Brian Epstein and Ringo Starr autographs, featured in a guest book signed by artists, writers and performers who frequented the famous London restaurant Chez Victor in Wardour Street, Soho, from the 1960s to 1980s. [x]Â
Epstein writes in an entry dated 24/11/66: âCannot understand why Iâve never been before - its all very nice and very goodâ - whilst Starrâs later entry is dated 9/2/73
Handwritten postcard from Brian Epstein to his parents, dated July 2, 1966. This was written in Tokyo the day before the Beatlesâ ill-fated visit to the Philippines. On the reverse is an image of the Nippon Budokan Hall, where the Beatles played five concerts [x]
âJust one more card from Tokyo (youâve done very well this trip!) The picture on the front is of the hall where we played here with the rest of the huge city in the background. Iâve enjoyed this trip very much. Although itâs been as hectic as always, itâs been a very happy one. Tomorrow we leave for the Philippines and should be back early next Friday. All love, BrianâÂ
Brian Epstein standing outside the Saville Theatre at Londonâs Shaftesbury Avenue in 1965, the year he took over the lease on the theatre. (Photo by Larry Ellis)
Under Epsteinâs control, the Saville promoted new works by writers, and on occasion fell foul of the Lord Chamberlainâs censorship laws by staging plays with obscene content or nudity.
From 1966 onwards the theatre began staging music events, with performers including the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Procol Harum and The Who. The Sunday night shows proved particularly popular, as most other venues were closed on the day.
Brian Epstein, the pop emperor of 1964, sat on his throne (a chair) in Room 324 of the Central Hotel in Glasgow yesterday and talked about his empire, of which he is the founder, the maker, the developer, and the king.
Epstein is the sculptor who has moulded with words and music, and an astute brain, The Beatles, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Cilla Black (No. 1 in the hit parade this week), Billy J. Kramer, and the Fourmost into the most deadly, fascinating, hit-parading combine the world of pop music has ever known.
Brian, 29, is just back from America, where he has been with the all-conquering Beatles.
He was in Glasgow yesterday with Gerry and The Pacemakers for their two concerts at the Odeon last night.
He is not only the throne, but the power behind the throne. The phone in the room rang every few minutes as he answered questions and answered phone calls with:
âThis IS Brian Epstein. Canât talk to you just now. Call back later.â
He wiped his brow, said: âThis happens all the time - and I like it.â and went on to talk about his prize preserves:
âSUCCESSâ
The Beatles: âThey will be in Edinburgh DEFINITELY on April 29, and if a certain tour doesnât happen in July - canât talk about it really - Glasgow WILL be included in any autumn tour they do.
âWhat is their success? They have originality, and their talent is basic.
âTheir new record will be out around mid-March. I donât know what it will be. THEY know.â
But you also figure Brian knows, too, because he goes on to talk about:
Gerry and the Pacemakers: âThey go to America in May for two shows with Ed Sullivan, and they are booked for a week at the Capitol in Aberdeen from July 13. They are also making a film, and I am producing it.â
âKNOCKED OUTâ
Epstein lets these facts fall lightly from his lips. No emphasis. No great I AM.
He says: âI donât like to talk about empires,â no doubt remembering that even the Roman Empire crumbled.
âBut I like to keep with my artistes. I see them every week. The Beatles come back from America tomorrow. Gerry is in the next room. I phoned Cilla Black last night.
âI found Cillaâs record for her, âAnyone Who Had A Heart,â and when I was phoned in America about her getting to No. 1, I was completely...â
SOMEBODY SUPPLIED THE ENDING FOR IT: âKNOCKED OUT.â
âKnocked out,â said Brian.
He went on: âPeople have been saying for a long time now that The Beatles wouldnât last. But they have done.
âEverything must come to an end sometime obviously, but I am quite certain the boys will be as big this time next year as they are just now.
âI donât find the job of managing them all too much for me. If I did, I would pack it in.
âIâm moving to London next week, to new offices.
âIâve a staff of 25 who look after things for me, but I like to be in on tours, the selection of the right type of records to make, and on the right type of exploitation. Very important.
âApart from choosing Cillaâs No. 1 for her, I chose Billy J.âs âLittle Childrenâ, and I think it is important that this should be so.
ASTUTE
âI get a lot of letters from groups and a lot of tapes from groups, but really I canât listen to them any more. Itâs impossible.
âBut if I found a Scottish artiste who was original and different - and this is very important - Iâd add him or her to my staff. Iâd be a fool if I didnât.â
All Epstein left unsaid was that his success - and that of The Beatles, Cilla, and Gerry and the Pâs - is based on astute management, adroit selection of numbers, and the best exploitation of talent in the world.
The phone went again. But by that time Epstein, the emperor and the king, had left the room, followed by Gerry and The Pacemakers.
But the real pacemaker, one felt, was Brian Epstein.
This is myself and my brother Phil with my Dad Peter's 1st cousin . Do you have any other pics of Brian Epstein with the Weldon family?
This is an amazing photo! Unfortunately I don't have any other photos of Brian with the Weldon family but thank-you so much for sharing this one. If you do find any I would love to see them!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN EPSTEIN (b. 19 SEPTEMBER 1934)
Remembering Brian today on what would have been his 91st birthday
When Brian was on he had an amazing sense of humour, and when Brian would come into the room with the four Beatles it was Brian who was the star. He would light up the room. He was very good-looking, very well dressed and had this infectious smile. He was filled with witticisms and he could be very funny and when he started to get funny he became outrageously funny. He was such an iconoclast and nothing was sacred to him. - NAT WEISS
Brian Epstein at the airport, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 1966. Epstein was in the country to accept four gold records for the Beatles (and one for himself) in a special reception at the Palace Hotel, to mark their sale of a million records in Denmark.Â
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