Five Sunflowers for The Fifth Beatle

[christine~]

A flister visits Brian's last home on the 41st anniversary of his death:

"Outside 24 Chapel Street, I found... nothing whatsoever. No flowers, no nothing. Ah well. We know that people visited his grave in Liverpool, so that is something. And my sunflowers did look very striking against the neutral tones of the house.

While I was standing across the street doing some photography, an elderly couple wandered past and stopped outside the house. I think they must have lived nearby because they had shopping bags. The man started talking to the woman in a voice so low that I hardly could hear, but I sidled a little closer and finally heard "blah blah blah homosexual blah." So he was talking about Brian after all. On eavesdropping even more closely I heard "blah blah suicide blah... parties on the roof...blah blah." And that was all I could catch. I nearly said something, but they didn't seem to be the sort of people that one randomly strikes up conversations with on street corners. And it didn't sound to me as if the man had known Brian personally. "

[yerblues1968]

Hello Eppylover, was this Brian's last known home that he lived in before he passed? I think he had just bought himself another home outside of Liverpool shortly before his death but am not sure whether he had already moved into it at the time--or was 24 Chapel Street his new home?

I appreciate you even posting the front door of his residence. It gives me a strange feeling looking at it, like hollowed ground, a feeling I can't describe perhaps because we now know who had lived there. The sunflowers were a thoughtful expression to honor Brian.

[Emily]

Just a note to say that I'm the flister mentioned. Those are my sunflowers and the picture is mine too.

Eppylover will know better than I do, but as far as I know this *was* Brian's last home. He had plans to buy a place in New York City but hadn't got that far yet. In any case this was where he died, so this was where I chose to leave the flowers. Given that I couldn't be in Liverpool on the 27th, it made sense to me at least.

[christine~]

Aug 28, 2008 21:33:04 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

Brian's last known home

Yes. He died in his bedroom there, on (if I'm not mistaken) what Americans know as the second floor, and in the UK call the third floor.
{{ Oops~ it's the other way around! Emily kindly corrected me 2 posts down ~ thanks! }}

Aug 28, 2008 21:33:04 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

...he had just bought himself another home outside of Liverpool shortly before his death but am not sure whether he had already moved into it at the time--or was 24 Chapel Street his new home?

He had a permanent second home in Sussex, variously called Kingsley House or Kingsley Hill.
{ HERE } is a map, with arrow showing where it is.

... he went back and forth, living at both places, depending on what was going on and how he felt at any particular moment. As we know, restless and constantly on the move.

Actually, I feel he would have become mainly a New Yorker eventually, had he lived.

I suggest you read both The Man Who Made The Beatles by Ray Coleman,
and The Brian Epstein Story (a.k.a. In My Life:The Brian Epstein Story) by Debbie Geller.

They're not all that expensive:

The Man Who Made The Beatles

The Brian Epstein Story

[yerblues1968]

Yes, that is the place--the home on Kingsley Hill. Thanks for the photo and bringing it to view. Brian's residence on Kingsley Hill was his new five-acre 18th century country home that he bought. I did some research and realized this was the place and his latest residential purchase. It looks like he did live in it.


Photo of Clive Epstein and Brian Epstein.

When Brian's father Harry passed away on July 7, 1967, aside from the Beatles, Brian's mother Queenie became his priority. He would visit his mother whenever he could, mostly on weekends. On August 14th, Queenie came to Liverpool for two weeks to spend time with Brian; and Brian did everything to comfort his mother of their recent loss. Brian was also so devastated over the loss of his father. Brian was also making arrangements for his mother to move to London so they would be close to each other. Queenie left to go back home on August 23rd.

Two days later, Brian visited his Kingsley Hill residence and spent time with friends Peter Brown and Geoffrey Ellis. Then he drove back to his place at 24 Chapel Street, London. Sadly, that is where he unfortunately passed away.


Photo of Brian Epstein and Queenie Epstein.
Photo by Eppylover.

Brian's brother Clive received the call of the devasting news that his brother Brian had died. Clive's wife Barbara was also eight months pregnant. They both had to tell the horrible news to Queenie that Brian had passed away. The news was just too overwhelming.

