Yep. After all this time I'm finally coming clean on the world-wide web. I was the boy who caused the singing group, The Platters, some grief during their 1959 (?) tour of Great Britain.

I didn't go to their concert at the Sheffield City Hall since I wasn't a great fan of The Platters. I did, however, stop off to see what might be going on after the concert on my way back home from a movie. I was an avid fan of showbiz persons back then.

I arrived in time to see some of the group signing autographs for a few fans outside the Grand Hotel. I had no autograph book or even a piece of paper on which they could sign their names. I DID, however, notice a pair of shiny patent leather stage shoes belonging to one of the male members. Actually, there was only one female in the group if I recall. Anyway, he had placed the shoes on a low feature wall outside the hotel in order to free up his hands with which to sign autographs.

Oh, what a temptation! I had Satan on one shoulder telling me to grab a shoe as a souvenir and God on the other shoulder telling me not to. What a dilemma! Unfortunately, Satan won the conflict fairly quickly and I deftly picked up the (very large) shoe (containing a sock) and quietly disappeared into the night clutching my treasure.

The following day I showed off this celebrity exhibit at school and became somewhat of a celebrity myself for having 'ripped off' the shoe in the first place ...not to mention the sock. I HAD felt guilty at first but the status of 'celebrity thief' was making the experience a worthwhile one. Not for long. That evening the local newspaper (The Star?) headlined "Platter Hopping Mad!" as my evil act became the talk of the town. Anyone recall this event?

I felt sure that I'd be tracked down, tried, sentenced, and committed to Juvenile Hall for life. To help alleviate my overwhelming feelings of guilt my mother took the shoe (and the sock) to the Grand Hotel in the city in the hope of it being reunited with its rightful owner. They (the staff of the hotel) didn't want any part of it since they had no way of getting it to 'the Platter' in question anyway.

So, mom returned home with the shoe (and sock) and it was placed in a cupboard and eventually forgotten. I have no idea what happened to it over the years. Who knows, it might now be in the possession of someone who has long wondered, "Who did this shiny patent leather stage shoe (and sock) belong to and what is the story behind it?"

they asked me if I knew
who had pinched his shoe
I of course replied
I've got nowt to hide
it wasn't me I lied

I met the girl who had the shoe belonging to------oh his name evades me, same era, deaf, sang Oh what a night it was.
Got it Johnny Ray
hazel

ps just put that to music apollo

I told you that you were always into the stars, will I have to lock everything away when you come to visit me ?

I met the girl who had the shoe belonging to------oh his name evades me, same era, deaf, sang Oh what a night it was.
Got it Johnny Ray
hazel

ps just put that to music apollo

it already has music sing it to smoke gets in your eyes by The Platters:hihi:

it already has music sing it to smoke gets in your eyes by The Platters:hihi:

yes --I had only just noticed and was thnking how clever.
of you

hazel

So you went on to say nothing about this theft eh.

Well your just a great pretender spunnikboy.

Only You, can do something like that.

they asked me if I knew
who had pinched his shoe
I of course replied
I've got nowt to hide
it wasn't me I lied

VERY clever!!:P

I told you that you were always into the stars,

..into the stars . . .I get it, I get it!

will I have to lock everything away when you come to visit me ?

Only your shoe . . .and sock, of course! :D

So you went on to say nothing about this theft eh.

Well your just a great pretender spunnikboy.

Yes, I seem to be what I'm not, you see . . .

Only You, can do something like that.

Only me and me alone . . .

I know for a fact that all the shoe companys in Leicester trembled when they heard you may be coming to town,put on extra guards and all.

I know for a fact that all the shoe companys in Leicester trembled when they heard you may be coming to town,put on extra guards and all.

Yes, I heard that too. Thanks for confirming what I'd previously thought was simply a rumor. :hihi:

Hey Sput, I'm glad you finally bared your SOLE although I think you're a real HEEL for doing it, you had plenty of lip as a youngun,did you think an extra TONGUE would be an added extra ?
I bet you ran hell for LEATHER after the event, Ha Ha.

Hey Sput, I'm glad you finally bared your SOLE although I think you're a real HEEL for doing it, you had plenty of lip as a youngun,did you think an extra TONGUE would be an added extra ?
I bet you ran hell for LEATHER after the event, Ha Ha.

