Blessed are the Cheesemakers or Tripping over Legs

Tonight's fan story focuses on George and was written by Vickie Bovio.  It was published in the October 1979 issue of "With a Little Help from my Friends."  (No photo available with this story, so I posted a photo of George from October of 1979).

On Saturday, September 15, 1979, on an impulse, Ken (my fiance) and I decided to take a ride into NYC.  I ran up my friend Rikki and she agreed to meet us in front of the Plaza Hotel.  Ken, Punkin (my dog) and I got there about 2:00.  As the only parking spaces across the street from the Plaza seemed to be a no parking zone, Ken stayed with the car so I wouldn't get a ticket or worse yet, towed away.   The Who were staying at the Navarro Hotel, which is around the corner and two blocks up from the Plaza.  Rumors had it that Ringo was supposed to announce one or all five of the Who's concerts, so I decided to see if he was the Navarro.

I waited there for about 45 minutes, when this tall, rather good-looking fellow with shoulder-length blond hair, sporting a full beard and mustache popped out of the Navarro.  I didn't recognize him at first.  Then I heard someone say, Eric Idle!  That was it, I was holding Punkin and had my camera loaded with color slides.   I left my autograph book in the car.  As I started taking pictures of Eric, trying to do the best I could while holding my dog, he looks at me, sees Punkin and says, "Oh, is he a fan too?!"  I cracked up over that one.  As he got into the cab, I said, "Eric, bring the Pythons back on TV."  His reply was, "They can't afford it."  And off he went.

I ran down the two blocks, and as I Was rounding the corner of the Plaza, some guy was standing directly in my path, and I nearly fell over his feet.  He seemed very amused at the sight of some excited person running with a poodle and a camera, nearly falling over him.  when I saw that it was none other than George Harrison, I did a double-take, not stopping for a second!  I ran across the street to the call yelling, "Ken!  Ken! Give me the book!  Fast! Give me the book!"  I guess he was sort of expecting it, because he turned around the with a smile, said "Certainly."  This was exactly 3 pm and Rikki still had not shown up.  I handed him my autograph book, which just happened to have Paddington Bear on the cover.  George looks at Paddington and with a big grin says, "Oh!  how nice!"  I swear his face lit up when he saw it.  I bet he's got a huge stuffed Paddington for Dhani.

As he was signing my book, I said, "George, you don't know how much this means to me.  I've been waiting to meet you for the past 16 years."  I was horrified when I realized what brilliant words came out of my mouth.  Apparently, George got a big charge out of that, because he cracked up, and still laughing, said teasingly, "Well, I hope you haven't been standing in front of the Plaza for the past 16 years!"  With that, I couldn't help but laugh myself.  Still laughing, I said, "Not hardly."  He handed me my book and got into the limo.   He was wearing white sneakers with red and blue stripes, the tightest pair of jeans, his blue racing jacket and sunglasses with blue lenses.  His hair is cut short (for him that is), he was sporting a short mustache and he hadn't shaved.   He was with a tall blond woman (not Pattie).  she seemed to be about 40-45.  They took a few small pieces of luggage with them, had a couple of brown paper shopping bags, and a big box, wrapped in white and gold paper.  They were on their way to the airport and were too rushed to take any photos.  After George left, about 10 elderly people (I'd say ages 50-60) came over to me and said, "Who was that young man who gave you his autograph?"  Before I had a chance to answer, one of the doormen from the Plaza said, "Oh, that is George Harrison, but you don't' see him on TV much anymore!"  Another little old man said, "George Johansen?"  Right.  I later found out that George had come into NYC on Friday morning (14th), so I really lucked out this time.  My only ending comments on George are 1.  He seems to be so much shorter in person.   2.  He is soooo skinny!   3.  He's a living doll.  Definitely worth waiting 16 years for!

A young French Girl Dreams of meeting the Beatles...

I try my best to find rare and interesting photos and stories to share with you all, and sometimes that means attempting to figure out things in languages other than the only one I speak.    I found this French story and using Google Translate, tried my best to translate it into English. 

