The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Dairy Box: Skiffle Cellar
Out goes the romantic gesture and in comes the hip as Una Stubbs and her fellow cats break open the chocolates in a groovy scene in a groovy club.
From the collection of:
Overview
Launched in 1936, Dairy Box is here re-marketed to fit the new jazz and pop age of the 1950s, thriving in bars and clubs in Soho at the time. Fresh from appearing as a dancer on ITV’s Cool for Cats, who better to represent the modern era than a young Una Stubbs, the 'Rowntrees Chocolate Girl'. While Una gets excited about the “soft centres”, the sophisticated and trendy youngsters dance around a skiffle club, replete with Parisian and American influences.
This is one of a large collection of films made by Rowntree’s (now Nestlé), mostly of confectionary adverts. From the arrival of ITV in 1955 a key part of Rowntree’s marketing strategy was brand recognition through television advertising. It isn’t clear whether this advert is filmed in a real jazz bar that had skiffle bands or just modelled on one: there was the Skiffle Cellar at 49 Greek Street in Soho – later, more famously, Les Cousins – and several similar in Soho at the time: it has a passing resemblance to the Soho Jazz Cellar. Una Stubbs appeared on all the Dairy Box ads of the 1950s and was an established dancer with Lionel Blair. Only in 2013 did Una become aware that her grandfather worked at Rowntree in York.
Related
Watch for free
T.V. Talk - Lintas T.V. Talk - Lintas
Advert 1954 20 mins
What on earth is this commercial TV business? An advertising agency takes stock
Watch for free
Remington Four-Most Shaver Christmas Commercial Remington Four-Most Shaver Christmas Commercial
Advert 1955 1 mins
Chock-full of 60s advert nostalgia, here is the ideal Christmas gift for every lantern-jawed Dad - the Remington Four-Most electric shaver
Watch for free
Shippam's Pilchard fishermen at sea Shippam's Pilchard fishermen at sea
Advert 1955 0 mins
Pilchards are great but Cornish pilchards are even better - especially when they've been selected for Shippam's - as this advert lets you know
Watch for free
Shippam's Three Beans Shippam's Three Beans
Advert 1955 1 mins
Operatic chickens, shrimps and salmon sing-a-long with a paste pot chorus in this vibrantly animated advert for Shippam's
Watch for free
Kelloggs Corn Flakes: Teenager Kelloggs Corn Flakes: Teenager
Advert 1957 1 mins
Teen beat commercial, directed by Joseph Losey.
Watch for free
FCB TV Show No.1 FCB TV Show No.1
Advert 1955 14 mins
Dennis Price gives his best Noël Coward impersonation in an attempt to sell TV advertising to brands.
Watch for free
This Is York This Is York
Travelogue 1953 21 mins Location: York
The Stationmaster at York guides us through a typical day, from dawn to dusk.
Watch for free
Alarm Call Alarm Call
Advert 1955 2 mins Location: York
A drink for all occasions, but especially to relieve the stress of those brave souls battling fires, floods and well-behaved children.
Watch for free
Kit Kat: Meccano Kit Kat: Meccano
1969 0 mins Location: York
Any boy struggling to construct Meccano will deserve a chocolate break, though perhaps this won’t be as satisfying as completing the Meccano.
Watch for free
Rowntrees Aero: Train Rowntrees Aero: Train
Advert 1980 1 mins Location: York
The bar with unique bubbly texture, using a secret bubbly formula, giving rise to the bubbly banter of bubbly flirting.
Watch for free
Black Magic: Taxi Black Magic: Taxi
1964 1 mins Location: York
Chocolates and wealth, chocolates and taste, chocolates and elegance, chocolates and romance: the lifestyle of chocolates.
Watch for free
After Eights: Terrace After Eights: Terrace
1965 1 mins Location: York
A world away from zany humour, Richard Lester shows he can also capture the easy opulence of the upper class nibbling After Eight mints.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.