Est. March 31, 2000 19,657 Previous Hits January 14, 2002 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders |
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Est. March 31, 2000 19,657 Previous Hits January 14, 2002 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders |
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The Beatles: In Our Lives By Tommy Towery Oh yeah, I'll tell you something I think you'll understand Then I'll say that something I wanna hold your hand I wanna hold your hand I wanna hold your hand Remember the first time this sound filled your ears and hearts? How many of you bought this album? How many times did you play it? Did you play it so many times that you still remember the order of the songs, even today? Do you want to jump right into "It Won't Be Long" every time you hear the end of "This Boy"? When I look back at my first connection with The Beatles, I have to remember the entries I put in my journal for February 9, 1964. Of all the events that happened on this date in 1964, only one would have a true place in history. This was the day that we had all been waiting for. This was the day when the Beatles would finally be on television. I don't know how we all knew about it, but we did and there was nothing that would make any of us miss the show. Their songs had already changed the music of the American teenager. Because of them anything British was in style. We loved and craved British music, clothes, cars, and movies. The Empire was growing again, and the colonialists were surrendering to their invasion. With any revolution, old is replaced by new. The invasion of the Beatles and their music was killing off a different style of music. The folk songs that were shared by the youth group at the church rally, were starting to fall from their crest. Folk music was about to be buried by a tidal wave of music that was rolling in from the British Isles. The slow, meaningful music of one man and one guitar was being replaced the group of four who were famous at first for their "Yeah, yeah, yeah." They sang songs that the kids loved and the parents made fun of. They were songs which were the source of many arguments between several generations. "Tonight, we have a reallllly big shoe." Those lines made Ed Sullivan famous and a lot of impressionists rich. In those days, everyone did impressions of Ed Sullivan, with his thin cheeks, his grey suit, and his arm movements and facial expressions. Some teenagers of the day thought he was a little old fashioned. Most thought he was a lot old fashioned. He was the person our parents watched on TV. He had their kind of show, with the Chinese Acrobats and Senior Wenchez or somebody or another with his "Sallright, Sallright." His show was not normally the show that the younger generation rushed home to watch. Every once in a while, he surprised us. He did it with people like Elvis, Buddy Holly, and now the first American network television performance of the Beatles. This was the night we'd all waited for. It was our chance to see the Beatles, and most of the teenagers of Huntsville and the rest of the country were sitting in front of the tube waiting. There were a few other acts on that night, but who they were or what they did will never be remembered. Finally the words came, "And now, from England . . ." and the "Fab Four" were there on our television sets. They were there with their hair and their Beatle boots and their suits. We met John, Paul, George, and Ringo, the Beatles. The screams were deafening as the cameras zoomed in on them. The time we had all waited for had finally arrived. I sat alone in my living room as I watched them on my 21-inch black and white Magnavox television. I was alone, but I was with millions of other teenagers across the country. As great as we thought they were on that night, none of us ever really knew the true effect those four singers would have on the music industry and on many other parts of our lives. In the coming years they would influence hair styles, fashion, music, poetry, politics, and film. They would pass along to the teenagers who sat in their living rooms that night the undying desire to go to England, and see Carnaby Street and Penny Lane, and Strawberry Fields. Their first album was a "must have" record for everyone of the day. I bought mine at Montgomery Wards out at the Parkway Mall. The one I bought wasn't even stereo. The stereo album cost a dollar more than I had. On this night, the world wanted to "hold your hand." We all wanted that. My generation sang along with the Beatles. "She loves you, I saw her standing there, and please, please me." Those were the phrases that blasted from the radios, poured from juke boxes, and played over and over on our record players. They had arrived, and we were glad. That was the night that the Beatles came into our living rooms and our hearts. John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Their names would be repeated a million times. Their music will last forever. Another thing I often remember when I think of the early Beatles was how the local bands scrambled to play their music. I'm sure Eddie and Jerry and Terry can relate to this. I remember in particular The Continentals, my favorite band of the time. Most of you call them The Tics now, but they didn't change their name to that until after I left Huntsville, so even though I know who you are talking about, they will forever be The Continentals to me. I remember the night at Bradley's when Jerry Brewer and all the other Continentals reached into bags and pulled out Beatles wigs and donned them before they broke into "I Want To Hold Your Hand". The revolution came so fast and furious that the bands