Who could have known that the incredible band that we in America saw on the Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964, would become such a lifelong passion for so many of us? Recently when my daughter found an old photograph from 1965, it stirred great memories within me. Hope you find the following memory of interest!
This photo of our Cub Scout den group back in 1965 shows us doing a Beatle skit at our old elementary school. We were all around 10 years old, and unfortunately my brilliant idea of doing this skit leaked out to the other den groups.
They all attempted to do the same thing for their Cub Scout project, which completely infuriated me. That is me, to the extreme left of the photo. Our own makeshift Beatle wigs, were not exactly authorized by NEMS as you obviously can see!
We were the only group of kids though, who had the courage to singalong to two Beatles songs, which were being played on a 45-record backstage.
No one left the auditorium, so I guess we did OK!
Bruce Spizer, author of many wonderful Beatle book titles, has a new release out for our enjoyment, called Beatles For Sale to Help! – beatle.net (August 2025-Official release). I was delighted to hear that part of my story would be included in the fan recollections section of his new Beatles book title. I am honored and delighted to think that long after I have departed Planet Earth, my love and admiration for the Beatles will be preserved forever in a book. (Please note: my recollection cited in the book is an edited version). There are many very interesting fan recollections appearing in the book Beatles For Sale to Help!
Letter From John’s Aunt Mimi
Around the time I performed in this skit, and just a few days after my 10th birthday in 1965, John Lennon’s Aunt Mimi wrote a letter to a fan. She referred to the fact that the Beatles would be travelling soon to make their second film, which would become Help!. I was fortunate enough many years later to acquire this letter for my collection. It is so wonderful to have something like this, showing that famous address, 251 Menlove Avenue, Woolton, Liverpool, written by Mimi herself at the top of the letter.
My fascination with the Beatles continues to this day as I am entering my 70s. What a glorious ride this has been watching the Beatles saga unfold over the years…
Aunt Mimi’s letter to a fan in 1965:
Here is the transcribed note in case you have trouble reading it in the picture above:
251 Menlove Ave
Woolton, Liverpool 25
8 January 65
Dear Helen,
Thanks so much for your letter.
I am so sorry but I can’t even get your books signed. I will not be seeing John for some time, he’s terribly busy, they all have the film in February, I think, and so it would be unwise to send the book to the Fan Club for signatures. Hope you get the Beatles Christmas Greetings record.
Best Wishes,
Mimi Smith
BRUCE SPIZER’S NEW BOOK
This is Bruce Spizer’s brand new book title which contains a multitude of other fan recollections of the Beatles from the 1965 era, Beatles For Sale To Help. Many prominent authors and Beatles scholars give their excellent analysis of the Beatles from that time frame. Bruce Spizer’s books are always well-researched and you can always count on learning new information with each and every one of his titles. Truly, a can’t miss choice, in my personal and humble opinion. Copies can be ordered at:
Beatles For Sale to Help! – beatle.net
Bruce Spizer’s description of the new book that appears at his website:
| 272 pages, 9″ x 9″, Hardbound and Digital |
| From November 1964 through Summer 1965, the Beatles issued two albums (Beatles For Sale and Help!), three singles (“I Feel Fine,” “Ticket To Ride” and “Help!”) and a movie (Help!) in Great Britain. In the United States, Capitol Records reconfigured the two albums into three: Beatles ’65, Beatles VI and the Help! Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The label also released a two-record documentary album titled The Beatles’ Story and added the singles “Eight Days A Week” and “Yesterday.” The ninth book in Bruce Spizer’s acclaimed Beatles Album Series, Beatles For Sale to Help! covers these releases from the British, American and Canadian perspectives. The book contains highly detailed chapters on the EMI recording sessions for the albums and singles, and the album covers. And, like the other books in the Beatles Album Series, the book contains chapters on the news, music and films of the era (plus a special chapter on the Beatles and James Bond) to place these records and the Beatles second film in their proper context. And, of course, fan recollections of seeing the film Help! and listening to the great Beatles records issued during the time frame covered by the book. The recordings released during this creative period bridge the first phase of Beatlemania with the group’s more mature sound that would be on full display with the albums Rubber Soul and Revolver. |
You can order the book here: Home – beatle.net
Hope you enjoyed this quick trip down memory lane! Would love to hear some of your own stories from that time frame if you would like to share them in the comments section!