I can not imagine the unspeakable grief and pain, that Queenie had just seen her son Brian for the last time just four days prior. She had just lost her husband two months ago. Now she had to grieve even more losing her oldest son. I am truly amazed that she managed to survive such incredible grief for several years. I think it helped that her other son, Clive and his wife Barbara, were going to have a child. If I understand correctly, Barbara gave birth to a boy and the boy was named after Brian as Henry Brian Epstein. Perhaps, Clive and his family is what helped encouraged Queenie to keep going in life, and this "gift."

Thank you for the information about his residence(s). Also, thank you Emily for your "photo" and the beautiful sunflowers. The close up view of the front door shook me up a little bit, still does.

[Emily]

Apology from Christine:
Emily, I don't know what happened, but somehow my reply got entered as a modification of your earlier reply instead of your reply being quoted in my reply. So I tried to undo it, but part of yours went missing in the process. Here's what is left of yours~

Ground floor= kitchen and dining room
First floor= sitting room
Second floor= bedroom

So that would be the third floor in American parlance. I get so confused going back and forth these days!

[christine~]

And here's my reply:

Of course you're right!

Just the opposite of what my scrambled mind tried to say.

Brits call the first floor the "ground" floor, and the second floor becomes the first floor.

So, actually Brian died one floor higher than what one of my American email pals (who is convinced he was murdered) decided when she walked to the back of his house to determine if an intruder could easily climb up and enter his window.

So, if what she thought was the second floor window wasn't ~ and he was really on what we would call the third floor ~ then that changes her murder story, because (looking at her photo) I can see that it would be incredibly more difficult to climb to the third floor, whereas the one lower seems a lot easier.

[christine~]

BTW, yerblues, the framed photo next to Brian's is of his brother Clive, not dad Harry.

In fact, you can just make out the name "Clive" under his pic.



THIS is Harry, their dad:




Here's Clive in 1978:


You're welcome ;D

[yerblues1968]

Thanks for bringing that out Eppylover. I am glad you saw that. The photo was small, and I could not get a clear look as there was a glare above his face on the photo. I was not quite sure if it was Clive, as Clive does have lighter hair. I knew his dad was the same.

But something came out of the mishap! You finally posted a photo of Brian Epstein's father--and a BIG ONE so everyone can see him very clearly, even though black and white! I am sure many people were curious what Brian's parents looked like (especially the father). To me, I think Brian looks like a combination of his parents. He seems to have his father's features and his mother's dark hair.

Also, Clive's eyes appear to be light. Were they blue? Were the parents' eyes brown?

Do you have a clue what was the height of Brian's father? I think Brian was around 5'11." If you have any more photos of Brian's parents, please post, especially if they were pictured with Brian.

Thanks much. BTW, did Brian like cats?

[syelar108]

What a couple of handsome young men! I love these photos - BEAUTIFUL - and which museum are they in?

[christine~]

Sept 5, 2008 21:47:45 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

Clive's eyes appear to be light. Were they blue? Were the parents' eyes brown?

Hmm. Damned if I know. LOL

Sept 5, 2008 21:47:45 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

Do you have a clue what was the height of Brian's father? I think Brian was around 5'11."

I've read in various places that Brian himself was anywhere from 6' to 6'2". His fan club handout puts him at 6 feet with green eyes. In weight, he was much heavier than he looks ~ even at times he was on a skinny streak ~ probably a heavy skeletal structure or something (?) as if I know about those things.

Yeah, he was a big guy. Strange that I've been so stuck on him for 43 years, seeing as the 5'1" eppylover has never particularly been a lover of tallness ~ but what difference does it make, except when that guy gives you a hug and, because he can't help but pull upwards, you are bedridden with a bad back for two days! Ah, the good old days. Yecchhh. Yeah, the soon-to-be-ex is also over 6 feet tall.

Brian's father's height? Hmm. Damned if I know. LOL

Sept 5, 2008 21:47:45 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

If you have any more photos of Brian's parents, please post, especially if they were pictured with Brian.

Well, on short notice:


Happy 75th Anniversary today to the late Harry and Queenie!~

There's also a photo of Brian and his parents on the back balcony of their house, shot from below ~ however, that one is in my original 1964 Cellarful of Noise that I recently won from a British seller on eBay for, like, £1.99 ~ and I haven't scanned the pics from that yet. To our disadvantage (and to Brian's helpless despair) the U.S. publishers of Cellarful insisted on leaving out most of the personal photos Brian chose, replacing them instead with photos of those darned Beatles. Made him very angry, but he couldn't do anything about it.

