Hello! My name is Lisa, I'm 15 and I live in New York City. Welcome to
my website about THE BEATLES - the best group in the Whole Wide World!
The main part of this site is my BEATLES LOG. I call it my B-LOG - or
"BLOG" for short. I plan on adding entries every day.
More Fab Stuff!
Blog Me Do!
To read all of my Blog entries from day one, click here.
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February 18, 1964 - Maryland Girl has lock of Ringo’s hair
I got a really neat email from Barbara from Silver Spring, Maryland. She got Ringo’s autograph and a lock of his hair! Here’s how it happened.
"I am a senior in high school. My boyfriend works for a radio station, so he has some connections. He took me to the Beatles concert at the Washington Coliseum, which was really fab. Afterwards he wanted to see if we could bluff our way into the party at the British Embassy, which would be attended by the Beatles. I was OK with that provided we did not stay there too long because I didn’t want to get home too late. I knew my mom would be very angry with me if got home at 2 or 3 in the morning. She might ground me for life, or even worse, take away my Beatles records!
Anyway, we got to the British Embassy about 90 minutes after the concert. We hung out near the entrance. When we saw a couple walking in, we got next to them and pretended we were with them. It worked and we got inside! We had to wait a long time before word spread that the Beatles had arrived. They were upstairs with the embassador and his wife. Finally a crowd gathered near the stairs and we saw the Beatles walking down to the ground floor. It was so neat seeing them with all those rich society types. They looked so sharp with their long hair.
I got my nerve up and approached Ringo for his autograph. He was polite and signed a piece of paper for me. I then told my boyfriend that we needed to get going because it was getting late. He was having fun and wanted to stay, so I got a crazy idea. I figured if I did something outrageous, I would get kicked out and he would have to take me home. I got out a nail scissors from my purse, snuck up behind Ringo, and cut off some of his hair! When he turned around, I decided I didn’t want to get in trouble, so I slipped away and blended into the crowd. I told my boyfriend what I did and he agreed to leave the party before I got caught and embarrassed him.
I now have Ringo’s autograph and a lock of his hair! I’ll keep them forever."
Wow. That’s quite a story from Barbara! I bet people will be interested in that tale many years from now! That’s so sharp!
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February 17, 1964 - More from Miami
I got some really neat emails from Beatles fans in Miami. Here are a few highlights:
"This is Sarah from Miami Beach. Although I didn’t have tickets to see the Beatles, I went to the Deauville Hotel with my two younger brothers on Sunday morning. I was hoping we could beg our way in or maybe talk some old folks out of their tickets. We positioned ourselves in the lobby. It was totally mobbed. Although I pleaded with several people, I didn’t get tickets for either the dress rehearsal or the show. I did, however, get to see the Beatles a few times as they went to and from rehearsals in the Napoleon Room.
At around 7:40 p.m., it became obvious that we weren’t gonna get tickets, so we headed to the parking lot to drive home to see the show on TV. Unfortunately, it took us a while to push through the crowd in the hotel. By the time we got outside, it was nearly showtime. I realized we wouldn’t have time to make it home before the show started. Then I noticed the television production truck. Its back doors were open, so we ran towards the back of the truck knowing we could watch the show on the TV monitors in the truck. Others quickly followed. Just as we got to the truck, someone inside slammed the doors shut. So we missed the first part of the show. We did get home in time to see the three songs the Beatles played at the end of the program."
"My name is Linda. I’m 16-years old and live on North Bay Road in Miami Beach. I know it’s hard to believe, but the Beatles were in my swimming pool this weekend! When I got home from school on Friday, my mom told me that the Beatles came by the house to get their pictures taken in our back yard. In particular, photographers from Life magazine shot the group in our swimming pool. At first I thought mom was kidding, but then I believed her. She told me she fixed them lunch and invited them to visit any time they needed some privacy. Mom said they were really polite and very appreciative.
As amazing as that was, things got even better! Saturday afternoon I had a few friends over and we were hanging out around the pool. Much to our shock and delight, the Beatles showed up! They are so cool looking with their long hair! They stayed for a few hours soaking up the sun and cooling off in the pool. We got to talk to them. Their English accents are so sharp! It was the greatest afternoon of my life! I wish they would have stayed forever!
They got us tickets for the Sunday Sullivan show and invited us to a party being held after the show. It was incredible seeing them perform live in the Napoleon Room at the Deauville. Unfortunately, my mother did not allow us to go to the party because we had school the next day. But still, me and my friends got to spend a few hours with the Beatles and see them live and in person on Ed Sullivan! It’s a weekend I will cherish forever!"
"Hi. I’m Amy. I am a senior at the University of Miami. Last Thursday night (Feb 13) my boyfriend took me to the Peppermint Lounge. The special act that evening was Hank Ballard, an R&B singer who has had hits such as Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go. He also played The Twist and said he wrote the song and recorded it before Cubby Checker twice had a number one hit with it! I didn’t know that. He was really great, but that’s not why I emailed you.
During his show, the Beatles came into the club! They were with a woman, who someone told me was John’s wife, and three men. I later found out one was a press agent, one was a New York DJ called Murray the K and the other was a policeman. They tried to remain unnoticed, but everyone knew who they were. I mean, who else has hair like that! I had them autograph a cocktail napkin for me. They were really nice about it all considering nearly half the people in the club came over to say hello! My boyfriend was getting a little jealous (that’s the way boys are!), but I told him that if he let me stare at Paul while they were at the club, I’d make it up to him on Valentine’s Day! My boyfriend and I had a great time the next evening, but I must admit, I was thinking of Paul."
