Flowers and autographs

There is SO much that I love about this one.   First of all, it is John Lennon and he is wearing his fabulous flower jacket (which is on display at the R&R Hall of Fame) and second is the look on the face of the girl behind him.    I little bit of "I can't believe I am standing next to John Lennon."   on her face, don't you think?

Puppet Show

Who is the child in this photo?  Without seeing a face, I cannot tell if it is Zak.   

Grandude

I was surprised by the news that Paul is writing another children's book!   This sounds like a fun one -- all about "Grandude" and his magical adventures with his four "chillers."     However -- we have a year to wait until the release.   I hope he does some book signings like he did for "High on the clouds."


Side note:   What is with the backdrops that Paul uses these days?   Are they handmade?

He's the Greatest

Here is a Ringo fan story that  was written by Kathy Mohrmann for the October 1979 issue of "With a Little Help From My Friends."    I could not find a photograph of Ringo on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon (isn't that strange?).  There is a very grainy video of it on Youtube.    I am posting a photo of Ringo taken a month later.

He's the Greatest

By Kath Mohrmann

September 2, 1979 -- I sat down in front of my TV set to watch Jerry Lewis' Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon at 9:00pm on September 2, determined, like many others to stay up all night if necessary to see Paul McCartney and Wings.  I'm sure we were all happily surprised in the middle of the night to find Ringo Starr jamming with Bill Wyman, Todd Rundgren, Kiki Dee, Doug Kershaw, etc. on "Money" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash"   (wasn't it considerate of them to cut away when they were just cranking up on "Twist and Shout?"  &(@#$!)  Of course, the cameramen didn't show enough shots of Ringo to suit a Beatle fan, but he was looking well and healthy (thank goodness!)

However, that was just the start of a wonderful day for me.  At about 7:40 am (when I was getting very weary, by the way), the celebrities answering the phones in Las Vegas were introduced by Jerry.  and who do you think was there doing his bit?  None other than our hero -- Ritchie!   He talked to Jerry for a minute or two and gave him $100, which I think someone had given him to give to Jerry.  Well, as you can imagine, when I saw Ringo on the phones, my first thought was, "How do I call Las Vegas?"  The local MDA people here in Greenville, S.C., didn't have the Las Vegas telephone number and neither did the Las Vegas operator.  I got kind of panicky right about then and called Ann, a friend of mine from Louisville to see what to do next.  She was going bonkers too.  We decided we might be able to get the number from the Sahara Hotel, where the telethon was being held.  The hotel gave me the number and at 7:55 I hurriedly called it. 

The phone rang for a long time before an English accent said "Hello."  He didn't sound like Ringo (might have been Bill Wyman), so I asked if I could speak to Ringo.  Bill said he (Ringo) was at another phone.  Then I said I was calling long distance from S.C., so he said he'd get him.   My heart was beating a mile a minute.  I couldn't believe I was about to talk to one of the Beatles!  I was so nervous I had no idea what I was going to say.  I guess I had thought I wouldn't be able to get through.  As best I can remember, here's what happened. 

It seems as if Ringo said something about South Carolina -- whether it was to me or to Bill Wyman I'll never know.  I said, "Hello...Ringo?"  and he said, "Hello?  I can hardly hear you, darlin'."   I felt really funny calling him Ringo; it just sounded strange when I said it.  Then he asked, "What's your name, darlin'?"  I gave him my name and had to spell it twice, which is no unusual.  Then he asked for my phone number - -why I don't know -- but if he wants to call me up sometimes, that's fine with me!  I gave him my address, but there was a long pause after I said, "Greenville, South Carolina,"  so I asked him if he was ready for the zip code.  "It takes a long time to write 'South Carolina'"  I told him he could use "S.C." and he asked, "Would they know what I mean?"  I assured him that the post office would know.  I gave him my pledge, and he commented, "Everything helps."

