An online Beatles fan club for and about Beatle fans
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Girls that love the "Beatles"
Double Fantasy
This story is very sweet and knowing what we know now, it is very sad. The part that got me the most when John Lennon says, "Well, I'm just getting started." These autographs are currently up for auction on Heritage Auctions.
What a great honor it was to meet a living legend. My mother Kathleen was a fan of The Beatles since they came to America in 1964. Her favorite Beatle was John Lennon. She missed her chance to attend their concert at Convention Hall in 1964, but did get to see them live at John F. Kennedy Stadium on her 22nd birthday on August 16, 1966. My uncle Johnny paid for her ticket as a birthday present. I was only 3 years old at the time and stayed home with my grandmother. My mom influenced my appreciation for The Beatles, especially John Lennon. Growing up with my mom always playing their records and talking about them was awesome and made me a true devout fan. Even though The Beatles were no longer together, they were very relevant to me. John's voice was the voice of The Beatles. He was the leader and founder of the most influential name in music history. We learned that John Lennon had been living in New York City for years and that he was friendly and approachable with his fans seeking autographs and to meet him. When his album Double Fantasy came out, my mother went to Sam Goody in the Neshaminy Mall to purchase it. My mom and I really liked "(Just like) Starting Over". I loved the song "Woman" off the album the best. My mother's greatest wish was to meet John Lennon. With full intentions of having John autograph the Double Fantasy LP, we took the simple 2 hour journey from Philadelphia to Manhattan to the Dakota Apartment Building at 1 West 72nd Street. It was December 2, 1980, just 6 days before the unbelievable happened. We waited outside along with at least one other fan and it wasn't long before John & Yoko emerged from this gothic architectural design sporting big hats. Yoko was wearing huge sunglasses and I remember John had on tinted glasses with a translucent yellow frame. This moment was surreal for the both of us. When my mother spotted them she shouted "Hi John!" in low volume, John said "Hi!" back as if he knew us as well as we knew him, very down to earth. As we walked closer toward him and Yoko my mother nervously but carefully tore the original shrink wrap at the front of the cover so John could sign. She asked would he please sign the album for her and he said "Sure" and my mom asked him "Could you put "To Kathy with a K?" and John being upbeat said "Sure I can!" and so he dedicated it "For Kathy, love, John Lennon". He added a cartoon drawing of his face as well as added the year "1980". Then I handed him a piece of paper to autograph and he did plus added "80". I said to him I love all your albums, you're a musical genius". And John said "Yeah!"? "Well, I'm just getting started!" after signing John said "Thanks". It was a brief encounter but a beautiful dream come true. My mother & I ate at a little Italian restaurant called Tony's just a few blocks away. After meeting John my mom was really excited. I remember leaning the album against the wall on the table we sat and I told our waitress that we'd just met John Lennon and she said, "Oh, cool, I see him in the neighborhood all the time, seems like a nice guy. What can I get ya?"
