A few years ago, while rummaging in a Newcastle antique shop, I found a box of photographic negatives that seemed to contain interesting images. I bought them, took them home and scanned them. I was surprised and interested to discover that they were mostly photographs of Sydney’s famous Chequers nightclub, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1960s.
I read a little about Chequers and found that it was owned by Keith and Denis Wong, members of a well-known Sydney family active in the entertainment scene over a number of years. The Wongs also are reported to have had interests in the Mandarin Club and the Whisky-Au-Go-Go, not to mention many other irons in the fire in Chinatown and elsewhere.
Chequers was reputed to be Sydney’s best nightclub for a period in the 1960s, and many rated it among the world’s best cabaret venues. Perhaps not surprisingly, underworld figures were often said to frequent the club
With a staff of 120 and capable of seating more than 500 patrons, the club was famous for paying high prices to attract top-class acts. Among those illustrated in the negatives I found were Shirley Bassey, Sarah Vaughan and Gale Sherwood.
In an article in the Sydney Daily Mirror newspaper on September 15, 1965, journalist Ron Saw wrote that Chequers was the only club in Sydney to operate at a loss. It was also “the grandest club in Sydney”, Saw wrote.
“Chequers opened in Pitt Street in 1951 and moved to Goulburn Street eight years later. As a nightclub, rather than a restaurant or the annexe of a hotel, it is by far the best in Sydney.” Saw quoted Morris Lansburgh, the Miami and Las Vegas hotel millionaire, saying that Chequers was “better than either the Copacabana or the Latin Quarter in New York”. “Murray Hertz, travel editor for a Las Vegas newspaper and an acknowledged authority on international fleshpots, rates it the sixth best in the world”.
The main reason Chequers lost money, Saw wrote, was that it paid top fees to visiting artists. Other clubs in Sydney at the time would usually pay no more than £600 a week, but Chequers paid £7500 a week to Sarah Vaughan, £6000 to Tony Martin and Shelley Berman and £5000 to Frances Faye.
Chequers did sometimes make money, for example with Shelley Berman, Shirley Bassey, Leslie Uggams, Nelson Eddy and Gale Sherwood. But the club made a crashing loss on Sarah Vaughan, with more people paying to see support act Don Lane.
Saw wrote that owners Dennis and Keith Wong made profits from their “import and export, real estate, restaurants and showbusiness (Pan Pacific Promotions) that would more than cover their losses at Chequers”. He quoted Dennis Wong saying that: “We lose money, but we feel sure we’re going to make money in the long run. All the other big nightclubs have gone and we’re still here. The longer we stay in business and the bigger we stay in business the better our name gets. The world gets smaller and more people come to Australia – and more and more come to Chequers. We don’t expect to do everything at once. We’ll wait.”
Saw wrote that “a pleasant, if not dissipated evening” would cost about £5 a head at Chequers, which was considerably more expensive than its competitors.
While I don’t know who took these photos there are one or two clues. This photo was in an envelope with a label that suggested the photographer was in the frame, apparently the man on the right. I’d be glad to learn his name and any details of his life and career.
A cavalcade of interesting cabaret performers, known and unknown . . . click for a closer view.
Billy Eckstine
In the 1940s Billy Eckstine was a great singer and innovative band leader. His career was on the up-and-up until 1950 when a famous photograph in Life magazine – showing a white female fan laughing with her head on Billy’s chest – caused a racial backlash. In Sydney 15 years later the same problems didn’t arise. Photo dated January 1965.
Frances Faye
American cabaret singer and pianist Frances Faye was credited as a major influence on Australian performer Peter Allen. She was known for her dusky risque style.
Photo dated April 1965.
Terry Scanlon
One of Australia’s top comedians of his era, Terry Scanlon started performing at the age of nine, learning his craft the hard way through the Great Depression before becoming a regular at the Tivoli in Melbourne. He travelled the world, gaining accolades in the UK and the USA, and in the late 1960s he even had his own television show in Australia.
Earl Grant
Multi-talented American performer Earl Grant had some huge hits in his career, including the million-selling Ebb Tide. He was killed in a car crash in New Mexico at the age of 39.
Photo taken January 1965.
Luxor Gali Gali (Mahgoub Mohammed Hanafi)
Egyptian-born Gali Gali was a US citizen famous for his magic acts. His name meant “Quickly, Quickly” in Turkish.
Photo taken January 1965
Ken Littlewood and Toshi
Australian magician Ken Littlewood and his Japanese wife and assistant Toshi were very well-known and popular both in Australia and overseas.
Photo taken August 1963
I’d be very glad to hear from anybody with more information about Chequers and the people who performed there. The collection contains hundreds of photographs, most not labelled.
I saw Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald at Chequers in about 1962, it was quite something to see overseas entertainers.
I know a lady that used to dance the chorus line there. It was her first job. It would of been about 1962. She is about 75 now . I reckon she would have a few stories for you and also may be able to name people in photos.
Wonderful find ….
I’d be very pleased to speak to her.
I just came across a pic of my parents at Chequers. Been looking it up.
I would love to see any photos of the staff at Chequers – particularly the Maitre D Andre Lambi and any waiters as my father Danny was a waiter there in the 60’s. Sadly he has passed and I wish I had some photos of him at work, at the place he so loved. He never stopped talking about the days of Chequers.
I would love to see any photos of the staff at Chequers – particularly the Maitre D (Andre) and any waiters as my father Danny was a waiter there in the 60’s. Sadly he has passed and I wish I had some photos of him at work, at the place he so loved. He never stopped talking about the days of Chequers.
My grandfather was the night manager at Chequers and a producer at 2SM during the day. He passed away in 1961. My grandmother remained good friends with the Wong family for many years. Sadly I was only 13 when he died but I still have some souvenirs from there. I did go a couple of times in my late teens.
Hi Christine, I’d love to see some photos of the souvenirs you retain.
I think I saw Hank Marvin & The Shadows at Chequers in the late 60s or early 70s but cannot find anything to confirm that they did play there. Memory being what it is I may be mistaken but it would be nice to know for sure.