Not that I post a lot of photos, there are plenty of sites for that, but here's a timecapsuled piece of Rock History. The span of 10 years, from July 6, 1957 to July 6, 1967, the dead-center of Monkeemania.
July 6, 1957- The Quarrymen (founded 1956) play a gig at St Peter's Church in Liverpool. They will become one of the best known Skiffle bands in history, along with Lonnie Donagan. Ivan Vaughan, a bass player, introduces his classmate (Liverpool Institute) to his band. The 15 year old kid is Paul McCartney. The lead singer of the Quarrymen is John Lennon.
Fewer than 10 years later, a little film of theirs, Hard Day's Night (dir Richard Lester, who also did the films: Help!, Superman 2&3, The 3 & 4 Muskateers, Forum and Robin & Marian) would be released in the USA in 1965.
Side Note on Skiffle- Coined in the Chicago in the 1920's jazz scene for a style of home made music, Jug Band Music (yes, the Lovin Spoonful!!) and a "skiffle" was known as a "Rent Party".
And through the miracle of technology, we can date the picture below of the Monkees at the Warwick Hotel, at a press conference in NYC. High as kites, riding on top of the world, the first season fully broadcast, 2 Emmys received a few weeks ago. This year they will have outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, PUT TOGETHER. Here they are at the top, thinking they can do no wrong, about halfway through their run (Auditions were announced September 8, 1965, shooting started in early 1966). There will be a long downward spiral from here (Peter would buy out his contract 12/8/68), but this is smack-dab in the middle.
July 6, 1957- The Quarrymen (founded 1956) play a gig at St Peter's Church in Liverpool. They will become one of the best known Skiffle bands in history, along with Lonnie Donagan. Ivan Vaughan, a bass player, introduces his classmate (Liverpool Institute) to his band. The 15 year old kid is Paul McCartney. The lead singer of the Quarrymen is John Lennon.
Fewer than 10 years later, a little film of theirs, Hard Day's Night (dir Richard Lester, who also did the films: Help!, Superman 2&3, The 3 & 4 Muskateers, Forum and Robin & Marian) would be released in the USA in 1965.
Side Note on Skiffle- Coined in the Chicago in the 1920's jazz scene for a style of home made music, Jug Band Music (yes, the Lovin Spoonful!!) and a "skiffle" was known as a "Rent Party".
And through the miracle of technology, we can date the picture below of the Monkees at the Warwick Hotel, at a press conference in NYC. High as kites, riding on top of the world, the first season fully broadcast, 2 Emmys received a few weeks ago. This year they will have outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, PUT TOGETHER. Here they are at the top, thinking they can do no wrong, about halfway through their run (Auditions were announced September 8, 1965, shooting started in early 1966). There will be a long downward spiral from here (Peter would buy out his contract 12/8/68), but this is smack-dab in the middle.
July 6 also happens to offer a connection as the birthday of both Bill Haley (1925-1981) and Pat Paulson (1927-1997).
Bill Haley And His Comets had several famous recordings including "Rock Around the Clock", which served in the film "American Graffiti" and as the theme song for the first season of "Happy Days". Glenn Ford would have a personal relationship with the song, him & the song both having co-starred in "Blackboard Jungle". It's also the last song he hears on the car radio in "Superman" (note the callback to Richard Lester within this post!). The song was chosen from his son Peter's record collection. The kid he had with dancer Eleanor Powell.
Pat Paulson (1927-1997), the officious official in "Monkees Watch Their Feet", who was also seen on the Smothers Brothers. An excellent comedian with a deadpan delivery also ran for president in several elections and often beat out the real candidates (at least in the primaries!)
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