The 1962 Christmas morning spectacular showcase

The first Christmas of Independent Jamaica was Tuesday, December 25, 1962, and Boxing Day was Wednesday, December 26. The country was abuzz with the traditional Christmas activities – baking, making sorrel, picking the green gungo peas, cleaning, painting, shopping, church activities with nativity plays, carol services/cantatas, and charity events.

Some major events included the Santa Parade sponsored by Times Store, the Nuggets for the Needy show featuring big bands Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and Carlos Malcolm and his Afro Jamaican Rhythms, Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies, the Maxfield Park Fair, plays including the Pantomime Finian’s Rainbow, the various Christmas parties/balls, and, of course, grand market.

Among these events, the live Christmas morning spectacular showcase at the Carib and Regal Theatres (Cinemas) were anticipated all year by many. The Regal Theatre is now the Azan SuperCentre in Cross Roads. These variety spectaculars featured an array of local entertainers. It was another occasion to be dressed up to the nines with men in suits and women in their new Christmas frocks and shoes. Sartorial elegance and feminine chic were the order of the day for young and old from all strata of society.

The Carib show was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Christmas morning, with tickets costing from five shillings for children to 10 shillings for adults in box seats. The line-up of entertainers included the band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Count Prince Miller, the Blues Busters, Hortense Ellis, Derrick Morgan, Keith Lyn, Tony Gregory, The Melody Enchanters, The Charmers, Ranny Williams, Roy and Millie, Alton and Edie, and Fluggy and Beryl. The master of ceremonies was Tony Verity. Lucky patrons could leave with a bottle of Charley’s Rum, and each child got a balloon. Those were the days when these types of shows were more family oriented in spite of the rum.

The Regal Show started at 10.30 a.m., and interestingly, their line-up included many of the same entertainers as at Carib. This meant coordination had to be great to get from Carib to Regal in time for their performance slot. The featured band at Regal was the Vagabonds, and there was one entertainer not on the Carib list. This was Jimmy Cliff, who would become Jamaica’s first international superstar. The free Charley’s Rum was also at Regal but not the balloons.

It seems like everyone wanted to go to the Carib show, and lines were long. These spectaculars were well attended.

Entertainers were giving their best performances, and outstanding performances were remembered and talked about for years after. I cannot say which entertainers brought down the house on Christmas morning 1962, but given the line-up of entertainers, recognised today as among the crème de la crème, I have no doubt that the patrons at Carib and Regal felt it was money well spent. The shows were indeed considered ‘too good to miss’. For many reminiscing – those were the days!

Contributed by Marcia Thomas