Freda kelly, right and left with paul mccartney in the 1960s, shares memories and memorabilia of her years as a secretary and confidante to the beatles in the documentary good ol. Its one of the few stories of life behindthescenes with the beatles that has remained untold until now freda kelly was the teenager who was envied by millions of other teenagers around. Good ol freda the beatles secretary who waited 50 years to tell her story. Good ol freda is a documentary film about freda kelly, who was secretary to brian epstein and the beatles 19621972 and president of the official beatles fan club.
Aug 28, 20 when freda kelly, just a shy liverpool teen, signed on to work for a local band with big dreams she had no idea she would soon hold the most coveted secretarial position in the world. Good ol freda the beatles secretary who waited 50 years to. Last night i watched a charming documentary called good ol freda, which profiles freda kelly, the fab fours former secretary. Freda kelly recalls her days of working with the beatles. When the beatles were about to release their debut single, love me do, at least one fan thought they were making a mistake. When freda kelly, just a shy liverpool teen, signed on to work for a local band with big dreams she had no idea she would soon hold the most coveted secretarial position in the world. Freda kelly was just a shy liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big. Kelly worked with the band as it rose from local popularity to worldwide fame, and through its dissolution. She resisted repeated offers to write a book about her experiences, gave away most of her beatles memorabilia to fans in the. This documentary explores the life of freda kelly, a runofthemill liverpudlian teen who happened to be hired to be a secretary for the beatles just before they rose to international fame, becoming arguably the most influential rock band of all time. Freda kelly who served as the official beatles fan club secretary and worked for nems from 19611971 will be the featured guest on the john lennon hour on beatles arama radio this sunday night at 8 p. As the beatles devoted secretary and friend, freda was there as history. Now, in an amazing film, beatles secretary freda kelly shares her insights into the frenzy surrounding the band, the impact their career had on their. On the disc, harrison gives thanks to freda kelly in liverpool.
Freda kelly is an actress, known for good ol freda 20, backbeat 1994 and the dressmaker 1988. Freda kelly recalls her days of working with the beatles the new. The beatles longago secretary tells almost all in good. Ringo starr, left, freda kelly, center, and george harrison, right, in 1967. They dont make many girls like freda kelly any more. The shy 17yearold that brian epstein hired to run the beatles fan club stayed on the payroll for 11 years, but freda kelly was never one to kiss and tell, despite seemingly unfettered access to the boys during their time together. The untold story of freda kelly, the beatles trusted secretary and friend throughout their rise to.
Sep 11, 20 when the beatles were about to release their debut single, love me do, at least one fan thought they were making a mistake. As the beatles secretary, freda kelly was the envy of a million. Though she had no concept of how far they would go, freda had faith in the beatles from the beginning, and the beatles had faith in her. Jul 12, 2017 one year into her tenure, the beatles decided to craft a special little record for members of their official fan club. A trusted member of the groups inner circle, freda kelly was part of the beatles story from the cavern club days until their split. A sweet documentary about freda kelly, longtime devoted secretary to the beatles and head of their fan club. The beatles fan club was one of the best, for what. She has been married to brian norris since april 4, 1968. Good ol freda is the untold story of freda kelly, the beatles trusted secretary and friend throughout their rise to fame. Click here to read another of my posts on paul mccartney, the first in my blog series people of inspiration. She watched the beatles embark on fantastic adventures from the magical mystery tour freda was a passenger to the maharishis ashram to the creation of apple corps. The members of the beatles valued their longtime secretary, freda kelly, in part because of her ability to celebrate the musicians while guarding their personal lives. How the beatles christmas records came to be variety. Despite ultimately handling thousands of fan letters, freda kelly still had zero idea how famous the beatles had become until july 10, 1964 the day she walked with the beatles and their families to the balcony of the liverpool civic center it was a welcome home reception held in conjunction with the northern film premiere of a hard.
Shell give an hour interview about her time working with john, paul, george, ringo, and brian. Freda kelly born 1945 was the secretary to brian epstein and the english rock band the beatles from 1962 through 1972, and president of the groups official fan club. Dec 09, 20 good ol freda the beatles secretary who waited 50 years to tell her story. Mirrorpix via getty there was still a lot going on in the fan club in early 1970. When the beatles closed up shop, it was kelly who consoled fans. Fame, fans and the fab four one womans life at the centre of beatlemania. One year into her tenure, the beatles decided to craft a special little record for members of their official fan club. A 20 documentary, good ol freda, chronicled kelly s tenplus year association with the group and its members. Freda kelly in liverpool, at the beatles official fan club office. Jan 22, 2016 when epstein died suddenly in 1967, kelly continued to be the beatles connection to their liverpool roots.
Nov 26, 20 they dont make many girls like freda kelly any more. When epstein died suddenly in 1967, kelly continued to be the beatles connection to their liverpool roots. Once brian signed the beatles, he asked freda to be his secretary and her life changed forever. Good ol freda recounts beatles early days rolling stone. Freda kelly, former secretary to the beatles manager brian epstein, has been confirmed to host an exclusive headline keynote on national pa day 7 october 2014 at this years office the uks leading annual twoday business event for executive support professionals freda was just 17 when brian epstein offered her the job that thousands would later covet. When freda kelly shakes your hand, she grabs your knuckles, daintily. Freda s employer was a young man called brian epstein and her job was to run the official beatles fan club. Sep 25, 2014 freda kelly, former secretary to the beatles manager brian epstein, has been confirmed to host an exclusive headline keynote on national pa day 7 october 2014 at this years office the uks leading annual twoday business event for executive support professionals. Its just these qualities, with a dash of loyalty and morality, that endeared her to the beatles and their manager, brian epstein, over 50 years ago. Freda kelly talks about good ole freda on beatles radio show. Sep 01, 20 freda kelly, right and left with paul mccartney in the 1960s, shares memories and memorabilia of her years as a secretary and confidante to the beatles in the documentary good ol. The new documentary good ol freda looks at how freda kelly became the secretary for the beatles and what life was like working for the fab four. The books strengths include fascinating discussions of the groups beginnings as a skiffle group called the quarrymen and their later period playing sleazy dives in hamburg.