What a great honor it was to meet a living legend. My mother Kathleen was a fan of The Beatles since they came to America in 1964. Her favorite Beatle was John Lennon. She missed her chance to attend their concert at Convention Hall in 1964, but did get to see them live at John F. Kennedy Stadium on her 22nd birthday on August 16, 1966. My uncle Johnny paid for her ticket as a birthday present. I was only 3 years old at the time and stayed home with my grandmother. My mom influenced my appreciation for The Beatles, especially John Lennon. Growing up with my mom always playing their records and talking about them was awesome and made me a true devout fan. Even though The Beatles were no longer together, they were very relevant to me. John's voice was the voice of The Beatles. He was the leader and founder of the most influential name in music history. We learned that John Lennon had been living in New York City for years and that he was friendly and approachable with his fans seeking autographs and to meet him. When his album Double Fantasy came out, my mother went to Sam Goody in the Neshaminy Mall to purchase it. My mom and I really liked "(Just like) Starting Over". I loved the song "Woman" off the album the best. My mother's greatest wish was to meet John Lennon. With full intentions of having John autograph the Double Fantasy LP, we took the simple 2 hour journey from Philadelphia to Manhattan to the Dakota Apartment Building at 1 West 72nd Street. It was December 2, 1980, just 6 days before the unbelievable happened. We waited outside along with at least one other fan and it wasn't long before John & Yoko emerged from this gothic architectural design sporting big hats. Yoko was wearing huge sunglasses and I remember John had on tinted glasses with a translucent yellow frame. This moment was surreal for the both of us. When my mother spotted them she shouted "Hi John!" in low volume, John said "Hi!" back as if he knew us as well as we knew him, very down to earth. As we walked closer toward him and Yoko my mother nervously but carefully tore the original shrink wrap at the front of the cover so John could sign. She asked would he please sign the album for her and he said "Sure" and my mom asked him "Could you put "To Kathy with a K?" and John being upbeat said "Sure I can!" and so he dedicated it "For Kathy, love, John Lennon". He added a cartoon drawing of his face as well as added the year "1980". Then I handed him a piece of paper to autograph and he did plus added "80". I said to him I love all your albums, you're a musical genius". And John said "Yeah!"? "Well, I'm just getting started!" after signing John said "Thanks". It was a brief encounter but a beautiful dream come true. My mother & I ate at a little Italian restaurant called Tony's just a few blocks away. After meeting John my mom was really excited. I remember leaning the album against the wall on the table we sat and I told our waitress that we'd just met John Lennon and she said, "Oh, cool, I see him in the neighborhood all the time, seems like a nice guy. What can I get ya?"
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Girls that met the Beatles in Portland '65
I really enjoy the stories from Datebook magazine written by girls that met the Beatles during their North American tour. Great information and fun stories. These two from Portland come from the Spring 1966 issue of Datebook. Enjoy!
Girls who met the Beatles
Georgia King
Portland, Oregon
We were led down one of the corridors and then were told to
stop in front of the concession stand.
The janitor slid back a panel in the wall. How clever!
Hidden doors, no less. The hidden
door was unlocked to reveal a flight of stairs.
We went down these and into a hall where we could plainly hear showers
running. We were told that the Beatles
were cleaning up before they came to see us.
We were ushered into the press room, where I seated myself
as close as I could get to the front, which was the third row. I was feeling very pleased about how cool and
calm I felt.
While I was pondering the merits of sophistication, Ringo
Starr made his way to the table. It was
6:00 PM on August 22, 1965. I looked up,
choked down my tears of fright and surprise, and tried to say hello and
proceeded to the other end of the table where he took a seat.
Next came George, who said, “hi” before I could get out the
first squeak.. He grinned at nothing in
general, and sat down next to Ringo.
When John Lennon came in, the hot press room immediately was
overcome with the chill of something hostile.
He gave everyone a look of disdain, and then sat down and proceeded to
stare at me as if to wonder why they had let someone as insignificant as me get
so close to him.
Paul came in and sat right down across the table from me,
and brought back a little of the sunshine that Lennon had so rudely taken. I put my camera around my neck, and extended
my hand. Paul took it and began to chat
as I attempted unsuccessfully to take pictures with one hand. Our short but interesting conversation went
like this:
“Hello there, what is your name?”
“Georginia---uh---I’m here for Datebook.”
“Oh?”
“Are you tired Paul?”
“Yes, just a little.
These one night stands are rough.”
Then Paul knocked me off my feet by saying, “Your hair’s
awful nice without all that hair lacquer in it.” Then he asked me to please not ‘flash’ for a
while, for my bulbs were blinding him.
Then someone told the photographers to sit down, so the
questions could begin.
Reporter: It is true
that a stewardess broke up a pillow fight on the plane when she was hit on the
head?
George: Ahem—I’m not
sure that was where she was hit, but we did quit.
Reporter: What are
your religious beliefs?
John: We neither
believe nor disbelieve. We are agnostic.
Reporter: There is a
pamphlet stating that you are communists.
Paul: Us
Communists? I’ve just gotta read that
one.
Reporter: Is it true
that there is a feud in the group?
Paul: Rubbish, I read
that article too.
John to Paul: You shouldn’t even read trash like that.
Reporter: John, is it
true that you were not home for the third year in a row on your anniversary?
John: Why should I have been?
Birthdays and such are a lot of rubbish.