Oh my, skippy, I've been racking my brain for the last several days trying to come up with some appropriate 'shoe humor' and you stole EVERY ONE of the available tags in one fell swoop ...no fair!! :rant:

Sput, confession is good for the INNERSOLE, your last thread seemed to be LACED with dissapointment at not being able to come up with anything, I bet these threads had you in STITCHES, ok, like the shoe, I'll put a sock in it.

Only You

only 1 shoe can make this story tonight
only 1 shoe you got to put it right
only you & the shoe alone
can make us laugh like you do
by posting here so everyone can view

Sput, confession is good for the INNERSOLE, your last thread seemed to be LACED with dissapointment at not being able to come up with anything, I bet these threads had you in STITCHES, ok, like the shoe, I'll put a sock in it.

THAT is so unbelievably witty, skippy. And evidence of such academic skills in presentation too! Hmmm . . .are you SURE that you received your formal education at Crookes Endowed School? :wow:

Yep. After all this time I'm finally coming clean on the world-wide web. I was the boy who caused the singing group, The Platters, some grief during their 1959 (?) tour of Great Britain.

I didn't go to their concert at the Sheffield City Hall since I wasn't a great fan of The Platters. I did, however, stop off to see what might be going on after the concert on my way back home from a movie. I was an avid fan of showbiz persons back then.

I arrived in time to see some of the group signing autographs for a few fans outside the Grand Hotel. I had no autograph book or even a piece of paper on which they could sign their names. I DID, however, notice a pair of shiny patent leather stage shoes belonging to one of the male members. Actually, there was only one female in the group if I recall. Anyway, he had placed the shoes on a low feature wall outside the hotel in order to free up his hands with which to sign autographs.

Oh, what a temptation! I had Satan on one shoulder telling me to grab a shoe as a souvenir and God on the other shoulder telling me not to. What a dilemma! Unfortunately, Satan won the conflict fairly quickly and I deftly picked up the (very large) shoe (containing a sock) and quietly disappeared into the night clutching my treasure.

The following day I showed off this celebrity exhibit at school and became somewhat of a celebrity myself for having 'ripped off' the shoe in the first place ...not to mention the sock. I HAD felt guilty at first but the status of 'celebrity thief' was making the experience a worthwhile one. Not for long. That evening the local newspaper (The Star?) headlined "Platter Hopping Mad!" as my evil act became the talk of the town. Anyone recall this event?

I felt sure that I'd be tracked down, tried, sentenced, and committed to Juvenile Hall for life. To help alleviate my overwhelming feelings of guilt my mother took the shoe (and the sock) to the Grand Hotel in the city in the hope of it being reunited with its rightful owner. They (the staff of the hotel) didn't want any part of it since they had no way of getting it to 'the Platter' in question anyway.

So, mom returned home with the shoe (and sock) and it was placed in a cupboard and eventually forgotten. I have no idea what happened to it over the years. Who knows, it might now be in the possession of someone who has long wondered, "Who did this shiny patent leather stage shoe (and sock) belong to and what is the story behind it?"
Hi Sputnic boy GLEN told me who you are, regards the shoe if thats the worst you ever got up to you should have no guilty concience, anyway Ihope you are well and happy. uncle Arthur

Hi Sputnic boy GLEN told me who you are, regards the shoe if thats the worst you ever got up to you should have no guilty concience, anyway Ihope you are well and happy. uncle Arthur

Hi there! Nice to hear from you. I've been wanting to ask you for ages ...are you really my dad? ;)

THAT is so unbelievably witty, skippy. And evidence of such academic skills in presentation too! Hmmm . . .are you SURE that you received your formal education at Crookes Endowed School? :wow:

I still think we are the only ones left living Sput ?

Hi there! Nice to hear from you. I've been wanting to ask you for ages ...are you really my dad? ;) No R if that had been the case you definitely would not have seen FCH I can assure you, your Mum and Iwere friends but never went that far, Rex talked about this and said that evil sod of a brother of minetold him that, did you not ever say any thing to your Mum about what he had said , because I am sure she would have put you right, sorry about losing her by the way, keep in touch. arthur

No R if that had been the case you definitely would not have seen FCH I can assure you, your Mum and Iwere friends but never went that far, Rex talked about this and said that evil sod of a brother of minetold him that, did you not ever say any thing to your Mum about what he had said , because I am sure she would have put you right, sorry about losing her by the way, keep in touch. arthur

Sorry Arthur . . .I was just joshing. I really DO know better than to believe what I asked. That 'rumor' had become somewhat a standing 'joke' of sorts over the years and I was just playing on that. I actually regretted having posted that remark after having done so and hoped that it wouldn't offend. I often wished that it HAD been true, however, since you would have been a far better deal than the other ...God rest his soul. I'm not bitter. Sorry to be so cryptic but you know what I mean. Anyway, I really WOULD like to talk to you sometime ...maybe on the telephone. I'll PM you my email address.