If you are someone that can read French, here is the link to the original story 


A young French girl dreamed of meeting the Beatles ...
Published February 6, 2014 by Daniel Lesueur

It is the pleasure of a journalist to reveal a scoop, a real one, accompanied by the documents attesting to its authenticity. It was 50 years ago, a young admirer of the Beatles lived in London, close to Paul McCartney. . Here is the true story of a young French girl who, four times, met the Beatles in the 1960s Our article is illustrated by photos and autographs.  Small pieces of paper of great value ...


Here's what Christiane wrote, we will respect the her anonymity, but tell our readers that she now lives in the south of France:

- I was born in October 1948 at the Hotel Dieu on the island of the City which is always my spiritual anchor. My family had  four children, very close together, hence the strong ties despite geographical distances kept over the years.

But will you tell me why Britain especially at that time? 

This is due, as often, at random. We all four were staying in a youth hostel in Rimini, Italy, where we met a British student who gave us his address in London. With the French school holidays being very long, we thought whether to travel to Germany or to London, not knowing what to do with the passing days.    My sisters had the idea to go see "The Beatles"

My sisters and I were admirers of the two biggest British bands of the time: The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.   We were living in London and learned that Paul McCartney lived in the district of St. John's Wood. We went  walking around the neighborhood, hoping to see him. Most of the time, instead of Paul, we saw ... his  housekeeper who went out walking the dog.

 Muswell Hill / Alexandra Palace (North London), where we lived,  was easy to reach St. John's Wood and the great house of Paul McCartney where a handful of very young fans laid siege (especially on the perimeter wall - view the photo). I could hear "get off here" from the other side. But who spoke? Not the housekeeper who went out walking the large Sheepdog.

Paul McCartney looked more surprised that people could spend hours there, hence his dubious expression.

Christiane continues the narrative of his adolescent memories:

- On August 24, 1967, we finally saw Paul through the gate of his house and he proved extraordinarily nice, to the point, for me, agreeing to sign the back of a postcard of London I had on me. But we want to spend more time watching for him!

I enclose, for the record, two photos found of 1967 (Paul McCartney at the door of the beautiful home of St. John's Wood / London. The young profile blonde girl is my sister,  Eliane (subsequently, has married a British London).

A second meeting in 1968
"I saw the Beatles in 1968," continued Christiane. "It was September 13th. I remember Ringo Starr, he was cheerful ... The signatures were given to us at the reception at the building of the Abbey recording studios where the Beatles came in. The fans' had not been too pressing, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were very relaxed to give us autographs. John Lennon, he refused to give us autographs. He did only the insistence of Yoko Ono who said "Oh John, they are just kids, show give it to them "In the entrance of the building was a glass door and, on leaving, John Lennon,  already annoyed, made it bounce on Yoko Ono who smashed into the door.

That day, I also obtained the signature of Mal Evans, at the time their road manager.


I saw the Beatles third time the document is signed "Love to Christine," 16 October 1968. And a fourth time April 9, 1969.

My Two Days with the Beatles

In the story of the Beatles, I do not think of Peggy Lipton as a regular Beatlemaniac, although she was a fan of the group for sure.   She just was able to get a lot closer to the guys, especially Paul than any fan ever could.    

This story, which I found in a copy of "The Beatle Digest" from 1978 is a reprint of the story she wrote for a teen magazine---either TeenSet or Teen Screen.      It is interesting because the story is a bit different than what she wrote in her autobiography in 2005.    In her autobiography, she says that she first met the Beatles at the Garden Party and Paul asked her to come to the party at their house later that night.   In this version, she claims that she was invited to the party at the Beatles house by a photographer friend and there isn't any mention of the Garden Party.     In her autobiography she says that after Paul played the piano at the party, they went upstairs and had sex.    Thankfully she left that out of the teen magazine story.    Still, unlike many of the stories published in the teen magazines, Peggy's story sounds like the truth and it gives us just another glimpse into what the Beatles were doing when they were in L.A. in 1964.