We don’t’ have birthday celebrations or anything like that. Don’t even bother with them. Besides that my wife is in Libya and I
couldn’t see her if I was home.
Reporter: George, is
it true that you are going to wed Pattie Boyd?
George: Where’d you
read trash like that?
Reporter: In the
magazine I work for.
George: Tell your
editor he prints a lot of rubbish.
Reporter: Ringo, is
it true that your wife has gotten her hair cut off?
Ringo: No, the woman
just keeps wearing it up on her head.
At this point the press officer stepped up and said that
would have to be all. I ran to the table
again. Paul grabbed my hand, shook it,
and said good-bye. They all trooped out.
I called to Ringo to please come back and let me touch
him. He was told by a guard not to but
shoved the guard aside and came back anyway.
He shook my hand, and smiled warmly.
He departed with these words, “Be good and don’t cry for us. We’ve decided to come back next year.” (So there, Derek Taylor).
After I had gotten home and had a good cry. I had a chance to form an opinion about each
Beatle. Ringo Starr is without a doubt
the most unaffected by the fame. He is
very down to earth, and really like you and me.
I couldn’t quite make up my mind about George because he is
so quiet, but he seemed to be all right.
John Lennon I’d rather not say anything about except that he
is definitely not my type. He is
cynical, and complex. I don’t understand
him one little bit, and I’ve decided not to try to.
Paul is just wonderful.
He reminds me of the typical boy next door. He’s very handsome, and also very kind. He puts you right at your ease. Of course, he is very intelligent, as are all
the Beatles, John especially—he acts as though he is far too brilliant to
associate with the human race.
Cathi Sellards
A crowd of about 200 were standing around the employee’s
entrance at the Memorial Coliseum awaiting the arrival of the Beatles. It was in the middle of the whole thing. Policemen were everywhere and busloads more
were coming Finally, a motorcycle escort
came roaring up, closing followed by a nine passenger station wagon. Between two bobbing heads, I caught a glimpse
of John’s grinning face with his sunglasses balanced on his nose, a black flat
hat on his head.
After a moving concert, during which five girls fainted, I
headed back to the employee’s entrance.
The police still blocked the doors.
One girl jumped the barrier and ran to the door. It was locked. It was pathetic to see her pounding on the
door in vain.
Some of the police made a great mistake and opened that door
only a few inches. About 100 of us
jumped the barrier and surged toward the door.
A tug of war between the police and kids began. I and about eight other kids headed for the second
door. The boy next to me pried the door
open a few inches. I immediately stuck
my foot in. We had succeeded! Eleven kids got in before the police shut the
door.
It didn’t’ take long to locate the Beatles, with the police
in hot pursuit. We rushed up to them,
all talking at once. I shook hands with
Paul and touched the rest in the process of getting their autographs. We talked to them briefly.
Girl: Are you going
to stay in Portland tonight?
Paul: No.
Me: Are you coming
back to America?
George: I’m not
sure. You’d have to ask our manager.
Me: May I have your
autographs?
John: I guess so,
since you fought your way in here.
John still had on his flat hat. He looked rather angry. Ringo seemed a bit afraid of the fans. George was tanned and grinning. Paul was flirting and winking at the girls.
The police finally pushed us all out. But they let us collect all four autographs
first.
Outside we were met with shouts of jeers from the poor
people who didn’t get in. Eight girls
pounced me and asked if I had touched the Beatles.
It was only then that I realized I had touched them and had
been with them for about ten minutes.
Suddenly I felt very weak and decided I’d better go home.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Do Rio a Abbey Road by Lizzie Bravo: A Book review
When I started this blog in 2009, the name "Lizzie Bravo" to me was nothing more than an answer to a trivia question (Really the question of "who was one of the fans that sang on 'Across the Universe' truly is a question on Beatles Trivial Pursuit). Over the years, we all have been blessed to have Lizzie Bravo herself share photos and stories of her life as a Beatles fan in London in the 1960's with us on this blog and my "sister blog" The Beatles photo blog.
I have come to find that Lizzie is a true sweetheart of a women and a real Beatle fan. I felt connected with her right away because we both love John Lennon and appreciate certain pictures of him. I am honored to be able to consider Lizzie to be a friend of mine, although I have never had the pleasure to meet her in person.
