On a community Facebook page in 2020 many Foxton locals fondly remember this business which was said to have traded from 1955-1969. It was at the heart of many memories of ice creams, chocolates and tasty treats delivered for weddings and parties. 

But before Facebook advertising became a boom for local businesses, cinema advertising was the way to get the word out locally. The late 1950s/early 1960s was the high point for cinema admissions in New Zealand and these easy to make slides could be selectively screened in local cinemas to get to the right audience.

In fact, one local remembers going to the cinema right after visiting Lanes. 

Did they see this slide? 

The words on this slide would have been written locally. Unlike today's slick advertising firms where everything is carefully checked and rechecked, a spelling error ('Partys') got through on this slide.

In the "Levin Daily Chronicle" of the 11th of October, 1938 the 'Royal Home Cookery" advertised their cold luncheons in a new refrigerator, as well as home made cakes and pastry in their tea rooms. They were still in the phone book in 1945- quite an achievement for a 'luxury' business to survive the war.

Proprietors Mr and Mrs Willis were advertising 'High Class Cakes' in a 1956 advertisement for 'The Chronicle's' 50th Jubilee publication and, judging by the fashions on display (and the pre-1980s three digit phone number), this slide dates to around that time. MAVtech has an extensive collection of slides but this one still manages to be eye-catching with it's fine use of colour and an interesting picture which draws the eye. 

Royal Home Cookery knew how to advertise! This is the second cinema advertising slide advertising this business that we have found in the MAVtech records (the first is also on Kete).

Weddings were big business in the 1950s/1960s when this slide was made. The marriage rate was over thirty people per thousand for these two decades and peaked at around forty three people per thousand in 1970. It's just over ten people per thousand today. 

With many brides and grooms being in their teens and just starting out on their own, having a firm to handle the catering would have been a big help- and Royal Home Cookery was standing by!

A lot of first dates happened in the cinemas- would it be a stretch to say that they were planting the idea early? 

After the Second World War it was common for couples to have a professional photographer at their wedding- prior to this formal pictures were often taken in a studio before and after the ceremony. This changing trend is captured in this slide.