Lady on the Lower

Lady on the Lower, 1978.
The journey of the towboat Sally Archer on the Mississippi River as it transports a load of corn and soybeans from St. Louis to New Orleans.
Produced and edited by Gene Ferraro, photographed by David J. McAllister. Produced for University of Missouri Extension Information. Columbia Recipient of a CINE Gold Eagle to represent the US in competition in international film festivals. Awards: CINE Golden Eagle, 1977, selected to represent the United States of American in international events abroad; VII Semana International de Cine Naval y del Mar, Cartagena, Noviembre, 1978 and the Milan Maritime Film Festival, Milan, Italy. .

[@billyclary4749]

RIP Bobby Lawrence 1-11-1935 ..1-10-2023 . He was a pilot at the time of this video but later became Captain. Only health issues could get him away from the river that he so loved. I’m his son in law

[@shannonmccullough8324]

I worked with Coy at Mid-South Towing. My dad is in this as a deck hand. He later became Chief Engineer on the Sally Archer. He was Wes McCullough.

[@timothyboone5003]

A video that’s sure to cause cardiac arrest in the safety departments of today. So much has changed, but the job is still the same. This video is from a day when towboat crews were a family. Great video!

[@eightapeach2861]

Nothing slicker than leather sole cowboy boots on wet or icy steel. Love this film. Brings back a lot of good memories from 1977. I worked for Hunter Barge Transport on the JW Hunter in those days out of Nashville. The river is a good home.

[@timothyboone5003]

I rode the old J W Hunter for a while. Had good times on there but didn’t shed a tear when we put it in tow to be shipped out and sold. That boat had become one headache after another.

[@system.warfare]

This video was made when. I was born. At 42 I'm about to start work as a deckhand for Ingram. Never give up on your dreams!

[@geneferraro5211]

The tapes with the music as we recorded it are long gone. The only place the music exists now is on the soundtrack. I never thought back then the film would still be watched 45 years later.

[@shannonmccullough8324]

Thank you for uploading this. My dad was in this. He use to have the actual film when I was a kid. This brings back memories. He was a deck hand here. He went on to become Chief Engineer on the Sally. He loved that boat. I went to work for Mid-South Towing when I was 25. I worked for them for 9 years.

[@GulfSoftwash]

Building tow ain’t changed a lick in 50 years .

[@jaymedine9161]

Only change is that it's mostly winches and not portable rigging

[@Itsforyou2122]

Started decking back later part of 78 with central rivers towing on the m/v Creole Bell then Energy Transport out of Harvey LA on the m/v Presager . Upper miss and lower . Back when work boots were optional lol . Love this video it brings back great memories, many thanks for sharing.

[@geneferraro5211]

Thank you Shannon. I remember all of the crew as they were and they all were great. One of the best experiences I ever had making films.

[@Peaceduetostrength]

brings back some memories. made my living running towboats on the lower and upper miss. river

[@1_fishin_magician153]

lol...those side burns were screaming the 70 "s ....thumbs up to a great video ...thanks for uploading it..!!

[@anthonygalang8853]

This is just pure gold

[@shanec6509]

RIP uncle Tommy Eaton 2/12/46 to 6/24/19. U be Miss

[@yuriwalczak6354]

When did he retire?

[@shannonmccullough8324]

My dad was a deck hand in this. When he was set up as Chief Engineer, he was lucky enough to go home to the Sally Archer. He always liked Tommy and Bob. My dad was Wes McCullough.

[@houseofvoom]

Way back then, this is the first boat I worked on, then I went over to Inez Andreas. Nice film.

[@davidgulden9645]

Excellent old school towboating miss those days this is one of the best towboat videos ever thank u sir!!

[@christopherneil988]

I could not of said it any better david gulden. wow this great!

[@John-lc1uq]

I wish you showed how hot the engine room is. Great video

[@timothyboone5003]

I’m sure they were hotter back then. Now days most enginerooms have some good ventilation and can keep the temperature within 25 to 30 degs of the outside temperature. Which can still be pretty warm if it’s hot outside. Out on tow is where the real heat can be stifling. On a warm summer day it’s not uncommon to see temperatures in the upper 140s and I have seen 160s. If there’s no wind stirring it’s down right miserable.

[@pedalingprospector2007]

I used to freelance out of the NMU hall in Joliet in the '70s. Great memories, pay, and food :)

[@radiosaigon972]

Did this for two and a half yrs in my earlier 20s. Toughest work I'll ever do. Barber now. Ha.

[@greer2402]

What is so tough about it. Most of the time your just cruising at 12mph

[@russellscarbury6029]

I was a barber in my 20s and now I'm a Mate out here lol

[@Itsforyou2122]

@@greer2402 working the lowers gravy , working that uppers where ya earn that $$

[@scottallred3941]

Worked upper in summer lower in winter. Did many overhauls out there

[@challenger70fan]

I like the 28 on 28 0ff schedule, I did 30 on 15 off, and 28 and 14, I hate weekend crew changes.

[@sonestead12]

That's my Daddy! RIP March 2018 Ed Crain! I'll ignore the rudeness! 😍😍

[@challenger70fan]

Your dad was the pilot..

[@sonestead12]

No, he was the first mate.

[@challenger70fan]

@@sonestead12 ok cool, it was a neat video I work on the river, and see the sally archer go by, alot.. its big boat, seen it last week with 42 barges,southbound...