Right about then,  after all the business had been taken care of, I thought I would probably become a victim of that old "uh..er...uh" language disease we Americans seem to catch from time to time.  But Ringo helped me out by keeping the conversation going.  "Are you enjoying the show?"  I told him I was.  I should have said I stayed up all night to see Paul, but I didn't think of  it at the time (darn it!)  Then he asked, "How did the band sound?"   I said, "It sounded great!  I wish you could have sung a song, though."  He said, "Yeah, well, I was just sort of sitting in," or something to that effect.  Since he'd been so ill a few months ago, I asked how he was feeling, and he said he was feeling great.  I told him he looked really good, and he said, "Thanks, darlin'.  Well, I have to go now, darlin'"  It just knocked me out the way he kept calling me "darlin'"  I had to get something in about George (my fave), so I said, "Say hello to George for me when you see him."  Ringo replied, "I'll see him in 10 days, and I 'll tell him you said hello."  I wonder why he was going to see George?  I thanked him and we said goodbye.

 After I'd recovered somewhat from the shock of it all, I called Ann back to see if she'd gotten through.  She hadn't obtained the phone number yet, so I gave it to her.  She tried several times to call, but Ringo was constantly on the phone with other people.  Then he left the stage and neither Ann nor my other friend, Teresa got to speak to him.  I must have been one of the first to try to call Las Vegas, so I was really lucky and got through.  I forgot to ask Ringo if Paul was going to be on the show live, but as it turned out, he only sent a tape of "Getting closer."  Ann and Teresa chided me for not asking about their favorite, John.    Sorry, girls, but I guess my mind doesn't work properly when talking to a Beatle!

On Thursday, September 6, I received my pledge envelope in the mail.  I'm sure Ringo printed my name and address on it himself because my surname was originally spelled "Mormann."  He had to stick an "H"  between the "O" and the "R" and wrote it above.  He also misspelled "South Carolina"-  it came out as "South Caraliner."   As you can imagine, I'm not sending my pledge in that particular envelope!  I plan to keep it and frame it. 

Thus, my Labor Day was a wonderful one.  I was just amazed that I was able to get any words out when Ringo came on the line.  He was really sweet and very easy to talk to -- just like al ong time friend.  Thanks Ringo!  "It's a sunshine life for me!" 

Peace to all

Where's Yoko?

I guess they did have to leave the bed now and then for bathroom breaks....

George is like, "I'm outta here!"

This picture is great!   Lucky girl in the scarf -- I think that is Paul she is screaming to. 

How do you sleep?

Love this photo from the newly released "How do you Sleep" video.   John and George getting their angry feelings about Paul out in the studio.   

Advertising the Beatles a book review

When the author of Advertising The Beatles,  Ray Zirkle,  was a young Beatles fan, he started to save all of the advertisements that he found in Billboard and Cashbox magazine that pertained to the Beatles. He took care of these pieces of Beatles history and decided to make a book out of his collection.

His book is full of colored photographs of ads for Beatles items in chronological order.  It is a beautiful book and the ad themselves tell a story of the Beatles through what was sold between 1963-1970.   This is the only book I am aware of that features the advertisement in the United States.  Since there were so many products available in the U.S.,  it is a great time capsule.   There are ads for all of their records,  Beatles buttons, wigs, concerts, movies, etc etc.  I especially enjoyed the later years of the Beatles.  The ads for Magical Mystery Tour,  Yellow Submarine, and Let it Be were really colorful and interesting. It seems like you will see Beatles ads on Twitter or Facebook from time to time, but they are always early in the Beatle story.  These later advertisements are a lot of fun.

My only complaint about the book is that there are a lot of photos but very little text.   I would like to know a bit more about the advertisements.  How many wigs were sold?   Who made the wigs?  etc.  There is some text, but I would like to know more. 

But overall this is a lovely book and one that is worth a good look through more than just once.


The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon where you can purchase this book..   I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara

https://amzn.to/431IBMI

Paul the PR guy

My Four Favorite musicians

And someone is going to say "Is that David Bowie"

Whoever you are -- it made me chuckle the first time.  Enough already! 

