Cinema Advertising Comes of Age

Super soft-sell Persil ad, in the guise of a lush Technicolor essay on colour itself.

Pratfalls galore in rib-tickling commercial for Bush radios.

An amazingly complex cinema ad, disguised as a trailer for a film that never existed

This propaganda advert encourages housewives to use Persil, the powder that gives “longer life to your linens”.

A Co-op window dresser dreams of his mannequins coming to life in this musical fashion fantasy.

“There is nothing you can beat about the Bush”: the wireless wows in this stylish ad for Bush Radio.

Pun-filled cartoon cinema ad for radios

The key word in the book of fashion is simplicity

Washing day keeping you from a spin on your flying carpet? This quality cinema features a young apprentice genie learning a helpful solution.

“The magazine of the screen” takes an advertorial approach, mixing advertising films with entertaining news stories.

"Gee, old age!" Malicious Father Time doesn't stand a chance against a cartoon cupid armed with a big box of washing powder.

Solidox toothpaste is the punchline to a series of questions concerning how things look from various angles.

Looking for some monkey business, a rush job, or some spurious medical treatments? Look no further!

As the war comes to an end, and with an expectation that an end to food rationing would soon follow, why not indulge in a chocolate treat?

Inspector Fife quizzes Rogers the burglar, and sets a trap with the aid of Persil’s whiter-washing powers.

An ageing bobby learns about the Co-op divvy in this gorgeous puppet animation narrated by Stanley Holloway.

Use Rinso and help defeat Hitler! The soap brand deploys some savvy wartime advertising.

Life is looking up! The war is over and the 'Corona Man' can visit his Corona families once more, door-to-door.

A celebration of the club that refuses to die a new ICI Synthonia Club building rises from the rubble of a World War Two bomb.

The mark of a good magazine is variety - so here are Mars bars, netball and an ageing but fully functioning Fanny.

Seeing is believing when you want your whites brilliant white. Old Mother Riley in beautiful Technicolor!

An animated ‘mousewife’ finding a way to ease her washing day woes may not be very progressive, but it's delightfully sweet.

Humorous WWII public information film and Persil advert rolled into one, starring the popular radio character Mrs Mopp.

Underwater study film of a trawl in action taken by two Admiralty frogmen cameramen.

A Technicolor magazine treat with movie stars, make-up and handy hints, promoting popular products of the day.

Look out, germs at work! These loveable molar mischief making puppets really dig tooth decay.

Charming fish paste cinema ad

Little Andy takes the speedy way to sparkling good health in a zippy 50s cartoon advertisement for Andrews Liver Salts.

Barclays advise West African farmers where to keep their money via a catchy song and crisp modern cartoon design.

A curious blue lake, a wonder tablet, a river boat and a picnic essential - sounds like the beginning of a story!

“Don’t Be Fright!” A radio magician with a unique approach to the English language cooks with vigour and cleans with Vim.

More soap opera than true crime, but this cinema advert is almost as cunning as its onscreen detective.

Pretty in Pink 1920s style: an innovatively hand-coloured cinema advert for Twink dye.

Cinema snacks that don’t leave you with sweet nothing when the box is empty.