100 years ago

IN an interview Mr W Banks, of Messrs Banks and Co, provision dealers, Nessgate said: “This morning we had dozens of sides of bacon and hundreds of hams, but now at 3 o’clock we have cleared out every ounce of bacon, with the exception of just a few odd pieces; we have sold this morning well over 400 hams, whereas our usual morning sale is rarely more than 30 or 40.

"In regard to foodstuffs, such as butter and lard and all kinds of tinned meats and tinned fruits, we have had an enormous turn and have sold out of many kinds. We were prepared for this, and had our usual stock very considerably increased. But we have nothing bought for future sale except one week’s supply of bacon and butter.

"This week we have sold these provisions at our usual price, but of course next week the prices must of necessity be very much higher. Exampling the remarkable increase in sales, Mr Banks said that one retail customer, who usually bought half a side of bacon at a time weighing about 30lbs had bought six sides weighing over 300lbs.

50 years ago

THE long-playing album and the single record of the title song from the Beatles’ film A Hard Day’s Night were at the top of the US bestseller lists.

The distributor of the sound track album, said sales had passed 1.5m and should reach 2m soon. In Stockholm the previous night, police had appealed to the Beatles to stop their show as attendants grappled with about 1000 screaming fans in front of the stage at an indoor sports stadium.

The police request was apparently unheard above the screams and shouts and the group finished their last number before they left the stage.

25 years ago

YORK’s Grand Opera House had been many things to many people over the centuries.

A Roman landing place on the River Ouse, a convent, a brothel, and most recently, a theatre.

It was as a theatre that it was about set to make its mark in the city once more, reopening on September 26 after four years and £4 million worth of restoration.

The refurbishment of what was once the SS Empire Theatre was sure to evoke fond memories from those who patronised the place in its heyday.

This had been the period between 1902, when it had opened on the site of the old Corn Exchange, to 1985, when the curtain had fallen on an increasingly neglected venue, good for just the occasional wrestling bout or bingo competition. Now the hulk of the SS Empire had become a potential flagship for entertainment in York.