Super Ringo

All photos copyrght Henry Diltz

What ever happened to that project Ringo was doing with Stan Lee for a Ringo superhero comic?  I was all for reading about how Ringo saves the day with peace and love.

#9 Dream

Tonight is another John story from a fan.   It was written by Anne Tishelman and was published in the October 1979 issue of 'With a Little Help From My Friends."   

Photo taken on October 8, 1979, by Laura Choby 

It all started when Pat S., Laura C., and Pat D. decided to come to New York to hopefully see John.  They came on Saturday, October 6 (1979), and stayed with me, as I live just outside of NYC, 12 miles from John.  On Saturday night we stopped by John's, but it was about 8:30pm, and we really didn't expect to see him.  We just wanted to make sure that he was here and not upstate at the farm or anything.  Well, he was here.   We were all excited as long as we knew he was at least in the City, we had a chance.  We talked to the doorman for a bit and then came back to my house for the night, feeling very hopeful.

On Sunday, the 7th, we got to John's early in the afternoon, figuring John probably likes to sleep as late as the rest of us.   We got there about 1:30 pm or so, and just as we got out of the car, out comes Sean and the nanny!   It was quick and took us by surprise.  Sean waved and said "Hi!" a couple times.  He is SO adorable!  He's got very long hair - as long as John's (if not longer) very small eyes (but then so does John), and he's got the Lennon nose!  Off they went down the street, leaving us marveling at our luck and hoping to see Daddy!

We waited around for a while, getting colder and colder.  A couple more people came around Laura decided she needed cigarettes (after we'd seen Sean and a friend, the nanny and an older man go off into the park we figured we'd be safe going then because they'd probably be there for a while so we wouldn't miss anything), so we went for a little walk.  Coming back, we decided to walk a bit in the park.  We went in, and Laura was taking a few photos of the many roller skaters we saw.  I glanced over to the left, and in the distance, we saw the nanny.  We looked ahead of her a bit and saw Sean running around with two other little kids. The man was there, and there were two women with them as well.   They walked down one path, and Sean was throwing a Frisbee. They started back a little, so we went around and past them.   The kids started playing a huge rock -- more like some sort of boulder stuck in the ground, and we headed towards there as well.  Sean climbed up to the top and then would slide down the other side, and the other kids followed him.  We hung around there looking very touristy but with our cameras hidden.  Sean started playing soccer and then again with the Frisbee.  The other kids came around, and they all started generally running around.  We kept hearing them calling "Sean, Sean!" and it was just so cute.

The three kids were playing with the older man.  He was a monster for a while for them.  They were playing around in the grass.  At one point, the man was on the ground, and Sean started pulling grass up out of the ground and throwing it at the man singing, "It's raining it's pouring, the old man is snoring."   Another Lennon voice!  Maybe we'll get an LP yet from a Lennon!  After Sean, then the other kids started signing as well.  Then while the man was still on the ground, he pulled on the cuff of Sean's jeans, and he said, "What's the matter, Sean?  Doesn't anyone ever sew your pants?"  Laura and I just laughed.  They kept running around, laughing and having a good time, and we were just nonchalantly watching.  It was so adorable.  Sean is a doll with much energy, but at the same time, it kinda pulls on your heartstrings seeing Sean so happy romping around with this other man, whoever he was, and not John.   I'm sure he does play around with John, but seeing that just made us think a bit.  A lot more people would've been watching if it had been John Lennon and his son in Central Park.  I doubt if anyone else around there that day knew who he was.  Anyway, they started calling the kids together to go.  They started walking towards 72nd Street, and we did too, far enough behind them, so they didn't see us.  They stopped as the kids started eating oranges, but we were too close to stop.  We slowed down a bit, pretending to be generally looking around, but caught up with them.  We were right next to Sean.  He was wearing Sassoon jeans, no less! (A 4-year-old!).  There was a sort of fork in the path.  They went towards the left, so we went to the right.  We waited until they were ahead again.  Then we stayed on the opposite side of the street from them.  When we got to 72nd Street, Pat and everyone were still in front of the Dakota, and we motioned to them that Sean was coming.  They saw him but didn't see us.  They didn't go in the Dakota; they walked past.  We waited a while, but as it got later, colder and rainier, we figured John wasn't going to come out.  We were waiting after the others had left.  It would've been polite of John to come down and say hello to the four of us.  We talked to the doorman for a while, Tom and his friend Craig came, and we all went to warm up somewhere.  Didn't see John but it was a good day.

