Time to Celebrate!

 

Yesterday, March 9, officially marked the 15th anniversary of Meet the Beatles...For Real.   I want to take a moment to thank each of you who have visited this site over the past 15 years.   It has been a wild ride and I am glad to have been able to take all of you along with me. 

Let me take care of some housekeeping and news:

I have paid the $25 annual fee to keep the site going for another year.   Thanks to those of you who have bought something through the Amazon Affiliate link in the past year - I only had to chip in about $5 this year.   I appreciate the help.   Keep in mind that I do not make any money on this site.  I get pennies on the dollar for the Amazon sales, but it is always close to enough to pay to keep the site going.  Thanks!

Speaking of the Amazon Affiliate links, I have gone through all of them and have fixed each of them so that they are active.  Amazon changed the links on me, and so I have to sift through 15 years worth of reviews and fix all of those.   I edited the reviews while I was at it, so those are now fixed up.  I will be working on fixing tags and stories this year.   

I wanted to let you all know that I was on 2 podcasts recently.   On Youtube I was on "Call Me Mr. Broadstreet" channel and I was also on B/C the Beatles.   Please check those out. 

I also wanted to let everyone know that my book, "Dear Beatle People: The Story of the Beatles North American Fan Club" is now available as an e-book.   The ebook is exactly the same as the physical copy - including all photographs.   The price for the ebook is $15, but currently, Amazon has it on sale for $11.   https://amzn.to/3wOPqFe

As always, if you or anyone you know has a story about meeting one or more of the Beatles, please share it with me so it can be preserved on this site. 

Peace and Love,

Sara aka Starshyne

Glad to Be Back!

Posing with some of Eric Cash's Beatle art at Beatlefest NYC 2024

 Hello Beatle Friends!

You were not aware of it, but I have not been live posting on this site for the past 3 weeks.   I had scheduled photos and a review to post daily because I was out of town for work, went to the Beatlefest in New York City and then back on the road for work.    

I am back to posting live, and it is great to be back.   I wanted to thank everyone who came to me with the kind words about this site at the Beatlefest last weekend.  One of the most touching moments for me was on Friday night when I was on the "Meet the Authors" panel on the main stage and said, "I'm Sara Schmidt, and I run a site called 'Meet the Beatles...For Real.'"  And the people started to applaud.  I thought I was going to cry.   Thank you so much for all of the support and love.    

March 9 will mark the 15th anniversary of MTBFR.   Does anyone have any good ideas on how we can celebrate?  

I have collected many first-generation fans' stories, and I have not forgotten about the article I planned on writing.  It is just going to happen later in 2024.  

Join MTBFR 2.0

 

Here I am again asking for people to join me over at Meet the Beatles ...For Real 2.0, the Patreon for this page.   I post super rare photos and stories that you won't find on this page.    Here is a message from one of the subscribers, Ray:

The 2 pics you've just posted are treasures, as are most of the others. Please put this note on your regular site, as I urge all true Beatle fans to join up quickl, and see the VERY rare and wonderful pics to be only be found on your special site. I'm a first gen fan, andit'ss not often I see pics I've seen before (or dozens of others taken at the same session) but this site delivers fabulous unseen photos that can still thrill me. Join u,p guys!

Thanks Ray!  If you want to join, it is $4.00 a month.  For that price, isn't it worth giving a try?  

https://www.patreon.com/meetthebeatlesforreal

You are welcome to Join the MTBFR Patreon page

 

https://patreon.com/meetthebeatlesforreal

Hello MTBFR viewers, 

People have been asking me to post some of the more "scandalous" stories about fans meeting the Beatles for many years.   I have always been a bit reluctant to do so because they often paint the Beatles fans negatively. Many of those fans are still very active in the Beatles fan community, and I didn't want to shine a bright light onto an event that they might be embarrassed about that happened 50 or more years ago. 

Some stories about the Beatles, their wives, or other insiders aren't very positive.   I didn't want to upset anyone by sharing these stories. 

And yet -- it is a disservice to NOT share them.  The good, the bad, and the ugly of The Beatles and their fans are part of history.    The Beatles and their fans were far from perfect.  People hated Yoko because she was Japanese.  Linda was threatened by the "baddies."  Paul might have punched Caroline in the nose when she came onto his property.  To ignore these facts is whitewashing the Beatles' story and not being completely honest.

However, I didn't like the idea of sharing all of those stories (although I have shared quite a few of them) on this public forum where anyone can easily find them.    Those of us who are dyed-in-the-wool Beatles fans can take the stories and place them correctly in context to where they fit in the history of John, Paul, George, or Ringo.  If a story took place in 1970 and Paul is rude to a fan, we know that Paul was going through depression and depending heavily on alcohol and that his attitude is understandable.  We also know that Linda will help him pull himself together, and he will form Wings and eventually return to his usual charming Paul self.   The fan in 1970 doesn't know that and is writing from the 1970 point of view.  

