The Cat's Whisker
Encyclopedia
The Cat's Whisker was a coffee bar situated at 1 Kingly Street, Soho
, London
, during the mid-late 1950s. It offered London youngsters Spanish dancing, live rock 'n roll, and skiffle
.
It saw the invention of a new style of 'dancing' known as Hand jive
, dancing using hand gestures only as there was no space to manoeuvre in the crowded basement. The hand-jive (updated with feet movements) featured in the 1978 film Grease
.
, and was one of the first to have a juke box. It was centrally placed in the middle of Soho at the corner of Kingly Street and Beak Street, between Carnaby Street and Regent Street, around the corner from the toy store Hamleys
. It attracted large crowds, including ice skating champions, international rugby players, journalists and students, for an espresso at a shilling a cup and music. The place was situated in the heart of theatreland and catered for diners before or after the theatre.
In 1956, Evans hired Hank Huffner to refurbish the bar's cellar as an exclusive 'live' venue. The L-shaped cellar had primitive paintings of cats chasing mice on the walls and six stone cats as light-sources round the walls. The basement was exclusive, there being no indication of its existence on the ground floor.
At first, the cellar had the feel of "Hernando's Hideaway," with regular performances from guitarist Jose Feller and dancer Carmen Ballisteras, formerly with the Ballet Espagnol de Pilar Lopez.
Together with The 2i's Coffee Bar, The Cat's Whisker later spearheaded the nascent pop scene, with appearances by 'before-they-were-famous' musicians like Cliff Richard
, Lonnie Donegan
, Terry Dene
, Tommy Steele
, guitarist Barry Warren, the Chris McDevitt Skiffle Group and other artists who dropped by to unwind after working the nearby nightspots Churchill's, the Bag O'Nails
, Coconut Grove, Cabaret and Eve. Like Feller and Ballisteras, the musicians were generally "paid with coffee and Cokes
, the place was reputed to be the largest seller of Coca-Cola in Britain at the time.
Freelance photographer Ken Russell
in his pre-film director days, captured the 'energy and excitement' of this night life in Soho for Picture Post
and these atmospheric images resurfaced in the Soho Nights exhibition by The Photographers' Gallery
, London, December 2008-February 2009. Russell recalls: "I remember the atmosphere was very jolly. So I made a number of visits to the Cat's Whisker. Cliff Richard used to appear there. I used to join in the hand-jiving."
When the police closed down The Cat's Whisker because of over-crowding in 1958, Evans opened the first of the Angus Steak Houses at this venue, before later starting the London-based David Hicks - decorated restaurant chain that bore his own name, Peter Evans Eating Houses, and the upmarket Raffles night club in King's Road
, Chelsea.
As of 2009, The Cat's Whisker has been replaced by the Korean restaurant Myung Ga.
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, during the mid-late 1950s. It offered London youngsters Spanish dancing, live rock 'n roll, and skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
.
It saw the invention of a new style of 'dancing' known as Hand jive
Hand jive
The Hand jive is a dance particularly associated with rock and roll and rhythm and blues music of the 1950s. It involves a complicated pattern of hand moves and claps at various parts of the body, following and/or imitating the percussion instruments. It resembles a highly elaborate version of...
, dancing using hand gestures only as there was no space to manoeuvre in the crowded basement. The hand-jive (updated with feet movements) featured in the 1978 film Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
.
History
The Cat's Whisker coffee bar was started by entrepreneur Peter EvansPeter Evans (restaurateur)
Peter Evans was described by journalist Linda Blandford, writing in The Observer, 9 March 1975 as a "harbinger who heralded the youth culture with one of Soho's first coffee bars, The Cat's Whisker, where Tommy Steele strummed.....
, and was one of the first to have a juke box. It was centrally placed in the middle of Soho at the corner of Kingly Street and Beak Street, between Carnaby Street and Regent Street, around the corner from the toy store Hamleys
Hamleys
Hamleys is one of the world's largest toy shops. Its flagship store is in Regent Street, London. Major stores worldwide are in Dublin, Dubai, Amman, Glasgow, Mumbai and Chennai....
. It attracted large crowds, including ice skating champions, international rugby players, journalists and students, for an espresso at a shilling a cup and music. The place was situated in the heart of theatreland and catered for diners before or after the theatre.
In 1956, Evans hired Hank Huffner to refurbish the bar's cellar as an exclusive 'live' venue. The L-shaped cellar had primitive paintings of cats chasing mice on the walls and six stone cats as light-sources round the walls. The basement was exclusive, there being no indication of its existence on the ground floor.
At first, the cellar had the feel of "Hernando's Hideaway," with regular performances from guitarist Jose Feller and dancer Carmen Ballisteras, formerly with the Ballet Espagnol de Pilar Lopez.
Together with The 2i's Coffee Bar, The Cat's Whisker later spearheaded the nascent pop scene, with appearances by 'before-they-were-famous' musicians like Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
, Terry Dene
Terry Dene
Terry Dene is a former British pop singer popular in the late 1950s. He achieved three Top Twenty hits between June 1957 and May 1958.-Career:...
, Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
, guitarist Barry Warren, the Chris McDevitt Skiffle Group and other artists who dropped by to unwind after working the nearby nightspots Churchill's, the Bag O'Nails
The Bag O'Nails
The Bag O'Nails was a live music venue and meeting place for musicians in the 1960s, situated at 8 Kingly Street, Soho, London. Bands and other musicians such as, Georgie Fame and Gass appeared there, often jamming with artists such as Jimi Hendrix...
, Coconut Grove, Cabaret and Eve. Like Feller and Ballisteras, the musicians were generally "paid with coffee and Cokes
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, the place was reputed to be the largest seller of Coca-Cola in Britain at the time.
Freelance photographer Ken Russell
Ken Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
in his pre-film director days, captured the 'energy and excitement' of this night life in Soho for Picture Post
Picture Post
Picture Post was a prominent photojournalistic magazine published in the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1957. It is considered a pioneering example of photojournalism and was an immediate success, selling 1,700,000 copies a week after only two months...
and these atmospheric images resurfaced in the Soho Nights exhibition by The Photographers' Gallery
Photographers' Gallery
The Photographers' Gallery was founded in London in 1971, and was the first independent gallery in Britain that was devoted entirely to photography. Exhibitions in the gallery have included showcases of work by André Kertész, Danny Treacy, Taryn Simon, Ori Gersht, Cuny Janssen, and David King. The...
, London, December 2008-February 2009. Russell recalls: "I remember the atmosphere was very jolly. So I made a number of visits to the Cat's Whisker. Cliff Richard used to appear there. I used to join in the hand-jiving."
When the police closed down The Cat's Whisker because of over-crowding in 1958, Evans opened the first of the Angus Steak Houses at this venue, before later starting the London-based David Hicks - decorated restaurant chain that bore his own name, Peter Evans Eating Houses, and the upmarket Raffles night club in King's Road
King's Road
King's Road is a street in Chelsea, London, England.King's Road or Kings Road may also refer to:* King's Road * King's Road * King's Road * King's Road...
, Chelsea.
As of 2009, The Cat's Whisker has been replaced by the Korean restaurant Myung Ga.