Everyone off the plane

Beatles Frolic at Party

Beatles Frolic at Party Attended by Press Writer

By Bill Barrett

Cleveland Press

August 1964

 

Key West Florida – So there I was at a poolside party with The Beatles early today.   It all started at about 1 a.m. here at the pool of the sleek Key Wester Motel, where I found myself the only American newspaperman touring with the famous four preliminary to their Cleveland visit next week.

The reason this poolside party started at 1 a.m. was that by then most all of the folks who worship at the Beatle shrine had gone home – with police encouragement.   So the Beatles emerged from whatever plush woodwork they had been hiding behind to have a swim.

George Harrison was first in the water.  He is the most avid swimmer of the quartet.  He jumped off the high board, executing a neat belly-whopper with a great splash.   His hair floated out behind him, for all the world like Dorothy Lamour.

Ringo Starr entered the pool next – cautiously, carefully, at the shallow end.  Music was coming from the public address system.  Ringo did the twist in the water.  But he swam not a stroke and for a good reason.  He can’t.

Paul McCartney was in and out of the pool, humming and singing in his famous falsetto that induces teenage squeals.

As for John Lennon, he swam not at all.  He came to the pool late, and sat alone at a table far from the rest of the party, his eyes hidden by dark glasses.  Then he wandered over to us.  He acknowledged his introduction to me with a firm handshake and the offer of an (American) cigarette.  I told him I was from Cleveland.

“Oh, Cleveland,” he said.  “We’ll be there Tuesday.”

George meanwhile was talking with Jim Stagg, KYW radio disk jockey who has been on tour with the Beatles for several weeks.

Something in George’s voice caught John’s alert year.  “You sound as if you’ve got a cold, chum,” he said.  “Nope, nothing to worry about,” Beatle George declared.  “My nose is all bunged up from the swimming that’s all.”

Paul wandered by dressed after his swim in slacks and a blinding red sports shirt.  He had a real Beatle-size problem.  “I’ve forgotten my comb,” he announced.  No one had one, Paul used his fingers for a comb on his floppy mane.  It took some time.   

Suddenly it started to rain.  We huddled under a patio umbrella.  Then we made a break for the bar, to carry on the party in there.  Unexpectedly, the bar patrons found themselves with an impromptu Beatle concert on their hands!   A rhythm combo was entertaining.  Three of them cheerfully gave up their instruments.  George and Paul grasped guitars.  Ringo slid in behind the drums.  Clarence (Frogman) Henry, a member of the Beatle entourage, did the singing.

The walls throbbed; the lemonade flowed.  The concert – mostly gutsy blues – went on until police suggested it was time for all good little Beatles to be in bed.  It was 4 a.m.  

Last night about 750 youngsters assembled outside the Key Wester Motel after the Beatles had arrived here.  Police watched impassively and an alert ice cream vendor, his truck parked on the premises, made a small fortune, and still, the chant rolled on into the night.  “We want the Beatles; we want the Beatles.”

Ringo appeared briefly, waved to the ecstatic crowd, then went back into the Beatle suite.  That was it for the night.

Promptly at 9p.m. Larry Rodriguez of the Key West police force got on his bullhorn and told the youngster to go home.  They did.  “We have a 9p.m. curfew here for children under 16,” he said.  “We don’t usually enforce it this strictly.  But we figure it’s time the kids went home and got a good night’s sleep for school tomorrow. “

Cleveland Police Chief Richard Wagner will be interested in knowing that the Key West officer handled the situation – eight officers of the police force of this city of 35,000 plus three sheriff’s deputies from Monroe County.

“The youngsters have been pretty good about it,” he grinned.  “But my advice to the Cleveland policemen would be to stay alert.  You never know what these kids will do next. “

Early last evening for instance, while the fans waited for their British heroes to return from a brief sail on the ocean, a scratching, swinging, hair-pulling fight broke out among some girls.   It was Diane’s fault, one young indignant witness assured me.  “She said something nasty about Ringo, and Paula and Barbara would stand for THAT!”

The Beatles and their entourage flew into Key West from Canadian engagements, here to await the passage of Hurricane Dora and do get a breather from the hectic pace of their tour which is nearing an end.

 

 

Paul's arrival

 

The Night I Grabbed Paul McCartney

 

The Night I Grabbed Paul McCartney

By Jackie Jones

Harrison-Lennon Followers fan club newsletter

November – December 1970

 

August 19, 1964, is a night that will always remain cherished in my heart forever.  For that was the night I grabbed the man I love and was able to be close to him for at least a few seconds.   The man is Paul McCartney.  Here in Harrison-Lennon Followers, I’ve decided to share my beautiful moment with my fellow friends.

