Welcome to Hagley Museum & Library [Video]

Sunny days are here again – don’t forget that SPF! This week’s bright days inspired us to share this 1956 commercial advertising the General Electric sun lamp, an self-tanning bulb that for consumer in-home use.

This video is part of Hagley Library’s collection of Cinecraft Productions films (Accession 2019.227). Cinecraft Productions was founded in 1939 by Ray Culley (1904-1983) and Betty (Buehner) Culley (1914-2016) in Cleveland, Ohio. Ray Culley served as president of the company and producer on many Cinecraft films until his retirement in 1970. During his tenure, Cinecraft specialized in commercial productions for business, industry, trade organizations, and, in some cases, government agencies and social service organizations.

Cinecraft was one among hundreds of production houses in the U.S. during the middle decades of the 20th century that specialized in motion pictures commonly referred to as non-theatrical, industrial, business and/or sponsored films. While ownership has changed twice since its founding, Cinecraft is still in business and rightfully claims itself the “country’s longest-standing …