Monday, February 13, 2006

100 years ago

Charles Houghton, a dramatic and variety agent, sought to recover £14 in the County Court from St John Beecher, a theatre proprietor. Mr Houghton had agreed to supply Mr Beecher with a troupe of "Jubilee Black and White Minstrels," male and female, to give twelve performances for £14. He said that the troupe were "on the road" and "in thorough going order." The troupe was widely advertised as a "gigantic production at a very heavy cost!" Before the end of their first performance the curtain was rung down on them, and they were not allowed to proceed. Mr Beecher said the whole company was absolutely incompetent. A coloured man broke down after singing two lines, and a child, who did not know when to leave off dancing, and who failed to get a "tip" from anybody fell down from exhaustion. The audience "stuck" it very well for half an hour and then stormed the pay-box, and, with threats, demanded their money back. After a long hearing the Judge said the determining factor was what the audience thought. It was as clear as possible that this audience was disgusted with the performance, and he would take their verdict as deciding the case, and gave judgment for the defendants.

50 years ago

Some kinds of chocolate on sale in York shops were cheaper today. Others offered greater quantity for the same price. This followed decisions by the "Big Five" chocolate manufacturers - Rowntrees, Terrys, Cadburys, Frys and Nestles. Rowntree and Co Ltd announced that despite increases in many other costs, the fall in the cocoa bean prices had made it possible for them to offer increased consumer values on certain of their block chocolate lines. A 6d Aero would be increased in size and weight, and Kit Kat would be reduced in price, the four-finger size from 5d to 5d, and the two-finger size from 3d to 2d.

25 years ago

Tenth Century pieces of pottery from York's Viking dig in Coppergate had shown for the first time that the Norsemen could make their own glass. "This was the first firm evidence of a Viking glass furnace found anywhere in the world," said Mr Peter Addyman, Director of the York Archaeological Trust. "The discovery has caused great excitement among archaeological specialists." The Viking dig team found a number of pieces of pottery with a thick layer of glass over them. Experts in the United States and London had examined the finds and concluded that they represented vessels used in the process of glass making. Previously, it had been believed that the Vikings melted down old Roman glass. This was the first evidence that they made it from component raw materials.

Updated: 08:46 Monday, February 13, 2006