On Monday we decided to go a bit earlier.  Monday, October 8, 1979 - a day we'll not soon forget!  We left my house at about 9am.  We had breakfast and the Dakota Restaurant and then went over to John's.  Sharon and Julie were there again and a couple of other people.  At about 11:15 am a limo pulled in.  Was it for John?  The doorman confirmed it.  He was coming out in a little while!  Knowing he was coming, we just did not feel the old at all anymore.  We were getting more and more excited with every sign of movement from the office/lobby.  Every time the doorman walked in we were waiting for John to come out with him.  The state these Beatles reduces us to!

As we were waiting, a delivery truck pulled up and the man took out these two HUGE  boxes that were wrapped in white with big bows on top.  We all noticed them I think, guessing they were for John and Sean.  We joked that the boxes were so big that Ringo had probably sent them and Paul was in one and George in the other!  We found out the next day that they were the gifts that John and Sean gave each other -- each gave the other a life-size doll of himself!  Imagine getting a life-size John doll for your birthday!   At 11:45am, out they came.   The limo was in the driveway, so when we saw them come, we all moved toward the car.  John came out first, got in the back seat, then Sean right behind him, and Yoko behind Sean.  The nanny got in the front seat.  What a shock seeing John!  He looked so good!  Tall, thin, dressed in black, with a ciggie.  His hair is long again and he has a beard.  He looks like he just stepped across Abbey Road - 1969 all over, except the beard is a bit thinner.  As he came out and saw everyone, a big smile came across his face and he waved before he got in the car.  I don't care what anyone says, he loves it as much as Paul!  Sean was wearing a cowboy hat, and all I remember of Yoko is that she was wearing the big dark glasses she used to always wear.  We stayed on the driver's side of the car as that's where John was sitting (behind the driver).  As the car backed out of the driveway slowly, we just watched John.  It stopped right next to us before pulling out into the street.  John never stopped smiling and he was talking to Yoko.  As the car pulled out into the street we moved out a bit, and as it started to drive off, John turned around to us and waved int he rear window.  Laura and I were dying.  This was the first time either of us had actually "met a Beatle" and seeing John in such a good mood and so obviously happy, well, it just made it that much better!

Okay, so they were gone.  We figured they had to come back, so we'd wait.  We sat around talking about John and how great he's looking.  a few more people had come around.  We began to feel the cold again.  After a while, Pat went to get her car and double park in front of the building so we could still be on the lookout for John without freezing to death.  Pat and Laura were in the front, Pat D and I in back.  We were definitely warmer in the car, but we all were getting pretty drowsy.  "Limo watching" is tiring.  We were expecting John to come from the same direction which they had left; the direction we were facing.  Thank God Pat had looked in the rearview mirror when she did.  She glanced back  and said, "Silver Limo!" and I turned around, saw the license plate number and said, "It's him!"  We piled out of the car so fast.  Laura got out with me right behind her.  Pat swung her door open in the street, nearly hitting the limo.   Pat D.couldn't get the lever that moves the seat forward to get out of the back, so she crawled through the tiny space between the seat and the car -- now we're becoming contortionists!   Laura and I went up to the driveway as they pulled in, so that when he got out, we were right there.   I dont' remember Sean or the nanny at this point, and all I remember of Yoko was that as she got out right in front of me, I saw she's the same height as me and had a lot of gray hair in the back.  She went right in, but John stopped for a minute.  As he got out Laura shook his hand.  He got out and started taking out balloons and presents and things (we found out later that they'd gone to Sean's birthday party) and someone said they had a present for him, to which he replied, laughing, "I haven't enough hands!" and held up the balloons.   People were calling him and he said we had to "keep it down or they'll kick me out!"  to which we all laughed.  Hearing his voice, that voice it's enough to melt me away!  He had us pretty near tears I think.   Then Laura said, "John, can I take a picture John, please John?"He said, "Okay luv, but make it a quick one."  Laura took two and as I heard him say it was ok, I figured this was my chance.  I picked up my camera, focused it, and then realized my shutter-release-button lock was on.  By the time I got it unlocked, he was well under the archway.   I snapped one anyway, but of course, you can only make out the outline of his head, which is completely blacked out.   Just as he was about to go in, we called out "Happy Birthday John!" and he turned, gave us a big smile, waved and called "Thank you."  Then he went in and as soon as he was out of sight, Laura and I grabbed each other and started babbling and laughing and jumping up and down. 

