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Registered: 05-2003
Location: USA
Posts: 4070
Karma: 102 (+110/-8)
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Request for Beatle stories


I received this email:

Please , you can help as a Beatlefan. Bet you have a precious Ringo Starr or
Beatles fan story to tell. Do you you know about the 2006 international
campaign to get Oprah Winfrey to do one show featuring Beatlefans, young & old,
their lives as beatlefans, their memories, as well as their memorabilia.What
was it like growing up loving the Beatles, what people did for you because
they knew you loved the Beatles, what did your parents think, your
brother/sister think. What did your schoolmates think? How old were you when you became
aware of your feelings for the Beatles? What did you do before & after Paul's
concerts if you went? Beatlefans from all countries.are sending their
Beatlefan stories and/or sending letter of support. Please pass this information to
anyone or any site you possibly can.
Any questions Rick Linville [email protected]_
 

To send your Beatlefan history and/or letter of support for the show
_Click here: Contribute as a guest to upcoming shows_
(https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=B2100004)
or
_http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml_ (http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml)
Then click below it Be On The Show in the middle. If you wish to send
full-length story (above sites only permit 2000 charactars length) use US mail to
Harpo Productions, Inc., 110 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60617.
Sample letter below (before editing)

Dear Oprah
           I write this letter as the excited 8 year old boy watching Ed
Sullivan in 1964, as a father of two little girls getting to know Paul
McCartney & a person who has sung Paul's songs for 40 yrs (in spite of being off
key) I have been attempting to find others who have the same lifelong passion &
lifelong stories about Paul McCartney similar to mine. . The significance of
this passion instilled in my then 8 yr old heart in 1964- it is very unlikely
person or band will likewise take the world by storm.
My history as a fan for 41 years follows. I am Rick Linville, a 49 year old
fan from Columbus Ohio. I have been a Paul McCartney/Beatles fan since 1963
, when I first started hearing about the Beatles in the news. My first
contact with them was on the Ed Sullivan Show. I sat one Sunday night in 1964 with
my mom,dad, sisters Kay & Jane & deep down knew my life had just totally
changed. I gave up toys at that point & all desires became Beatle albums. I
would organize Beatle shows with 3 friends at 8 & 9 years old. I always
impersonated Paul McCartney because he was my favorite. We made wooden guitars, used
overturned wastebaskets for drums & pie tins for cymbals. We would setup on
top of my parents big chest freezer in the basement. Neighborhood girls would
pay us 10 cents each to watch our show. We would play a Beatles record on a
small 16 inch by 16 inch "phonograph (AKA record) player & lip sync. At the end
of the show we would run out of the house with the girls screaming behind us
in play. I have always loved singing Beatle songs(even though family,
friends ,even total strangers would ask me to stop singing) When I was in the third
grade 1964 I wore my moms black crushed velvet boots to school because they
looked like the boots on Meet the Beatles. My parents, sisters & girlfriends
, for the next 40 years or so, knew what I would want for birthdays or
Christmas. Initially, the Beatles were so cool looking & had a cool different
sound. Their songs were meaninful & romantic. I have always loved singing Beatle
songs(even though family, friends ,even total strangers would ask me to stop
singing)
As with many Beatlefans, the third most outstanding date in our lives,
behind the discovery & the breakup of the Beatles, was the violent death of John
Lennon. I had loved & respected his music. My older sister called me from
California that evening at 11PM to break the news to me. I cried that night, as
well as weeped with hundreds of fans at the Ohio Statehouse lawn in downtown
Columbus, Ohio.
I have seen Paul McCartney 7 times in concert, Ringo 3 times, George almost
once (1971 canceled) & John never. I saw Paul once around 1976 with his group
Wings. Then I saw him 3 times in 1989. Before the 1989 tour I found out if
you joined his official fan club you can get preferred seating. So I joined &
sent a money order to England. After 3 weeks I got concerned so I sent
another money order. A lady from England called me at work & said the fan club had
received my first money order. She said the only question-do you want the 2nd
money order returned or an extra pair of tickets for a different show? I
thought I must be dreaming. I said send the extra tickets. I had 2 Cincinnati
tickets 18th row. The two extra tickets were for Detroit 8th row dead center. I
was thrilled. A buddy & I went to Detroit to see him. He was alone on stage
singing "Put It There". The song about his father putting out his hand to
shake hands when Paul was an upset little boy. Everyone was seated while Paul
was on stage singing. When he went into the main chorus, I stood up & put out
my hand. He winked, smiled & nodded at me. I fell back in my seat dumbfounded.
It was the one personal moment I always wanted with Paul. After that show I
also saw him in Cleveland & Cincinnati on that tour. He came back on tour
about 1993 & I saw him in Cincinnati with my soon-to-be wife. In about 2001 he
came back on his Driving Rain tour. Another friend & I saw him in Cleveland &
in 2002, on the 2nd leg "Back in the US" tour, saw him in Columbus Ohio. The
interesting thing about the Back In The US tour-my dying mother knew the
greatest gift she could give her then 45 year old son was a main floor seat for
the show. Another bonus-my twin sister Kay, who was ho-hum about the Beatles
since we were kids, wanted to go see him.
So Kay, myself & two other friends went to the Columbus show. Before the
concert, we went to the venue early to see some Beatles impersonators band.
While we were waiting for the doors to open, we decided to go over by the
limousine entrance. I thought what a waste of time, but I agreed. While we stood
there for 15 minutes with 20 other people, an English guy said Mr McCartney will
be arriving in 5 minutes. Please do not rush the limo or he will not slow
down for a wave & photos. Pauls entourage (4 limos & police escort
motorcycles) arrived & I handed the camera to my sister, thinking I might be the one to
get too excited to get the picture. Paul pulls up, pops his head out the
window & begins waving. My 45 year old sister begins screaming & jumpimg up &
down. She messed up the most important photo & got a photo of the front door of
the limo. That broke my heart. So we went on in to the concert.
I finally stepped up to a microphone & sang Live & Let Die (without musical
backing) on 3/18/05. It was "The Step Up To The Mike Columbus" American idol
type contest for local singers. I saw it advertised on a news show at PM.
So I drove down to see how many people were lined up downtown at the Promowest
Pavilion. Pretty long line but I decided why not. My sisters Kay & Jane
probably got the biggest kick out of me, of all people, being in a singing
contest. But it was fun. I told everyone as we waited that people often ask me to
stop singing. I also joked my wife makes me lip sync in church.
I was talking to a couple sitting behind me in the 13th row from the stage
before the US Tour Columbus concert this past October. I told them I will be
unable to buy any tour merchandise.The damage to my car in a burglary was not
covered by insurance. It happened while waiting in a hotel lobby for Paul
McCartney to possibly pass through (he never did appear) The couple said they
talked it over, have 2 concert programs in the car & want me to have one of
the programs. I gave them my address while I pinched myself to see if I was
dreaming. Sure enough, 2 days ago I received the program PLUS a sealed clear box
of greeting cards with McCartney artwork on each card. Priceless...even
though I had to use my t-shirts & cups money for car repair, I still walked away
with a souvenier. Does anyone know where these cards came from?
 