Meanwhile, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive a wretched nephew who would blatantly steal a patent leather shoe (and sock) from a Platter? :D

I still think we are the only ones left living Sput?

Well, skip, it's either that or you and I are the only two ex-pupils of Crookes Endowed School who actually learned to read and write and progress to the level where we would eventually develop the appropriate academic abilities that would in turn enable us to articulate our thoughts, questions, memories, confessions, and meaningful and humorous anecdotes in such a manner as to equip us with the talents to participate in and to astound other posters on the forum with our acquired and accumulated knowledge, life skills, and formidable insight. What say, skip?

And they all said that I was the boy least likely to succeed!! Can you believe that? My, Miss Ramsden the English teacher sure would be proud!

Incidentally, doesn't the name 'Crookes Endowed' sound like some fraternity or lodge for miscreants and delinquents? It DOES sound like some place where Al Capone might have been trained up for future criminal activity. Come to think of it, skip, maybe we're getting no responses from ex-students because the Sheffield Forum might not be accesible to prison inmates. . .ever thought of that? Hmmm . . .

Actually, I once gave a talk to a class of kids at Royster Junior High in Chanute, Kansas. During question time one kid asked me which school I had attended as a kid. Quite innocently I said, "Crookes Endowed." Even though I said it with a straight face they thought I was joking and they all cracked up laughing. It was then that I realized what a stupid name it is.

By the way, skip, did I ever tell you about the time I ripped off a shoe (and sock) from one of the Platters? Well . . .I just might tell you about it sometime.

Sorry Arthur . . .I was just joshing. I really DO know better than to believe what I asked. That 'rumor' had become somewhat a standing 'joke' of sorts over the years and I was just playing on that. I actually regretted having posted that remark after having done so and hoped that it wouldn't offend. I often wished that it HAD been true, however, since you would have been a far better deal than the other ...God rest his soul. I'm not bitter. Sorry to be so cryptic but you know what I mean. Anyway, I really WOULD like to talk to you sometime ...maybe on the telephone. I'll PM you my email address.

Meanwhile, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive a wretched nephew who would blatantly steal a patent leather shoe (and sock) from a Platter? :D
Hi Rod, I will forgiveyou, but i must say, the only thing i would steal from a platter woud be something to eat , Having never heard of the Platters in question, I would love to have a chat on the phone let me have your number please.

Hi Rod, I will forgiveyou, but i must say, the only thing i would steal from a platter woud be something to eat , Having never heard of the Platters in question, I would love to have a chat on the phone let me have your number please.

Yep, you're right. A platter is also a plate. You NEVER heard of the Platters? What a shame. You would have been totally unaware then as to how witty some of the posts were in regard to their using lyrics from the Platter's songs to create humor.

I've been trying to find the PM box on your post, Arthur, in order to send you my email address and phone number. I'm either blind or it isn't there. Could someone fill me in as to how I can PM someone? Thanks.

Sput he has not got his profile set up to accept anything, PM or Email.

Normally you just click on the name & it asks if you want to email or send a PM.

Thanks, skippy.

Hey, Arthur . . .before I can PM or email you you're going to have to update or adjust your forum profile. Okay?

Thanks, skippy.

Hey, Arthur . . .before I can PM or email you you're going to have to update or adjust your forum profile. Okay?
ok Rod ill try, have tried before but no joy . Arthur.

ok Rod ill try, have tried before but no joy . Arthur.

Arthur,

Why not PM me and give me your email address? That might be easier. Okay?

Sorry Arthur . . .I was just joshing. I really DO know better than to believe what I asked. That 'rumor' had become somewhat a standing 'joke' of sorts over the years and I was just playing on that. I actually regretted having posted that remark after having done so and hoped that it wouldn't offend. I often wished that it HAD been true, however, since you would have been a far better deal than the other ...God rest his soul. I'm not bitter. Sorry to be so cryptic but you know what I mean. Anyway, I really WOULD like to talk to you sometime ...maybe on the telephone. I'll PM you my email address.