Sure, we all miss hearing from John, but if he's that happy now just being with Sean and Yoko, then I think he deserves that happiness.  Sure, we'd all love to hear from him again, but if he never records again, I think I'd understand.


We went by for a little while on the 9th, but there were a lot of people around and we really didn't expect him to come out.   On Wednesday we were there for quite a while, and it snowed that day!  Luckily we had found a parking space right in front.  We knew he was in, and that alone is enough to keep us sickies waiting there.   We talked to various doormen there a lot and found out little things.   John's only got three apartments in the building (we had heard rumors that he had up to seven).  According to one of the doormen, there's the one they live in, one for the nanny, and one is a studio.  He's got three now and he's out to "buy the building," said one doorman.   On Thursday, Sean was seen coming home for lunch, going back to school, and coming home from school again that afternoon.  We didn't see John anymore.  We saw his secretary, who said that as far as he knew, John had no plans to go out that day.  We left some cards and gifts for John and Sean which the secretary took upstairs with him, and had to leave early as we were heading back to Cleveland that night to make it in time to see HELP on TV on Friday afternoon, and the Cleveland convention Saturday and Sunday.

One thing one of the doormen said that I forgot to mention.  He said Paul had been there last spring.  Also one time we checked out the Eastman's apartment and talked to the doorman there who said that Paul was due in the next day to sign a multimillion-dollar deal - the tour!  We nearly had a stroke and proceeded to act like our usual mature selves while driving down Park Avenue.  The next day though, Paul didn't show -- apparently he'd changed his mind and decided to come to NY at a later time.


We met John and Sean, we had a good time together.  We met John!  I still can't believe it.  I wonder if I ever will.

Photo 36

Teenage holiday

Cuteness overloaded

What the Beatles saw...

Blame on this guy

George is looking at a photo?

Yoko multi-tasks

Leaving on a jet plane....

Happy Birthday Linda!

Today marks Linda McCartney's 77th birthday.     While I understand why many fans dislike Linda, I personally admire her and think she was a strong woman.  I wish I was a little more like Linda.     Here's to Linda on the day of her birth! 

Paul McCartney

Photo by Lizzie Bravo 

Namaste

George and Rich

A new family

A helluva way to live

Another fan story from The Write Thing Jan/Feb 1976 issue.  This John encounter was written by Sharen Uzarewicz.

Photo by George Tebbins
December 29, 1975

As we drove past the doorman, he waved at us but we thought it was only in recognition and we didn't stop as we were going a few blocks down for something to eat. When we returned, Nancy got out to talk to him, and it turned out that hew as waving at us to follow the limo a few cars ahead of us which contained John and Yoko!

Knowing how much it meant to me to see John, Nancy and George agreed to wait at least a few hours (it was about 10pm), but then we'd have to leave to start the drive home.  Eventually, George fell asleep in the back seat, and Nancy curled up by the steering wheel.

