Video (cine) Footage

Over the years, a number of low quality cine films (Standard 8) were taken of the group. These have been transferred to digital video.  Sound has then been added from other recordings (ie the cine film was 'silent') to try and synchronise words to music (in some cases).  This meant that some 'padding' with other images was necessary at times.  It also meant that drums are present sound-wise but not visuallly (in some cases).  Note: one by one, the video quality of these files is being improved and put on, and others added

Click the right panel to see a video of the crossBeaTs' visit to the Catacombs Christian Coffee Bar in Manchester on Saturday 19 October 1968. The Catacombs had been open for about 4 years, and the crossBeaTs had played there many times. On this particular visit, no drummer was present. The (silent) cine film has been padded out with other images so that music (with drums) could be added and synchronised. Two of the songs have been taken from the crossBeaTs' LP ('Are You Afraid?' and 'Crazy Mixed-Up Generation'). The other ('Mr Pretend') is from an earlier live recording at the 'Cats'. The line-up for the audio was: Tony Mathias, Eddie Boyes, John Boyes, Eric Knowles and Sam Pennington.

In the group's second (blue) Bedford van - picking up Tony at St Mary's vicarage flat (Merton Road, Bootle), and then going to pick up Sam near Breck Road (Liverpool) - then on to the M6 South to travel to Stafford ("Meeting Point" Coffee Bar Special)

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Friday 24 July 1970

USA Tour   Dayton, Ohio

Click the right panel to see a video of the crossBeaTs' visit to Christ United Methodist Church, Kettering, Ohio on 24 July 1970. The video is of an open-air concert given, we think, in the grounds of David's United Church of Christ in Kettering. It seems liely to have been on the ground that is now the extension to the church on the eastern side. Views of the gravestones can be seen, along with the water tower (now 2) behind what is now Sunray Road to the east. We stayed with local people from Christ United who had been kind enough to put us up - there is some footage of one of our hosts, Mrs Helen Bridge. The (silent) cine film has had music added and synchronised as far as possible (in some cases the visuals are clearly of a different song). The song being played is 'I do believe' from an earlier recording, and the line-up for this was: Tony Mathias, Eddie Boyes, John Boyes, Sam Pennington and Joe Roberts.

Wednesday and Thursday 5 & 6 August 1970

USA Tour   Saginaw, Michigan

Click the right panel to see a video of the crossBeaTs' visit to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Michigan on 5 August 1970. The video is of an open-air concert given at the back of the church on a wagon (trailer).  This was organised by the Rev Bob Henkel. We stayed with local people who had been kind enough to put us up, and there are a few shots of Bob O'Conner and daughter Laura (one of our host families). The (silent) cine film has had music added but no synchronisation has been attempted (as the cine contained too many bits of songs). The song being played is 'Do not disturb' from the crossBeaTs' LP.  The line-up for the video is Tony Mathias, Eddie Boyes, John Boyes, Sam Pennington and Joe Roberts; Eric Knowles is singing with Eddie Boyes on the recording, on which there are no drums. The video also contains information about a concert the following day at the 'Ginger Blue', a local coffee house in Saginaw.

Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 July 1970

USA Tour   Scottville, Michigan

Click the right panel to see a video of the crossBeaTs' visit to the area around Scottville MI. The group played twice whilst there: once at the local High School, and once at "Johnney's Bandstand", a local club and ice rink on State Street in Custer. There is only a little very poor video (cine) of the school concert, and nothing from Johnney's. We stayed with local families, and there is some video of the Tom and Sabra McCreedy and their family who lived on Long Lake at Walhalla. The song in the background is 'Busy Man' from the crossBeaTs' LP, which has Tony Mathias lead singer, John Boyes lead guitar, Sam Pennington rhythm, Eric Knowles drums and Eddie Boyes bass and backing vocals. The line-up for the video is Tony Mathias, Eddie Boyes, John Boyes, Sam Pennington and Joe Roberts.

Monday 3 August 1970

USA Tour   Birch Run, Michigan

Click the right panel to see a video showing something of the crossBeaTs' visit to Birch Run MI. The group played at the local High School, although there is no video (cine) of the occasion. Only one photograph (from the local newspaper) was taken, so this has been included and padded out with cine footage of the local area, and of some of our hosts while there in 1970 (the Cuthbertsons and others). The song in the background is 'Tears' from the crossBeaTs' LP, which has Tony Mathias lead singer, John Boyes lead guitar, Sam Pennington rhythm, Eric Knowles drums and Eddie Boyes bass and backing vocals. The line-up in the photograph is Tony Mathias, Eddie Boyes, John Boyes, Sam Pennington and Joe Roberts.

Returning home to England. Landing at Birmingham (UK) airport. Packing Sam's white Ford Transit van, and travelling north on the M6 (van and a car) back to Liverpool - around 10 August 1970

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