The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Butlin's opens at Minehead
Billy Butlin expands his empire by opening a new resort at Minehead.
From the collection of:
Overview
Butlin's Holiday Camp at Minehead in Somerset opened its doors in 1962 and this is early film of its first vacationers. It offered all-in holiday deals for the average family and was open to day visitors. Its facilities grew to include a chairlift, steam locomotives and sport activities. Nightly entertainment proved so popular at other resorts that a purpose-built theatre, the Playhouse was established from which entertainers launched successful careers.
Butlin started as a fairground stall owner before building his first two camps before the Second World War at Ingoldmells near Skegness in 1936 and at Clacton-on-Sea in Essex in 1938. He expanded his holiday camp empire even though they were requisitioned by the Military of Defence and used as shore bases. An MBE was awarded for his war effort in 1944. Statutory paid holiday had been introduced in 1938 and a post-war boom in holidaymaking established Sir Billy as the King of the Holiday Camp. Fred Pontin was his rival. Radio Butlin launched in 1946 and the camps really did wake holidaymakers with Wakey Wakey blaring over the tannoy system! Butlin retired to Jersey in 1969 leaving his son Bobby to run the business.
Related
Watch for free
Wish You Were Here at Butlins Minehead Wish You Were Here at Butlins Minehead
News 1966 6 mins Location: Minehead
Clive Gunnell takes Mrs Sotherton on a convincing tour of Butlins Minehead.
Watch for free
Minehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal Film Minehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film 1932 45 mins Silent Location: Minehead
A Somerset holiday with prolific amateur cinematographers the Tigg family
Watch for free
Shire horses' Competition in Minehead Shire horses' Competition in Minehead
Current affairs 1978 1 mins Silent Location: Minehead
Shire horses compete and farmers compare furrows
Watch for free
Horse Ploughing Competition Horse Ploughing Competition
Current affairs 1963 1 mins Silent Location: Minehead
Competition for trailing heavy horse drawn equipment enthuses ploughmen
Watch for free
Cheddar Cheddar
Travelogue 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Cheddar Gorge
Pure tranquillity in rural Somerset, a world away from the war raging on the continent.
Watch for free
Minehead Town's Bob Boyd Interview Minehead Town's Bob Boyd Interview
Non-Fiction 1977 2 mins Location: Minehead
Minehead Town's player-manager Bob Boyd on FA Cup tie with Exeter City
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.