 

My friend Sylvia and I had front row seats at the Cow Palace.  The Righteous Brothers were in the middle of their act, and had only two other songs to do, when the audience become restless, causing unbearable tension throughout the Palace.  Parts of the crowd started chanting “WE WANT THE BEATLES!  WE WANT THE BEATLES!”  I could feel that the Righteous Brothers were getting a bit irritated and as anxious to leave the stage as we were in wanting them to.  After they had left, there was a 5-minute break.  I told Sylvia that I had made up my mind to get to Paul, even if I was kicked out in the process.  She told me I was crazy, that I wouldn’t get anywhere near Paul, and to forget the whole thing.  Me, being the stubborn Cancer that I am, shook my head and said no.  She then bet me $10 that I wouldn’t get to him.  I didn’t argue, I just said, “Okay, wait and see.”  I edged my way to the edge of the stage where two cops were standing by the steps leading up to the stage, this sort of made my hopes fail, but I was determined to try and reach Paul.    I just had to and that was there was to it.  It seemed like an eternity before the DJ said, “And here’s the group you’ve been waiting for – The Beatles!”  The screaming was one continual roar that vibrated through the Cow Palace, making it sound like a supersonic jet!  Just thousands of beautiful Beatle People showing their love for the lads from Liverpool!  Suddenly they ran on stage – George, Rich, John, then Paul.  I don’t know how I did it, I just kept pushing towards the steps, fans were rushing towards the stage in all directions and before Paul made the last step before he was on stage, I grabbed him around the waist.  I couldn’t believe that I was holding him.  I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.  All I could do was cry and say, “Paul, I love you,” over and over again.  Then I did something I hadn’t planned.  I kissed his back before I was pulled from him.  I yelled one more time, “Paul, I love you!”  I’ll never forget the way he smiled at me that night.  George pointed over at me and laughed.  I was crying so hard and I couldn’t stop!  I thought I was going to get kicked out for sure, but since I hadn’t fought with the “Bobbies” I was directed back to my seat.  All I did was cry as Sylvia kept shaking me and saying “You actually grabbed him.”  She was crying too.

 

I die inside every time I think I actually held him for those precious seconds.  It’s a dream I’d like to relive all over again!  I hope those of you who are reading this enjoyed it as much as I did tell you my wonderful experience!  

Paul and George

 

Protected in Vancouver

 

Guarding the Fab 4

 

The Key

 

We want The Beatles

 Indianapolis - 1964

Harrison in the spotlight

 

Katie Segal loves George

 

We all know the story about how on  August 24, 1964, the Beatles sat on stools at a garden party in the Bel Aire part of Los Angeles, California and shook hands with countless famous people and their children.  

We also know that there were just regular fans that had found out about this and went to the house where the party was held and stood outside and tried to see a glimpse of The Beatles and wished they had a famous relative so that they could get inside themselves. 

One thing you might not know is that one of those fans standing outside was a 12-year-old Katey Sagal.   I am sure you have seen Katey Sagal on television over the past 30+ years.  She played the part of Peg Bundy on "Married with Children,"  was the voice of Leela on "Futureramia"  and most recently she has played Dan's love interest on "The Conners."    

Before all of that, she was just Katey, who loved the Beatles, especially George Harrison.   She and her best friend heard about the party on the radio and decided to find the house and see if they can see the Beatles.   They stood there in a row with other Beatlemaniacs and screamed.   There is video footage of this and you can read Katey's lips yelling out "George!  George!"     

Katey got so hysterical about George that she could not calm down.  She did not get to see The Beatles on that day, but she did get a policeman to escort her back home because she was so hysterical. 

I love these stories with photo/video evidence of now-famous people at Beatles events in the 1960s.  How many have been discovered so far?

Listen up

 

Beatles beauty rest

 

A fan is waiting overnight to buy tickets to see the Beatles concert in Las Vegas in 1964.   I have fallen asleep way too many times with a Beatles book in my hand. 

John returns home with his "John" bag

 

September 21, 1964 - London 

Last performance in the USA for 1964

 

September 20, 1964

Howdy Dallas!

 

Paul in Cleveland

 

Cow Palace

 

This one is for the John fans

 

September 5, 1964 - Milwaukee 

Philadelphia Fans

 September 2, 1964 - Philadelphia