These placards are outside the Lyceum on Bold Street. The building was built in 1800 and is the street’s only listed structure. Originally built to house the first Gentlemen’s Subscription Library in England, the building has had an eventful 207 years.
Author Archive for Laura
Laura and I recently paid a visited to Lancashire Record Office and came across some hand drawn architectural drawings of work both proposed and completed on Bold Street. These drawings date back to the mid 1800’s and a selection of the images will be available on Flickr soon.
Many thanks to the Record Office in Preston.
This fine Golden Eagle sat above a magnificent onyx fireplace in the Reception Lounge at Radiant House, now the home of HMV and Argos.
Prior to this it graced the facade of the Woolright building which occupied the site of Radiant House and over the years the eagle been the subject of much rumour. In many mythologies, the eagle represents the sun, the fountain of “radiance” and many believe this is the reason for it’s pride of place within Radiant House.
The eagle is at least 150 years old and will be landing for the exhibition open to the public this Saturday.
Just gone to print are these Bold Street Stickers - a perfect addition to your laptop, jacket, bag, phone or fridge, the stickers will available on Friday in Ropewalks Square from 5.30.
These stickers are the new black and are set to be a must have this summer, don’t leave home without yours.
No Bold Street has not been taken over by headphone wearing zombies, they are in fact gallery staff from all over Europe working with artist Ross Dalziel exploring the sounds of Bold Street. The outcome of this work will be available during the exhibition which is launching in a mere 10 days……
As well as Sound, visiting Gallery staff from around Europe were invited to document their first impression of Bold Street with DV Cameras. Some interesting discussions took place, with an emphasis on the street’s varying architectural styles and proposed re-generation works. The group also spoke about “bold streets” in their cities.
I’ve recently come across a song called “Bold Street” by singer songwriter Eugene McGuinness.
Check out www.myspace.com/eugenemcguinness85 and have a listen to the song.
Also if you’re out there Eugene, do get in touch and tell us about your Ode to Bold Street.
Our Bold Street Postcards have been in circulation for several weeks now and some have turned up on the set of popular soap opera Hollyoaks.
Keep an eye out for Bold Street material in the background of episodes being screened in July. Big thanks to Lime Pictures for supporting our project.
Take a closer look at the set picture above…..
Following yesterday’s Radio Merseyside Interview with Pete Wylie, we have been receiving a high volume of calls from the public telling us their Bold Street Stories.
We had over 40 phone calls yesterday alone and the BBC Radio Merseyside Switchboard was a blaze.
Please keep your stories coming, the number again is:
0151 324 1555
Yesterday we hit our beloved Bold Street to shoot a short film by Olivia Greenberg featuring Jeff Young and Pete Wylie.
The film will celebrate some of Bold Street’s most iconic and interesting locations, with obscure angles and beautifully framed shots being the order of the day.
As always happens with Bold Street, there were some unexpected moments, including a beautiful renditon of Moon River by a very talented busker.
This is the first still hot off the press from the Emily Voelker / Young People animation film shoot. The plot is a tragic love story about two characters torn apart but reunited with tragic consequences………
Big thanks to Microzine on Bold Street for allowing us to film in their premises. Filming will continue tomorrow.
Recently FACT was visited by a group of 30 European delegates from Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. The delegates are Gallery Educators and for many it was their first time in Liverpool. Sensing an opportunity to get a unique view of Bold Street we armed the group with digital cameras, mini-disc recorders and video cameras to capture their first impressions of the street. The content created will be available in the exhibition.
It was really fantastic to capture these first experiences and many in the group were struck by the street’s architecture and vibrancy. If you were one of the delegates please get in touch with your comments.
Have you recently visited Bold Street, what were your over-riding impressions?
“If you worked on Bold Street, you were someone”
Published by May 29th, 2007 in Exhibition and Work in Progress. 0 Comments
The quote above is taken from an interview with Myra Smith who worked in JG Mann Ladies Hairdressing Salon between 1947 -1954. Myra gave a colourful account of her time working with the highly glamourous and sometimes famous clientele of the time. She spoke about the hairdressing at the time and how it has changed significantly, in particular shampooing techniques!
Do you work in a hairdressers? Has the industry changed?
Did you get your hair cut at JG Manns?
Get in touch.
Bold Street was awash with red shirts last Wednesday (May 23rd) as Liverpool took on AC Milan in the Champions League Final. The street was buzzing from early in the morning until late at night as football fans from all over the world converged to cheer on the reds. A great atmosphere! Pity about the result!
Today film-maker Emily Voelker has been joined in FACT by a group of young people from North Liverpool’s Positive Future Community Group. The group aim to create animations using Bold Street as an inspiration. For many in the group this will be their first experience animating and they will be hard at work for the next three days creating sets, characters and stories.
Images of the work will be available shortly and the full animation will be on display when the exhibition launches on the 29th of June.
Keep an eye out for the Bold Street Postcard which is now in circulation around Liverpool…..hold onto these, they may become collectors’ items one day.
In response to a question about 77 Bold Street, formally Cafe Berlin, the current occupier is YUMS Restaurant, server of Korean foods.
Mmmmmm. all you can eat!
Doreen Preston gave an insightful interview about her work in Clay & Abrham pharmacy which was located at 87 Bold Street. As a 19 year old in 1945, Doreen describes a very different Bold Street to the one we know today, she gives vivid descriptions of fleets of nannies with silver cross prams parading the children of the wealthy.
Doreen’s interview will be available in full very soon.
Interview with Doris Mercer
Published by May 23rd, 2007 in Community of Bold Street and History of Bold Street. 0 Comments
We’ve been interviewing some interesting Bold Street characters over the past few weeks including Doris Mercer who worked on Bold Street between the 1930’s and 1960’s. Doris worked in the La Kabala, Sissens and Fullers during Bold Street’s glory days as a hot spot for the wealthy. The interview will be available very soon.
If you worked in any of these establishments or know Doris, please get in touch.