During the 1950s and 1960s package holiday tours were taking off. Tour operators were keen to use film to promote this ‘new life’ experience where a greater range of people had the opportunity of enjoying a foreign holiday, often for the first time.
Hundreds of would-be tourists turned up at public halls to watch movies commissioned by new tour operators such as Thomas Cook. Later, companies adopted more aggressive sales techniques. ‘Go Gay With Gay Tours’ was made by an advertising film director and was shown across the North West of England.
The promotional films spoke of golden sunshine and sands just a few hours away. Spanish fishing villages, including Torremolinos, were promoted as idyllic locations for a summer break.
This period was also an exciting time for amateur film-makers. New lightweight affordable cameras made it easier for the new wave of tourists to record images of their adventures. Standard 8, and later Super 8, cameras were used to record impressions of life and holidays abroad.
First broadcast: Friday 14 Jan 2005 on BBC FOUR
Nation On Film in more depth:
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - About the series
Production team
This BBC/Open University series delves into Britain’s past to look at the country’s history as captured on film over the last 100 years. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - About the series
Film and society
BBC
Fred Davies explores the interfaces between cinema, culture and history. Read more : Film and society
Behind the camera
Used with permission
When you use film as a historical source, explains Douglas Allen, you must first understand the person behind the camera. Read more : Behind the camera
Film Archives
Used with permission
A listing of British and Irish film archives Read more : Film Archives
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Shooting The War: A VE Day Special
BBC
A special edition of the BBC/OU series Nation on Film, Shooting the War, marks the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Shooting The War: A VE Day Special
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Flying With Cobham
BBC
‘Flying with Cobham’ is the story of one trail-blazing pilot in the 1920s and his mission to get the British public airborne, as part of... Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Flying With Cobham
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Kearton's Wildlife
Production team for David Attenborough, BFI for photo
'Kearton's Wildlife' looks at wildlife photography and film-making in the early 20th century, part of the BBC/OU's series Nation on Film. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Kearton's Wildlife
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Selling Cars
BBC
A story of how film sold the car before the days of television advertising, part of the BBC/OU's series Nation on Film. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Selling Cars
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - The Ramsden Collection
BBC
‘The Ramsden Collection’ examines a newly-discovered collection of amateur films from Yorkshire, as part of the BBC/OU's series Nation on Film. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - The Ramsden Collection
OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Women's Football
Production team
'Women's Football' tells the story of how the rise and fall of women’s football was captured on film, part of the BBC/OU's series Nation on... Read more : OU on the BBC: Nation On Film - Women's Football
First and second series of Nation On Film
BBC
Visit bbc.co.uk for full details of the first and second series, and a vast library of film footage for you explore. Read more : First and second series of Nation On Film
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