"This is Lois from Miami. Our local paper, the Miami News, said some nice things about the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Columnist Amy Ash said they were "high spirited and amusing" and had a compelling rhythm. She also reported that some people didn’t like the show and complained to MTVJ, which televised the show. Some idiots called to the station and described the Beatles performance as absurd, phony, nauseating, disgraceful, crude and disgusting. I guess even in Miami, there are people who are no judge of talent!"
"My name is Mark. I am from New York and I love the Beatles. I was in Miami Beach with my parents this past weekend. I saw the Beatles on TV on the Sullivan Show and I saw the Beatles drive by in their cars. I love getting together with people to talk about the Beatles. Maybe one day I’ll invite people from all over to get together and celebrate the Beatles."
This is Lisa again. Thanks to Sarah, Linda, Amy, Lois and Mark for their reports from Miami. By the way, that’s a great idea Mark has. Maybe we could get people together every year and tell stories about the Beatles and listen to their records. It would be like a festival. We could call it Beatle Festival.
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February 16, 1964 - Miami Beach Sullivan Show Report
As everyone knows, the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show again! This time broadcast live from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach.
Today I have a special report from Debbie, who is visiting her grandparents, who are on vacation in Miami Beach. Debbie emailed me her report on her mom’s portable computer.
"The Beatles have been enjoying the warm and sunny weather in Miami Beach. (Me too! I’m tired of the cold winter weather in New York this year!) They are staying at the Deauville Hotel. I’m at the Versalles Hotel, which is also in Miami Beach. I spent yesterday hanging out at the Deauville and got to see the Beatles walk by twice. They had their rehearsals in the Napoleon Room.
Today I got to the dress rehearsal. I went with my mom and my grandparents. They let us into the room at about 1:30 p.m. It was really sharp, but not as exciting as in New York. There were a lot of old people there. According to my grandfather, Mitzi Gaynor headlined the show! Her name was listed first. He said she is a good dancer and singer. Well Mitzi may have been listed first, but the Beatles played first and last, so in my mind, they were the top act on the show.
The Beatles opened up with She Loves You, which seems to have replaced I Want To Hold Your Hand as the most played song on the radio. John’s mike was too low, so it was hard to hear his voice. Next they did This Boy, with John, Paul and George sharing a single mike. It was pretty, and tears rolled down my cheeks! Then they did All My Loving, which was the song they did first last week.
After a bunch of other acts, the Beatles came back. Before they started, Ed Sullivan said that Richard Rodgers thought it was healthy to like the Beatles and that it was wonderful to be enthusiastic about something. My grandfather says that Richard Rodgers is a great song writer. I think John and Paul are just as good! When the curtains opened, the Beatles did I Saw Her Standing There. Paul’s mike wasn’t working well, so it was really hard to hear him. Next they did From Me To You. After the song many of the young people were still screaming even though Paul was introducing the next song. John yelled "Shut up while he’s talking!" Paul then asked us to clap our hands and stamp our feet. Then the group did I Want To Hold Your Hand. When it was over, Ed Sullivan called the Beatles four of the nicest youngsters he’s ever had on his show.
My grandfather did not know what to make of it all. He preferred Mitzi Gaynor, but did like This Boy. We then went out to dinner. My mom and I are flying back tomorrow morning, so I’ll get to see the real show on TV, which comes on in less than an hour! Well that’s my report from Miami."
Thanks Debbie for telling everyone about the dress rehearsal. Now here’s what I thought of the show.
Ed Sullivan opened the show by calling the Beatles four of the nicest youngsters he ever had on his show. They played the same songs as in the dress rehearsal: She Loves You, This Boy and All My Loving. Before the last song, Paul talked about the group’s Capitol album. I thought it was really neat on This Boy when John, Paul and George shared a single mike. John really sang the song passionately! It was strange seeing the crowd in the Napoleon Room. When the camera showed the audience, you could see there were a lot more old people there than in New York.
When the Beatles come back for their second group of songs, the microphones were set too low. During I Saw Her Standing There, John had to bend his knees when he was singing! They adjusted the mikes for the last two songs, >From Me To You and I Want To Hold Your Hand. Before the last song, Paul said something odd. He said they were going to finish off with a song by their favorite American group, Sophie Tucker. Then they did I Want To Hold Your Hand, which is their song. I had no idea who or what Sophie Tucker was. My mom told me she is a vaudeville singer whose nickname is last of the red hot mamas. I have no idea what Paul was talking about. Oh well. But, of course, they played I Want To Hold Your Hand really great! When it was over, Ed Sullivan said that Richard Rodgers was one of the group’s biggest fans. And Sullivan said he was a big fan too! Well so are millions of other people!
I’ve received some emails from fans who live in Miami. I’ll post some of the highlights tomorrow.
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February 15, 1964 - Beatles will be on Ed Sullivan again tomorrow!
The Beatles are on vacation in Miami for a few days. Tomorrow night they will be on the Ed Sullivan Show again. This time live from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach! My friend Debbie flew down there today with her mom to visit her grandmother and grandfather, who are spending the entire month of February at the Versailles Hotel in Miami Beach. This trip was pure luck for Debbie.
Yesterday Debbie got a call from her grandmother telling Debbie that she got a letter from her hotel enclosing two tickets to the Ed Sullivan TV Show dress rehearsal. The letter said the show would feature Mitzi Gaynor, the Beatles, comedian Myron Cohen and others. When Debbie said how much she loved the Beatles, her grandmother offered to fly her down to Miami for a few days! Debbie’s mom said it was OK and that she would go with Debbie. They flew down today, will see the dress rehearsal in the afternoon and fly back either Sunday evening or Monday morning. Debbie hopes her mom lets her stay till Monday so she can see the Sullivan Show on TV Sunday night. She’ll miss the show if she has to fly home Sunday night.
Tomorrow I’ll have a full report from Debbie. I’ll post the highlights after the show!
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