Catalogue

reg 5 Rock around the Clock – that changed the world. Just two minutes and eleven seconds

£2.00

In April 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded Rock around the Clock and created nothing less than a cultural revolution in the USA and Europe. It was even more remarkable that the words were penned by a sixty-year-old Max C. Friedman – one, two, three a ’clock four a ‘clock rock – that became the biggest selling single in the UK and world-wide selling around forty million copies. Its impact, recalled Tom Jones years later was spontaneous and liberating,
Because of its phenomenal success, Rock around the Clock, released in 1954 was chosen for the film Rock around the Clock of 1956, and was shown at the Gaumont in Hanley and Stoke with phenomenal success, packed houses and dancing is the isles creating mayhem for the management wherever it was shown. This article explores the local reaction at the time which has never been repeated.

Two pages plus photos

reg 4 Gaumont was stopped from burning down.

£2.00

Since the advent of the battery-operated electric drills and considered a boon to both trades and DIY groups, but they are the also provide an asset to potential burglars as I found out which could have easily ended with the Regent being burnt down. It was quite a few years ago when I was campaigning to save the former Gaumont/Odeon cinema in Hanley from demolition to be replaced by a shopping arcade stretching from Piccadilly to Pall Mall. I used to visit the old closed up cinema several times a week to see if all was OK and no one had destroyed the interior. With luck, I came across three potential catastrophic incidents that could have lost this beautiful Grade II* theatre for ever.
On each visit when I entered the auditorium, I always switched on the four 2kw cleaners flood lights mounted In the ceiling, shining its high-powered light through a cut out. On one such occasion after switching on the lights I noticed that two were just re glowing and something was seriously wrong! I climbed the never-ending back stairs in double time, across the roof to gain access into the roof void and walked on planks to the offending lights. The lights had been lifted and placed directly onto the wooden supports. In fact, the whole void was constructed of timber and the huge dome of papier-mâché – once ignited it would go up like a tinder box. It was only a matter of probably a few minutes before the whole lot would have set fire.

Two pages x A4

reg. 3 1929 Cinema kept traditions of live pantomime alive ….

£2.00

When the Theatre Royall in Hanley finally dropped the safety curtain on live in 1961 shows, it would have caused some considerable disappointment to families with young children as they would all lose out on the annual pantomime. Yet there was hope as the then Gaumont cinema practically across the road was built with full theatre facilities, dressing rooms, fly town, and a huge orchestra pit all standing empty. The thought I ponder over that for practically two generations of children would have only experienced for the twenty odd years last, Jonathan Wilkes playing the leading role at the old cinema, now greatly restored and back to its original name The Regent.
But it was the old cinema that came in and saved the annual Christmas Pantomime for the masses of children and families. With the silver screen raised high into the fly tower, productions once more commenced of the annual potteries pantomime.
Annual pantomimes at the Gaumont commenced the same year as the Theatre Royal closed to live shows.
So, with a re-decoration of dressing rooms and a general clean up, the first pantomime was staged in December 1961 with Robin Hood staring John Hanson known for his fine tenner voice and the character of the Red Shadow in the musical The Desert Song. All 2,334 seats were sold for each performance and the Sentinel report referred to it as a most colourful – well-dressed production and worth seeing if only for the singing, praising John Hanson as being on top form and engaging in fights and duels. Comedian Max Wall played the part of Martha, the children’s nurse was described as a likeable dame who showed himself as a versatile dancer.
This was just the beginning of the pantomime continues success for the potteries. The story contains stories of some of the top stars of the day, frequently playing the Dame.

Two pages x A4 Pictures

 

reg 2 The Singing Fool – the first Talkie shown in the Potteries.

£2.00

The 1920s was a decade known in North America as the “Roaring Twenties” while in Europe the period is sometimes referred to as the “Golden Age” because of the economic boom following World War I, but all this came to an end in October 1929 with the devastating Wall Street Clash.
Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, the country’s largest cinema chain at the time with over one hundred cinemas in the UK had secured the Hanley site as early as 1925. However, with issues with other properties next door it was 1929 before the largest cinema in the Potteries was opened.
Amid all this it was the picture-house which thrived for just a few pence you could leave all the stresses behind as be transformed twice a week to a world of make-believe. This would be created not just by celluloid projected onto a silver screen, but by the sheer splendour of the ‘Picture Palace’ and the new Regent in Hanley was going to be the best in the Potteries The cinema was operating silent movies when it opened. At the same time, a debate was being held between film directors and actors if to proceed with ‘talkies’ because of the costs and wondered if they would oust the silent picture or even rival the appeal of the theatre.
It was not long after that the very first ‘Talkie’ in the Potteries was shown at the Regent in July 1929 when “The Singing Fool” starring Al Jolson took to the screen filling the 2134 seats at four performances a day. At the end of the week the demand was so great with constant queues around the block that the management decided to run the film for a further week. This meant that around 26,000 people came to see history in its making at The Regent and to witness actual words and music coming for the first time from actors. A simply magical story of our lost years. two x A4 pages

reg 1 Amateur Society last show at the old Gaumont.

