Jailhouse Jive

Geelong Warders At The Footy

Things were pretty rosie between inmates and wardens at the Geelong Gaol back in 1931 when the prisoners offered to be locked in their cells an hour earlier than usual to allow more warders to attend the Geelong versus Richmond match. It would be a fine year for their local VFL team the Geelong Cats, who would go and win the premiership.

Two days later, the prisoners, including their mouth organ band, would entertain radio listeners of local station 3GL with a live performance from behind the prison walls. The origins of this unique bond between the warders and prisoners, can be traced back a month or so earlier when the prisoners were allowed to form a mouth organ band. Several organised concert party visits had provided the inspiration and one such regular was the local Digger’s Concert Party.

Geelong Prisoners’ Enterprise

Following a recent sports meeting and the visits of several concert parties the prisoners in the Geelong Gaol formed a mouth-organ band. Now, with their own money, they have purchased an electric wireless receivings set which has been installed in one of the offices. The wiring, which has been done by the prisoners, has been connected with most of the cells and to the exercise yard, where there is a loud speaker. In many of the cells earphones have been installed, and more will be installed as money is available. An officer of the prison may listen in, and if, in his opinion, anything, is being broadcast that the prisoners should not hear, the set may be switched off. The officials, however, are carefully selecting programmes so that talks of an educational nature and musical programmes will be received. It is stated that the prisoners greatly appreciate this class of programme. The installation has cost the department nothing. (The Argus, 1st June, 1931)

Installation had cost the department zilch as inmates paid with their gratuities and Mr. J Barnett, an electrician from New South Wales, offered his services free of cost. The Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade stepped up and provided the radio and loudspeaker. Would you believe that one prisoner, having completed his sentence voluntarily, remained locked up an extra week to finish the project? Well I never. The loudspeaker in the exercise yard blasted the music and news of the day to the prisoners and back in their cell, they could listen via earphones till the lights went out.

Each and every third Sunday of the month a fifty strong mouth organ band from the Gaol performed live for radio 3GL Geelong listeners.

The governor, Mr. Norman Tuohill, responded to suggestions that the prisoners are too well treated (and after that old chestnut that it’s a ‘home away from home’ was thrown into the mix) with, “anything which tended to uplift humanity within the gaols should be permitted.” He also pointed out that, “surely it was punishment for them to be taken away from their friends, homes, wives and children and denied their Liberty.” (Horsham Times, 31st July, 1931). Norman hadn’t finished there stating that the mouth organ band also contributed to the uplifting of humanity.

Pentridge Prisoners On Air

While it appears Geelong Gaol had the honour of being the first to have prisoners broadcast from the prison, The Daily News in Perth wanted to credit the infamous Melbourne bluestone college, Pentridge, six years later. Not sure why they overlooked Geelong.

The Melbourne Herald identifies the first wireless set installed in Victoria was by the Castlemaine Reformatory (five years before Geelong), closely followed by Beechworth and French Island. (Herald 2nd June, 1931).

As a side note (an Ab) Geoff Clancy, the Argus crime reporter in Melbourne, published a story in his newspaper on the 14th September, 1954 under the headline, Human Beings or Just Toughs that I had to insert here. He wrote that: “Old warders (twenty years experience) are blaming the Penal Departments new system of treating convicts kindly, as normal human beings for the recent upsurge of violence at Pentridge Gaol.” A direct quote from the unnamed warder pronounced, “Pentridge these days is a home away from home. I wouldn’t mind doing a stretch myself.” There’s the old chestnut again and doing a stretch himself, oh yeah! The same warder when speaking of the jail’s music program offered this beauty. “Three of Victoria’s most vicious criminals, who are complete morons, have studied musical appreciation! They wouldn’t appreciate ‘Daisy, Daisy’ played by mouth organ.” Nice, and a whack for the harmonica as well. Interestingly, (but not very funny) Norman Tuohill was appointed Governor of Pentridge in 1946 and he immediately wanted to implement radios for all cells there. Not sure if he was successful or whether he was still in charge in 1954.

County Cook Jail

I’ve headed overseas to add a wee bit more to the tale and it has an Aussie connection. The infamous County Cook Jail in Chicago was where Doc Span was educated on the nuances of the Blues Burger. Doc was a paramedic at the jail and it was here where he met inmate Little Eddie Newell. Eddie gave Doc harmonica lessons in the barber shop of the prison lock up.

I was however concerned that harmonicas were allowed in a jail so I checked in with Doc, who has resided and performed in Australia since 1987 – he’s one of us. Hi Shep, no metal allowed, but I used to let Eddie play mine. There was a jailhouse band. The officers had to count the guitar/bass strings after each session and only a few sentenced inmates – mostly traffic violations (not on remand) could play. Organ, drums, bass, guitar (officer owned) and me. Cheers D

Parchman Farm

Well, I’m sittin’ over here on Parchman Farm
And I ain’t never done no man no harm

Mose Allison

Since having this drafted this some time ago, Adam Gussow, fabulous blues harmonica player, posted a video that relates to this article. He has been providing prisoners in Unit 25 (a pre-release unit) at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (aka Parchman Farm) with a course in Blues literature and playing blues harmonica. Hohner kindly donated a Blues Harp for each inmate, however they don’t have the ability to practice in between classes as each harmonica has to be collected at the end of the lesson.

Equally things appear pretty rosie at Parchman Farm (ninety two years after Geelong Gaol’s initiative), but have we really moved our prisoner rehabilitation into the twenty first century? Are they human beings or just ‘toughs’?

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