Share Your Beatles Stories to Win Beatles Tickets

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Permalink Reply by Jane Goodwin on September 25, 2009 at 12:37am

I was in the fourth grade when the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan, and after that, my life was never the same. I stopped spending my dimes on candy, and started saving them in a Dime Kitty so I could buy "Meet the Beatles." Back then, an album was only $2.99, but that's a lot of dimes for a little nine-year-old girl to save! I did it, though, and headed off to Kresge's happily, Dime Kitty clutched in my hot little hands. When I got home, I slit the cellophane from the album, removed the record, and placed it tenderly on the turntable of the only record player in the house - a little child's bright red record player, which heretofore had played nothing but "I Had A Little Nut Tree" and "The Andy Panda Polka." As "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" wafted through the house - mono, of course - I saw my father staring at me as if he'd never seen me before. I started thinking thoughts I'd never thought before. After that day, my hair was never right, my clothes were never right, my shoes were never right, I was never quite the same again.
I still have that album. It still plays. I understand that it would be worth a lot of money now, since "they" changed its name to "With The Beatles" making the original "Meet The Beatles" somewhat rare. Unfortunately, I was so worried that someone would steal my album that I wrote my name across the front in black magic marker, making it virtually worthless.

To me, though, it was made of solid glowing gold. It marked the end of childhood and the beginning of now. It changed me into another person. When I left the house that day and walked to town, I was a little kid. When the Kresge clerk in her turquoise smock handed me the paper sack with "Meet The Beatles" in it, I turned into a WOMAN.

A woman who would lie on the floor, heels in the air, and listen to those songs over and over and over again, sighing, and making my father yell and threaten to smash the record to pieces.

He didn't, though. He knew how much it meant to me. He knew what had happened to me. He just didn't want to believe it.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 25, 2009 at 8:26am

Wow. Great story, Jane. Seems you have been waiting in the wings for me to ask this question. Thanks for sharing this important piece of yourself!

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Permalink Reply by Taylor Martin on September 25, 2009 at 12:44am

I spent an hour in The Beatle's Apple Records Studio.

In 1973, my college theatre did a tour of England. We performed at small theaters and churches all over the country. We went from London to Keswick (Lake District) to Scotland, then over to Wales and Coventry Cathedral. It was wonderful.
We got back to London for the last 4 days and had a lot of time to ourselves. My roommate, Alex Birdwell said he wanted to see Apple Studios. So, we got on the Underground, went to the wrong address, got back on and finally ended up in front of an all white building with lots of signatures on the door. Most said "We Love You Beatles!" and were from all over the world. We looked down the side of the building and the door was open. We just walked in and there was a sculpture of the Apple Logo. An black man was there and asked who we were. We told him and he showed us around the lobby and part of the recording area. He said he rarely let anyone in, but no one was around and that none of the boys were there either. He told us about his friend Marc Bolan, who was late to picking up some fan mail. This was the founder of T. Rex. He also told us about this guy in a serape that had come by saying he was looking for George. He nearly threw him out, when George showed up and said, "Hi Mick!" It was Mick Jagger.

So, the gentleman gave us Apple recording studio rate charts, some neat pins and thanked us for being so polite. He said most fans just were there to see the Fab 4 and we were interested in what really went on there. We thanked him for the tour and went back to our hostel. No one on the tour believed us until we pulled out the stuff with the Apple Logo on it.

Now, that's a great Beatles memory.

Taylor Martin

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 25, 2009 at 8:29am

That is a great story, Taylor. I doubt many Smoosiers have visited Apple Records. Isn't it funny what we sometimes find when we peek into random doors left open?

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Permalink Reply by Taylor Martin on September 25, 2009 at 12:46am

You told us the time, what is the date?

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 25, 2009 at 8:31am

You mean contest deadline?

Saturday, Oct 3. 5pm.

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Permalink Reply by Taylor Martin on September 26, 2009 at 7:26pm

NO, THE DAY OF THE FUNDRAISER.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Dockter on September 25, 2009 at 9:11am

I was 13 years old when I watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, but I had already fallen "in love" with Paul, the cute one. THEN, this formerly studious young lady, read that the Beatles were going to perform at the Indianapolis State Fair, and my mission was attainable! I first wrote to the Governor, who I was sure would help me- my Father was, after all, a loyal Democrat who had supported him. Sorry but the Governor was no help, so I simply sent for my tickets, then began working on my Father who would have to transport my friends and me the two hour trip. But the concert was worth my planning and scheming, it was pure bliss. I mostly remember the screaming and crying and that I was sure I would "somehow" meet Paul- he would "find" me. I continued to follow the Beatles and purchase albums, magazines- how I wish my parents hadn't discarded all my treasures when I moved away- though I still have a special Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band souvenir album. And of course I know have all the Beatles's on CD/IPod. And my children also are fans as they grew up listening to Mom and Dad's favorites. Thirty five years after seeing the Beatles in Indianapolis, the subject of their appearance was brought up in my workplace as a nurse, when one of our Cardiologists mentioned being at the Indy concert. Instantly, our eyes glazed and we were transformed back those 35 years..... "You were there, too!!??"
Susan Dockter, now a retired nurse, still dreaming about Paul----- North Manchester, Indiana

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Permalink Reply by Sam Bean on September 25, 2009 at 10:03am

When I was traveling with my parents as a little kid, somewhere in NY state, we stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Amazingly, given all the notoriety, the crowds and the facial recognition, in this quiet little town, the four guys at the table across from us in the restaurant were the Beatles! It couldn't happen today that big names like that would be alone having lunch with the rest of us, but it happened then. I actually got to meet the Beatles! (no, I don't remember what they had for lunch)

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 25, 2009 at 10:37am

NO WAY!!

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Permalink Reply by Sam Bean on September 28, 2009 at 8:18am

WAY!

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Permalink Reply by Phoenix R. Cavalier on September 25, 2009 at 11:17am

It was 1999 and a club was open downtown on Pennsylvania street called Utopia. The crowd was a mix of people, styles ranged from straight-edge preps to mohawk-sportin' punk-rockers, lipstick lesbians and tight-jeaned gay guys, liberal straight couples and those who just wanted to try something new. At the time I was 22 and new to the whole party scene and Utopia was making a name for itself with great DJ's and a hip crowd.

One night an electronically enhanced version of the song Eleneanor Rigby began to play. It seemed to reach everyone on a deep and personal level. Suspended among the loud colors, flashing lights, and discotheque revelry were the words; "...all the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people where do they all belong... I look at the lonely people..." As I danced and watched those around me it was as though the people I saw were the violins, violas, and cellos... the sounds being pulled and caressed from their hearts. Everyone expressing more through movement than could have been said in words at any given time. The melancholy texture of the Beatles music and lyrics was painted on the walls and faces of those I looked upon. All the while there was a quiet joy - we all knew we shared the same dream of being loved. Lonely or not, we had all gathered in this place, this Utopia - and for a time we acknowledged the very human fear of being alone... by being together.

I have rarely heard this song in a club again, perhaps it is too introspective a work to be taken lightly or too powerful to be played often... the strength of this song, a work created by Lennon and McCartney is as powerful now as it was in 1966. It's transcendent message and aching questions offer a rarity in music, the quality of timelessness. As I think back to that night nearly 10 years ago... like Eleanor it seems like a dream, an experience I have not encountered again. Though Eleanor Rigby was never performed live by the Beatles, their talent made possible one of my favorite memories, and for that I am grateful.

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