AboutMelissa Davis Expertise I feel extremely comfortable with my ability to answer questions regarding The Beatles personally - backgrounds, family, education, and the genesis of the group from inception to the end. I do not feel that I have the expertise to answer extremely technical questions regarding equipment, other than to refer the questioner to other sources.
Experience Besides having been the right age at the right time to live through and enjoy The Beatles, I have continued my interest in them, in their music, and their influence on 20th century - in everything from the obvious, music, to fashion, humor, film, politics, and the music industry. As a dedicated Anglophile, I have studied at the University of London as an undergraduate and traveled in the UK extensively - yes, walked across Abbey Road, visited Savile Row - all of it. Beyond that, I am a teacher and a writer with excellent writing, editing, and research skills.
Publications The Copy Workshop advertising series
Colorado Law Journal
Various magazines
Education/Credentials B.A. History & Political Science, M.A. English History, J.D.
Awards and Honors Teacher of the Year, Archdiocese of Dallas (2000)
Question QUESTION: Hi melissa , I lost my original contact info so ill try to pick it up from where we left off. You might remember im the one who went to Manchester ENGLAND on November 4th 1964. Me and my brother just 6 and 7 roamed the plane with our B.O.A.C. Log books only to have one of the greatest music legends sign them.Now after all these years I am finally trying to find out if It was truly one of the BEATLES who touched pen to paper in my log book. You reponded that the managers might have signed them since it was a trans atlantic flight from Manchester to New York.Mom said not many books were given out as there were very few kids on the flight since school was happening at the time.We did end up going to school there for a few months so no escaping that lol.I downloaded some photos of the book so i hope i can e mail them to you so youll see the book as it is. Hope I am able to here or if not ill send thenm on next correspondence. ok hope that helps some and look forward to your reply. Sincerely Tery K.
ANSWER: Hi Terry,
Yes, I remember your question.
Can you confirm that it was in November 1964?
Because the Beatles did not go to the US in November of 1964; they were in the UK.
Their US tour ended in September 1964 and they returned home at that time and began working on Beatles 65 and their Christmas record. They had a short UK tour in the fall and then rehearsed for their pantomime show in London for three weeks during the Christmas season.
They might have gone to the continent for a short tour - I will check tomorrow; but they definitely were not on a trans-Atlantic flight between the UK and the US in November of 1964.
Let me know if you have any further details.
MDavis
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QUESTION: yes melissa the proof is in the book. There are numerous signatures of people that were on the flight during that day.The first in the book is the flight captain who signed 4/11/64 (remember in england they sign the day,month and year. In U.S.A. its 11/4/64.Inside there are 4 or 5 signatures with the same date. It sounds like your having trouble comming up with the proof melissa but thanks for trying. i could send you the pictures if you have an e mail i could send them too.I just would like a ball park figure on the worth if this is indeed an early beatle signature in my book. We were on that plane on NOVEMBER 4 TH 1964. TAKE CARE YOUR THE BEST BYE TERRY.
Answer Hi Terry,
I checked with Mark Lewisohn and I was correct: The Beatles were in the UK and did not travel - as a group or individually - outside the UK to America after they returned from their tour in September 1964 until the next tour in 1965.
Specifically, on November 4, 1964 they were in between shows in London and in Belfast and were recording. Lewisohn is adamant about that and has shared the recording logs from EMI/Abbey Road for that date, as well as the concert business records from that date.
I would like to see the signatures; you can email them to me at: mdavisdenver@gmail.com
Perhaps they were on a short part of the flight from Belfast to Manchester to London? They were 100% NOT on a trans-Atlantic flight on that date or at any time between September 20, 1964 and 1965 when they went to the Bahamas to shoot Help!
That information comes from Lewisohn, who is irrefutable. He is one of the only people in the world who has complete access to EMI/Abbey Road recording logs AND concert bookings through NEMS (Brian Epstein's business records).
We can hope they were on a portion of the flight when they (or Neil or Mal) signed your book. That's what I'm hoping for you. Otherwise, it is not in any way authentic.
Please do email with the photos and I can forward them to Lewisohn, although, as I said, he is adamant and is never wrong.
