In 1949 the Mt Lawley Tennis Club, Kings Park Tennis Club and University Refectory Club were holding dances alternate weekends.
Mt Lawley Tennis Club dances and social events hosted by the club were held in the Mount Lawley Tennis Club pavilion (or clubhouse). Designed in the Inter-War Functionalist architectural style, this original pavilion opened in December 1936 at the club’s former site in the Memorial Gardens and Recreation Reserve on Queens Crescent, Mount Lawley.
When the tennis club permanently relocated to its current home on Central Avenue in Inglewood in 1957, the landmark 1936 pavilion building was taken over by the adjacent Mount Lawley Bowling Club.
The Mount Lawley Tennis Club dances were generally held every second Friday. Jack Harrison and his twin sister Jill and brother Ray who supplied the music. Everyone knew everyone else everyone danced every dance. There was no alcohol and the man at the door made sure everyone was safe.
Jack Harrison’s music was mentioned in “Milady” magazine in June 1949 Vol 1. No12. With a photograph captioned “A trio of couples dancing at the Mt Lawley Tennis club to the music of Jack Harrison. From left to right they are: Beth Rodd and Peter Flower, Beth Thomas and Peter Blott, Mae Devlin and Thomas Walton.”
RHYTHM ROUNDUP
As long as there is dancing the old question will arise, ‘Is old time on the way out?’ Some say ‘yes’ and some ‘no’ but despite the surprising number of all-modern and 50/50 dances in the city at present, old time seems to be in Perth to stay. Pre-war it was difficult to find a weekly dance spot which provided an all-modern program, but today all moderns are in the vogue, and even so, old-time programs are as plentiful as ever. An interesting observation is that of Harry Phillips, English trumpeter who has played with Ambrose, Mantovani, the Skyrockets and other famous British combinations. Mr. Phillips, who has been in Perth for 6 months, said
‘In London, old-time is seldom seen nowadays. Perhaps at parties and odd dance hall an old-time dance is included to the program, but purely as a lark.’ Possibly in the same manner as we, in Australia introduce a polka during the night.
JACKIE HARRISON
The 10 year old boy who used to be heard frequently over the radio playing a harmonica, is now one of this State’s leading dance musicians, though still in his early teens. There is scarcely a dance patron in this city who does not know Jackie Harrison, the young clarinettist of Nedlands, who with his sister Jill at piano and brother Ray beating drums, came out easy winners in the 1948 Battle of the Bands conducted at the Capitol Theatre. Jack, whose versatility has gained him a lot of respect and admiration in the local dance band world, commenced learning the clarinet at a very tender age and later branched out leading the Harrison Trio. He was heard to good effect in the Jazz Jamboree and perhaps the most attractive of all his engagements to date, was this year’s Grad. Ball at Winthrop Hall where he led a 10-piece outfit. For some time past, he has been playing with the ABC Rhythmettes led by Harry Bluck. From the same station, Jack has been conducting a swing quartet at regular intervals. His more recent dance spots are Anzac House, King’s Park Tennis Club, Young Liberal League and also the Mt. Lawley Tennis Club.
‘QUAIL’ [1]
GALA NIGHT
Mt Lawley Tennis Club
Friday 24th September 1948 at 8pm sharp
Introducing “The Jack Harrison Trio” (Winners of recent jazz contest)
BALLOONS, NOVELTIES, LUCKY SPOTS
Be in the Fun and bring Your friends!
Tennis Club
Friday 24th September 1948
At 8 p.m. sharp
Introducing “The Jack Harrison Trio”
(Winners of recent jazz contest)
Now engaged for fortnightly Club socials
Balloons – novelties – Lucky Spots
Be in the fun and bring your friends!
https://www.mtlawleytennis.com.au/about/our-history/
[1] The Mirror Saturday 11 June 1949 page 13