joell family. 

It was the hangout for Bermuda’s singers, dancers and instrumentalists after their shifts at various venues had ended. The talent would often chat and play music until sunrise. The top left photo (#19) features Bermuda’s own Lance Hayward alongside a happy Louis Armstrong on a performing visit to the island.

Vernon ‘Ghandi’ Burgess is on the horn in the top right (#22).

Bottom left (#24) shows ‘Queen of Calypso’ Celeste Robinson on the left, Mark Williams next to her, and Alex Davis in front-centre sitting at a table with Satchmo. Davis is also in the bottom left on photo #14. Bottom centre (#16) has Clarence ‘Tootsie’ Bean hitting the skins.

There are still a number of people in the photos who remain unidentified. If you think you can put names to faces in either this week’s or last week’s photo, please drop me a line at [email protected] or 278-1880. 

What a Mess: Bermudian military officials gather at a time before what we now know as the Bermuda Regiment existed. On the right, somebody well-known to Bermuda Sun readers also shows off his army fatigues. Do you know who is in these photos? Contact me at [email protected] or 278-1880. 

*Photos Courtesy of Al Wilson