Meanwhile, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive a wretched nephew who would blatantly steal a patent leather shoe (and sock) from a Platter? :D
Hi Rod got your e-mail address ok, wrote you a long letter [well for me anyhow] but it was not sent for some reason I have been trying to retrieve it to try again ,trying for the last hr but no joy any ideas, Arthur.

Hi Rod got your e-mail address ok, wrote you a long letter [well for me anyhow] but it was not sent for some reason I have been trying to retrieve it to try again ,trying for the last hr but no joy any ideas, Arthur.

Sometimes long letters have a tendency to disappear into the nether regions of space never to be retrieved again. It might be too late for this advice now but it's always a wise precaution to save emails (or anything else for that matter) to Microsoft Word. In that way, even if they DO disappear 'in transit' you still have a copy of the item to fall back on. Generally speaking, if an email appears to have been lost it probably IS lost . . .sad to say. I know how infuriating that can be and so does everyone else.

Anyway, if you like, try constructing the letter again in Microsoft Word, or whatever. You can take as long as you want on it and then cut and paste to email when you're ready to send it. Meanwhile, I thank you for your previous attempt . . .the thought was there! :)

Hi I just have to get in on the act,it wouldnt be me otherwise.I cant think of anything witty to say at this time,Skippy has said it all,but all is not lost.That shoe that you lifted made the news because that particular guy had such big feet,he had to have them specially made and cost a small fortune.I remember it as though it was yesterday,it was very shiney black patent leather,I also know that nobody dare return it for fear of getting into trouble.:rolleyes:

Hi I just have to get in on the act,it wouldnt be me otherwise.I cant think of anything witty to say at this time,Skippy has said it all,but all is not lost.That shoe that you lifted made the news because that particular guy had such big feet,he had to have them specially made and cost a small fortune.I remember it as though it was yesterday,it was very shiney black patent leather,I also know that nobody dare return it for fear of getting into trouble.:rolleyes:

I'm so glad that you've come forward to support the claim that I'm a wretched thief. Yes, skippy HAS used up all of the 'shoe humor' ...dammit. Even now I'm racking my brains to think of something he may have missed ...can't think of anything though

Yes, you are absolutely correct, glen. The shoes were custom made in the U.S. and very expensive. It's my understanding that he only had the one pair with him during the tour and would therefore have been without any at all for the rest of the Platters gigs. He was - literally - 'hopping mad.' A very angry Platter if ever I saw one! Mom made the (rather callous) comment that he'd have to do the rest of the concerts standing on one foot!

I jest about it now but, as you say, it DID become somewhat a serious issue. In my mind I had just assumed that souvenir hunting by fans was one of the joys or consequences of one's being a celebrity. I had thought that once I took the shoe I'd hear nothing more about it. After all, they were big stars and could afford to lose a shoe without batting an eye. When the story appeared in the newspaper, however, that changed everything. As I say, mom DID try to return the shoe (and sock) but no one knew - or cared - how that could be accomplished.

Does anyone know how I could get a copy of the newspaper item in question?

dont feel bad bro.i once pulled the tassel off Pat boons hat,I also walked across the road with my arm in his arm.He put his hat on the wall so we all helped ourselves to a tassel each.(Bald Hat)I am sure that when these stars perform,They expect fans to attain something from them.What do you think uncy arper.:hihi: :thumbsup:

Find it Sputnikboy,just think how much this will be worth on E-Bay.
I actually saw you do it,well nearly.I used to go to City Grammar next to The Grand and we often used to see the stars especially if we were in physics.Some of the kids used to sneak out and get autographs,I got the lead singers autograph,Honest!

dont feel bad bro.i once pulled the tassel off Pat boons hat,I also walked across the road with my arm in his arm.He put his hat on the wall so we all helped ourselves to a tassel each.(Bald Hat)I am sure that when these stars perform,They expect fans to attain something from them.What do you think uncy arper.:hihi: :thumbsup:

Yes, I recall the Pat Boone incident. There was someone else on Mr. Boone's other arm too ...a friend of yours, glen? I remember it like it was yesterday.

I'd love to get my hands on the Platters news item because I'm sure that the 'shoeless' one certainly had not expected anyone to steal his shoe. He did NOT pass it off as simply a souvenir hunter stunt. He was absolutely livid! He would certainly have wanted to punch me out had he caught up with me. Then I would have said, "It wasn't me, it wasn't me ...it was (pointing the finger toward Woollongong) ...it was ...skippy! . . .honest, Mr. Platter!"

