MarioLanzFan Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) YES I DO!.....Never forgot following Tony Dalli into the High Street Wimpey Bar in Sutton, Surrey early one evening. Possibly he'd been singing at local Granada Cinema. I was about 12 and totally in awe at being in the presence of who, in my eyes, looked and sounded like my idol Mario Lanza. He and entourage were friendly, may have bought us cokes, not sure, but remember being too gobsmacked to say much!! He may have even sung.... This would have been late 50s or early 60s. MAGIC ! Edited November 27, 2012 by MarioLanzFan ADDED DATE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Hardie Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) He came to this country at sixteen in 1949 and worked in the steel mills. Ten years later he was a TV star. Has his restaurant closed down? His website has. Edited November 27, 2012 by Jim Hardie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushbaby Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 There's a great picture of Tony on page 49 of Neil Anderson's new book " A Dirty Stop Out's guide to 50s Sheffield" (available in all good Sheffield bookshops). He does look a lot like "thin period" Lanza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger007 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Hi simon Toni has always remained in our family thoughts and we often have recalled when he used to come into our "beer off" shop at the corner of Shirebrook Road and Albert Road, Toni arrived in Shirebrook Road and lived in lodgings at theatrical agent and bedsits manager Eleanor! Eleanor was a vivacious Blonde and took everyones eye! But Toni was equally as charming and spent hours practising as well as singing in all the working Mens Clubs around South Yorkshire often talking to my mum and dad in the shop in broken English Toni could speak very little English and had worked in the coalmines by the time he came to live in Sheffield.... He used to work 12 hour shifts in the steel works and also spent many an hour learning English in our shop! During 1954/5 he had heard me playing my trumpet in one of our upstairs rooms and he spontaneously joined in by singing below in the street....from this time onwards he explained he could not read music and that is when I at the age 10 started to teach 22 yr old Toni to read a musical manuscript! When he was on Top Town all is friends and family were invited into our front room to watch him on the TV..... Their was about 40 people watching a 12" screen telly! Further words to follow i have not got the hang of copying ---------- Post added 15-09-2013 at 15:50 ---------- Hi Simon....... My continued thoughts regarding your Dad living in Shirebrook Rd Needless to say I have many happy memories along with his friends, motorbikes and the famous Jowett Javelin in black that he absolutely loved and was his pride and joy. Toni was always happy, smiling and smart...... We all remember him with fondness and although I live in Shrewsbury now and not Sheffield, I have met lots of people who remember him with similar affection.... Even in Places where I have worked Chicago, California, Perth western Australia and of course Milano and Torino! Thank you Toni for these memories and i Trust you and your family are still smiling...your laugh was always contagious .... May be your family have the same smile Regards Roderick Marsden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxiesmum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Hi simon Toni has always remained in our family thoughts and we often have recalled when he used to come into our "beer off" shop at the corner of Shirebrook Road and Albert Road, Toni arrived in Shirebrook Road and lived in lodgings at theatrical agent and bedsits manager Eleanor! Eleanor was a vivacious Blonde and took everyones eye! But Toni was equally as charming and spent hours practising as well as singing in all the working Mens Clubs around South Yorkshire often talking to my mum and dad in the shop in broken English Toni could speak very little English and had worked in the coalmines by the time he came to live in Sheffield.... He used to work 12 hour shifts in the steel works and also spent many an hour learning English in our shop! During 1954/5 he had heard me playing my trumpet in one of our upstairs rooms and he spontaneously joined in by singing below in the street....from this time onwards he explained he could not read music and that is when I at the age 10 started to teach 22 yr old Toni to read a musical manuscript! When he was on Top Town all is friends and family were invited into our front room to watch him on the TV..... Their was about 40 people watching a 12" screen telly! Further words to follow i have not got the hang of copying ---------- Post added 15-09-2013 at 15:50 ---------- Hi Simon....... My continued thoughts regarding your Dad living in Shirebrook Rd Needless to say I have many happy memories along with his friends, motorbikes and the famous Jowett Javelin in black that he absolutely loved and was his pride and joy. Toni was always happy, smiling and smart...... We all remember him with fondness and although I live in Shrewsbury now and not Sheffield, I have met lots of people who remember him with similar affection.... Even in Places where I have worked Chicago, California, Perth western Australia and of course Milano and Torino! Thank you Toni for these memories and i Trust you and your family are still smiling...your laugh was always contagious .... May be your family have the same smile Regards Roderick Marsden Hi Roderick, I lived on Albert Road and remember your mum, Dad, Jim and Mandy your sister. You have confirmed that Tony dalli lived on Shirebrook /Albert Road. Thanks for that. I think I remember as a child seeing him when playing on our front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger007 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Hi maxiesmum Good to know that there are people who remember my family too My sister Mandy also lives in Shrewsbury... What family are you from? Regards Roderick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxiesmum Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Hi Roderick, The Allen and Booker household my dad had a motorbike and sidecar. All passed on years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger007 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Sorry that I cannot send email direct not enough postings! Maxiesmum I remember your family very well and we could see your house as we looked down Albert Road on the left...was it your Dad with Motorbike and sidecar ....I remember you all piling in and was it your Mum on the Pillion. My Uncle who used to visit with his family often used to talk Bikes to him and when he had a Bond 3 Wheeler he took him for a ride in it your Dad preferred the open air of the bike! Do you still live in Albert Rd? ---------- Post added 17-09-2013 at 10:13 ---------- Still not heard from Simon Dalli!? Hope he was not offended by one of the postings by someone a few years ago! ---------- Post added 17-09-2013 at 10:14 ---------- Still not heard from Simon Dalli!? Hope he was not offended by one of the postings by someone a few years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxiesmum Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 yes That was my late Mum and Dad. Dad loved his bikes! Mum lived there till 2009 when she passed away. I moved form albert road when I married in 1974 , still live in Sheffield though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxandpaddy Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Hi Simon.. Interesting thread. Apparently My Mum and Grandfather used to be very friendly with your Father in the 1960's in and around Sheffield, their names were Harry (Robbo) and Lorraine Robinson. They lived in Grimesthorpe..Lorraine used to be a dancer and also appeared in various pantomine's both in Sheffield and around the UK..Would you be able to ask your Father if he can remember them? Also my mum mentioned a guy call Ricco Valente (who was also Italian), who was Tenor would he remember him? :) Kind regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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