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.
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Castleford Advert 4
Never mind that the country is at war with a powerful and vicious foe, that’s no reason to stop going to greyhound racing, with a bet on the side.
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Overview
With attendances at the pictures increasing throughout the war years, local business cinema ads in Castleford in 1941 make the most of the need for nutritious food (milk), and for morale boosting sporting entertainment and having the odd flutter on the greyhounds.
Although there were calls for gambling to be made illegal during the war, the government took the view that betting sports were ‘entertainments’, and therefore it wasn’t good for morale to be stopping them. Yet, despite being only second to football in popularity, greyhound racing was severely curtailed during the war. Clearly it continued to thrive in Castleford in 1941, which had two greyhound racing courses. Betting was legal at sporting venues, although street betting shops were illegal at the time – bets had to be posted – which gives added interest to the ad for the local turf accountant. But note the tag line, “Bet with the man you know”.
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