A special thanks goes out to Shelley Germeaux and author Bruce Spizer for their assistance with this post!
Buzz
OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK
One Dream Ago
In 1964, The Beatles had their biggest reception ever, with 300 000 people lining the streets of Adelaide to see the band (minus Ringo). Adelaide and South Australia also had other (sometimes surprising) connections to The Beatles, many of which have never been written about before this book. One Dream Ago‘s striking cover artwork was created by Klaus Voormann.
Bruce Spizer books highly recommended! The Collector versions of the books have nice poster(s) and slip case, plus a book mark and digital copy. Bruce is a true fan and very knowledgeable. I have been extremely privileged to be in each of the Bruce Spizer books’ Fan Recollections sections (from Sgt. Pepper to the latest release I’ve seen)! The Fan Recollections section of his books are the most enjoyable part for me and in it’s entirety each release is a great way to remember The Beatles and their music by!
Jennifer-that is wonderful news. Congratulations that you have your fan recollections featured in all of the Bruce Spizer titles. That is certainly something to be very proud of! Well done!
Buzz, my fan recollections are quoted too in all of Bruce’s books except the latest one which isn’t out yet. (it’s only in the digital version-no room left in the actual book!) I’ve known Bruce since 2004 when I met him at a Beatles convention in Nashville!
I’m the same age as the “lifelong fan” in this article and in 1964, when we were 9 and in the 3rd grade, four of us dressed up as the Beatles, complete with wigs, and lip-synched to Beatles songs for the entire 3rd grade at my Elementary School. (I was Paul!) Unfortunately nobody thought to bring a camera that day, even though our moms were there! Such great memories, though!
NJ-Glad you enjoyed the memories and thanks for sharing your own special recollections. The Beatles brought us all a great sense of community and we all shared the joy of loving their great tunes! So many of our past memories are linked to specific Beatles songs. What a ride this has been! By the way, the lifelong fan in the post, just in case I did not make it clear in the post was me. I would love to have seen pictures of your school performance. This one thing I see that is wonderful about modern technology and cell phones is the incredible capability of capturing the moment instantly as it happens with the cell phone camera! Preserve the moments before they slip away seems to be the motto of the present day mentality!
Sorry, I just now saw your reply! Which of the Beatles did you play? I know, I’d give anything to have a photo of us 4 girls up there on the stage! Why nobody thought to bring a camera is beyond me! I’m getting together with some of my schoolmates in September and will ask if any of them remember our performance! (I’ve known several of them since Kindergarten!)
Hello NJ-I played Paul which was unusual because I was primarily a Lennon fan, as we shared the same first name…LOL! For those who are wondering why I don’t have a bass guitar or playing left-handed but standing where Paul normally did, we were 10 year old kids not as well-versed on the band as present day. We were fortunate enough to even have access to use real guitars in the presentation. My cousin loaned me his for the presentation and God forbid if there was any damage to the guitar when it was to be returned! Hope that answers your questions about detail. Oh I forgot you are sensitive about details like Beatles photographs being reversed erroneously by the publishers.
Can’t blame you though, the people (in power-the decision-makers) do need better attention to detail! Maybe I should re-name this blog “The Critic’s Choice” with the goal of finding how many mistakes can be turned up by the viewers….LOL! JUST KIDDING!!!
P.S. The “Jennifer” who made the first comment is my BFF who has gone with me twice to Liverpool Beatleweek & London and also to Abbey Road On The River Festival. We’ve also been on Beatles cruises in 2012, 2013, 2015, and a 5-day all-inclusive Beatles festival in 2014 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Many “Beatles celebrities” went to these like Pete & Roag Best, Laurence Juber, Denny Seiwell, Joey Molland, Tony Bramwell, author Jim Berkenstadt, Billy J. Kramer, etc.
That’s great, NJ!