For many years Lizzie has said that she was going to publish a book based on the diaries that she kept during her time in London. I know that I have waited patiently for a long time and the wait is over! Lizzie book, Do Rio a Abbey Road is published in glorious colors and let me tell you: it was worth the wait!
The book is Lizzie's diaries from when she was a teenage Beatle fan living in London beginning in February 1967 when she first waited outside of EMI studios and met the members of the Beatles after they were recording tracks for the Sgt. Pepper album. Of course Lizzie was hooked and went back to EMI and Paul's house on Cavendish Avenue over and over again---making wonderful friends along the way.
Lizzie will tell details about what Paul was wearing on a particular day and will lament about how she will just die if she doesn't see John soon---and then when she DOES get to see John, she says that she just about died! I am certain that Lizzie was not the only teenage girl in 1967 that felt that way.
Of course she tells her story including the amazing day in February 1968 when she sang backup on "Across the Universe" and until she left London and got married in 1969.
Lizzie's story isn't the only one in the book. I particularly enjoyed a section of the book written by Paul Minett, who was someone that met Lizzie at EMI around the time the Beatles were recording "All you need is love." Paul and his friend, Gordon, traveled out to Kinfauns and met up with not just George but also John. They also met Ringo at Sunny Heights and saw the Beatles many times at EMI. The photographs from Paul and Gordon are breathtaking, particularly one of George Harrison at the window of the painted Kinfuans.
The photos in the book are just amazing. Lizzie published every photo regardless of the quality or if it was the back of a Beatles' head. But there aren't very many "bad" photo---they are all so amazing and they reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. Because I truly believe that the snapshots taken by the fans show a side of the Beatles that we never see in posed photographs. And the photos Lizzie has taken of the Beatles, particularly the ones of John Lennon, show how much she loved and adored them.
The best part of the book for me was at the end, there is a thumbnail of each photo in the book with the date the photo was taken (if known) and where the photo was taken. What an amazing resource!
Right now Do Rio a Abbey Road is only available in the Portuguese language. Hopefully it will eventually be available in English. However, the photographs are amazing regardless of what language you speak.
If you live in Brazil and would like to order the book online, you can go to
http://www.estantevirtual.com.br/buritisebo/Lizzie-Bravo-Do-Rio-a-Abbey-Road-Autografado-pela-Autora-198500393
If you live in Rio, you can buy the book directly at the bookstore that is located downtown. They are open 2:00-6:00pm
Buriti Sebo Literário
Rua do Carmo, 9, sala 902 - Centro
Rio de Janeiro / RJ
(21) 2220-5492
And if you are in the rest of the world? You can contact Lizzie directly at lizzie.bravo@gmail.com and she will telly you more about how you can own a copy for yourself.
I have come to find that Lizzie is a true sweetheart of a women and a real Beatle fan. I felt connected with her right away because we both love John Lennon and appreciate certain pictures of him. I am honored to be able to consider Lizzie to be a friend of mine, although I have never had the pleasure to meet her in person.
For many years Lizzie has said that she was going to publish a book based on the diaries that she kept during her time in London. I know that I have waited patiently for a long time and the wait is over! Lizzie book, Do Rio a Abbey Road is published in glorious colors and let me tell you: it was worth the wait!
The book is Lizzie's diaries from when she was a teenage Beatle fan living in London beginning in February 1967 when she first waited outside of EMI studios and met the members of the Beatles after they were recording tracks for the Sgt. Pepper album. Of course Lizzie was hooked and went back to EMI and Paul's house on Cavendish Avenue over and over again---making wonderful friends along the way.
Lizzie will tell details about what Paul was wearing on a particular day and will lament about how she will just die if she doesn't see John soon---and then when she DOES get to see John, she says that she just about died! I am certain that Lizzie was not the only teenage girl in 1967 that felt that way.
Of course she tells her story including the amazing day in February 1968 when she sang backup on "Across the Universe" and until she left London and got married in 1969.
