Betty Taucher
7069 Hoover Drive
Mentor, Ohio 44060
mccartneymaniac@pepperland.zzn.com
Dear Linda. The book has so many memories. People at work like reading it and remembering. I noticed in your preface that you are preparing another book. I have sent along another story. The concert in 1966 was on Sunday, August 14th at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
AND THE STADIUM ROCKED, OR BEATLE FANS COME FIND YOUR SHOES.
It was now 1966. Two years had passed since The Fab Four changed our hearts and lives forever. The effect they had on our lives was incalculable. We were getting ready to enter high school. They had grown and so had we. One thing had not changed, our love for The Beatles had never diminished, even with that infamous press conference about Jesus. We knew John had been misquoted. Nobody here took it seriously. We chalked it up to the press blowing things out of perportion and over stating what someone had said.
Spring was upon us and WIXY the local radio station announced that they were going to sponsor a Beatle concert this summer at the stadium. We couldnÕt believe our ears. For they had passed us by in 65 and now they were coming back! Tickets would be $3.50 and $5.00. A monthÕs allowance for me but worth every penny if I could get my parents to say yes.
I began to think about how and when to approach it. How to get them to say yes. First I told them that I was 2 years older, getting ready to go to high school. I had never been to a concert before and what a treat it would be to see my favorite band live. Lastly I told them that all my friends were going. ÒPlease can I please goÓ, I told them in my most pleading voice.
Miracle of miracles they said yes. They said yes! I had to live with 2 tiny glitches however. My younger brother had to go also and my mom was going to keep an eye on us. Okay okay as long as I can go so what if mom is there I will be looking and screaming for my Paulie anyway.
Tickets were sold only at the stadium box office; there was no such thing as Ticketmaster back then. My dad said he would drive us girls down the night before and stay with us so we could buy tickets. As it turned out I didnÕt have to stand in line. I had an aunt taking art lessons (why I had no idea) but her art teacher had tickets, which he gave out to his class. To this day I am not sure why. I think he had a friend at WIXY (the local Cleveland radio station). She called my mom, would I be interested in them? Would I! ÒDo the Chinese eat rice?Ó, I was thinking. ÒSay yes mom, say yes! It means I get tickets so I can go!Ó Mom said yes because it would save dad from sitting all night at the stadium. I did think that would have been fun but this meant I would be going. WIXY was only selling 25,000 seats. So sitting in line was no guarantee of a ticket. I was going to see The Beatles!
Summer seemed to take forever. We all were counting the days until August14th.On the 13th my girlfriend had us all come to her house for a Òpool partyÓ.
We began in the pool but while we swam her mom (bless her) called our moms and said we were going for a ride and we would be back later.
Needless to say you never saw a bunch of girls dress so fast as when she announced we were going downtown. We knew what that meant. The Beatles were downtown. Maybe we might even catch a glimpse. At least we would be near them, in the same city, in the same block, breathing the same airÉwell you get the drift.
We rode all together exchanging spots so nobody got too squished underneath. She dropped us on Public Square and there before us was the place that held them-The Sheraton. Fans had crowded all around in hopes of seeing them or at least being near them. We plotted (not well I suppose) on how to get inside without looking like fans. We were not sure how to look touristy but we walked slowly past the Terminal tower and to the doors of the hotel. Nobody stood near it at that moment so we opened the door and walked in. Oh God we are in the same building as them! The elevator lay across the lobby. Slowly we walked across trying to look as if we belonged. Unfortunately that is as far as we got. A man gently escorted us out. We felt exhilarated because we had been inside and had come so very close. We spent the rest of the time screaming at any sighting of our boys and vainly trying to get inside. It was for us all a prelude to tomorrow and the concert of all concerts.
Sunday came. I doubt I slept much and the day dragged on so long. When will church be done? How soon are we going? My dad made me a sign. It had a few Beatle cards taped on it and it said ÒI Love The BeatlesÓ. He nailed a piece of wood to the back. I was proud of that sign. It was sturdy enough to hold up to anything. Being Sunday and it was still the 60Õs after all I had to wear a dress. It was sleeveless I think someplace I may still have it out of sentimental attachment.
On to Gate D and soon to be inside. All they sold then were programs. Beatles USA Ltd. They cost an entire dollar. It was and still is a special booklet full of pictures and memories. Mom held it for me after all I had to have my hands free to hold the sign and to wave at Paul. My brother was in a blond wig he was still not allowed to have long hair. What made it funny was the fact he has brown hair and this wig looked fake.
Our seats were on the second deck between home plate and first base. The stage was diagonally across the field. I was in the front row. Nobody could block my view of them. A large white trailer stood behind it. Fans piled in and screams would go up every now and then. Like a singer testing his voice we tested our screams. Sirens it meant only one thing- they were here .A black limo streaked across the field. Four guys got out and dashed into the trailer. They were here!
Two acts warmed up for them. Bobby Hebb who sang ÒSunny and CyrkleÓ and had a hit with ÒRed Rubber BallÓ. I didnÕt yell for him to leave but many did. Then it was time what I had waited for like my entire life ÒLadies and Gentlemen: The Beatles!Ó The roar that went up was deafening to be sure. Mine was right up there with all of them. Paul began talking It was him! All I could think was out there across that field were the 4 guys I loved most. Hearing was not possible, I am certain that is why this was my momÕs only concert. I think I totally wiped out her ability to hear at least on one side. Fans began climbing over the walls. Being on the second level I was content to drape myself over the balcony and scream. Mom held my feet. I was in heaven. If the second coming had come then it would have been fine. I was already in paradise.
Fans left shoes in heaps in attempting to reach the lads. A picture of it was in the paper the next day. A pile of shoes with the caption ÒBeatle fans we have your shoes.Ó Such a small price to pay- a shoe for a glimpse of a Beatle. Seemed worth it to me.
It was only 30 minutes but what a 30 minutes it was. None of us felt cheated by not hearing much. Like A Hard DayÕs Night you went to be with them, be near them, hearing was only secondary.
I had no voice but another joy connected to the concert was yet to come. Just prior to school starting was the Geauga County Fair. On exhibit was their trailer and for 25 cents you could go inside. I spent it willingly. The kind man let me just keep going in and out. I sat on PaulÕs bed! I held his glass! Oh my it was like being near him!
All any of us could discuss when school began was the concert and how much it meant to us. We knew we had been at a piece of history and the memory of it would last a lifetime.
