Living for Kicks: A selection of BFI Archive footage (12A)

Step into the burgeoning British youth culture of the 1950s and 60s with this selection of excerpts from the BFI National Archive’s Associated-Rediffusion collection.

Launched in 1955 as part of the fledgling ITV. Associated-Rediffusion was one of the very first independent television companies that, among other achievements, shook up the world of documentary TV.

In this vibrant compilation, discover the rise of the teenager, the teddy boy and the coffee bar; the importance of pop music to the post-war generation; and the newfound freedoms that have come to define these landmark years in British cultural history.

1. Fan Fever (1956) - 22 mins - A spirited look at the rise of fandom amongst teenage girls, capturing the rising tide of pop obsession in dance halls and clubs.
2. This Week: Teddy Boys (1956) – 8 mins - A probing snapshot of the Teddy Boy subculture, spotlighting its bold style and the concerns it stirred nationwide.
3. Celebrity: Cliff Richard (1959) – 5 mins - An early portrait of Cliff Richard as he rises from Britain’s music scene to become a defining pop idol.
4. This Week: Leamington Spa Teddy Boys (1958) – 7 mins - A revealing dispatch from Leamington Spa, showing how Teddy Boy culture took root beyond the major cities.
5. Living for Kicks (1960) – 11 mins - A vivid study of youth culture in Brighton as teenagers chase excitement and define their identities in a fast-changing consumer culture.
6. The Beat City (1963) – 11 mins - A fast-paced portrait of Liverpool which captures the energy of youth music culture as it surges through the city’s clubs and dance halls.

This event is part of the Stereo Screens festival, a collaboration between Archaeo-Heritage Film and Bath Laboratory of Culture.