by WC1 » Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:04 pm
My recollection of this 'arena' is that it was used mainly for open-air dancing rather than concerts, and that's what was advertised in the old Town Council's summer entertainment programme. 'Local artistes', as the Courier used to put it, often performed popular or Scottish songs as part of the entertainment, not that Scottish songs weren't also popular. It was basically a rectangular area marked out by strings of coloured lights with a platform against the wall. Wooden flooring was put down to make it more suitable for dancing, though I'm not sure if that was there from the outset. I remember my mum and dad dancing there while the other kids and I stood at the side and look on mortified. Obviously it was very much weather-dependent, and was short-lived for that reason.
As for "Quarry Green Arena", I think that's a misnomer. I remember the term 'Quarry Green' as referring specifically to the area where the paddling pool was, not the whole of the grassed area from the New Quay Head down.
WC1