My Two Days with the Beatles:  The Story of a Beatlemaniac’s Dream Come True

By Peggy Lipton

Editor’s Note:  This story was written especially for TS by Peggy Lipton, the girl who lived the wonderful Beatle adventure you’re about the share.  Peggy is 18, a successful model, a student at Valley Junior College in Van Nuys, California and is being tested by Columbia pictures.  But, most of all, Peggy is a true Beatlemaniac.  Because of this, the tie she spent with the Beatles was as rewarding to them as it was to her.  Getting to know at least one of their American fans helped at least a little make up for the chaos that prevented them from meeting many more.  Peggy did her part to make The Beatles welcome to our country.

All of us have impossible dreams.  And mine was the same as nearly every other girl in the world. I wanted to meet the Beatles.

I’d wanted to ever since England’s singing mopheads took over the number one spot on the charts and in everyone’s hearts.  Pictures of John, Paul, George and Ringo hung in abundance on the walls of my room.  And I guess I spent probably too much time staring at my four favorites, hoping, wishing and dreaming.

I hope I can put into words how I felt when my dream came true.  I’ll try hard  because I realize I was one of the very lucky few who did get to see them, and I want to share every second of my hours with The Beatles with the other girls whose dreams didn’t come true (this time).

It all started with a phone call.  The voice on the other end belonged to an old friend.  Ron Joy, a Hollywood photographer and traveling companion of the Beatles during their American tour was calling to say hello.

But that wasn’t all he said.  He also asked me if I’d like to meet The Beatles that evening.

I don’t have to tell you that I near died right on the spot.   How I managed to finish our conversation, I’ll never know.  I started laughing.  Then crying.  I ran around the house, searching frantically for just the right dress to wear.  But I guess luck was doubly with me that night because when Ron arrived, I was breathless shaking, but ready to go.

The trip the Beatles’ house in Bel-Air was the most nerve-wracking drive I’ve ever experienced.  I couldn’t hear a word Ron was saying to me.  All I was conscious of was a ringing in my ears and the butterflies in my stomach and a voice repeating “this is it…the moment you’ve waited for.”

When we finally arrived, the barricades at St. Pierre Road were thickened with anxious teenagers.  As they swarmed about some looked at me enviously.  Others with hurt expressions in their eyes.   They all knew where I was going, and as we were cleared at the gates and preceded to the house I felt a twinge of guilt.

But the twinge soon disappeared.  As Ron stopped the car, I was suddenly filled with panic.  I’d waited so long for this moment.  What would I do when I finally met the boys I’d dreamed of?

I hardly had time to answer my question because George Harrison clad in hip-hugging jeans, came to welcome us.  Even in my fog I clearly saw that his photographs hadn’t done him justice.   His thin face and smoldering eyes made me gasp for breath.  The way he looked at me, I thought he could hear my heart pounding.  I know I could!

When George led us into the living room, both he and Ron seemed to slip away, and there I stood among the many faces and loud music.  My eyes searched hopeless for an empty chair, but in the next second, I became aware of someone staring at me.  I turned to find Paul McCartney extending his hand.  I took it anxiously and lost myself in his huge, sensitive eyes.  He was more handsome than I’d ever imagined.  His hair and eyelashes were dark and thick and he wore a reddish-orange tee shirt with black slacks.  I couldn’t believe this famous boy was standing in front of me for real, and in living color!

Paul and I found two empty seats by the record player and began talking to the sound of a Beach Boys album.  I amazed myself by being able to carry on a reasonably sensible conversation (in spite of the fact that I could scarcely breathe) and we discussed everything imaginable.   When Paul left for a moment to get me a Coke, he returned with Ringo (a living doll who goes beyond description).  After the introductions were over Ringo said, “Come on, I haven’t danced with an American bird all night.”  Then he led me to the dance floor and went into the step that makes him look like a boxer taking pot shots at a punching bag.  We danced an exhausting twenty minutes, and might have continued all night if Paul and John Lennon hadn’t come to the rescue.

John appeared huskier than the other boys, his hair softer and redder.  Square sunglasses hid his eyes.  His handshake was firm.  His wit sharply original.

The three of us talked, mostly of music.  When I asked Paul if he played the piano, he nodded no, very shyly.  But within two minutes he was across the room, pounding out a new song he and John had written the previous night.