Lizzie's story isn't the only one in the book. I particularly enjoyed a section of the book written by Paul Minett, who was someone that met Lizzie at EMI around the time the Beatles were recording "All you need is love." Paul and his friend, Gordon, traveled out to Kinfauns and met up with not just George but also John. They also met Ringo at Sunny Heights and saw the Beatles many times at EMI. The photographs from Paul and Gordon are breathtaking, particularly one of George Harrison at the window of the painted Kinfuans.
The photos in the book are just amazing. Lizzie published every photo regardless of the quality or if it was the back of a Beatles' head. But there aren't very many "bad" photo---they are all so amazing and they reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. Because I truly believe that the snapshots taken by the fans show a side of the Beatles that we never see in posed photographs. And the photos Lizzie has taken of the Beatles, particularly the ones of John Lennon, show how much she loved and adored them.
The best part of the book for me was at the end, there is a thumbnail of each photo in the book with the date the photo was taken (if known) and where the photo was taken. What an amazing resource!
Right now Do Rio a Abbey Road is only available in the Portuguese language. Hopefully it will eventually be available in English. However, the photographs are amazing regardless of what language you speak.
If you live in Brazil and would like to order the book online, you can go to
http://www.estantevirtual.com.br/buritisebo/Lizzie-Bravo-Do-Rio-a-Abbey-Road-Autografado-pela-Autora-198500393
If you live in Rio, you can buy the book directly at the bookstore that is located downtown. They are open 2:00-6:00pm
Buriti Sebo Literário
Rua do Carmo, 9, sala 902 - Centro
Rio de Janeiro / RJ
(21) 2220-5492
And if you are in the rest of the world? You can contact Lizzie directly at lizzie.bravo@gmail.com and she will telly you more about how you can own a copy for yourself.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Spotlight on Ping Tom --former Beatles fan club president
When I posted the story out of the Beatles Booster Fan club newsletter last week, I noticed that a person named "Ping Tom" was listed as the president of the fan club. I did some google searching and found an old newspaper article from 1964 about Ping moving from L.A. to Tucson and starting up her fan club in her new location. Alright---the only thing I have to say is that if I had tickets to a Beatles concert that was one week away and my Dad said we had to move---there would have been a big fight. I would have begged and begged to stay with a friend or family member until after the concert...anything not to miss it!
Anyhow---does anyone remember Ping Tom? Anyone know her now or know what she is doing? I would love to do as "What ever happened to" segment on what she is currently up to.
Explaining her feelings about why today's teenagers have" flipped" for the Beatles she says,” We fell for them because they were different in appearance and music. They didn't follow any of the beat trends. Now they are famous and I think it's natural for teenagers to go all out for a group they like. "
Anyhow---does anyone remember Ping Tom? Anyone know her now or know what she is doing? I would love to do as "What ever happened to" segment on what she is currently up to.
Ping Tom comes to Tucson and brings “Beatlemania”
By Linda Shelton
"I want to hold your hand" means an awful
lot to a girl named Ping Tom, but you could sum it up with just two
words, "the Beatles"
Ping Tom is the president of the Southwest chapter of The Beatles national fan club . She attends Pueblo high school as a junior.
To explain how she started her fan club, “I fell in love with them when I first heard' I want to hold your hand,’ so I wrote to a girl in England who had a fan club for the Beatles.”
Ping Tom is the president of the Southwest chapter of The Beatles national fan club . She attends Pueblo high school as a junior.
To explain how she started her fan club, “I fell in love with them when I first heard' I want to hold your hand,’ so I wrote to a girl in England who had a fan club for the Beatles.”
When Ping began the fan club, she was living in Los Angeles,
California. She all obtained a charter for her club under the name of the
"Beatles West Coast fan club", and then she started to work on it.
She published 1,000 copies of a newsletter, which cost her
$83. 900 of these she gave to Dave Hull,
the disc jockey for KRLA, a local radio station in Los Angeles, for publicity.
The Beatles fan where to send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the station
and in return, they would be sent a newsletter. Ping got most of her 200
members this way.
Ping, as president of the Beatles fan club, said that the
Beatles' popularity was not at its peak right now, but it's not decreasing. She
also commented on the difference of interest between Los Angeles and Tucson.
