Original upload date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:27:14 GMT
On 26th December 1937 the famous hmv store at 363 Oxford Street, London caught fire and the interior of the store was reduced to ashes and rubble. These pictures show the fire fighters tackling the bl
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aze and what the interior of the store looked like in the aftermath of the fire.
Work to rebuild the store got underway in the new year and the shop was officialy re-opened on 8th May 1939 by the conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, whose opening speech can be heard here playing out over the fire pictures. Store manager Mr. George Fenwick can be heard giving the introduction.
The speeches were recorded using the stores brand new recording facilities, which allowed anyone to record their voice, or music, in the store. In the early 1960s The Beatles would use these recording facilities to cut an early demo recording.
