As one of the most important and historical streets in the city – once known as The Bond Street of The North - Bold Street has a rich story to tell. With its future uncertain as Liverpool City Centre changes beyond recognition, we examine its lifeblood, sounds, economy, policing, flavours and sense of community. Guests include Matthew Biagetti, Development Manager at Liverpool Vision, and representatives from News From Nowhere and Utility.
Over the course of the past six months many people have expressed concern and interest in what the future holds for Bold Street. Having transformed from residential street to wealthy shopping avenue, ghost town to haven for independent traders, the street has constantly evolved. On June 26th 2007, local filmmaker John Scotland hit the street to find out what the people think lies next ahead for Bold Street……
Filmmaker Emily Voelker has been collaborating with tenantspin tenants over the last 4 months on a film entitled Mind Drift. The film is a collection of 14 sets of images taken from the point of view of a consumer walking down Bold Street.
Themes covered include shopping, dirt, architecture, people and poetry. Brash, beautiful and funny, the film captures the sheer range of activity, personality and function the street has to offer.
We’ve recently acquired a film shot on Bold Street about the making of a Vegetable Pie in a post war Britain still in the grips of rationing. The film was shot in Radiant House which today houses HMV and Argos and is excerpt from Echo’s of the 40’s and 50’s.
Check out the fantastic soundtrack. Many thanks to Angus Tilston from Pleasures Past.
Filmmaker Kim Ryan has been a long time collaborator of tenantspin’s and on a sunny day in May over the course of an hour, something magical happened on Bold Street. Six camera’s positioned throughout the street, two priest, willing shopkeepers and a fascinating public resulted in The Bolder They Walk. The film, staring Chris Bernard and Alex Cox dressed as clergymen and featuring some interesting observations about art, religion and regeneration transformed the street into a film set.
The results are a magical one off day in Liverpool with a cast of hundreds. You can see the film in the exhibition or online here.
During our early research we were put in touch with Architectural Historian Joseph Sharples who has given us a fantastic insight into the streets history and architectural influences.
From Ancient Greek and Egyptian influences to insights into the Lyceum and staff entrances at 72 Bold Street, Joseph lifts the lid on some hidden histories during a 6 part interview series.
We interviewed local activist Florence Gerston who was instrumental in the successful campaign to save the Lyceum which was under threat of demolition in the 1970’s. Florence speaks at length about the measures they took to save this historical landmark, its history and journey to becoming Bold Street’s only listed building.
Myra Smith worked in a hairdressing salon on Bold Street between 1947 - 1955. We interviewed her in May 2007 - she spoke in great detail about post-war Bold Street, famous clients and finger waves.
Myra’s interview is available in six installments in the Media Lounge and online here.
Doreen Preston got in touch with us after she had heard a ready call on Radio Merseyside appealing for Bold Street stories. In May of this year we traveled to interview Doreen who had worked in Clay & Abraham Pharmacy on Bold Street in 1945.
Doreen is a born storyteller and recounts in vivid detail her work at the shop, the clientele, the surrounding shops, interior décor and nannies with silvercross prams. Doreen’s interview is available to watch in the media lounge and online here.
Many thanks to Doreen for her time and wonderful stories.
Filmmaker Olivia Greenberg has recently completed a new film commission working with writer Jeff Young (tenantspin & SuperBlock) and musician Pete Wylie. Olivia has created a unique new cut and paste flickbook short in the doorways and alleys of Bold Street.
All female artists’ group Foreign Investment were invited by Liverpool Culture Company and Alan Dunn to produce a new piece of work that built on the strengths of Liverpool City Centre. Over two days in July 2006 they presented “Tuning-in Op.3″ featuring buskers serenading workers on the site of the Grosvenor, Hanover Street and Bluecoat developments, flyposted graphics, an exhibition at PolishedT and the same buskers, including Bold Street regulars Barry and Phil, touring Bold Street and the city centre on a horse-drawn cart, playing to static audiences rather than the other way around.
If you haven’t heard of the Mardi Gras on Bold Street then you probably aren’t into music and didn’t live in Liverpool in the late eighties or nineties. The Mardi Gras is synonymous with the dance and club scene and was a Bold Street, and Liverpool favorite. Club Promoters Jason and Mark Jones managed the Mardi in its heyday, and recently talked to Laura Yates about the club, its history and some of their favorite nights. Laura interviews Jason and Mark in a series of episodes covering everything from the history of the club to the night the Stone Roses played. You can watch all of the episodes on Google Video. A selection has also been added to the Bold Street Video Podcast. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
In May we spoke to local City Council Community Historian Steve Binns. Steve agreed to a filmed interview and talked about Bold Street in the 1800’s. He gave a real insight into the atmosphere at the time and the significant changes that have occurred to the street over the decades.
Also, prior to our conversation we had very little detail about Jonas Bold (whom the street was named after), and it was Steve himself who confirmed that Jonas was in fact a prominent slave trader. Click here to watch the interview.
Filmmaker Emily Voelker has been busy at work with a group of Liverpool’s young aspiring film makers to create The Bold Love Story; a stop frame animation film based and filmed on Bold Street.
This film is the prequel: “Space Board” the tale of Liverpool’s skaters as told by animated characters. It’s Magic!*
The interview with Doris Mercer who worked on Bold Street in Liverpool in the 30s to the 60s is now live as the latest episode of the Bold Street Podcast (both video and audio editions). Also, it’s also on YouTube. (Or you can watch it above!)
We are very pleased to announce that our Video Podcast is now live. The Podcast episodes (of which there are four already with many more coming soon) offer an insight into the inner workings of tenantspin, the Bold Street research and the work involved in creating this exhibition. The Podcast follows the progress of the team; current episodes include John and Laura’s video diaries and interviews with Bold Street personalities. Future episodes will include interviews with more Bold Street people, with the artists and project team.
Bold Street Podcast in iTunes
You can play the podcast on your video iPod, or on your computer using iTunes. You can even play it on your TV.
Laura on the Podcast on my TV
To subscribe you will need iTunes running on your Mac or PC. For more information on iTunes and to download and install the software if you don’t already have it, click here.
The podcast is available as a Video Podcast - with an audio version coming soon. The podcast is listed in iTunes click the link to subscribe.
A Film of the Video Positive Festival 1995 is now available online at Google Video. The film, from the successful international Video Art Festival and includes works from the show. This forms part of the ‘Cultural History’ of Bold Street section of our upcoming exhibition, in which, as well as this Video Positive FIlm, we will be showing a range of other films which detail the Cultural History of the street. You can find more information about Video Positive Festival on the LuxOnline website. There is also a book about the Festival available on Amazon.
I have been using YouTube to upload and share videos from the project. Also however I have been using it to find videos of Bold Street made by other people. It’s amazing; so many views of one street. I found buskers, people on nights out, football fans, shoppers and ‘mysterious silent movies’ all on, from or about Bold Street. I have added them all to the Bold Street Playlist on YouTube.
With a bit of luck all you need to do is click the link above to play, or alternatively click here.
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