National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?
From the collection of:
Overview
"Delightful results in all hair styles" are promised if you visit Blaenau's Sadie Snape. Dry cleaning will protect your old suits which, "like old friends are best", and Porthmadog's laundry service will rescue women from wash day blues. On the downside, there is a warning about incendiary bombs (you are requested to leave the cinema if one penetrates the building) and a government message urging all females to read ‘Hygiene for Women'. To finish: Merthyr's pantomime.
Youngers are known to have produced advertisements for cinemas across Britain.
Related
Watch for free
Food for Thought Food for Thought
Government sponsored film 1940 5 mins
Grumpy Grandma is put in her place during wartime food demonstration
Watch for free
Local Trader's Gazette Local Trader's Gazette
Advert 1930 9 mins Silent Location: East Sussex
This amazing discovery shows how cinema advertising used to look in Bygone Britain - a truly nostalgic gem of a film for lovers of Britain's past
Watch for free
Local Cinema Advertisements - Ammanford Local Cinema Advertisements - Ammanford
Advert 1935 6 mins Silent Location: Ammanford/Rhydaman
Adverts: romancing the world – and Ammanford - with golden rings and Scandanavian meat, leather soles and coal, Eve's soap and flowers.
Watch for free
Local Cinema Advertisements - Port Talbot Local Cinema Advertisements - Port Talbot
Advert 1934 2 mins Silent Location: Port Talbot
The message for cinema-goers in Port Talbot, Neath and Briton Ferry is that they should shop local!
Watch for free
J White and Sons Ltd the Furniture Specialists Chesterfield J White and Sons Ltd the Furniture Specialists Chesterfield
Advert 1905 14 mins Silent
Step inside a local Edwardian store.
Watch for free
Cinema Commercial for Jewellers Cinema Commercial for Jewellers
Advert 1920 0 mins Silent Location: Frome
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling… early silent cinema advert for a local business in Frome.
Watch for free
Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales
Advert 1965 5 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Trefro's Milk Bar, Ruthin, has lovable eclairs and the Taj Mahal Indian restaurants in Caernarfon and Bangor offer tables of enchantment!
Watch for free
Land of the Red Dragon Land of the Red Dragon
Advert 1968 18 mins Location: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
Wales: seeped in history (castles) and clothed in modernity (sports and eating out). Why go elsewhere?
Watch for free
The Roof over Your Head The Roof over Your Head
Documentary 1937 19 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
The hazardous, hair-raising journey of Welsh slate - from subterranean rock to the world’s rooftops
Watch for free
Y Chwarelwr Y Chwarelwr
Drama-documentary 1935 34 mins Location: Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Slate is the lifeblood of Blaenau Ffestiniog, but its dust can be deadly, with a painful legacy for family and society
Watch for free
The Hardings in Llandudno and North Wales The Hardings in Llandudno and North Wales
Home movie 1965 15 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Can anywhere beat north Wales for views and thrilling modes of transport? Llandudno has an irresistable hinterland…
Watch for free
Destination Blaenau - Rhoslyn Spiral Destination Blaenau - Rhoslyn Spiral
Amateur film 1966 28 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Exciting new works at the Ffestiniog Railway, involving the Chair, the Colonel and the Earl of Merioneth.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.