by Cathy Jones 2013 (updated 2024)
Vic’s Cabaret, a social reception and function centre featuring live bands, was located at the rear of the Concord School for Arts, on Concord Road Strathfield.
The School of Arts was officially opened in 1928 and construction of a new hall and supper room commenced in 1934. Band leader Victor Harold (Vic) Bailey leased the dance hall at the rear of the School of Arts (presumably the 1934 hall) for £10 per week from late 1947 and operated it as Vic’s Cabaret.
Don Grey commenced playing in the band at Vic’s Cabaret in 1965 until 1986. There were two bands playing on Friday and Saturday nights. Half the night was music and half dancing. Don played in both bands at Vic’s Cabaret.
The Dixieland Band featured Piano – Les Dempsey, Vocal and Bass Rick Proudaman, Sax and Clarinet Keith Jones (Leader), Trumpet Don Grey, Trombone – Cecil Reagan and Leslie Nelson. Dances included the Quickstep and Slow Foxtrot, Jazz Waltz, Rumba, La Bamba and Samba. The Dixieland Band started at 8pm and played for 20 minutes. It alternated with the Old Time Band who played for 20 minutes. The two bands alternated until 11pm.
Don Grey played Drums with the Old Time Band. The Old Time Band played the Pride of Erin, Gypsy Tap, Canadian three step and the progressive barn dance. No alcohol was served.
Don recalled ‘It was in the 1960s, that the Old Time Band at Vic’s needed a drummer, so I joined. Then the Dixieland jazz band, who played at the same venue, decided they needed a trumpet player, so asked if I could do a few sets in between my drumming. So I would do 20 minutes playing drums with one band, race across the room and start a new set on the trumpet with the other band’.
In June 1968 Vic Bailey terminated his tenancy in favour of his son Mr Keith Bailey. The Concord School of Arts was wound up in late 1969 and the building was transferred to Concord Council in February 1970. Vic’s Cabaret’s Holding Pty Ltd continued to lease the building until 1982. The building was demolished by 2000 and is now a unit block with the address 42 Swan Avenue Strathfield.
Many thanks to John Johnson, Local Studies Advisor City of Canada Bay Council, for information on the history of Vic’s Cabaret. Additional information and photos provided by Don Grey.
Strathfield Heritage 
LOVED MY TIME DANCING AT VIC’S DOING THE ALBERT CRAWL FRIDAY NIGHT WAS MY PREFERED NIGHT
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Hi, Loved Vic’s. Orchestra one end of the room and pop band the other end. Heaps of people attended. Cordial I think was served. Had loads of fun.
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met my future wife at Vics in 1954. Albert crawl inside and jitterbug outside under rotary clothes line All good-no fights no alcohol
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I used to play in a band called “Adige” that played at Vic’s Cabaret every Friday and Saturday night from 1969 to 1970. Vic’s Cabaret was one of the last big dance halls in Sydney until the discos took over. The manager got us a spot on the TV show “Happening 70”.
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Thanks for your comments. Do you have any photos of Vic’s Cabaret?
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Met my husband there also.
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I remember the Adige playing at Vic’s. Sam was the singer.
I met my husband at Vic’s, we’ve been married for 50 years 😁
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I went to Vic’s for most of the 1960s, mostly on Fridays. The hall wasn’t very large and it was so crowded you could barely move. The bands were fantastic.
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Hi my mum and dad met at Vics 58 years ago on a friday night and got married 6 years later.
My dad has fond memories of dancing at Vics .
We are wondering what became of the hall .
He would like to revisit the site if it has not been knocked down.
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The building occupied by Vic’s Cabaret has been demolished. There is a lot of redevelopment of properties close to Parramatta Road.
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Does anyone remember Barbara Heath from Dundas Valley
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Think was replaced with units or similar. I remember the police station being right next door on Parramatta road.
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has long since gone. High rise there now.
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My uncle Don Gray played trumpet there he is in photo
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Mum and Dad danced at Vic’s Cabaret when they were dating in the late 1950’s. They made a great team on the dance floor. I remember Mum pointing out the building when I was younger. She seemed to have had some great memories there. Sadly, both Mum and Dad are no longer with us, nor are the good old days when the young crowd were happy to dance all night and drink cordial.
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In the Mid 60’s I played drums in a trio at Vic’s for around 12 months every Friday & Saturday, Our Band was named Spectrum, Great venue it was..
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Hi John
What was the name of your guitar player/bass player
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Hi Bill,Guitarist/ lead vocal was Peter Saurine … the bass guitarist was Bob ?? can’t remember his surname.. ( he was also a paramedic & lived at Punchbowl ) CheersJohn
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Thanks John. I taught both how to read music in my first guitar school at Bankstown in 1968. School still going but am now at St. Marys. Check my website. I also remember Spectrum had a top ten hit also. And I recall seeing the band on a tv special a while ago. Now if I could only remember my kids birthdays!. Bill Griffith
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Hi there and I’m the way who go you noticed I contacted Go Set magazine..
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I have very fond memories of going to Vics most Saturday nights with my girlfriend Carol. What a great time we used to have as we both enjoyed dancing. Those memories are still with bexat 80 years old. Oh the good old days ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Ros Williams ( Kortlang)
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Does anyone remember Barbara Heath from Dundas Valley
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Denise Gallop might
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Is Denise on facebook
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Does any one remember Keith Jones and the Saints. I am his daughter-in-law. I just unearthed an old tape of his which I am trying to have converted to a CD. I will post it if I am able to when it is done.
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Are there any tapes of the band “Adige” with Big Sam vocalist.
From 1970 to 1973
Or from Keith Jones Sextet along with Frank McQuade & Sam Ruggeri shared vocalists.
Or from vans “Cinnamon” with Sam Ruggeri vocalist.
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Does anyone remember Barbara Heath from Dundas Valley in early 1960`s
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My sister and I went there all the time. I wish I found this just a few days ago. My sister would have loved this. Sadly she died on Saturday 17th July.
But I loved Spectrum and contacted Go Set and another magazine and got them noticed.
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My girlfriend and I went to Vic’s nearly every Saturday. I met my husband there in 1963 during the barn dance. We had our first date the next day. We were married for 51 years. I always remember the huge disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
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Yes was good place to go to dance and meet people. I believe the same band was there for over 20 years. But all that was in the days when dancing was part of the social structure. In fact, we had to learn ,” proper” dancing at Strathfield South High 1961-1963. There was also the Albert Palais ( Len London’s old time dance show was broadcast there 2ue. Tivoli Ballrooms Hurstville and Parramatta to name a few. Because you were touching ( holding) members of the opposite sex, maybe today’s politically correct would call it assault😀
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I met my first husband Max Mendels there in 1959, we married in 1962, Max was a vocalist. He became Entertainment Manager at the Blacktown Workers Club for many years. We moved to Queensland with our three children in the seventies. Sadly he passed aged 51 in 1989,
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Hi Julia did you know Barbara Heath from Dundas Valley I met her in 1960 @ Vic`s went out for a while but lost contact she was a very good netball player. Lyall
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No sorry no bells ringing Lyall. I only went there a few times met Max and went with him to his gigs from the on.
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My Mum and Dad were always at Vic’s for their night out back in 1949-1951. They married in 1951 and lived in Ryde all their lives and showed us where Vic’s was every time we went past. Their names were Don Byrnes and Fay Hope. I do have a beautiful photo of them taking a rest at Vic’s.
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Thanks for the info and pics! My mum and dad met at Vic’s cabaret in the 50’s and stayed married for life. My grandmother would accompany mum and her sister as chaperone. It had a sprung floor.
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