Candy Cushions
Cinema snacks that don't leave you with sweet nothing when the box is empty.
Looking for a sweet, a surprise, and a toy? This cinema advert from the early 1920s raises the stakes a little. Billed as 'the latest novelty in American sweets' fresh across the Atlantic, every box of Candy Cushions appears to come with an outlandish gift - necklaces, stockings, ornamental penknives...
Though cinemas were morphing into 'picture palaces' at this time, the likely price of such gaudy treats would have put Candy Cushions beyond the reach of the average cinemagoer. Though the 'audience' in this film are happy to splash the cash, we'll stick to the popcorn.
Cinema Advertising Comes of Age
The 1930s saw screen advertising find its voice. That wasn't just down to the arrival of the 'talkies', but to the increasing professionalism of ad agencies and production companies.
Through WWII and the postwar austerity years and into the 'never had it so good' 1950s - when it had to compete with the new commercial television service - cinema advertising offered a bigger bang for your advertising buck.
31 videos in this collection
Music Hath Charms
The Warning (Gibbs S.R. Toothpaste)
Every Man His Own Housewife (Persil Advert)
Let's Ask the Ladies
Murder in the Air
Bee Wise!
Sketchbook of Fashion (Knights Castile Advert)
Aladdin and the Junior Genie
Signs of the Times No.3
Fable of the Fabrics
It all Depends Which Way You Look at It (Solidox Advert)
Signs of the Times No 196
A Thief in the Night
Change for the Better
Little Miss Muddlehead (Rinso Advert)
What's Missing from this Picture?
Signs of the Times
Signs of the Times
Mousewife's Choice
Mrs Mopp's Birthday
The Trawl in Action
Signs of the Times No.2
Molar Mischief (Solidox Advert)
Shippam's Guide to Opera
Put Una Money for There
Signs of the Times No.58
Says Sirdani
Thief in the Night (Persil Advert)
Changing Hues
