(read the second part of the story HERE )
After the sudden success due to winning the band competition promoted by the Croydon Jazz Club...
July 5, the Croydon "Times and County Mail" announced the invitation of Anacondas for receiving the "Tommy Steele Trophy" as winner of the contest.
On July 8, the band received the "Tommy Steele Trophy" at the Savoy Cinema, Croydon. It is reported in the "Croydon Times" on next Friday:
On August 27 they play at the Savoy Cinema in Wandsworth in an evening called "The Skiffle Night".
News of this is given by the "South Western Star" that announcing the
presence of the Anacondas writes:
"The Skiffle Nights are to be tried out for four weeks and if proven successful they will become a regular feature throughout the winter months. "But," manager Cave points out, "over enthusiastic teenagers in the audience will be asked to restrain themselves if they wish the shows go on because any resulting rowdyism will definitely mean the end of "Skiffle at the Savoy"."
On November the band play a set a concert at the Croydon Civic Hall in aid for a fund a social centre. "The Stage" reports it on November 26.
On 14 November, the band is quoted in a long article titled "On the Bandstands" about the many Skiffle groups on the scene published by "The Stage"...
On 14 December at Jazz Club, Anacondas in concert with Seth Marsh's Jazzband (Croydon "Times and County Mail", 13-12-1957)
On December 17th, Anacondas play at the Granada of Thornton Heath in a evening announced as "The Anacondas in Folk, Blues and Skiffle" ("Norwood News", 13 December).
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| Same gig but announced by Croydon "Times and County Mail" on 13 Dec. |
Few days later, Anacondas was quoted in an article printed on Croydon "Times and Country Mail" on 20 December 1957 about a strange event...
Then, on December 20th, the band is on stage at the Park Lane Ballroom (Croydon) for an event promoted by the Jazz Club, "Festival of Jazz Boxing Night", with other five bands involved: Teddy Layton Jazzband, Bell-Holloway Big Nine, Jupiter Jazzband, Saffron Valley Group and Nomade Group.
On January 21th, 1958 the band is on stage at the Granada of Thornton Heath (Croydon "Times and County Mail", 17 January, 1958).
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| Same event announced by Croydon "Times and County Mail" on 17 January. |
At this point the news about the band disappeared from the newspapers. Despite their local notoriety, the numerous concerts they played, and the prestigious recognition they received, The Anacondas never transcended the limits of the provincial dimension to become a professional group at a national level.
In the absence of direct evidence, it's plausible that the six musicians after months of sacrifice decided to give up. So, it was probably the end of The Anacondas, which occurred, as Glen recounted, overnight.
The cause? A newspaper investigation in late 1957 established that there were 50,000 active skiffle bands in England... reason why.
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