One-Tank Trip for
Sept. 3-16
(c) By Jim Fox
The Magical History
tour is “coming to take you away” – back to the days when Beatlemania ran
rampant.
The “British
Invasion” can be relived, or if you missed it then, here’s a chance to live it
now.
They love you, yeah,
yeah, yeah and those mop-topped boys from Liverpool star in the Magical History
Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition.
It’s now playing at
the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Mich. through Sept. 18.
Metro Detroit finds
itself being invaded again by the mop-topped “Brits” where Motown battled it
out with them back in the day.
And, in Montreal at
Fairmont’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel, all John Lennon and Yoko Ono were saying was “give
peace a chance.”
Now their suite where
you can stay overnight is being given a makeover.
 |
| Have your photo taken beside the authentic replica of the Cavern Club where the fledgling Beatles played in Liverpool. (Barbara Fox photo) |
And, the hits just keep on coming
“Popular culture
has yet to experience another worldwide phenomenon on the scale of the Beatles
since Beatlemania took the world by storm,” said the producers at Exhibits
Development Group of St. Paul, Minn.
Their exhibition allows
visitors to explore the entire Beatles story “through an inspirational journey
of creativity, curiosity and love.”
This is the
most-exhaustive Beatles exhibition ever assembled, with more than 150 artifacts
from the private collection of Peter Miniaci & Associates.
“It includes
interactive displays designed to give visitors a taste of what Paul McCartney,
John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were up to before, during and
after their tenure as the Fab Four,” Billboard magazine reported.
 |
| Many artifacts and collectibles are included in the Beatles’ exhibition. (Jim Fox photo) |
This exhibition
features the historical retrospective of their first days as the Quarrymen to
the breakup and beyond.
It features instruments,
clothing, rare photos and many never-before-displayed artifacts.
Visitors will
experience pivotal points in their lives following the iconic story from the beginning,
through the throes of Beatlemania, to the years of experimentation and dissention,
and finally to their far-reaching inspiration today.
The beat goes on
There’s the
original Quarrymen drum kit, personal belongings, letters, memos and
documentation of the Beatles’ career.
This
includes the “break-up letter” typed by John to Paul’s lawyer and signed by
John, George and Ringo.
 |
| Become a “mop top” while touring the Beatles’ exhibition. (Barbara Fox photo) |
Fans can
view a vast collection of Beatles merchandise and memorabilia, including the
album signed by John Lennon to his eventual killer hours before his death.
After
touring the exhibition, you can easily spend a day or more looking around the vast
Henry Ford museum and the adjacent outdoor history marvel, Greenfield Village.
 |
| The artistic entrance to the Beatles’ Magical History Tour exhibition at the Henry Ford museum. (Jim Fox photo) |
Tickets
with admission to the Beatles and museum are $26 US, ages 12 to 61;
$24, seniors, 62 plus; $20.75, youths, (free with paid adult ticket, walk up
only) ages three to 11; and no charge for children to age two.
It’s at 20900
Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn (west of Detroit). Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
daily. thehenryford.org; (313) 982-6001
Give Peace a Chance
The John Lennon and
Yoko Ono Suite where the “Bed-in for Peace” was held in 1969 is getting a
modern makeover.
The world watched
as a group of “long-haired hippies” took over Suite 1742 of Fairmont’s Queen
Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal and the rest is history.
 |
| Mementoes adorn the walls in the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite at Fairmont’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel. (Jim Fox photo) |
Lennon had all the
furniture removed except for a mattress and held court to the world’s media to
protest against the war in Vietnam and recorded the song Give Peace a Chance.
Staying there for a
couple of nights, we could feel the “karma” and vibes of that epic sleepover.
It includes framed
photos, sheet music and news articles along with gold records adorning the
walls.
Now that hotel has
closed for a $140-million “transformation” to open next June, “one of the most
popular suites in the world” is getting modern, too, said Joanne Papineau, Fairmont’s
regional director for public relations.
“It is going to be
greatly improved – a much better experience, true to the Bed-in,” she said.
Architect Jean
Pelland said they will be “creating an experience” in the suite.
“When people come
in, they will get a greater sense of what happened there and how relevant that
moment in time was with artifacts and videos being shown,” he added.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
No comments:
Post a Comment