It was 3am when the silver Lincoln continental pulled up, and without seeing its occupants, I knew it was them.  I shook George and Nancy and tried to gather my photos, camera and jump out of the car.  When I turned around John was standing there looking very, very paranoid.   What I learned later was that when I woke Nancy, her first reaction was to start the car, gun the motor and flash on her headlights.   I guess I was bursting out of the car at the exact same time.  John not knowing our intentions literally jumped a foot.   I hurried over to him and said, "John, we're from Chicago, and I have some photos I'd like to give you."   His face relaxed, and he replied, " Oh sure."  Then George asked if we could take some pictures and he said alright.  I pulled out the photo I wanted to give him, and he took it and said, "Yoko, look at this."  He genuinely seemed to like it and asked me where it was taken.   I said Chicago, and he looked down at me and said, "But when was that?  What was I doing there?"   Being completely freaked out by that point, I told him he'd just been in town to visit Dick Gregory, and he replied that was strange because he'd just been talking to Dick that very day.  In the photo I gave him he was wearing a scooped neck black t-shirt and denim jacket, and when he looked at it he said, "What was I wearing?  A low cut black bra?"  and "Was I fat then."

Photo taken by George Tebbins 

Nancy asked if they'd gotten our cards and he said, yes, and they were sorry they couldn't come down before, "but we're very busy - with the baby shittin'"   He added that they get cards and letters all the time even from Rome.  "But we can't come down and look for the Romans."  It was as if he was actually apologizing for not coming down and that he really wanted us to understand why.  George asked if he'd pose for a photo and he seemed very willing.  After I took two shots I wanted to get in a photo myself, but I was too shy to ask him.   Instead, I sort of walked in back of him while he was signing something and leaned my head around his side just so it would get in some of the photos George was taking.   I didn't think John knew I was there, and I was waiting for George's flash to go off when suddenly John ducked his head down next to mine making a funny face.  Overcome I touched his back and mumbled a thank you, moving away.

John and Sharon
Photo taken by George Tebbins

Someone mentioned that we'd been in the car for three days and he said, "That's a helluva way to live." It wasn't a put-down, it was more like, you must be crazy to go thru all that for me, but I'm pleased you have.

Then I remembered I had more photos with me and I handed them to him telling him he could have them if he liked.   He genuinely seemed to like them, and he went thru them more than once showing them to Yoko.  He looked down at me and repeated, "But I want to know what Iw as doing when I look at these."  It was incredible of him to say something like that.  Whether he intended to toss them out or not, it was still fantastic of him to give the impression that they meant something to him and that he'd be looking at them again.

Yoko was rather quiet, but once, out of the blue, she looked at me and very sweetly said, "I like that top you're wearing."  I was so stunned that she even noticed, all I could think of to say was, "Thank you, I got it just for the trip."  When we finally left she wished us all a happy new year.   John asked us if we had everything (at least three times we'd asked him for one more photo and he didn't seem bothered at all) and then they walked to the gate and rang for the doorman.

No matter how many times I repeat it, I just can't' convey how absolutely marvelous he was toward us.  He really seemed to care about us, he understood what we'd been thru, and he was pleased to give us a little of his time.  He must have been tired, but he didn't rush us in the least.  He was fantastic.  He also looked fantastic.  The most recent photos I had seen of him made him look old and tired.  When we saw him in the flesh, he looked like he was in his early 20's -- healthy and happy.  His hair was drawn back into a ponytail, and he was wearing a blue beret and a long navy blue pea coat and beige slacks.  I didn't get a good look at anything but Yoko's face.  Her hair was very long, and she was pale but looked beautiful to me.  She was incredibly sweet to us.  Not at all the way the doorman had described her (the doorman said she was jealous of the fans and always called the police on them for hanging around).  She talked to us but mainly stayed in the background and didn't seem to mind how hysterical we were becoming over her husband.  It really proved to me how little of what you hear 2nd and 3rd hand can be believed.

Was it all worth it?  You better believe it was worth it -- it's just "a helluva way to live."

