Videoteca

Vive Torbay 1968
A little travelogue feature presenting Torbay - new resort along the 20 mile stretch of South Devon coast.

Japanese London 1968

Disneyland 1968
British travelogue showing all the attractions available at Disneyland in 1968

Pancake Tossing 1967
Trainee army cooks learn to cook and toss pancakes

Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan 1966
The President had been due to visit twice before, but on both occasions the trip had to be cancelled. The first time was in 1963, the same year as the Commonwealth visit by the President of India. The second cancellation occurred in 1965 when a longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan over the sovereignty of Kashmir boiled over into full-scale war in September of that year. However, as one might expect from a film made for international diplomacy purposes no reference is made to ongoing political problems either at home or abroad. Like the Indian presidential visit of 1963, the film was for screening to domestic audiences (both in the UK and in Pakistan) whose main interest would be in the pomp and ceremony of the visit, and the reception and status afforded to the President by the Queen and royal family.

The Royal Tour of the Caribbean 1966
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook an official visit to the region in February 1966, as documented in this film. The destinations on this month long excursion included: British Guiana; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; St. Vincent; Barbados; St. Lucia; Dominica; Montserrat; Antigua; St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla; Tortola (Virgin Islands); the Bahamas; Jamaica. This rich and detailed Technicolor travelogue was the only film authorised by the Palace. Strict instructions were given prior to the production being given the green light, most notably that the royals could only be filmed when ‘engaged in a public function’. Unlike the more relaxed footage or interviews you might see with the royals now the film is visually very official in tone.

Rugby League Final 1964
Wembley Stadium, London. Widnes beat Hull Kingston Rovers 13-5 in the Rugby League Cup Final.

Copenhagen 1964
Travelogue showing the wonders of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Britain Welcomes the President of India 1963
An account of the state visit to Britain by the President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, in June 1963. In London he accompanied the Queen on a State drive, visited the Commonwealth Institute, attended a Guildhall luncheon and visited the country.

Space Age Hair Fashions 1962
Pathé visits the hairdressers in Wokingham, Berkshire an establishment owned by Alec Pountney

Sierra Leone Greets the Queen 1962
Watching Sierra Leone Greets the Queen gives one a flavour of the hectic nature of royal tours; in just one week (from the 25th November to the 1st December 1961) the Queen and Prince Philip covered an exhausting array of sights, zooming around the country to take in the capital city Freetown, Bo, the Guma Dam, digging for diamonds (Sierra Leone’s biggest export), Hangha and observing the iron ore works at Marampa. The visit was politically significant - Sierra Leona had become independent from Britain in April the same year. Colonialism’s influence is felt throughout the film, and not just in the place names (Victoria Park, Queen Elizabeth II Quay) - the ‘day in the life of a Bo schoolboy’ seems not radically different from the British equivalent, while the ‘children’s rally’ consists of boys dressed impractically in boaters and blazers, and girls marching in gymslips.

Runcorn: Princess Opens Bridge 1961
The Runcorn and Widnes Bridge is opened by Princess Alexandra.

Runcorn: New Bridge Big Strides 1960
New bridge under construction will replace old transporter bridge.

Cookery Hints AKA Cooking Tips 1957
Little film showing a few tips on how to present food graciously. The famous husband and wife cooking team, Fanny and John Cradock, are showing some of the ways to serve savouries. The presentation of the food is as important as the food itself.

World of Brilliance 1956

Hair Flashes 1955
The newest trend of glueing colorful hairpieces onto your head to match your dress. You are in the mood to wear something red, you can easily add a red strand of hair to match it.

Pathway Into Light 1952 star_border 6
A documentary short celebrating the life of Louis Braille, his invention of the writing system named after him, and the legacy he has left behind.

What's Cooking? 1951
Mrs Cunliffe wins the North West Area Festival Fare cookery finals. Manchester

Village Children of South China 1951

R.L. Cup Final: Third Time Lucky for Warrington 1950
Wembley Stadium, London. Warrington beat Widnes 19-0 in Rugby League Cup Final.

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