£4.00

With the closure of Hanley’s Theatre Royal in 1961, both Stoke, and the North Staffs Amateur Operatic Societies found them-selves without a venue. The North Staffs went to the Queens Theatre, Burslem and Stoke Society to the much larger venue, the Gaumont in Piccadilly Hanley. Built in 1929 with silent movies only, the building was designed with small acts taking place on stage during the change of reels etc. once the curtain was raised. As a result, the society negotiated with the owners Rang to hire the theatre for their next major production. Prior to this the Gaumont had only staged the odd one-night stand just a few times a year. Despite initial problems at the Gaumont with no stage lighting to speak of, no sound equipment and no back cloths or tabs just a deserted stage with no facilities except a fly-tower. All had to be hired for every show would be performed.
As a result, the society took the huge decision to move across the road from the Theatre Royal to the Gaumont for the societies first production to be staged there – The Most Happy Fella in 1962. Despite fears and apprehensions about such a momentous decision in the societies history, in the end it was a near sell-out production.
However, for the following two years Mecca, owners of the Theatre Royal allowed the society to return for their annual production. Things changed in 1965 as Mecca declined to allow the society to return. So, with the previously tried and tested Gaumont which had proved finically successful, despite many problems in mounting a show there, the society returned with confidence having gained valued experience in making the stage fit for purpose for presenting live musical productions at the venue with the popular musical The Desert Song followed the following year by The New Moon, to a theatre that became their permanent home until it closed in October 1989.
All productions at the Gaumont were successful, both in their staging and the numbers attending for a week’s run proving to Rank that the venue was viable and the facilities backstage sufficient to present a full musical production for a week or more. It had secured a future.
So successful was the society at this new venue in 1967 for their production of the White Horse Inn, all 2234 seats were sold out for seven performances, two weeks prior to the opening night, a record never to be overtaken. In 1969, the society secured the amateur premiere licence to present My Fair Lady, sets were secured direct from The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane’s, production in London followed my many popular but challenging productions.
However, as a result of the miners’ strike of 1974 bought with it a four-hour blackout period on a rotation basis. Panic struck!!! as for the final Saturday evening performance the theatre would be in darkness from six to ten p.m. The society was presenting the Mikado and to overcome the problem members provided car batteries, candles and oil lamps and torches to illuminate the dressing rooms and stairways.
The opening was rescheduled to commence at ten-thirty, all agreed by the theatre management and the orchestra with doors opening for the public on the dot of ten with theatre staff in place ready for the crowds which had stood outside for nearly an hour and becoming more excited by the minute. It was almost reminiscent to a war-like atmosphere during black-outs until the lights were turned on and a huge cheer rose from the heights of Piccadilly like a pack of lions fighting over their latest kill from those standing outside.
More of this available in the document listed. Shows continued, even for the production of Annie for which I devised two conveyor belts secured in a newly laid floor to carry on the props etc. Packed out for seventeen performances! More stores to share in the article. The last show presented was in 1989, again to a packed audience – The White Horse Inn – and, as the curtain came down for the last time there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Three x A4 pages

pub 14 Potteries Mercury 1846 December – 1848 May

£20.00

Potteries Mercury 1846 December – 1848 May

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.
This archived which I have over the years used extensively and probably most valuable and useful items in my archives. The Potteries Mercury Newspaper was a weekly local paper sold at a cost of two pence. The contents included Commercial advertisement, Irish news, National news items, Properties to let, Business pages, local Bankruptcies, Birth, Marries etc, Turnpike Roads and rents, Foreign news, Parliamentary matters, covering both the local area, foreign news, political and parliament. The Royal family and visits, travels and finally two pages dedicated to all local news of importance at the time including reports of the Chartists Riots etc and finally, visits of Royalty to Trentham Hall.
This important permanent history of the time is unique. This is for the first time available electronically, one period at a time, or the whole collection. As far as I am ware from the British Library the whole collection was taken over by ‘Find my Past’ a number of years ago and to date they are not available on the site as some are of mediocre quality.

