exciterlamp

This topic may be slightly off at a tangent, but confectionery adverts were always a feature of every programme, particularly in the days when usherettes walked round with a tray.

I happened upon this site when I was trying to find some information about Eldorado ice cream, which is mentioned in one of the postings. Forget Walls, forget Lyons Maid. In my childhood in the 1950s one make of ice cream was synonymous with cinema-going – Eldorado. You could buy Walls and Lyons Maid in shops but, where I lived, Eldorado was available only in cinemas. Despite its uniqueness or perhaps because of it, I was aware, even as a child, that Eldorado was in the second league, a follower not a leader, a copier not an innovator. For example, with the success of the TV series “Thunderbirds”, Lyons Maid brought out their “Zoom” and Walls their “Sky Ray”. Eldorado leapt on the bandwagon with their “Lunar Lolly”!

When they did come up with something original, it was usually pretty inept. A shot of a skater fades into one of various Eldorado products while the caption changies from “A Queen Of Ice Queens” to “The Cream Of Ice Creams”. And, when scooping our ice cream from the tub, were we really reassured by the knowledge that we were using “The Eldorado Spoon – untouched by hand”?

But when it comes to unmemorable names, in my book Eldorado do not hold the record. Their “Orange Kwench” and “Happikup” are hardly inspired, but they pale into insignificance next to Lyons “Kine Koola Gala Lollie (the classy spelling?)” price 4d.

In case you are wondering how I can recall these details after so many years, I must admit to having a collection of old adverts on 35mm. Having said that, as an avid cinema-goer in the 1950s and 1960s, I saw many of these ads so often that the jingles and strap lines (“You can’t help falling for a Walls”, “An hour from now you’ll wish you’d had one”, “Aurora, Kiaora”) have remained in my subconscious long after I have forgotten the films I went to see.

Does anyone else have their favourite ice cream, popcorn or other confectionery adverts?

Fellwanderer

You just know what's coming next, don't you?

FELL

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FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Fellwanderer

I'll share an ice cream with this usherette any time!

With apologies to exciterlamp who might be a tad confused about this.

FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Steve Crook

I always found it difficult to drink the orange with a spoon

Steve

Fellwanderer

Sorry, I have to wait until 1000 posts before I get my hands on that!


FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

smudge

The one that always sticks in my mind was the Kia-Ora ad (1970s) asking us to spare a thought for Reg, our trusty projectionist who couldn't avail himself of a refreshing Kia-Ora as he was locked away in the booth...

Voiced by Leonard Rossiter IIRC.

BTW Fell - I'm surprised her ice-creams haven't melted !

Bet if I asked her for something FAB, she'd give me a fourpenny one ! v

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

penfold

If you ever get the chance to read through the cinema trade magazines of the 1920's, you regularly get, in the hints and tips articles, ice cream recipes for entrepreneurial cinema managers.......believe me, they make todays e-number confections sound appetising.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Fellwanderer

To change th topic slightly, when did usherettes disappear from mainstream cinemas - or are there still some to be found in small out-of-the-way places?

I certainly remember them in Durham in the mid 70s [which would tie in with the JA photo] but can't put a later date on them than that.

FELL [who is now struggling to remember the last time he went to the cinema]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

smudge

There were, until VERY recently, still usherettes at the Picturedrome, Cannock. Alas I think it is now closed, but recall with fondness a trip there back in the early 90s to see a small film which had finished it's run everywhere else. It was quite something to have the usherette issue an, "I-know-all-of-your-mums !" type warning to a group of (mildly) unruly young chaps.

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Fellwanderer

Too late - I'm on to a promise for something hot at the special after midnight viewing

FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

mysteriesofedgarwallace

At the Camden Parkway (no longer with us), in the early 90's, you could buy a cup of tea in a real china cup with a saucer, and a piece of fruitcake; all served by a grey-haired old granny.
At the entrance, there was a band playing (the local old dears, knocking out some jazz numbers) and they had ushers.

BLOODY FANTASTIC!!!

Fellwanderer

Yes, used to be like that at the cinemas in Stanley and Consett in the 70s - and probably much later.

Having taken a look in the local free paper, I suspect usherettes may still be in attendance when films are shown at the local theatre and arts centre - especially as one has a Saturday Movie Club which looks like a revamp of the old Saturday Morning Pictures.

FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

penfold

At the Curzon, Clevedon, a 1920's survivor, the ice-creams and drinks are still served from a little kiosk, not in the foyer, but in the auditorium, to the left of the screen. When its nearly time for the film, the curtains are drawn....and the organist starts. Bliss...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

Eldorado ice cream was absolutely foul! I was so glad when "The flavour of the month" tubs were introduced-especially when it was cherry.
When I look through the tapes I have recorded from the commercial channels over the past 20 or so years it becomes apparent to me how ineffective most of the more recent ads (some of them probably costing millions) are at promoting their products. I have no recollection at all of about 95% of them, and of the remaining, 5% there are only a few of where I can immediately remember the commodity that is being advertised. The old "jingle" writers knew what they were about ,though, and I think most of us who were around in the 50s can remember "Murray mints, Murray mints, too good to hurry mints", "Don't forget the fruit gums mum" "A Mars a day helps you work rest and play" and a number of others which my typing finger is getting too tired to record.

Fellwanderer

Somehow, I have a feeling they won't be as attractive as the photo!

FELL

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life