By this time, most of the other guests had left, including Ron (who had to be up early the next morning).  I dreamily shared the piano bench with Paul as he and road manager Derek Taylor made up lyrics to a catchy tune.  When Ringo’s favorite song was layed, he sang solo.  (He’s a ham, but a loveable one).

Both he and Paul imitated Ringo’s father when he enthusiastic about the boys’ hits.  We laughed a lot about a lot of things, but the funniest thing of them all happened in the kitchen when Paul tried to call a cab for me.  After dialing the number, he waited on the phone for a few minutes.  Finally I put my ear to the receiver and found he’d been listening to a busy signal all along.   Trying to explain that telephone signals work just the opposite way in England, he sat in a tray of melted ice.  Both George and I roared with laughter, and Paul soon joined in.

And when he took me to the waiting cab he asked if I’d like to return the next day.  I smiled and said I’d love to, while secretly my heart flew out of control.

When I arrived the following day, I found I was the only outsider invited for dinner.  After roast beef and chocolate cake we sat around the huge table, reading telegrams and looking at the clothes George and Paul ad bought that afternoon.  Paul had a herringbone jacket and George a gold shirt with big puffy sleeves.  Ringo polished his six-shooters.  

Later on, Paul, George and I fled past the barricades (crammed with screaming fans) to the home of Burt Lancaster to see a movie.  Ringo stopped the show at the Lancasters by tearing into the house, guns at hand yelling, “Stick ‘em up!”  Fascinated by the heated pool, George and Ringo decided to explore and ended up taking a midnight swing.

When George and Ringo went to join John at the Whiskey a Go-Go, Paul and I returned to the house in Bel Air and fixed ourselves coffee and hamburgers.  Just being alone with Paul for this short hour was the most wonderful part of my dream come true.

The other Beatles returned a little later, slightly peeved from the overanxious crowd at the nightclub.  But Paul and I struck up a duet on the piano and had everyone smiling in seconds.   The night wore on midst laughs and songs until I knew it was time to say goodbye.

The goodbyes weren’t prolonged because we all felt a hint of sadness.   Especially me.  The boys were leaving the next day, and we expressed the hopes that someday soon our paths would cross again. 

Then each one put his arm around me and kissed me.

As I started my car and drove away, I realized that Cinderella’s night was over.  And I didn’t try awfully hard to fight back the tears.

I know I’ll never forget the Beatles.  And I can only hope they won’t forget me.  Not for a little while, anyway.

The run away

I found an extremely interesting story here.  I will try to give you the "Reader's Digest" version if you will.


In October of 1964 a 13 year old girl from Newton, Massachusetts saw the band, The Animals in concert in Boston.   Not just that, Elizabeth Freedman actually got to meet  a few members the band.    This meeting with the British band and her love of the Beatles, sparked a curiosity in Elizabeth about London and the music scene there.  Her Grandmother lived in Britain and she figured that she would meet up with her.  

So she took $400 out of the bank, got a passport and a smallpox shot and then told her friend that she was going on an exciting adventure.   On October 17, 1964, dressed in black, Elizabeth left a note for her mother saying that she was going to the movies and then took a plane from Boston to London.  

Once she made it to London, she found herself in a world of music.  She saw all sorts of concerts including Cilla Black, Petula Clark and Cliff Richards.   She was hoping to get to see her favorite group, the Beatles in the concert.  This would have been an exciting adventure had Elizabeth been five years older.  However, she was a 13 year old runaway with a widowed mother back home in Boston that was worried sick about her little girl.    This mother figured that her daughter had ran off to England and began a search for her.   She flew over to England and worked with the Scotland Yard to locate the teenager.   George Martin saw the news in the paper and announced that if Elizabeth came forward or was found, he would see to it that she could meet the Beatles.      Meanwhile Elizabeth was enjoying dances and shopping and tourist attractions in and around London.   She was living with an older girl at a boarding house.    But her photo and name were in the papers and finally one of the people she had gone out with turned her in.

George Martin kept his word and on November 1, 1964 Elizabeth Freedman met all four Beatles backstage at the Finbury Park Astoria.   They signed two albums for her:  With the Beatles and A Hard Day's Night.   She also got a ticket to see them in concert..

