Paul's new pup

 

Paul at Wrigley

 

July 31, 2011 -  Chicago, Illinois

Love for the children

November 12, 2009

Another typical press conference

This photo is property of the Indiana State Archives whom I did contact and have written permission to post this photo.

I really think it is neat that the stuffed animal the fan gave the Beatles can be seen in the background of the beauty contest winner photo.   I think the Beatles received it and posed for the photos and then shoved it off to the lady in the background when the beauty queen came up for photos.  

Hello Mate!

Some fan snaps from Ringo's stop-over in San Francisco on his way to Australia to meet up with the rest of the band.     You can read more about this in this article that I wrote for this blog. 

Leaving for New Zealand

When the Beatles boarded the airplane in Sydney heading to Wellington, New Zealand on June 20, 1964, they posed for photos with a giant stuff Kiwi Bird made by New Zealand disabled servicemen.

On the flight to Wellington, George and Ringo met a 5 year old girl named, Kaye Peebles.  Kaye and her family were flying to Wellington from Adelaide to visit family.   The stewardess was having little Kaye help her out by handing out sugar candies to the passengers.   When she got to Ringo and George, George asked he if she was going to give him a kiss.   The little girl gave a loud, "No!"   Of course this was pretty funny to everyone on board.   I wonder what Kaye thought of this encounter when she got older.  

Here is a story written by Kaye's father:(with much thanks to The Gilly)
"It’s 1964 and our family of four is returning to Australia after visiting grandparents in New Zealand. We climb on the 28 passenger Fokker Friendship and take our seats. Many eyes are turning to the back of the plane. There is an excited murmur through the passengers. "That’s the Beatles" someone whispers.

The aircraft vibrates and rattles into the air for the trip to Auckland. With much craning of necks for a view the plane crosses close to the volcanic peaks of the central North Island. 

As the plane starts its descent into the airport the airhostess asks our five year old daughter Kaye if she would help give out the wrapped boiled lollies to all the people on board. This helps to unblock the ears caused by altitude changes.

At the rear of the plane Kaye shyly offers lollies to John, Paul , Ringo and George. As George takes his sweet John says to Kaye “Go on give George a kiss”!! Kaye steps back, coyly shaking her head. George says “She loves me NO!NO!NO!” paraphrasing the Beatles’ hit ‘She loves you Yeah!Yeah!Yeah!’

The true 5th Beatle

On their last day in Sydney, the Beatles posed for some photos for the press of them with a large stuffed kangaroo, which was a gift from a fan.     It made a some really cute photos of the guys in Australia.  Can you imagine if you were that fan who gave them the kangaroo?    Step over Brian, George M., Pete and Jimmie....the stuffed kangaroo is the true 5th Beatle.  The cuteness factor alone makes him the winner.  (although that little koala bear George has is cute too). 

Fan club president meeting

The Beatles seemed genuinely interested in how their fan club was ran in Australia.  They met up with the fan club president (and sometimes other members as well) in each city they visited and chatted with her about the club.  

In Melbourne the fan club president was Suzette Belle, who was very determined to meet the Beatles when they were in her town. She gave the Beatles a gift of opals and stuffed platypus.    In 1994 a documentary called "The Beatles Downunder" caught up with her and talked to her about her about meeting the Beatles:

" They insisted that I stayed and they insisted on taking me upstairs and getting me a cup of coffee.  They wanted to get to know me better and wanted to talk to me.  The hotel was quite concerned about a girl my age being in the hotel room of young men."

The Walrus was Paul

So this photo keeps making me laugh.  I swear I have a stuffed walrus that looks just like the one Paul is holding.  Paul has this look like, "Why did someone throw a stuffed walrus at me?  Is that a clue or something?"