british

Classic Colgate toothpaste ad

A marvellous Colgate toothpaste ad from the early 1980’s based on ‘Baggy Trousers’ by Madness. And here’s a version for the US market with some of the same kids. But with every trace of Britishness and most of the Madness imagery removed it doesn’t quite ‘get it’ and ends up looking like a dog’s dinner.

Vaughn Lowery ad (video)

Famous across America for being the KMart Joe Boxer underwear guy, now Vaughn Lowery has done a great ad for the Houston Chronicle. More KMart/Joe Boxer ads featuring Vaughn here and here. How long before we see this talented guy on British TV?

Smashing Time, baby

A sequence from the rarely-seen 1960’s British comedy Smashing Time, starring Lynn Redgrave and Rita Tushingham.

Toad legend that may have inspired ‘One Froggy Evening’

While looking for the film clip of the Abraham Lincoln statue, I discovered this. The story of a toad that (supposedly) was trapped in a building cornerstone, but was still alive when found 31 years later. This must surely have been the inspiration for the Merrie Melodies cartoon One Froggy Evening?

Manchester and slavery

Manchester’s wealth was founded on the cotton industry and dependent on slave-grown cotton. But the city was also at the centre of the anti-slavery movement.