But people that randomly find this site and aren't deep seeded in Beatles history don't have that background and often misconstrue things.  

So I came up with a solution to this issue (I hope).   I have decided to start a Patreon where I will share the stories and photos that I think only us hard-core Beatle fans want to read or see and can understand properly.   My thought process is that hardcore fans would be willing to pay a little bit for this content, whereas the casual browser will not be that invested. 

And I will be 100% honest with you (because that is always how I have run this site), I am looking to make a huge change in my life, and I will be in need of some money  So this is an idea I had to help me pay the bills and not just for the betterment of Beatledom.

If you join, it will cost $4.00 a month.   I WILL NOT be updating every day, but at least 1-2 times a week.    If you join before May 31, 2023, you will be entered into a contest to win a Beatles prize.  I will tell you more about that later.   I haven't had a contest in a long, long, long time.   

If you do not want to join -- no big deal!   I am NOT giving up the regular Meet The Beatles...For Real site and I will still be updating it 5 times a week, as I have been doing for 14 years.   Nothing is going to change right here (although I might remove a few of the old articles and put them on Patreon -- namely, the one about the girls that took Mary to "babysit" her.)  

I have never done anything like this before, so have a little grace as I work out how to do it.   If you have any questions -- please ask.  

Peace and Love

Sara (aka Starshyne) 

13 Years! Happy Anniversary Meet The Beatles ... For Real!

 

13 years ago today I posted this photo of John on a site I called "Meet The Beatles ... For Real"  I still love this photo. 

It was 13 years ago tonight that I got the idea and started this very site, "Meet The Beatles ... For Real!"  It wasn't a well-thought-out decision.   It was something I did on a whim -- just a place to share with some of my Beatles friends the fan-taken photographs and stories that I had been saving.    I had no clue that 13 years later I would still be doing the exact same thing. 

Some of my favorite things that have happened because of this site:  

• I have been allowed to meet and become friends with so many of the fans that were featured on these pages.
• I had a live "Meet the Beatles...for Real" session at the Fest for Beatle Fans where fans shared their own stories of meeting the Beatles.
• Fans from all around the world have sent me photos and stories to share with everyone
• Old friends have been reunited.
• Families have found photos and/or stories of their deceased loved ones that they had never seen before. 
• Many Beatles historians and authors have used this site for their research.
• I (hopefully) have been able to put a little smile on the face of someone that was going through a difficult time by posting Beatles photos. 

Thank you to each and every one of you that visit here.  I appreciate your support so much!

As of posting this 7,738,939 visits have been made to this site.  That is over 7 million!   I know that most of you are repeat visitors.  Thanks to you!

Beatle fans from all around the world have been here:  The United States, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Russia, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Ukraine, Argentina, Isreal, Spain, Netherlands, Mexico, and 25 other countries are part of this global community.   

Right now the post that has gotten the most attention is one about Claudio -- the guy that came to John Lennon's front door at Tittenhurst Park and was in the Imagine film.   A new documentary all about him and his experience is going to be soon available.    Other posts that get a lot of attention are about Beatles fans wetting their pants at concerts,  the girls that worked at the Apple Offices, Paul Goresh and his story with John, and a few of my stories:  my soundcheck experience at the Paul concert in 2013 and my story of when I met Ringo Starr in 2018.  

It has been a crazy trip.   I keep saying that I will quit updating this site whenever I get tired of it.  It has been 13 years and while there have been periods of time where I have gotten tried of it -- I always want to keep sharing photos and stories, so this site continues on!

Thank you again everyone!  

MTBFR 12 years on

 

On March 9, 2009, I decided to start a blog that featured Beatles photographs that were taken by fans.  Here I am 12 years later and Meet the Beatles .. For Real 

Some of you have been here since the beginning and I thank you for all of the support that you have given me over the past 12 years.    Some of you tell me that you remember looking at this site when you were "just a kid."   That makes me feel old, but thank you.  

I appreciate everyone that comes and visits this site, especially over this past year.   I know it has been a really difficult year for all of us.   Remote teaching 1st grade has taken up all of my time, but I have worked posting at minimum photos on this site because it makes me happy.   I hope it brings you all happiness as well.   I hope once the school year is over,  I can slow down some and get back to posting more stories, reviews, and having contests.   

Most of all -- thank you to the Beatles for their music and message.  

Peace and love, 

Sara (Starshyne) S. 

Winners announced!

Thank you to everyone that entered the 2020 Meet the Beatles...For Real anniversary contest this year.  Most everyone that entered agreed that all the songs on the original Let it Be are great and it is hard to pick a very favorite.  Many also agreed with my feelings that while the Let it Be...Naked album is outstanding and might have been more like what Paul had in mind for the album originally,  the 1970 version is the one that is we grew up listening to and for that nostalgia sake, it is the favorite.   Here is how the songs ranked by those that entered.