           In conclusion,Oprah, My wish is for you to dedicate a show to
Beatlefan stories. Again, I write this letter as the 8 year old boy watching
Ed Sullivan with an adrenalin rush & now a 49 year old man with that same
adrenalin, hoping to see Paul McCartney again in October this year . I am
RICK LINVILLE-Columbus, Ohio/USA
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])





---
Ringo >> "no matter what you choose... *CHOOSE LOVE*

Rockabilly...
Peace Love Music Cheers!
"Drumming is my madness, Music is my Passion"
ringostarr.com
2/6/2006, 1:22 pm Link to this post Send Email to DorothyFromOz   Send PM to DorothyFromOz
 
Big Johnson Profile
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Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 4597
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Re: Request for Beatle stories


 Sharing these personal stories in Almost Chicago (with folks who turned out to be Fan Fiction writers fishing for ideas) only got those who shared(thinking they were talking to another fan just sharing the Love) a buffet of baby corn cobs!

---


"Me and Mrs Jones, we got a thang going on"
2/6/2006, 2:08 pm Link to this post Send Email to Big Johnson   Send PM to Big Johnson
 
L L Profile
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Registered: 07-2003
Posts: 4081
Karma: 114 (+117/-3)
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Re: Request for Beatle stories


And it seems like just another way to sell your friends, lock, stock photo and barrel of memories....
2/6/2006, 7:50 pm Link to this post Send Email to L L   Send PM to L L
 


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