Find it Sputnikboy,just think how much this will be worth on E-Bay.
I actually saw you do it,well nearly.I used to go to City Grammar next to The Grand and we often used to see the stars especially if we were in physics.Some of the kids used to sneak out and get autographs,I got the lead singers autograph,Honest!

Well, since the Platters DID leave their mark - if only for a couple of of years - I guess the shoe (and don't forget the sock) might bring me in a few bucks from Ebay. In retrospect I guess I should have sought Mr. Platter out and offered to sell the shoe back to him!

You almost freaked me out when you said that you saw me. You were a little on the slow side that night weren't you? If you'd been on the ball you could have souvenired his other shoe!

They really WERE fun days, though, meeting up with some of the big names of the day. Incidentally, I wonder if anyone has the Platter's Tour Schedule for the year of (I think) 1957? If so, the news item would have appeared the following day and might be easier to locate.

Hey Sput.This is no joke,at the moment the Platters are on tv singing Only you.What a coincidence,its a haunting:o

Hey Sput.This is no joke,at the moment the Platters are on tv singing Only you.What a coincidence,its a haunting:o

Is that an omen, do you think?

oooooh,wooooo.yes.Same as the time when the lino flew up in the wind,it was cullooos:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: do you like my little ball?

I've been trying to keep out of this one Sput, but you pointed the finger at me. Over the years the line up of the Platters has changed many times, would you believe that in the 70's, Ex Platter Esther King came to perform in Wollongong [see how It's spelt] my wife and I were her support act.
The reason I never joined the Salation Army was because I don't like blowing my own trumpet so to speak, Ha Ha.

I've been trying to keep out of this one Sput, but you pointed the finger at me. Over the years the line up of the Platters has changed many times, would you believe that in the 70's, Ex Platter Esther King came to perform in Wollongong [see how It's spelt] my wife and I were her support act.
The reason I never joined the Salvation Army was because I don't like blowing my own trumpet so to speak, Ha Ha.

Yes, I had a sneaky feeling that I'd spelt it wrong. I was just trusting to memory.

Very interesting about Esther King, skip. I had no idea that you were a star. That DOES qualify you as a target for souvenir hunters, you know that don't you? Hmmm . . .have you got a nice pair of shoes ...?

Incidentally, the line up of Bill Haley's Comets also changed over the years. I had the opportunity of 'jamming' with Louis Torres about 3 years ago. He played bass as a 'Comet' with Haley a couple of years prior to Bill's death. He (Torres) became an Adventist Evangelist and has visited Townsville several times. He's a nice guy and has a number of stories that he tells about Bill Haley that are not common knowledge ...nothing necessarily bad, just general stories of interest.

Esther became a born again christian & started singing gospel, she was quite good. I'm happy just being plain old me these days, although the breweries may dissagree, & I'm still known for my good looks and sense of humour, when you're at the top Sput, you can only go down.In the 60's I performed in front of the Prince of Wales & Duke of Glouster, I forget the name of the other pub, but I got moved on,Ha Ha.

Just thought that I'd bump this one up again from a couple of years ago.

Does anyone know where old newspaper items can be obtained - microfilm, computer, whatever ...? The newspaper item I'm interested in concerns the matter below.

Y'see, I souvenired (stole :D) a patent leather shoe from a member of The Platters harmony group circa 1957/8/9. The full story (yawn) can be found at the beginning of the thread if anyone cares to look. Anyway, this incident made the Sheffield Star (?) the following evening.

Feel free to comment/add tidbits. Or not.

Or not, evidently . . . . . .:roll:

Sheffield Local Studies Library holds all the local newspapers on microfilm.

Archives and Local Studies (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies)

Hugh

Sheffield Local Studies Library holds all the local newspapers on microfilm.

Archives and Local Studies (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies)

Hugh

Thanks for the info, Hugh.

Actually, if someone can locate and post a U.K. tour schedule of The Platters circa 1957 I can narrow down the search for the newspaper item tremendously. The 'shoe item' would have appeared the day after the The Platter's appearance at the City Hall in Sheffield. Someone posted the full 1958 U.K. tour schedule of Buddy Holly on the 'Buddy Holly Thread' so SURELY the same person or another 'someone' could do similarly with the tour schedule for The Platters . . .? I sure would appreciate it.

Any takers?

I'll have one more attempt at bumping up this thread before allowing it to sink into oblivion.