#freda kelly

[iamactuallythewalrus]

appreciation post for this patterned shirt of george's

[harrisonarchive]

Happy birthday to former Official Beatles Fan Club secretary Freda Kelly! (Don’t miss the documentary “Good Ol’ Freda” if you haven’t watched it yet.)

Pictured are George Harrison and Freda at the Beatles Fan Club screening of Magical Mystery Tour on December 17, 1967 (bottom right of the first slide), plus screenshots of personalized autographs from each Beatle to Freda; Freda with George’s parents, Harold and Louise; and Freda in recent years (photo by Felicitas Lachmayr). Also included is an article about Freda by Pete Goodman, from Beat Instrumental (October 1967).

“The How I Won the War premiere after party was quite fun because, God, I was so drunk. I was 22, and because it was a premiere, I was all dolled up and thought I was the bee’s knees. [...] I’m not very good with makeup, so I bought false eyelashes and put them on. You always forget, and I’m always rubbing my eyes, so I’m dancing with George, and he’s oiled up more than I am, and he’s holding me up and says, ‘You’ve got a spider on your face!’ And I go, ‘What are you talking about? Oh, it’s me eyelash!’ [laughs]” - Freda Kelly, The Daily Beast (March 14, 2013) “Before they moved to London, I wanted to get their autographs. So George was in [the office] this day, and I had like autograph book upon autograph book for him to sign, and mine — I slipped mine in the middle. So he’s signing them, and I’m saying, you know, ‘That’s to Rita, that’s to Barbara’ […] and it gets to mine, and, ‘Who’s this to?’ And I said, ‘Well, just — just sign that,’ because I just wanted it out of the way. And he went, ‘Well, no, who’s it to?’ And I think it was because I was going, ‘It doesn’t matter, just sign this.’ I remember saying to him, ‘Just sign the book, just sign the book!’ And he flipped it to the front, and he went, ‘It’s yours!’ And I went, ‘Yeah, I haven’t got your autograph, I just want your autograph before you go to London.’ So he signed it, and he pocketed it. He took it. And I went, ‘What are you doing with my book?’ And he went, ‘I’ll get the others for you.’ And then next time he came in, he just threw it on the table and he went, ‘There you go.’ And they’d all put little comments.” - Freda Kelly, Good Ol’ Freda' Ryan White, director [of the highly recommended documentary, Good Ol’ Freda]: “George [Harrison] is Freda’s favorite Beatle too. She would never admit it, but from years of being around her, that’s what I think.” [Freda laughs and shrugs, but her lips are sealed] Q: “I liked your observation in the film that George wasn’t necessarily the quiet one.” Freda Kelly: “He wasn’t quiet with any of us in — I hate that word, ‘The Inner Circle.’ But with us, he was his most natural self. I don’t think he liked Beatlemania.” - Film School Rejects, SXSW 2013 (March 2013)

[nemperor]

A large black and white photograph of The Beatles performing at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool, October 28th, 1962; accompanied by a letter regarding the provenance from Beatles Fan Club secretary, Freda Kelly, confirming that this photograph belonged to Brian Epstein ...It hung in Brian's office in Moorfields, Liverpool.

Christie's Lot of Brian Epstein's belongings (x).

[gardenwalrus]

Freda Kelly and Billy Kinsley on The Beatles at the Cavern Club, within documentary Good Ol' Freda: The Beatles' Secretary (2013)

KELLY: It was conversation all the time with the audience. If somebody came in with a different hairstyle, they’d pick on them. They’d go, "Have you been the hairdressers?" or "Who got you up this morning?" But you answered them back, they liked the razzamatazz between you and them. People used to write down a number, give it to them, and ask them if they’d play that number. Now if you gave it to John, Paul always went over to John and leaned over his shoulder and read the request out. I just thought, "Can’t John read, or…?" KINSLEY: He looked pretty arrogant, to be honest. He looked at the crowd as if he was going to kill everyone in the crowd. KELLY: And then I mentioned it to somebody and they said, "Oh, no, no. John’s as blind as a bat. He wears glasses and he never wears his glasses, so he can’t see further than his nose." I liked George singing 'Three Cool Cats'. I loved that one or 'The Sheik Of Araby' because he used to do a little dance and I liked him doing the little dance. He used to sort of like kick his feet along the stage and go...

[ludmilachaibemachado]

Good Ol' Freda Kelly - secretary to Brian Epstein and The Beatles from 1962 to 1972, as well as president of the official fan club - turns 80 today🌺🌺🌺

Via Buskin with The Beatles on Facebook🌺

[kinsfaun]

[bonithica-art]

this took a billion years for me to do but it’s fine

Link to first part: part 1

Link to last part: part 15

Link to next part: part 17

[mrepstein]

A thank-you card that was sent by Queenie Epstein to Freda Kelly in February 1988. Clive Epstein (Brian’s younger brother) had died on February 1st, aged just 51.

---

Queenie wrote a message in the card which reads:

Dear Freda & Brian [Brian Norris, Freda’s husband]

Thank you for all your words and visit of comfort

Queenie