Times Gone By!
Do you ever go online to look for something and then end up - hours later - not having found what you were looking for - but finding something much more interesting? Well, that happened to me today.
I found this old family photograph, it shows my great-grandmother, my grandfather and his brothers. I have no idea where the photograph was taken, but I noticed the sign for "Turner's Cameras" behind them and decided to have a wee look and see if I could find out perhaps where the photo was taken. Needless to say, I didn't! But I was absolutely captivated by what I did find.
First of all my search took me to the Northern Region Film and Television Archive - an absolute treasure trove of little films from the past. My favourites were -
"Your Tea Madam" - a film about Ringtons Tea Ltd from 1932. It followed the tea as it arrived at the docks, through all its processes until it reached the housewife or the consumer, as we would say today.
"Turners Camera Shop" from 1947 - fantastic clips of Newcastle street scenes from that time as well as interiors of the shop. Not the same one as in my photograpy, unfortunately.
"Old Folks Excursion" - 1923 film showing old folks from the west end of Newcastle on an outing to Little Benton. The lovely old ladies are resplendent in their bonnets and best coats. The gents are all wearing hats too! As well as the essential cuppa, they took part in races, tug of war, dancing and even skipping ropes! Fantastic!
Some of the NRFTA's films have not been digitised yet, but there's enough to keep you going here! There's a sweet little road safety film for primary children - check it out.
Another great time waster, I mean research tool is the BBC's "Nation on Film" archive which has lots of little films on various subjects - the shopping films are great!
Hope you enjoy looking at some of these. I was enthralled! Warning - don't lose track of time!
Love, Liz
Comments
As if the internet was not labyrinthine and time wasting enough, you tempt us here with so many delicious diversions!! We shall certainly be following up your recommendation of the BBC Film Archive as that sounds to be exactly our cup of 'Rington's' tea!!
x
K xx
Pomona x
I must admit I find myself researching all the time! Looking for one thing and then finding more...
That kind of thing happens to me all the time, lol! I tend to follow the links to something of interest and completely get off track from what I was originally researching. That site looks wonderful. It will be great when they digitise the rest of the footage!
-Pam