5.  Dig a Pony
4 (tie) Get Back & I've Got a Feeling
3.  Across the Universe
2.  Two of Us
1.  Let it Be


Here are the winners of the contest. 

Prize 1:  Judy King

Prize 2:  Jim O'Keefe


Congrats to Judy and Jim!  And again thank you all for entering the contest.  I hope you had a little fun.    Winners, please remember to send me your address within one week from today.    I am not even sure with the quarantine if the post offices are open, but I'll try to get your prizes out to you as soon as I can. 


Peace and Love!
Sara S.

2020 MTBFR Anniversary contest

Today is a happy day because 11 years ago this very evening I started this site, Meet The Beatles ... for Real.   Who knew that I'd still be here doing this 11 years later?   Okay -- it isn't TOO surprising since I've been a Beatles fan for most of my life.   Still, many fan-based sights do not last very long, including some that I tried to start in the past. 


I want to apologize to all of you that while I have been posting photographs, I have not been doing very well at keeping up with the other aspects of this site.   It has been an entire year since I held a contest, I haven't been posting as many stories as I used to and I am just now returning to Wednesday Reviews.   I've had a difficult year and the best I could do was post photographs, but I am trying to get back to how things used to be.

Before I go into the new contest,  I wanted to inform you all that I just paid to renew this site for another year.   I have been asked in the past if I accepted donations for this fee.  Usually, I use what I earned through Amazon to pay the fee, but this year I did not review many books and so I didn't have Amazon purchases to help me out.    I do have a PayPal donation button set up on the "about Sara" page if you are interested in giving a few dollars to help me cover the cost.

I have been asked a lot lately if I am still working on the Beatles Fan Club book.  Yes!  I work on it ALL the time.  It is coming along slowly but surely.     The next question is when will it be published.   I am not sure at this point, but I am hoping for the summer of 2021. 

Okay -- onto the contest!!

I have two prizes that I am giving away. 

Prize 1:  A black and white 8 x 10 photograph of Wings with Paul, Linda, Jimmy, Denny, and Geoff.  This is signed by Geoff Britton, who was the drummer of Wings in 1974.    Geoff does not do very many public appearances and so if you collect Wings autographs, his is a difficult one to obtain.  I got this autograph directly from Geoff when he appeared at the 45th anniversary of Junior's Farm in Tennessee in June 2019.   I will also include a sticker from the event for the winner.


Prize 2:  Two Cds of Piers Hemmingsen's The Beatles in Canada books.  These Cds are the audio companion of his red and blue books (the blue version has not yet been published).   The red disc is titled "The Origins of Beatlemania!" which tells the story of how the Beatles music became popular in Canada in 1963.   The blue disc is called The Evolution (1964-1970) and tells more about Canada and the Beatles.


If those prizes interest you, then enter the contest!  Here is what you have to do:

1.  Send an email to meetthebeatlesforreal@gmail.com

2.  Tell me in this email what you think is the best song from the original Let it Be album.

3.  Tell me if you want to be in the contest for prize 1 or prize 2

4.  Send this email to me by 5pm (Central time) March 16, 2020

On my end, I will assign each entry a number according to the order of getting the emails.  This contest is open to any Beatles fan around the world.   However -- only one entry per household.  I will announce the winner on March 16 after using an online random number generator.  The winner has one week from then to email me his or her address.  If I do not receive the address within one week's time,  the prize is forfeited and a new winner will be chosen or the prize will be kept for another contest. 

Good luck Beatle people!

Yes we're going to a Party Party!

Believe it or not, Meet The Beatles....for Real is turning 10 years old this Saturday, March 9th!!   To celebrate this happy occasion, I am having a party on Facebook Live!   If you are available, you are invited to join the celebration.  I would love to see you there. 


There are going to be a lot of great Beatles prizes given away and I have some special messages to share with all of you.




https://www.facebook.com/events/611646712617909/?notif_t=plan_edited&notif_id=1552020873084273

Meet the Beatles for Real Fall 2017 contest!

Hello Beatle fan!

I am excited to tell you about the Fall 2017 contest.    As you all know, this past summer I went to Liverpool, London and Las Vegas.   What you didn't know was that along the way I picked up little souvenirs to give out as prizes for you to win!


