Liverpool’s Cunard Yanks

It’s the 1950s and the Cunard Line sails fortnightly from Liverpool to New York. Above deck the rich and famous idle away their time. Our story, however, lies below decks with the chefs, pantry-men, bottle washers, stewards and waiters –Liverpool’s Cunard Yanks - pioneers of fashion, style and music - responsible for a music revolution which influenced the Liverpool sound and the Beatles.

One of them – Ivan Hayward – even brought back a black Gretsch Duo Jet guitar -which he sold to George Harrison in 1961, before the Beatles became famous. And he still has an IOU for £20 with George’s signature.

“Liverpool’s Cunard Yanks – On the Cusp of A Wave”,

Follows four central characters who return to New York to reveal a hidden history of how Liverpool seamen steered pop culture into uncharted waters.

Cunard Yanks were merchant seaman from Liverpool, working as cooks, stewards and waiters on the Cunard Line, sailing from Liverpool to New York, in the late 1940s and 1950s. They were the direct link between the history of the Liverpool sound and the Beatles.

The Beatles were a crucial influence on popular music and culture. But the Liverpool sound had been carried by the tidal patterns of transatlantic cross-cultural exchange - flowing into major port cities such as Liverpool and Hamburg. Both John Lennon and George Harrison’s fathers were Cunard Yanks in the 1920s and 30s - Fred Lennon performed on board ship and in New York.

Three of the Beatles’ childhoods revolved around the sea. Ringo Starr wanted to be a merchant seaman because everything revolved around the sea. John Lennon said he was hearing records - never heard before - because of the sailors.  George Harrison’s father, Harold, brought records and gramophone players back from New York and played guitar on the ships.

The Cunard Yanks reveal how they brought back and circulated records never heard before, or yet released, in Britain. How they were singing and entertaining on both sides of the Atlantic – Tommy Steele, Britain’s earliest rocker, was a Cunard Yank. How they brought back and copied American fashions and were using the latest cameras and movie cameras long before they were available to working class people. How they moved from playing acoustic guitars to electric guitars even before skiffle had appeared in the UK. And how, in 1957, a Cunard Yank, bought in New York, a black Gretsch guitar, which he later sold to George Harrison.

Incorporating original 8mm film, from the late 1950s, shot in Liverpool and New York - by the Cunard Yanks.

Narrator: Paul Gambaccini

A documentary shot in Liverpool and Avignon, revealing the life stories of:  Raymond Lempereur, chef to Lord Sefton for 24 years, his wife Elda and the Molyneux family – the Lords of Sefton. It is a tale of two nations, two cities, two families and two classes shaped by the revolution, war, food, fire and fate.

‘’I doubt anyone would believe this story if it was a work of fiction. It has huge significance in terms of local, national and international history and touches on one of the city’s real cultural gems – Croxteth Hall…Stories such as Raymond’s are hugely important because people’s stories are the most engaging and educational.’’

Sir Bob Scott, Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company

Funded by:

• Arts & Business
• Geraud Markets Liverpool Ltd
• Liverpool’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

Supported by:

• Liverpool Culture Company
• Liverpool City Council

Antons

Liverpool children’s author, Tony Mythen, wanted to animate his storybooks and use a pilot for potential TV commissions.

Souled Out Films helped to produce together with Paul Nuttie (Tabacula Films) who took the already established character/story and produced this terrific animation

(button to animation - I’ll scan an image)

Information on the Antons: http://www.antons.co.uk/

Samantha’s Dream

During the summer term 2004, children from St Mary and St Paul's Primary School
worked together with professional actors, Souled Out Films and Prescot Museum
to produce a short film about watch making in Victorian Prescot.

Ritchie Knights, the teacher who created the projects wrote afterwards:

“Dave Cotterill runs Souled Out Films from Toxteth TV studios in Liverpool and they
were ideal partners because they have a track record of working with schools in
film production… Film is an exciting way to represent history”.

To see the film click here.

Where’s Janice At

Co-Production with Interchill
Executive Producer – Dave Cotterill

Combining film and animation, financed by BBC Blast and commended as “being really distinctive”

To see the film click here.

Dyslexia Films

Souled Out co-founder Mike Morris has seven years experience of working in education as a Learning Mentor, and city-wide coordinator for Learning Mentors in Liverpool’s secondary schools. He has worked with many young people with special needs, specifically dyslexia, and has a diploma in Special Needs: Dyslexia, which he studied for at Liverpool John Moores University.

Souled Out Films believe strongly in Social Inclusion, and sees film-making as an exciting and accessible method of raising awareness in this area, and involving young people in finding ways to express themselves creatively. Both of Souled Out’s directors have been involved in producing films with young people, both in their work with Souled Out, and as executive producers for a series of short films for Liverpool’s annual Writing on the wall Festival.

Working with the Liverpool Dyslexia Project Mike Morris has produced and directed ‘Listen Up’ (Link to film), a short film for service providers by ten young people with dyslexia.

Mike is currently developing a DVD for Parents with dyslexic children. The DVD is currently still in development, with further filming taking place in September 2006, with an expected release date of January 2007. A short promo for the film is available for viewing by clicking here (link). If you are interested in supporting Souled Out Films in developing this project, or in any other aspect of our work with young people and social inclusion, both within and outside of education, contact us by e-mail info@souledoutfilms.co.uk or by calling us on 0151-709-8521

Conflict Club

Its school time. Time for teaching and teachers, students and study. But what
happens when the system doesn't suit ? You are excluded. Not included. Not
bothered? Not interested? Not ambitious? Not arsed?

Six pupils in the referral room. Trapped in a cell there's only one thing to
fall back on. Your imagination. Confined to small spaces will big ideas grow?

Folllow the journey from home to school. Catch the bullies at work in the
school toilets. See the classroom conflict. And end up in the referral room and
witness the escape to freedom.

On the Waterfront

Liverpool and New York - through seafarer’s eyes.

This is the story of how a Cunard Yank - Ivan Hayward –  brought back to Liverpool a black Gretsch Duo Jet guitar, from New York, and how he later sold it in 1961 to George Harrison - before the Beatles became famous.

A 10 minute digital short produced for the UK Film Council and NW Vision.