Stuart Swift 1 Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Does anyone remember the old joke shop, where the Royal Centre now stands? I think it was called 'The Sign of Four'. I remember the old fellas who used to work there and the wooden boxes behind the counter labelled Fart Powder, Nail thru finger, plastic vomit etc. Or did I dream it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hippo girl 1,995 Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 i remember the joke shop...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 ..... Or did I dream it? No dream...Sign of Four it was, in the location you suggest. Apparently, their best selling lines were always the odious 'rotten eggs' and various types of 'fart cushions'! Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 The Sign of Four has been discussed here before. It originaly (60s) was at the bottom of Derby Road in the City, facing the island. In the Shadows of the Albert Hall. (The back of the Albert hall was the entrance to The Albert Hall Institute.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 "Sign of Four" Great place to go on a Saturday afternoon before being forced to visit the relatives in Clifton for tea. I bought 1 single 'Party popper' in there in about 1975 for 20p (Amazing you can get a box of 20 for a quid now!!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gadge 0 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I don't remember it I'm afraid but there was a trick shop on Mansfield Road I occasionally frequented after the saturday morning matinee at the Metropole in the mid 60's. I used to visit my cousin most weekends - he lived in Mapperley Park near the childrens hospital, now there are a few stories I can tell about that place as we played on their grounds etc :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Another regular at ABC Minors here! Whereabouts was the trick shop, that's jogging my memory? I remember the old Children's Hospital only too well sadly. I ended up in there with two broken legs when I was a kid. Others might confirm but I think an old Children's Hospital sign adorns a conservatory wall in the Lincolnshire Poacher? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 The joke shop in question was about 10 doors up from the big community centre ,a couple of doors away from the "King fisher Chippy" I used to work near there and got my revenge on a work colleague who was always pinching a fag out my packet if I left it on my workbench . I put some banger type things in all of them and left them there,went back 10 mins later and sure enough he was standing a couple of yards away with a smile on his face and a gasper in his gob. As it went off there was a great girly scream from his general direction and I'm p**ing myself. Only a couple of minutes later when there was another bang and girly squeel did I realise that he had pinched two HAAAAAAAAAA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gadge 0 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 The trick shop as we called it was across the road from the metropole abt 30 yards or so down. Stink bombs and magic stuff as I remember. yeah, the childrens hospoital, I wound up in there after an accident in the hospital car park, we were playing on bikes - war games with water pistols, that kind of stuff (only 10 at the time) - fell off bike gashed leg and had 5 stitches. Used to have a smoke up the tree at the side of the car park. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gadge 0 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Another regular at ABC Minors here! Whereabouts was the trick shop, that's jogging my memory? I remember the old Children's Hospital only too well sadly. I ended up in there with two broken legs when I was a kid. Others might confirm but I think an old Children's Hospital sign adorns a conservatory wall in the Lincolnshire Poacher? Sorry to hear abt your accident - nasty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gadge 0 Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 The joke shop in question was about 10 doors up from the big community centre ,a couple of doors away from the "King fisher Chippy"I used to work near there and got my revenge on a work colleague who was always pinching a fag out my packet if I left it on my workbench . I put some banger type things in all of them and left them there,went back 10 mins later and sure enough he was standing a couple of yards away with a smile on his face and a gasper in his gob. As it went off there was a great girly scream from his general direction and I'm p**ing myself. Only a couple of minutes later when there was another bang and girly squeel did I realise that he had pinched two HAAAAAAAAAA Very funny. Of course you couldn't do that now. Five years inside on terrorism charges whatever. Those days were not PC - to hell with PC! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 The Sign of Four joke shop next to Mogal E Azam Indian Restaurant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 It was moved there after the demolition of the snooker building in your other pic (During the building of the Royal centre) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gibbo 04 188 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I remember it well! Used to be in there every other Saturday,buying all sorts of stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 'The Sign Of Four', the original shop stood opposite what is now the 'Royal Centre'. There was a record shop nearby - during the 60's I attended the Nottingham Poly on day release and often used to spend any free time I had in there. Regarding 'The Sign Of Four', a small, extremely slender, well-spoken Lady (with a capital 'L') worked there, as well as the two elderly gentlemen; I believe her name was Nellie ? She may have either been a dancer or run a dancing school The shop was a cornucopia both inside and out (windows). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 'The Sign Of Four' was such a loss to the City of Nottingham. It was absolutely packed with stuff in there; as well as jokes, the shop sold dance costumes / shoes, fascinating stage make-up (handy being as the shop was across the way from the Nottingham Empire). Nellie who served behind the counter, spoke with an upper class accent yet was easily approachable. She genuinely cared for the customers, especially the young girls attending dance classes; a lovely lady, she was most knowledgeable about what the girls needed. When the shop was closed entertainment was still available: by being able to read the descriptions on some of the most bawdiest of saleable items displayed in the shop window. 'Guaranteed a laugh even when closed', could easily have been the shop's motto. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 I think it was called 'The Sign of Four'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,305 Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 It was The Sign Of Four, moved from Goldsmith Street. It also stocked theatrical items, Leichner stage make up, wigs, etc. Used to get my ballet shoes, tights, and dancewear from there but it didn't stay too long in the Royal Centre. I think it closed down completely. Hardings on Mansfield Road was also a dancewear outlet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martin Lock 31 Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 Didn't realise we were talking about the same shop, although different premises. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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