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Sharing Our Early years…
National fame of the Beatles arrived suddenly, by the end of 1963 they had their own monthly magazine, The Beatles Book, and an official fan club, which had grown from a few thousand to 80,000 paid-up members. I was nine years old, living in a small town in Ohio, the best hoped for was that nothing will change… ever. Little did I know that our generation would, and still will, see epic shifts in all aspects of our lives (thank goodness). First up…MUSIC!
The Beatles arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York, February 7, 1964 to perform for the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9. That show was seen by 73 million viewers, and smashed the existing world record for the largest audience for an entertainment show. The Beatles played 10 minutes. February 16, the group played Ed Sullivan for a second time to a viewership of 70 million. February 22, 1964 The Beatles returned to England, leaving in their wake an inspired and excited ten-year old. Beatlemania had been introduced to America.
Sometimes discovery is best kept secret, especially when the environment may or may not appreciate the moment when we find what we didn’t know what was missing. In the case of the Beatles we discovered their music, their hair, their fashion and perhaps most interesting, their irreverent attitude toward the establishment, for us, going into adolescence it was just… SWEET!
I kept my Beatles fan club membership private (I was the only member of my club). Dad converted one half of the upstairs garage/barn loft as my official meeting place. My father divided the space for my younger brother and I. My brother’s side had a lovely rug and furniture, my side had a trap door on the floor, challenging both life and limb (to this day I love a true challenge) and Beatles stuff, that’s it… no furniture, just the threat of bodily injury and the Beatles. Private access to the loft was provided by an old rickety set of stairs, and an always occupied, angry wasp nest. The nest was kept in place (Thank you Dad) helping to deter any unwanted neighborhood guests (the Millers), and, I suspect the wasps kept my brother from hanging out. It was there I went to look at posters and study all the details I could discern from the sounds and images they so happily infiltrated our lives with.
Today my fan club is alive and well, and enjoying the never hyped-enough remastered re-release of the Beatles entire recorded catalog. 14 albums now available as a stereo box set…all I can say is Thank You!
Revisiting past glories and pleasures can often be a unrewarding experience. The glitter of any golden age tarnishes all too easily; the treasure of youth can appear dated and embarrassing just a few short years later. –The Beatles: Unseen Archives
Not with the ‘Four lads who shook the world’
Revisiting has its rewards… as does a private club house built by Dad.