"Tucson is a small city and the radio stations don’t do
anything for the Beatles", was Ping's explanation for Tucson uninterested.
"Everybody in Los Angeles joins clubs and contest and really helps their
stars", said the president.
For a "Beatles rally" held at the Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum in California, Ping went all out and made it Beatles suit to wear. On Paul McCartney's birthday, Ping called
his house. Paul was still touring in Australia, so she had to be content with
talking to his aunt.
Ping attended the preview of “A Hard Day's Night" when
it was first shown in Los Angeles, before the premier in New York. Tickets for
this event were given to her and the members of her club by United Artist, the
company that released the film. Attached to the tickets were poster boards and
stickers for the club to make signs saying, "We love the Beatles."
Ping wrote to each of the Beatles and got answers from
George's mother and John's aunt. Ping regrettingly said that she has not
met the Beatles. When the Beatles performed in Hollywood, she had planned to
see them. However, she still has her $4.50 ticket for the middle section of the
Hollywood Bowl. One week before the Beatles came, Ping’s family had to
move back to Tucson.
"I was very disappointment", commented Ping,
"But since my father financed the club until I got a good start, I
listened to when he said it was too expensive to stay in Los Angeles even for
one more week."
When Ping arrived in Tucson, she change the name
of her club to the " Beatle booster fan club". She does all the work
herself. Her publications includes 12 newsletters a year and
pictures of the Beatles of various prices. She noted that she was sending out
negatives to a girl in Wisconsin for developing but that ran into money so she
bought developing equipment and try her and hand at developing.
Ping has a long history of fan clubs. She started with
a fan club for Paul Anka when she was 13 years old.
Explaining her feelings about why today's teenagers have" flipped" for the Beatles she says,” We fell for them because they were different in appearance and music. They didn't follow any of the beat trends. Now they are famous and I think it's natural for teenagers to go all out for a group they like. "
Monday, January 25, 2016
Look out for the yellow submarine trousers!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Ringo's snowmobile
Maybe Ringo can pick some of you who are stuck inside in his snowmobile and help you get around!
Snow Day!
My best wishes to all of you who are snowed in right now! I hope you are all warm and dry. Enjoy some quiet time with some Beatles books or films.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Remembering the wedding of George and Pattie
50 years ago today, on January 21, 1966 George Harrison married Pattie Boyd with Paul McCartney as the best man.
From what I can tell, fans weren't devastated when George and Pattie got married as they were with Ringo and Maureen the year previously or Paul and Linda in 1969. I think the reason for this is that first of all, it wasn't a secret that George and Pattie were a couple that was in love. George never tried to hide Pattie from the press and was honest about his intentions of getting married to her.
Plus the fans were familiar with their relationship from the start. From when George and Pattie met on the set of A Hard Day's Night, to reading about the holidays that they took together, the fans were able to watch the relationship turn into marriage without a shock.
The other big reason the fans weren't upset is that most girls really adored Pattie Boyd. She was the ultimate "swinging London" girl. She was beautiful and very fashionable. Fans everywhere tried to dress like her and fix their hair like her. Besides her beauty, fans also saw her as a very sweetheart of a girl and the perfect match for George.
Their wedding was celebrated by almost everyone around the world and today we remember the happy occasion.
From what I can tell, fans weren't devastated when George and Pattie got married as they were with Ringo and Maureen the year previously or Paul and Linda in 1969. I think the reason for this is that first of all, it wasn't a secret that George and Pattie were a couple that was in love. George never tried to hide Pattie from the press and was honest about his intentions of getting married to her.
Plus the fans were familiar with their relationship from the start. From when George and Pattie met on the set of A Hard Day's Night, to reading about the holidays that they took together, the fans were able to watch the relationship turn into marriage without a shock.
The other big reason the fans weren't upset is that most girls really adored Pattie Boyd. She was the ultimate "swinging London" girl. She was beautiful and very fashionable. Fans everywhere tried to dress like her and fix their hair like her. Besides her beauty, fans also saw her as a very sweetheart of a girl and the perfect match for George.
Their wedding was celebrated by almost everyone around the world and today we remember the happy occasion.
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