Biography of 'JAY, Ronald L.'

Cameraman and film-maker

Born: 1901, Glasgow
Died: 1979, Killearn

Around the age of twelve Jay first started showing friends silent films in his father’s factory for the price of a bag of sweets. In the late 1920’s he shot a number of family films on Kodacolor stock making Where the Bens Stand Sentinel, believed to the first colour film made in Scotland. His hobby became a career when in 1930, on a £500 investment, he established Jay’s Film Service offering screenings for schools, churches and societies, advertising itself as a sure means of raising funds ‘through cheapness, versatility and a universal appeal.

In addition Jay produced ‘industrial propaganda’ films, appreciating early on the potential for using film as a means of generating interest. Alongside John Chalmers, Jay pioneered the use of the educational film in schools- installing 16mm equipment at the Gorbals School in Glasgow for the Education Committee. In 1931, with Sunny Days, Jay documented the Education Authority of Glasgow’s holiday camps for the city’s ‘necessitous’ children. It was Scotland’s first ‘talkie’.

Jay joined British Paramount News in 1934 as a newsreel cameraman, covering Scotland and north of England. During the Second World War he served with the Navy as War Correspondent and contributed stories to Warwork News. The studio business was re-established after the war for commercial photography and film production. Jay was cameraman on the only film to be made by Scottish National Film Studios in 1946. He retired in 1967.