A quick concert in Montreal

Shopping trip

Postcards Party

Donovan (with Mal Evans behind him) performs at the release party for Mary Hopkin's album, Postcards

Happy embrace

Beatles at the Ridge 2018 -- A run down

This past weekend I went to the Beatles festival called "Beatles at the Ridge" in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.    This event has become my favorite Beatles convention, and I know that many of you might wonder what makes it so great.


What I like about Beatles at the Ridge is that is a much more relaxed atmosphere than at other Beatle conventions.   The people of Walnut Ridge are very kind, and the quaint small town adds to the laid-back vibe of the event. 



The town of Walnut Ridge always has a Beatles theme going on regardless of when you visit.   The "Abbey Road" Beatles sculpture is never removed, so if you are in Arkansas, make sure to stop by the town even if Beatles at the Ridge isn't going on.    But when it is time for the festival, the entire town decorates in peace signs, tye-dye and Beatles decore.    This year some high school students painted the cartoon Beatles on the side of the building.    There are also wooden cut-outs of the Beatles and the Yellow Submarine, which make for great photo ops.    My favorite decoration this year was from the library.  They made the Yellow Submarine entirely out of post-it notes!

Standing with the post-it note Yellow Submarine.  

On Friday night and all day Saturday presentations were going on in the building called "The Studio."  This building also houses the Argenta photo collection, which is full of Beatles press photos that weren't used in a newspaper.   It is a fascinating set of photographs.      This year the main speakers were David Bedford, who spoke about his new book Looking for the Fourth Beatle and Vivek Tiwary who talked about Brian Epstein.       Other speakers included Kit O'Toole (who talked about the White album),  Marti Edwards, and myself (talking about the 1964 Beatles U.S. fan clubs).   For me, the highlight of the weekend was Jude Southerland Kessler's panel discussion with Ivor Davis and Art Schreiber.  Both of these men traveled with the Beatles as journalists on the 1964 N. American tour.  They told the best stories!   I got to hear all about George and John playing monopoly.     Did you know that John liked to be the race car?     The funny stories these two men shared were golden to anyone that loves the Beatles during the touring years.

There was plenty of music from a Saturday morning sock hop to live Beatles music to a variety of bands throughout the day and Liverpool Legends to end the event.   Unfortunately, I missed out on most of the music this year because of other responsibilities, but I heard that the bands were good. 


If you want to come to a fun, free, laid-back Beatles event - I recommend making plans now to visit Beatles at the Ridge in September of 2019. 

Eppy's birthday!

For all of you Brian Epstein fans out there  (and I know you are out there!),  I didn't want you to think I had forgotten to remember Brian on his birthday today.    I think this is such a nice photo of Eppy and George from the premiere of a Hard Day's Night n 1964.

A nice bunch of gardners

Ringo become part of a Beatles history musuem

I would love to know the background of this photo.  When and where was it taken?   At some Beatles museum?  And why was Ringo there?  Was he pretending to be a wax figure and then scare everyone when he came to life because that would have been hilarious.

Such a Thrillington

The Impossible Dream

Time for another fan written story from a fanzine of the 1970's   This story was written by Joanna Rakowsi and was published in the January/ February 1976 issue of The Write Thing. 

Charlene, Paul and Joanna December 24, 1975
photo by Joseph Maloney 

It seems that whenever Paul McCartney was in New York, I'd be the only person unaware of the fact.  Or I'd take a trip to London in quest of the man and he'd be on a flight leaving the same time -- going in the opposite direction, of course.   To make a long story short, I'd say that my luck has been about as good as that of a search party looking for a polar bear in a blizzard.

However, on December 24, 1975, my luck took an incredible turn in the right direction.    Our editor, Barb, called me at my house on Long Island with some encouraging news:  Paul was in the Hamptons for Christmas with his in-laws.  So, then and there, Barb and I made a unanimous decision to get the story for "the Write Thing".  I promised to visit Paul on Christmas Day and send back some kind of story.   Well, to me just seeing Mr. McC, was a story in itself, because I'd been waiting since 1964 for just a glimpse.