in Huntsville were still sporting crew cuts when the long-haired Beatles came into power, and they did not have time to grow their hair long enough so they bought some of the wigs that had popped up for sale in the local stores. Other Classmates Remember... Subject: Re: The Beatles Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 14:57:55 -0800 (PST) From: The Neumanns <neal_neumann@yahoo.com> This request for a trip down memory lane is just up my alley. I remember the Beatles better than most I suspect, because they came along not too long after I got into radio announcing/deejaying there on WAAY 1550 AM..which at the time, was the number one station in town. I remember far too many late nights there playing the Beatles on the air back to back and over and over--we literally wore out their records in those days. Even though you might think I would have tired of them, I never did--either on the radio or listening at home or in the car. I still enjoy them on the oldies stations and I sing right along with them now just like I did in 64 when I'd crank up the volume on the speakers in the WAAY control room and blast their songs out so loudly that I'm sure that's why I lost some hearing in those days. Being a DJ in the days of the Beatles and the rest of the "British Invasion" was a real thrill. I also loved to dance to their music with my girlfriend, Belinda Christian, during the 64-66 timeframe. Looking back, I always associate the Beatles with great times and good friends. After the Fab Four busted up, that was about the time I quit radio (it only took me 7 years to decide that I would never be a great DJ! Talk about a slow learner!) Anyhow, thanks for getting us to think about the old days when we had marvelous dreams and plans about the future. Keep up the good work on the site...and enjoy your vacation. Neal Neumann From Our Mailbag... Subject: New Years Story Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 18:57:40 EST From: CEB1947@aol.com Tommy, the story you wrote about the New Year's Eve that you spent with your grandmother, was one of the most beautiful and poetic pieces of writing that I've ever read. It also hit close to home. The old saying, you never know what you have until it's gone, is so true. I remember when I was working in the music business here in Nashville about 15 years ago, sometimes my mother would call the office while I was either in the studio or in a writing session and often I would ask the receptionist to take a message. Sometimes I would call her later and sometimes I would just blow it off. You know, I was "too busy" to take her phone calls. Well, in 1990 she passed away and Tommy now I'd give $10,000 for a 10 second phone call. Just to hear her voice again would be wonderful. This should serve as a lesson to many young people who still have their parents and grandparents. You really don't know what you have until it's gone. Spend the time it takes to cater to those who care the most for you because when they are gone you will wish you had. Your story about the New Years with your grandmother meant so much to me, thanks again for sharing it with us all. Eddie Burton Class of 66 Subject: Happy and Safe 2002 Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 19:13:38 EST From: JTurre9708@aol.com Tommy, how do you find the time to get all this great stuff for the page together? The words and music from In My Life were great. Keep 'em coming and happy new year to all..... John Turrentine Class of 65 ________________________________________ |
Double Dog Dare Ya I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a "double dog dare" to pass it on. To remember what a "double dog dare" is, read on. And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and young enough not to care. How many do you remember? 1. Candy cigarettes 2. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside. 3. Soda pop machines that ispensed glass bottles. 4. Coffee shops with table side juke boxes 5. Blackjack, Clove, and Teaberry chewing gum 6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles, with cardboard stoppers. 7. Party lines. 8. Newsreels before the movie. 9. P. F. Flyers 10. Butch wax 11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix ...(Jefferson- 5505) 12. Pea shooters. 13. Howdy Doody 14. 45 RPM Records ----or 78 RPM Records 15. Green Stamps 16. Hi-fi's 17. Metal ice cube trays--with levers 18. Mimeograph paper 19. Blue flash Bulbs 20. Beanie and Cecil 21. Roller skate keys 22. Cork pop guns 23. Drive ins 24. Studebakers 25. Wash tub wringers 26. The Fuller Brush man 27. Reel-to-reel tape recorders 28. Tinker toys 29. The Erector Set 30. The Fort Apache Play set 31. Lincoln Logs 32. 15 cent McDonald hamburgers 33. 5 cent packs of baseball cards...with that awful pink slab of bubble gum. 34. Penny candy 35. 35 cent-a-gallon gasoline (or even 18 cent-a-gallon gasoline!) A TIME WHEN ... Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo." Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming "do over!" "Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening. It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot. A foot of snow was a dream come true. Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action figures. Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles. The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. War was a card game Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle. Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived !!!! Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown up" life.... I double dog dare ya!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Next week we should have some photos from the Atlanta Mini-Reunion! |
