30/05/2026
We cannot always bring our friends, spectacular items, but we do try and post things that are a bit “off the wall” when we get the chance.
In this post, we have a ceramic money box.
However, it’s no run of the mill money box. This one is from the 1960s and was inspired by a catch phrase used by a popular T.V. Presenter, Norman Vaughn.
In the 1960s a highlight for many viewers, on a Sunday evening, was a show called Val Parnell’s “Sunday Night at the London Palladium”
It was a variety show, with comics, plate spinners, performing poodles, pop stars, the Tiller Girls chorus line and a live quiz were a member of the audience, had to answer questions or perform tasks, within a limited time. It was an American idea called “Beat the Clock”.
At the end of the show, all the performers would stand in a circle on a revolving stage, holding a (say) three foot high letter, spelling out the name of the show.
In it’s day, the show was huge!
Over the years there were several different presenters and all had their own catch phrases.
Norman Vaughn compared the show from 1962 to 1965 and his speciality was a 👍 up for Swinging and a thumb down for Dodgy.
This inspired all manner of “seaside” souvenirs and our money box is a typical example.
Likely made in their many thousands, but not valued and eventually, cast aside.
Always something different from Broad Acres Toy Collection.