Here is what I have to offer


Las Vegas:   A Beatles Love ink pen, a Las Vegas pack of playing cards, a guitar shaped key chain that say Las Vegas on it, a coupon to buy Love tickets for $55

London:   An Abbey Road postcard, Abbey Road coaster, Abbey Road Studios eraser, 2 Abbey Road Studios buttons

Liverpool:   A Cavern Club button,  St. Peter's Church button, Hard Day's night Hotel pin, Liverpool postcard, Liverpool Beatles sites postcard,  small map of Liverpool, Strawberry Fields magnet


You will be entered into the contest to win one of these amazing prize packs at random (in other words, you don't get to choose which prize you win).    To enter email me at meetthebeatlesforreal@gmail.com

The question you need to answer in order to be entered is:  What is your favorite song from the Magical Mystery Tour movie?    Your song choices are:   Magical Mystery Tour, I am the Walrus, The Fool on the Hill, Flying, Your Mother Should Know, Hellow Goodbye or Blue Jay Way.

Please send me those contest entries by October 29, 2017 at 5pm (central time).  All winners are assigned a number and I will use a random number generator to choose the winners.   Remember that anyone from anywhere in the world can enter the contest, but please only one entry per household.   The three winners will be announced on Facebook and on this blog on October 29 and will have 3 days to email me at meetthebeatlesforreal@gmail.com with their mailing address.   If I do not hear from them after 3 days, I will choose a new winner.

So what are you waiting for???   Spread the word and send me those entries!

The top 5 fan stories on MTBFR

Last Wednesday I posted number 6-10 of the top fan stories on this blog since 2009.    Today I will share the top five and they are some good ones!



5.   The Day we met John Lennon
3724 hits
Posted 11-17-09

I personally love this story because the idea of being welcomed into John Lennon's home in 1967 and getting to spend time with him, is just great.   Since I will never have that experience myself, it is fun to live through these stories and this one is a great one!

4.  My Groovy Visit with George Harrison
3807 hits
Posted 1-31-11


This is a story about when George Harrison visited Los Angeles during the "summer of love" told Rodney Bingenheimer.   It was originally published in Teen Set magazine and is a good story if you have never read it before. 


3.  "No You're not" said Little Nicola
4387 hits
posted  12-1-10


One of the highlights of the Beatles, "Magical Mystery Tour" film is the scene with Little Nicola sitting on John Lennon's lap.    Here is a story from the Strawberry Fields Forever fanzine in the early 1990's about Little Nicola herself. 

2.  Invited Inside Friar Park
5465 hits
Posted 4-24-12

Fans can't seem to get enough of Friar Park!   Stories about fans meeting George at Friar Park, especially those who were lucky enough to get inside the gates.   This story is a strange one because it isn't the full story.   I never could find the first part, but even with the beginning missing, George's kind nature towards his fans shine through.

1.  Paul Goresh
13,185 hits
Posted 5-24-10


And here is the number one fan story by a huge landslide (over 10,000 clicks on it!)---the story of how Paul Goresh became friends with John Lennon!    

In 2010 when I originally posted the photos and story from the Summer of 1980 book, I had no idea what happened to Paul Goresh.   Since then, I  have been lucky enough to be friends through Facebook with Paul and see firsthand how much love and respect he has for John and Yoko.   

Countdown of best fan stories on MTBFR

It is somewhat of  a tradition here on Meet the Beatles...for Real that on the last two Wednesdays of the year, I take time off from my Wednesday review and count down some of the best things from this blog over the years.    This year we are gong to take a look back on the best of the Beatles fan memories.    This blog is full of amazing stories from so many of you and even stories from fans who have passed away and have left behind their photos and stories.     So this week I am going to share 10-6 of the stories that have gotten the most clicks over the past 7 1/2 years.


10.   Welcome to Crackerbox Palace

1640 clicks
Originally posted 8-20-12

A Great story about a fan named Angela and my friend, Lesley who were able to not just meet George Harrison, but were welcomed into Friar Park and spent time with George and Olivia inside their home in 1977.

9.   Stones and Sgt. Pepper
1951 clicks
Originally posted 1-30-12

This story is actually NOT about a Beatles fan, but about a Rolling Stones fan and how a shirt she made for the Rolling Stones and how that shirt ended up on a Beatles album cover.

8.  Sigourney Weaver meet the Beatles
2203 clicks
Originally posted 2-22-15

This story has picked up views since the Beatles Eight Days a Week film.   It has recently been figured out that the footage of Sigourney Weaver is not from the Hollywood Bowl concert, but actually from footage of fans outside of the Garden Party where the Beatles were shaking hands with the children of celebrities.


7.   Paul and Linda attend George's show incognito
2943 clicks
Originally posted 12-7-09

This is a great story of a fan who spotted Paul and Linda in the audience of a George Harrison concert.  

6.  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts club Band on the Road
3006 clicks
Originally posted 2-21-14

I personally enjoyed this story about one of the actors from the Sgt Pepper Broadway play and meeting John and Paul during the run of the show.

I hope you all enjoy revisiting these stories and come back this time next week for numbers 1-5!