After it was all over with, the press wanted to speak with her.   She did not directly answer their questions.   Just simply yes and no answers.   Although when she was asked what the Beatles were like, she said "terrific"   She did admit that running away from home was a selfish thing for her to do.  She said that she was glad to see her mother, but at no point during her time in England did she feel scared.   Her mother told the press that she was going to be grounded for a long time.

The autograph's album, photographs, ticket stub and newspaper articles are being sold for $60,000.

It was 50 Years ago: Marcia Schafer

As we begin the wonderful time that it is for Beatle fans, the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America in 1964, I find myself excited.   New Beatles things are going to be released, the Beatles are going to be back in the fore-front in newspapers and magazines and people such as myself are going to be asked questions by people who know very little about the band.

I though it would  be fun to highlight some of the American fans that we have seen or heard about for the past 50 years in photographs or in articles and find out the story behind them and where they are today.    So if you are anyone you know is someone who saw the Beatles in person on Ed Sullivan (especially if the camera shows you), saw the Beatles at Washington D.C. (again and the camera ever shows you), or Miami or anywhere along the way in February 1964, I would love to hear from you.   I know it is pretty far-fetched to think that I would hear directly from anyone, and so most likely I will be finding old stories to share with you.   But still I am excited about this idea and I hope you all enjoy it.



The first story from 50 years ago happened before the Beatles actually became well-known in the United States.  It is the story of the teenage girl who was one (if not the very first) of the first people to play the Beatles on American radio, Marcia Schafer.    I briefly spoke with Marcia after hearing her speak at the George Harrison marker dedication.  I handed her one of my awesome cards (really they look really great!) about this blog and asked her if I could add her story to it and she said, "oh yes.  Sure." 

Marcia in 1963 around the time she met George Harrison

The radio station where George was interviewed.

In 1963, Marcia was a typical high school Senior in Southern Illinois.   She will tell you that she did all of the normal things that a 17 year old did at that time.  However there was one thing that made Marcia different from her peers and that was that her father owned a radio station, WRFX-AM in West Frankfort, Illinois and she was the teenage Dee-Jay for a Saturday morning radio show where she played the music that she and her friends were listening to during the time.

During the summer of 1963, George's sister came over to the station with her brother's bands records from England.  Marcia liked them and started playing "From me to you" and "Love me Do" during her teenage program.    So when George came to the area in September 1963, Marcia was excited about interviewing him on the air.    And George was so determined to meet the girl who was playing his records in America, that he and his brother, Peter walked over a mile to get to the radio studio.

Marcia interviewed George Harrison live on the air on a Saturday in late September 1963.   This was the first time a Beatle was interviewed on the radio in the U.S.   The interview was not recorded, however Peter did make a home movie of the interview, which is in a private collection.   Marcia wrote George's answers in an article for her high school newspaper.    George said that the things he liked included, " small blondes, driving, sleeping, Eartha Kitt, chips and eggs, and Alfred Hitchcock movies."   He stated that his favorite thing he had done in America was seeing a drive-in movie.   Off the air, George talked to Marcia about the car she was driving, which was her father's black Oldsmobile with big fins, which he was really impressed with.

George gave her the Beatles newest record at the time, "She Loves You," which she played on the air plus a photograph of the Beatles which he autographed "With love, George Harrison."  

Marcia was very surprised by how long George's hair was and found him to be very polite, slender and a little shy.   And while Marcia was a fan and thought the Beatles had a lot of talent, she was very surprised to see George and the rest of the guys on the Ed Sullivan show four months later.

Marcia tells her story of meeting George 50 years ago

Today Marcia still lives in southern Illinois and she is a media specialist.   She said that no one showed much interest in her Beatle connection until the 1990's.    She did not really realize what a "big deal" it all was to so many people.   Her children were really impressed and she allowed her daughter to take the "She Loves you" (the one George gave her) record to school when she was young for show and tell.   She now can't believe she did that and is thankful that it made it back home in one piece!   Every so often she gets requests for interviews to tell the story of the time she spent with George 50 years ago.