Researcher: Janet McBain

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

37 hits

Asc Desc
	BRIEF BEEF BIOGRAPHY, a [0442] Add to my films An advertising film promoting the quality of George Guthrie's beef cattle. One of a series of advertising films made for George Guthrie Butcher, Glasgow.		1931 silent bw
	BRUNTON'S WIRE AND ROPE WORKS, MUSSELBURGH [0438] Add to my films The processes involved in the manufacturing of wire rope at Brunton's Wire and Rope Works, Musselburgh.		1930 silent bw
	CASTLEBANK FOR COLLARS [0430] Add to my films Advertising film for Castlebank Dyeworks showing the laundering of collars.		1932 silent bw
	CRUISE TO ST. KILDA AND THE WESTERN ISLES, a [0431] Add to my films Record of a voyage from Glasgow to St. Kilda by way of the Western Isles.		1929 silent bw
	DIVERS WAYS [0446] Add to my films Pete Desjardins gives a diving display at the Havre-des-pas pool, Jersey. [Filmed on Kodacolor film stock].		1929 silent col
	DOUGLAS FRASER JUTE MACHINERY - SLIVER ROLL FORMERS [0436] Add to my films Comprehensive recording of the new patent sliver roll former in preparation of jute, flax, hemp and similar fibres, seen in this film in action at Hillbank Linen Works, Dundee. Designed by Douglas Fraser & Sons Ltd.		1932 silent bw
	FLYING CLUB AND JOYCE AND AIR PAGEANT [3671] Add to my films This mainly concerns one of the Scottish Air Pageants (?) at Renfrew. However there are some double exposed shots of the Jay family, and 'Roy' the family dog. The dog was used as the model for the logo of the company - Jay's Film Service.		1932 silent bwcol
	GLENFINNAN AND THE '45 [0638] Add to my films The Gathering at Glenfinnan in the Highlands to mark the 200th anniversary of raising the standard of James VIII of Scotland and III of England.	Onsite only	1945 sound bw
	HIKING HOLIDAYS [3668] Add to my films This concerns family and friends climbing various mountains in the early 1930's.		1931 silent bw
	HOW SCWS CIGARETTES AND TOBACCOS ARE MADE [0425] Add to my films The manufacture of SCWS cigarettes and tobacco at the Co-op's Shieldhall factory, Glasgow.		1938 sound bw
	IS WASHDAY WORTHWHILE? [0434] Add to my films An advert for Castlebank Laundry offering not only a cheap service but a 'job well done' with the popular 'Cost-U-Less' service. Aimed at the new ‘middle class’ customer.		1935 silent bw
	JERSEY WATER LILIES [0445] Add to my films Swimming and diving displays on the island of Jersey. [Filmed on Kodacolor film stock].		1928 silent col
	KEEPING STEP WITH THE TIMES [0858] Add to my films The manufacturing processes involved in the production of shoes at the Co-op Shieldhall factory in Glasgow.		1933 silent bw
	LAKE DISTRICT TOUR AND HENDON AIR DISPLAY [3673] Add to my films This is a family holiday film with shots of the hotel and lake they were staying in. The air display has the airship R101.		1930 silent bw
	LAND O' BURNS BAKERIES - INTRODUCTION [0429] Add to my films Footage of the Land o' Burns Bakeries and the Tea Rooms at Boswell Park, Ayr. [Originally intended as an introduction to "Land o' Burns Bakeries" - see ref. 0428]		1931 silent bw
	LINER THE 'QUEEN MARY' UNDER CONSTRUCTION, the [3669] Add to my films This concerns the liner the 'Queen Mary' in the construction yard. Aerial shots of the unfinished ship.		1934 silent bw
	MARCH OF PROGRESS, the [0427] Add to my films The story of the SCWS cabinet factory, part of the giant Shieldhall complex on the outskirts of Glasgow.		1938 sound bw
	NEW FRANCO BARBE HAT SHAPES [0424] Add to my films How to remove stains and clean hats by the Franco Barbe method. [Filmed in Glasgow's Castlebank Laundry.]		1931 silent bw
	NEWMILNS CIVIC WEEK [1245] Add to my films Festival events during the Newmilns Civic Week, 28th May - 4th June 1949; the historical pageant, church parade, gala day, carnival night, a fireworks' display and an old folks' outing to Burns country.		1949 silent col
	OUT FOR VALUE [2152] Add to my films A promotional film for the Aberdeen department store Isaac Benzie, it shows a family enjoying a day's shopping in the store, visiting all its various departments, taking lunch and tea in the tearoom, and even taking a bath!		1932 silent bw
	OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY [0443] Add to my films An advert for Guthrie's mutton showing that only the best sheep are selected.		1931 silent bw
	PAISLEY CHILDREN'S HAPPY HUNTING GROUND [1384] Add to my films A Saturday matinee at the "Alex Cinema" in Paisley with the local children queuing up eagerly outside.		1929 silent bw
	PIGS IN CLOVER [0440] Add to my films This advert for Guthrie's pork, shows how pigs are well cared for before reaching the butcher's knife.		1931 silent bw
	RIVALLING THE RAINBOW [0444] Add to my films The Battle of Flowers on Jersey. [Filmed on Kodacolor film stock.]		1929 silent col
	SAVING OF A SHABBY COAT [1495] Add to my films Dramatised account of how the 'Franco Barbe' method of cleaning transforms old garments into new. The film was shot inside Castlebank dye works.		1933 silent bw
	SCOTLAND'S BRIGHTEST INDUSTRY [0439] Add to my films The manufacture of Clyde-built Aurora Lamps at Old Kilpatrick.		1932 silent bw
	SCOTTISH CUP FINAL - ABERDEEN v CELTIC AT HAMPDEN PARK, 24th APRIL, 1937 [0849] Add to my films The Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, where Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1. Footage of the crowds making their way to the ground, watching the match in progress and the winning team having their photograph taken with the trophy.		1937 silent bw
	SCOTTISH FLYING CLUB PAGEANT, RENFREW [0584] Add to my films Only five days after their return, David McIntyre and Lord Clydesdale accept mementoes commemorating their flight over Everest from Scottish Flying Club Vice Chairman Sir Eric Yarrow. Views of flying club displays of formation flying and parachutists.		1933 silent bw
	SEEING IS BELIEVING [0437] Add to my films One of series of advertising films made for George Guthrie Butcher, Glasgow, showing how sausages are made.		1931 silent bw
	SHIELDHALL FURNITURE - MARCH OF PROGRESS [0742] Add to my films The manufacture of Shieldhall furniture.		1938 sound bw
	STORY OF A SHABBY SUIT, the [0423] Add to my films How a suit can be revitalised by using the Franco Barbe method of laundering in Glasgow's Castlebank Laundry.		1931 silent bw
	STORY OF HILLINGTON, the [0320] Add to my films A look at 'Glen-Har' fashions including the various stages in the making of garments, to an exhibition of the final models. Factory workers are seen enjoying a Christmas party and on a visit to Patrick Thomson's store in Edinburgh.	Onsite only	1947 silent bw
	SUNNY DAYS [0893] Add to my films One of the films annually made to raise money for the Glasgow Necessitous Children's Holiday Camp Fund showing Glasgow children enjoying holidays by the sea.		1931 sound bw
	WATER DISPLAYS AT THE EMPIRE EXHIBITION [1490] Add to my films The water displays at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow, are illustrated including the royal fountain, the lake fountain, south cascade and the 'an clachan'.	Onsite only	1938 silent col
	WESTERN ISLES CRUISE [4424] Add to my films Holiday film. Jay family aboard yacht cruising through the Crinan Canal and up the western seaboard, visiting islands of Coll and Iona.		1938 silent col
	WHERE THE BENS STAND SENTINEL [3674] Add to my films “Where the Bens Stand Sentinel” combines technological innovation, beautiful landscapes captured in colourful moving image for the very first time, and documents hillwalking as a popular part of 1930s Scottish life.		1932 silent col
	WINSTON CHURCHILL VISITS ABERDEEN [2797] Add to my films Winston Churchill, accompanied by his wife and daughter plant a tree in the home of Sir Thomas and Lady Jaffrey and the University of Aberdeen confers on him the Honorary Degree of LLD. [See also refs. 4025 and 4563].		1946 silent bw