The next day, my sister Charlene, her husband Joseph and I began the journey of my eleven-year quest, some forty miles of the travel with very nervous stomachs.  We had passed the Lee Eastman home many times over the years and simply admired it.  It's a typical Hampton home with all the typical trappings, including a TV camera in the hedge which eyes all visitors' cars.  We drove silently by several times feeling a bit crestfallen.   There were no cars in the driveway and no lights in the house.  Finally, we conjured enough nerve to drive into the driveway and ring the doorbell.  Yes, we were right, there was no one home.  Slightly discouraged, we returned to the car wondering what to do next.

We were just about to leave the town when I thought out loud, "No one comes to see their family on Christmas day and then doesn't stay."  It occurred to me that maybe the object of our quest if you'll pardon the expression, was visiting with his brother in law, John.   Only where does John live?  So I went quickly to the nearest telephone booth and the phone directory.   Bingo!  Same street as his father.

Back across town, we went, our spirits high again.  Nearly to the end of the street, we came upon a small house with a Christmas tree flowing in the window.  On the ground on the sign:  John L. Eastman.  We decided all we could do was to go to the door and ask and all they could do was tell us to leave.   I grabbed the bottle of French wine I had bought as a gift and we hauled out of the car.  We were met on the porch by a blonde lady who looked very much like Linda.  It was her sister Laura.   I squeaked out, "Is Paul here?" in a meager voice.  It was answered by a curt, "What?"  I repeated my question with a growing apprehension.  John stepped out onto the porch just in time to hear Laura repeat another "What?"  Either she's very hard of hearing or she was putting me on.


"Are you friends of his?" John inquired.  Bingo! again.   The dead giveaway.   "Well, no, we're not actually friends but we have a Christmas present for him."  They both disappeared from the porch without another word.

No sooner than did John and Laura return to the house than Paul himself appeared, wearing a wine and cream colored smoking jacket and black velvet slippers.  At last, my quest was over!

I greeted him with a "Merry Christmas, darlin'".  We exchanged Merry Christmases twice and I handed him the bottle of wine.  Paul took my hand, smiling and kissed my cheek saying "Thanks!"  Then he turned to my sister and did the honors.   After he had announced that they were just about to "East a bit," motioning absently to the door, I started pouring out every question I could think of without seeming too anxious.

"do you have any specific plans for your upcoming album"

"No.  I have lotsa ideas," smiling that effervescent smile.

"No title tunes yet?"

No, he's just going in and let "whatever happens, happen."  This is going nowhere, I thought.  Then the tables turned and he was asking us the questions!  "You live around here?"  "How'd you know I was here?"  The walls have ears, huh?  Joanna told him no, New York has ears and the fans in New York told someone in St. Paul, who told her.  She said she was a friend of mine and Paul said, "Oh, I remember her."

Finally, after some small talk which I only vaguely recall, and seeing that Paul was freezing in the 10-degree weather, we asked permission to take a few pictures.  With a hearty, "Oh, sure, yes," as an answer, Joe returned to the car for his camera.

Meanwhile, Paul smiled a lot and asked my sister Charlene if we were related, remarking that we look so alike.  He was pulling on his blue suspenders with his thumbs.

Joe returned with the cameras and started snapping away while Paul offered suggestions (Let's get one with the twin sisters,  You want one with me and you?  No, I guess you don't want one for me with your husband.   Just me?  Okay how's this?)

Paul closed his jacket and looked toward the door.  "Well, I have to go eat now."  We thanked him for coming out into the cold and assured him that we'd be seeing him on the American tour this spring.  He grinned knowingly as he opened the door.

"Have a happy....rest of Christmas!"

Happy???!!!  Seeing Paul had to be the best Christmas present I could ask for.  At last, the quest was over and somehow, it didn't seem too long after all.  Thanks to Paul's admirable hospitality, the final journey was worth every mile!  He certainly made Christmas of 1975 one I'll never forget.  Thanks, my love....