Pantomimes

[Jools]

Does anyone remember a panto in Leeds about 1965-69ish with Billy Dainty in it? Think it was Aladdin, I remember Billy was a dame running through the aisles chasing a pan of jumping sausages, I was very small at the time so not sure of exact year, had a look on the web plenty about Billy but nowt about this panto.Jools

[Armley Lass 47]

I saw the Billy Dainty pantomine but cant remember what year it was. I dont think I was a small child though so could be 1965ishI used to go in the 1950's with my Dads works social club from the GPO.We also had an orange and apple and some kind of sweets. I thought it was great as I cant ever remember seeing a bowl of fruit in our house, it was too expensive. Someone asked why an orange - the answer was they were a treasured fruit in the 50's. After rationing when no one saw an orange it was a very expensive fruit and would cost about 1/3d to buy at Christmas time. Compared to the weekly wage that was very expensive per fruit. I continued that Christmas treat with my children but it now seems to have stopped. I also remember loving the pantomine Cinderella as they normally had one or two ponies pull the coach on stage. I always wantedto be a sunbeam but never was. One of the lost opportunities of life I suppose lol.

[Trojan]

Armley Lass 47 wrote: I thought it was great as I cant ever remember seeing a bowl of fruit in our house, it was too expensive. You were considered posh if you had fruit in the house when no one was ill

[BLAKEY]

Trojan wrote: Armley Lass 47 wrote: I thought it was great as I cant ever remember seeing a bowl of fruit in our house, it was too expensive. You were considered posh if you had fruit in the house when no one was ill And even posher still Trojan if you HAD a house to put the fruit in !!

[stutterdog]

BLAKEY wrote: Trojan wrote: Armley Lass 47 wrote: I thought it was great as I cant ever remember seeing a bowl of fruit in our house, it was too expensive. You were considered posh if you had fruit in the house when no one was ill And even posher still Trojan if you HAD a house to put the fruit in !! Do you think that's why you got an apple and an orange in your stocking at Christmas becaus it was considered a real treat in those days?

[chameleon]

stutterdog wrote: BLAKEY wrote: Trojan wrote: Armley Lass 47 wrote: I thought it was great as I cant ever remember seeing a bowl of fruit in our house, it was too expensive. You were considered posh if you had fruit in the house when no one was ill And even posher still Trojan if you HAD a house to put the fruit in !! Do you think that's why you got an apple and an orange in your stocking at Christmas becaus it was considered a real treat in those days? found this amongst others -'Did you know that the tradition of putting oranges into Christmas stockings dates back to the times of St. Nicholas, himself? It's true. The story goes that St. Nicholas overheard some young maidens who were upset because they were going to be sold off into slavery because they did not have enough money for a respectable dowry, therefore no husband could be found for them. After the girls had washed their stockings they had hung them to dry by the fire. The next morning they found enough gold coins in their stockings for a very adequant dowry. It is suspected that the coins had been thrown into the window or down the chimney and had landed in the stockings. The gold that St. Nicholas is known for throwing has been represented by gold balls therefore making oranges, and even apples, the symbol of the gold. According to www.culture.gouv.fr, "Japanese oranges have a special meaning to the people who live in the Canadian Prairies. A gift from the East, their arrival at the coldest time of the year has brightened many homes and Christmas feasts for 110 years. To many, the festive season begins when Santa Claus welcomes the first major shipment of Japanese mandarin oranges at the Port of Vancouver, accompanied by young Japanese girls dressed in tradition kimonos. On Christmas morning the flavourful fruit find their way into many children's Christmas stockings." This was, kind of, how we felt as children when we recieved our apples and oranges. There were three of us and we greatly enjoyed having an apple and an orange to ourselves during a time of year where there weren't as many readily available fruits as there are now.So why not try it out this year with your own children, if you don't already? They may just love getting that little orange and/or apple in the toe of their stocking. Once my oldest daughter was old enough to enjoy Christmas we placed an orange and an apple in the toe of her stocking and we've done it with the other two girls also. I think the best thing about this is the feeling of tradition we parents can enjoy and the hope that our children will continue the tradition once they have their own children. Christmas doesn't have to be all about expensive gifts and all of the holiday parties. Just sit back and enjoy the feeling of love. After all, that's what Christmas is all about'