Mormon Yankees Documentary Launch

Professor Woods visiting Australia for a series of lectures to launch his documentary.

The Mormon Yankees basketball team played a key role in the development of basketball in Victoria during the 1950s. This is the subject of a documentary (film and book) by Professor Fred Woods of Brigham Young University in the US. Professor Woods is visiting Australia in early May for a series of lectures to launch his documentary. He will be showing the film (narrated by Andrew Gaze) and talking about his book. The film is narrated by the famous Australian basketballer Andrew Gaze, and is based on about seventy interviews conducted over a several year period, both in Australia and in the United States. This includes a feature interview with Australian basketball legend and multiple Olympian, Lindsay Gaze.

'Mormon Yankees: Giants On and Off the Court' tells the story of Mormon missionaries who used basketball in Australia during the mid-twentieth century (1954-1961) to build bridges of understanding with Australians and to help them develop the American game of basketball. A promotional clip of the “Mormon Yankees” can be viewed by clicking here.

Click here for the event flyer.

Professor Woods will be showing the 30-minute film and speaking at the following times:

Wednesday 9 May

6.00pm-7.00pm or

9.00pm-10.00pm

Recreation Hall of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

120 Gage Street, Firle