Seaside rock ’n’roll: Memories of 1960s Scarborough

Some viewed rock n’ roll as a passing fad but Harry Hammond took the emergence of the new acts seriously and today his black and white images are viewed as an important record of a significant music era, which included the emergence of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

Hammond captured the liberal, post-war public attitude that embraced the popular music culture of rock n’ roll and earned respect not only for the innovative way he shot their performances, but also for his respect of his sitters’ private lives.

In 1952 New Musical Express (NME) magazine was relaunched and Hammond soon became its primary photographer, taking some of the most famous images of the era and setting the standard of pop photography for the following generations.

This spring a touring exhibition of rock photographs, featuring his work, will be at Scarborough Art Gallery and it is keen to hear from anyone who may have memorabilia from local concerts in the 1950s and 1960s who are willing to lend their treasures to the gallery.

Karen Snowden, Scarborough Museums’ Trust, head of collections said of Hammond: “My understanding is that he basically introduced the art of celebrity photography to Britain.”

She said most of the big names who played Scarborough in the 1950s and 1960s played at the Futurist.

“We’re looking for anything relating to the big artists of the period who played at Scarborough venues like the Futurist and the Spa.

“People might still have tickets, programmes, scrapbooks, or articles of clothing – we’d love to borrow them for gallery visitors to enjoy when they visit the exhibition.”

She added: “I think that the exhibition is going to be a great deal of fun.

“Its meant to be light-hearted, there’s a soundtrack with it of music from the era.”

Halfway to Paradise: The Birth of British Rock can be seen at Scarborough Art Gallery from Saturday, March 9 to Sunday, June 14.

As well as snaps of artistes strutting their stuff on stage, it provides an insight into the wider music industry – Tin Pan Alley, recording studios, disc jockeys and TV shows such as Oh Boy! The photographs are set against a soundtrack of rock music from the 50s and 60s.

The touring exhibition of rock photographs from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), comprises over 100 photographs by Harry Hammond from the V&A collection, capturing the emergence of British rock.

Hammond, who died in 2009, was the first great photographer of British rock n’ roll. Starting in the late 1940s, he captured definitive images of virtually every leading British musician.

The exhibition features many of Hammond’s most famous images of leading British artists, including The Beatles, Cliff Richard and Shirley Bassey, as well as those of many visiting American artists including Buddy Holly and Little Richard.

Hammond’s photographs chronicle the jazz and big band musicians of the early 1950s such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, American rock n’ roll stars visiting Britain including Little Richard, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent, through to the early breakthroughs of British rock such as the Animals and the Beatles in the 1960s.

Anyone who has items they would be willing to lend for inclusion in the exhibition is asked to contact Karen Snowden on 01723 384506 or [email protected]

Hammond, who was born in the East End of London, began his career as a promising society portrait photographer. During the Second World War he served as a reconnaissance photographer with the RAF but on his return to London he found himself increasingly drawn to the music industry.

Using his talent and professionalism as a portrait photographer he began to photograph the rock n’ roll generation.

The Futurist Theatre played host to some big names in the 1950s and 1960s. In the summer of 1964 The Beatles played the venue at a time when the Fab Four were already riding high in the charts.

When they came to Scarborough they were at number one in the record charts with A Hard Day’s Night.

The Fab Four were one of a number of famous faces appearing at the venue - in 1965 The Rolling Stones appeared at the theatre.

[email protected]