Interview
Interview of Jack Hylton Jnr. (JBP/OT/6) conducted on the 14th November 2024 at Lancaster University Library by Alex Pomeroy. In the interview, he talks about his memories of his father, Jack Hylton, and his father’s career.
Summary
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 00.00.00-00.02:10 | Introduction of participant including name, age and a brief overview of their childhood and career. |
| 00:02:10 – 00:04:25 | Participant talks about their childhood memories, including boarding school, flying to the United States and his relationship with Jack Hylton as a father. |
| 00:04:25 – 00:10:30 | Jack Hylton’s contribution to the British jukebox industry is discussed, including his desire to use the jukebox to disseminate his own music across Britain & general business philosophy. |
| 00:10:30 – 00:13:50 | Various co-stars of Hylton’s are discussed, including Tommy Handley, as well as his childhood in his parent’s pubs, falling in love with music and starting his career in the 1910s. |
| 00:13:50 – 00:20:30 | The participant tells the story of how his father put Morecambe & Wise together as an act, discovering Shirley Bassey, Audrey Hepburn & Peter O’Toole. |
| 00:20:30 – 00:23:10 | Participant gives a wonderful anecdote about meeting Frank Sinatra with his father at Monte Carlo in the early sixties, leads into a discussion on his father’s collection of newspaper clippings from his career. |
| 00:23:10 – 00:25:20 | Participant talks about his own career development within theatre production, working his way up the ladder. Talks about working with stars like Barry Humphries, Cliff Richard, Elton John and Dire Straits. |
| 00:25:20 – 00:31:00 | Participant talks about other interests during his childhood and teenage years, particularly history & A.J.P Taylor, also meeting Winston Churchill. Discusses holidays to the South of France and his passion for water-skiing, as well as memories of boarding school and entering work. |
| 00:31:00 – 00:34:15 | Discussion around the participant’s lifelong love of music, especially with the accessibility of music in today’s world and meeting musicians whilst touring the world – particularly Elton John. |
| 00:34:20 – 00:36:20 | Participant talks about Hylton’s lack of interest in Rock ‘n’ Roll but admiration for Johnnie Ray, The Beatles and George Martin. |
| 00:36:20 – 00:37:30 | Liverpool’s roll in the British music industry and Jack Hylton’s discovery of Arthur Askey. |
| 00:37:30 – 00:39:30 | Hylton’s touring success and record sales during the 1930s are discussed, including his popularity in the United States – the first Transatlantic live music broadcast. |
| 00:39:30 – 00:45:00 | Participant talks about how his father brought major US acts to the British market, such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, the Jack Hylton Radio Show in the US and working with Glenn Miller’s band. |
| 00:45:00 – 00:49:00 | The importance of the Northwest of England to Jack Hylton’s career is discussed, particularly Blackpool (Royal Variety performances) in the late 1950s with his orchestra. His connection to Manchester is also covered. |
| 00:49:00 – 00:52:20 | Participant tells the story of how Lancaster University’s Jack Hylton archive came into existence from its original site at the Adelphi Theatre, as well as the records still held at the VMA in London. |
| 00:52:20 – 01:00:26 | The conversation turns to the changes in the Lancaster and Morecambe area over the last 60 years, technological advancements (streaming services) in the music industry and theatre, as well as the modern ticketing industry. |
| 01:00:26 – 01:00:49 | Finishing thoughts from the participant. |
Transcript
00:00:00-00:00:00
Keywords
Places: London; Blackpool; Morecambe; Manchester; USA
Venues: Adelphi Theatre London; France
People: Louis Armstrong; Arthur Askey; Winston Churchill; Duke Ellington; Jack Hylton; George Martin; Johnnie Ray; A.J.P Taylor
Organisations: Lancaster University; Jack Hylton and his Orchestra; Glen Miller Band; The Beatles
Subjects: music industry; history
Supporting Documentation
[Downloadable files eg summary or transcript.]