[@shannonmccullough8324]

Haha, my dad often talked of Ed Crain. My dad was a deck hand in this. Wes McCullough. He later became chief engineer on the Sally.

[@sonestead12]

@@shannonmccullough8324 I remember Wes!

[@TVProduction101]

GREAT production Gene! The music, the film, the story, all top notch! This film has definitely stood the test of time and transferred well to the genre of social media! You are an amazing mentor that continues to show me the way and I'm grateful. You are a true artist and I'm blessed to have you as a friend.

[@geneferraro5211]

Your response is much appreciated

[@brianhamm77]

Rode this boat for a year as pilot great boat 35 loads south and 42 barges north

[@captviper]

"I like to be kinda safe" you know I wear a life jacket but I don't be buckling it.

[@jaymedine9161]

Or the other 2 guys didn't have a vest at all

[@robfraley4210]

Great little video of the good old days, 😱😲 of 1978...!, ✅👷‍♂️

[@christopherneil988]

I just had a flash back to 1978 the year i graduated from Beardstown High and got a call from logstons that the mv Virginia Kay was coming south bound and needed a deck hand.

[@alanmadden771]

How long did you work on the river?

[@christopherneil988]

@@alanmadden771 From summer of 1978 to 1984, I loved it. I even moved to Mesa Arizona and Agri Trans would fly me from St.Louis to Phoenix. I was the only deck hand to live that far away. The port captain told me i could move there so i did. The crew caller flipped out when i gave him my change of address to Arizona. Deck crew are to live close to the river somewhat. The pilots and captains could live anywhere they wanted. I wanted to be a riverboat captain but they quit doing the steersman program in the eighties for a few years so i headed to Houston to work in oil fields testing drill pipe.

[@elsbethsmith3166]

Lovely Video....Nice music.....Loved it!

[@glennrishton5679]

I was working for Agri Trans back then on the upper, this brings back many memories. Thanks.

[@scottallred3941]

My first hitch with agri trans before it went artco was on crimson glory

[@stevenlamb3971]

Great video! Very inspirational.

[@beaubenoit120]

I'll actually be taking a trip on this boat next month. Thanks for the video, it's a gem!

[@doughesson]

I did tow work so often for some of the ARTCO boats that I knew the winches & switches better than some of the crews. Wepfer @ Memphis

[@MICHAELSTEWART]

great narrative on top of great music.

[@rivercap1986]

Back when cooks actually did their job

[@Ambassador1701]

No shirts, in shorts, no pfd or not fastened, wearing tennis shoes, no safety glasses, straddling wires, standing on moving wires.

[@stevedunlop1934]

Good work, Gene, excellent footage and production that has withstood the test of time. I enjoyed. Thanks for posting your work.

[@captainrayry]

Good video 👍

[@lewie1273]

My husband has been a tow boater for 14 years

[@duckco1]

No one cares

[@joependarvis5698]

Jodie cares

[@heyitshuttz3705]

@@duckco1 I do…

[@AckBoater]

Those old radars were next to useless.

[@graemeguthrie8758]

They still do this everyday

[@brapppforum]

Those side burns.

[@2959wvp]

Wow, where did you find this video? I made a couple of trips on that boat the same year this was produced. Don't remember this Captain. Cool video, thanks for posting it!

[@2959wvp]

My bad, you produced it, wasn't paying attention! LOL! Did you do any others on the rivers?

[@robbel4792]

Sooooo almost nothing has changed in 40 years

[@MrLawman82]

I remember the glass bottles of Gatorade, hell all the bottles were glass back then. Back before Autism and Alzheimer epidemics.

[@nickconti2307]

How can I find the song that goes with this documentary? It is beyond beautifuo

[@geneferraro5211]

I'm the filmmaker. The songs were written for the film and a friend and I did the vocals, overdubbed the voices and played the instruments. Glad you liked it.

[@huntermcgee6504]

@@geneferraro5211 do y’all have a recording of just the song

[@aricray8369]

What's the name of the song that plays in this?

[@shanec6509]

O hell that may uncle Tommy the captain

[@maryeaton1136]

that my brother tommy

[@donaldnelson171]

How long ago was this? I work on the river have been for 14 years. We can't wear shorts have to have steel toe boats. Looks like the 70's lol

[@Tiredoldchannel]

1978

[@roycox320]

👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!!!

[@heyitshuttz3705]

Since the song is not public, I created a unlisted KZbin video where you can view it with no cuts just the straight song. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4K1nK1_aaiVm6M peace ✌️

[@jerentino]

thank you

[@geneferraro5211]

I'm the filmmaker and one of the two musicians who wrote and did the track. You did a nice job editing the music together. Really appreciate what you did.

[@heyitshuttz3705]

thank you so much for creating this awesome video and catchy song to go with it!

[@jamesdavis5096]

They hired Gregorian Monks for the music?

[@coledavis7465]

Anybody know the name of the song?

[@heyitshuttz3705]

Still lookin,… a year later

[@user-xt5ih1wp2g]

I need cheap workers 4 food Jocyte Canal Palanga Pasvalys 🤖 best ice cream guaranteed!!!

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

[@aaronhuffman4852]

Nobody morbidly obese back then!

[@hardykruger6586]

Ganz anders interessant

[@chrisstaylor8377]

The way those guys are wearing there life preservers is a waste of time