| Matlock:
Smedley's Menus, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949 |
| Matlock: Twentieth Century Photographs,
Postcards, Engravings & Etchings |
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1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949
Smedley's Christmas Menu and Programme of Events, 1946
Wednesday 25 December 1946
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Programme of events during the 1946 Christmas season.
It included a Staff Ball, an annual event that
had
become a tradition at Smedley's.
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The entertainment during the 1946 Christmas season was provided
by:
i. Edward French, a well-known Leeds elocutionist who included
dramatic and humourous recitals in his programme;
ii. Ernest Elliott and Kathleen Leeds presented a novel
form of marionette show with Ernest working the marionettes
whilst Kathleen, a soprano, provided the vocals;
iii. Miss Ruth Harrison of Newcastle, described as the Joe
Davis of women's snooker, won the professional championship
for the sixth year in succession in 1939;
iv. Rex Reader, a magician who was a member of London's
Magic Circle and was described as "a clever conjurer", "a
versatile entertainer", "a humourist" and "Leicester's ace illusionist". |
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The menu card was a loose single sheet paced inside the
1946 programme.
The choice was more limited than it had been pre-war.
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And on the back was a sign of post-war austerity
and continued rationing:
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New Year Dinner, 1947
Wednesday 1 January 1947
Front cover (above)
Centre fold | Back cover
(both below)
Christmas Day Dinner Menu, 1947
Thursday 25 December 1947
Front cover
 Centrefold
New Year's Day Dinner, 1948
Thursday, 1st January 1948
Front cover
Centrefold of the menu
Christmas, 1948
Saturday 25th December 1948.
The menu and programme cover.
Inside was a seasonal quotation from the nineteenth century writer
Charles Dickens.
By 1948 there was slightly more to choice
and there were no austerity announcements.
Alcoholic sauces were creeping back onto the menu.
The New Year's Dinner, 1949.
The menu card for Saturday 1st January 1949.
The orange lettering does not reproduce well. |
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On
the back, a quote from Swinburne to welcome in the New Year. |
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1946, 1948 and 1949 Smedley menus, programmes and covers © Jane
Leslie from her personal collection.
1947 and 1948 New Year dinners, and 1947 Christmas Dinner and
New year programme © Ann
Andrews collection. Added 2019.
Researched, written by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.
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