With the birth of her only grandson, freda realized the importance of passing on the testimony of her lifes work, director ryan white, a family friend to kelly, told fox411s pop tarts column. Freda kelly, seated, a former secretary to the beatles and subject of the film good ol freda, talks with fans thursday following a screening of. The beatles secretary, good ol freda, breaks silence in. Sep 19, 20 the members of the beatles valued their longtime secretary, freda kelly, in part because of her ability to celebrate the musicians while guarding their personal lives. When kelly started, she was a teen fan whod sneak away to see the. Over the duration of the bands career from 1962 to 1973, kelly handled the beatles fan club, scribing its newsletters and personally responding to every. Aug 28, 20 with the birth of her only grandson, freda realized the importance of passing on the testimony of her lifes work, director ryan white, a family friend to kelly, told fox411s pop tarts column. Freda kelly was a 17yearold working in a secretarial pool. Good ol freda the beatles have been covered from just about every angle possible by nowexcept the one director ryan white found for good ol freda, when he interviewed freda kelly, the head of the bands fan club for much of the 60s and perhaps the only beatles employee who had never broken her silence about the band.
Beatles secretary freda kelly finally breaks her silence. Freda kelly, december newsletter the beatles monthly book gb. To countless music fans around the world, john, paul, george and ringo are the beatles or the fab four, but for freda kelly, they will always. Aug 16, 20 last night i watched a charming documentary called good ol freda, which profiles freda kelly, the fab fours former secretary. History notes that the beatles were together for 10 years, but freda worked for them for 11. The beatles were very good to the fans, notes kelly, herself the subject of a recent documentary about the club, good ol freda. Beatles secretary freda kelly charming on screen, in person. Longtime beatles secretary reminisces in good ol freda. Open this link to read all about the 20 film about freda kelly good ol freda. Normally, youd think it was a weak handshake, but with kelly, it comes across as polite, charming, and selfpossessed. Freda kelly born 1945 was the secretary to brian epstein and the english rock band the. In the documentary good ol freda, freda kelly shared her firsthand observations and some memorabilia from her years as a secretary. Here is some basic information about this film which premiered in 20.
I just saw a documentary on freda kelly, the beatles secretary and who was in charge of their official fan club. Tripod media is raising funds for good ol freda on kickstarter. Freda kelly, fan club secretary freda kelly tells you about beatles super pix the beatles monthly book gb december 1968, vol. Kelly expressed her dedication to the group by running their fan club before brian epstein was in the picture. The untold story of freda kelly, the beatles trusted secretary and friend. Her monthly dispatches for the beatles mailouts, signed tarrah for now, freda kelly, ranged from innocuous updates about george harrisons dental work to a. Id love to hear your beatles thoughts and memories. The beatles longago secretary tells almost all in good ol. Sep 04, 20 kelly says she saw the beatles play 190 out of the 292 times they performed at the cavern. The film has been released with the support of the band and features original beatles music. Kelly had almost daily contact with the beatles in the bands early days, when they would frequently visit. Austin hargravestripod media she started a new life and a family, and says her grandson, niall, is the reason why shes finally telling her story.
Kelly says she saw the beatles play 190 out of the 292 times they performed at the cavern. Though she had no concept of how far they would go, freda had faith in the. Good ol freda will tell the untold story of kelly, the secretary of the beatles official fan club from 1963 until it closed in 1972. Only the most hardcore beatles fans probably know the name freda kelly. When the beatles became the worlds biggest band, 17yearold freda kelly was at their side magnolia if you were just a casual beatles fan, you might sometimes wonder.
Freda kelly who served as the official beatles fan club secretary and worked for nems from 19611971 will be the featured guest on the john lennon hour on beatlesarama radio this sunday night at 8 p. Sep 08, 20 freda kelly, former secretary for the beatles. Beatles fanclub secretary breaks silence new york post. May 10, 20 her monthly dispatches for the beatles mailouts, signed tarrah for now, freda kelly, ranged from innocuous updates about george harrisons dental work to a fullon fingerwagging at fans who had. Sep 06, 20 when freda kelly shakes your hand, she grabs your knuckles, daintily. Unless gratuitous sex, drugs and financial folly count for love. Good ol freda by ryan white john lennon, paul mccartney. Freda kelly was a shy, 17year old typist when beatles manager brian epstein plucked her from the groups earliest handful of followers and offered her the job of band secretary. By alan chrisman all articles are written by alan chrisman, 20122015. Good ol freda the beatles secretary who waited 50 years.
Kelly is the subject of the brandnew, kickstarterfunded documentary good ol freda. Freda kelly kelly would stick with the group albeit in liverpool, because her parents refused to let her move to. Last time freda kelly was in touch with any of the beatles. From the early 1960s through the bands dissolution in 1970, kelly served as the beatles fanclub secretary.
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