pub 13 Potteries Mercury 1845 April – November 1846

£20.00

Potteries Mercury  1845 April – November 1846

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.
This archived which I have over the years used extensively and probably most valuable and useful items in my archives. The Potteries Mercury Newspaper was a weekly local paper sold at a cost of two pence. The contents included Commercial advertisement, Irish news, National news items, Properties to let, Business pages, local Bankruptcies, Birth, Marries etc, Turnpike Roads and rents, Foreign news, Parliamentary matters, covering both the local area, foreign news, political and parliament. The Royal family and visits, travels and finally two pages dedicated to all local news of importance at the time including reports of the Chartists Riots etc and finally, visits of Royalty to Trentham Hall.
This important permanent history of the time is unique. This is for the first time available electronically, one period at a time, or the whole collection. As far as I am ware from the British Library the whole collection was taken over by ‘Find my Past’ a number of years ago and to date they are not available on the site as some are of mediocre quality.

pub 12 Potteries Mercury 1845 – Jan-April

£5.00

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.
This archived which I have over the years used extensively and probably most valuable and useful items in my archives. The Potteries Mercury Newspaper was a weekly local paper sold at a cost of two pence. The contents included Commercial advertisement, Irish news, National news items, Properties to let, Business pages, local Bankruptcies, Birth, Marries etc, Turnpike Roads and rents, Foreign news, Parliamentary matters, covering both the local area, foreign news, political and parliament. The Royal family and visits, travels and finally two pages dedicated to all local news of importance at the time including reports of the Chartists Riots etc and finally, visits of Royalty to Trentham Hall.
This important permanent history of the time is unique. This is for the first time available electronically, one period at a time, or the whole collection. As far as I am ware from the British Library the whole collection was taken over by ‘Find my Past’ a number of years ago and to date they are not available on the site as some are of mediocre quality.

pub 9 Potteries Mercury 1842

£12.00

pub 9 Potteries Mercury 1842

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.

pub 8 Pottereies Mercury 1841

£12.00

pub 8 1841

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.

pub 7 Potteries Mercury 1840

£12.00

pub 7 1840

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.

 

pub 6 Potterries Mercury 1837 – 1839

£20.00

pub 6

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.

pub 21 The Royal Manor of Penkhull by Dr. Richard Talbot.

£24.00

Interested in history? Then this book on the ancient manor and village of Penkhull will be a must for your bookshelf. In contains more than 300,000 words, 496 pictures, maps and diagrams.

This is a book for reading, not a book just of pictures with a few captions. It is a book packed with information about the area commencing from the Ice Age, the Iron Age, the Roman occupation, the Bronze Age, the Middle Ages, the industrial revolution right up to the present-day containing information researched over the last twenty years and two years in the making.

The early invaders into this area have left evidence dating from the middle Neolithic period in the form of a flint arrowhead, bronze-age incense cup and a stone axe head.

It was from a period of nearly 5,000 years ago that the village of Penkhull was created, probable because of its elevated and defensive situation standing above the River Trent and the Lyme Brook. Penkhull was a Royal Manor from the time of William the Conqueror to at least 1308,

The book is Hard Back, A 4 size containing 5,000 years of history, its unique as no other book contains so much original research material.

Cost now reduced to just £24 inc PP (UK) Note: the current price of this 2k book postage exceeds £8 in included in price. Only 69 copies remain. 

pub 22 That’s Entertainment –Newcastle and Pottery Theatre 1788-1957.

£6.00

Dr Richard Talbot, MBE, F.R.Hist.S., is one of Staffordshire’s leading historians having studied history from the age of eighteen, first gaining a Master of Philosophy degree at Keele University, followed by a PhD at Leicester. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, well-known broadcaster, documentary producer, lecturer, and regular contributor to the local media.

That’s entertainment is not a history of the building, it’s a complete package of several disciplines’ which will attract local inhabitants, students of theatre history and development, social history of the period and how this addressed itself in theatre attendance. Not only that, but Dr. Talbot also expands his work by using examples within the limits of theatre development at the time.

This study illustrates the challenges of competition and how that was tied into the social fabric of the town, followed by improvements in transport from the mid-1900s. In fact, it is a complete social history combining theatre, localities, social habits, and class distinction which was an integral part of society for most of the theatres existence.

The Newcastle and Pottery theatre was the first purpose-built theatre in North Staffordshire and its interior design based upon the Olympic Theatre in London, and a fine example of provincial theatre architecture of the period.

A5 format 76 pages inc photographs. Good presentation booklet Price £6 inc postage to clear remaining stock.

pub 19 Scriven Report – employment of children in the potteries 1843.

£6.00

The Scriven Report on the Employment of Children within the Potteries is a well-used report over many years for students of economic and social history as well as many local history classes and quoted frequently in books of the early years of the ceramic industry in the potteries when child labour was at its highest. Contains many statistics as well as report from children themselves as young as six on the hours of work, their pay and importantly how they were treated by their employer. In addition, it refers to the health of the children, home existence food and certainly the lack of any education except Sunday School at one of either the Methodist or Anglican churches, that’s if they had decent clothes to go in. A remarkable asset to any study of the potteries.

PDF 228 pages

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