Sept 5, 2008 21:47:45 GMT -5 yerblues1968 said:

BTW, did Brian like cats?

Hmm. Damned if I know! LOL
Reminds me of something I'm sure I read somewhere ~ something about Paul planning on having Brian take care of Martha whilst he and Jane flew off somewhere.

That MIGHT have been one of those wicked jokey Bad Beatle comments though ~ Brian was always taking the mickey from his Boys.

Could be Brian couldn't handle or didn't like housepets for some reason. Wish I could arsk Joe Flannery or Nat Weiss or someone who knew for sure (damnit Alistair, why'd you have to be so rude and die on us? We NEEED you now!!!)
Bri DID love horses, though.

~*~*~

Sept 6, 2008 9:31:59 GMT -5 syelar108 said:

What a couple of handsome young men! I love these photos - BEAUTIFUL - and which museum are they in?

I think they're a part of the Brian exhibit in Liverpool's Beatles Story Museum.
Another of that image series taken at Beatles Story
The page those two Beatles Story pics come from

[yerblues1968]

That is a very good photo that you posted of Brian with his parents, Eppylover. This is the only picture I have seen of him with his parents, and I am glad you are sharing it with us. They were obviously very happy and proud in this photo, and the way Brian extends his elbow for his mother shows his manliness. He almost reminds me of a Rhett Butler in this photo, very distinguished and classy. He was truly a class of his own. He definitely knew how to dress. He may have learned it from his father.

Thanks for answering my questions the best you can about Brian and his family. I had read somewhere that Brian's height was the same as the Beatles--5'11" minus Ringo, who is 5'8". I was a little surprised that you had mentioned your "soon-to-be ex" and that his height is on the tall side. But of course, that is between you two. It so happens I am around that height BTW. I could say I am turned off by short women, but I am more open as the old saying goes, "good things can come in small packages."

The pictures you had shown to me of Brian riding horses from your Live Journal does show his affinity for horses. And who knows? If he had lived longer and moved to New York (as the plan was said), he may have eventually gotten himself a ranch and rode horses during his leisure. He may even have gotten a dog or two, or even a cat as they are affectionate.

I know you have been very busy and do appreciate you posting any photos of Brian or his family whenever you have the time. This may be a long shot, but would you have any of the photos that Brian had intended to have published in his book Cellarful of Noise that were removed by the American publisher, since you had gotten the book from a British seller?

Also, would you have photos of any of "Brian people"; i.e., Sid Bernstein, Nat Weiss, etc., with Brian's family members, such as his parents? You probably don't, but I thought I'd ask. Thanks again.

[christine~]

Also, he writes in Cellarful about his love of horses even as a boy ~ sarcastically noting that at least his horse had no problem with Jews.

Hope you've got time for a lot of clicking and reading ~ there are pictures in most all my old LiveJournal posts.

Here's but ONE of my lists of links to Brian-y stuff

I'd repeat the LJ posts here, but since forum boards require a totally different posting code (UBBC) than most blogs and journals(HTML), it would take forever! ~time I just don't have to translate my LJ posts over to this forum.

Someday, maybe after Stephy and I have moved into our apartment (I still haven't scored employment yet, but I'm getting close, I think), I will have time to scan all the photos from that ancient Cellarful book.

Anyway, I just found an old image in my Photobucket account, of a pre-scanner digital camera pic taken from the Geoffrey Ellis book ~

If you recall, Geoffrey was his old friend who worked for him, and who ended up waiting with Peter Brown at the Kingsley House for Brian, who never returned.

[christine~]

Oh, and to my knowledge, no photos of Sid or Nat, etc. with other Epstein family members, if these pictures even exist, have been published or uploaded anywhere ~ so I wouldn't have them.

[syelar108]

Hmm... and I'd just been thinking about asking you: regarding the contents of Cellarful. I've never seen past the cover. A future post, but not quite at this moment right? Don't sweat the replies we all demand of you!

As I said in the e-mail, my fingers are crossed for you. ;D And; going to your library of Bri. photos is pure heaven. Did you ever figure out where that photo of him (with the eagle/bird) was taken?

[Emily]

Sept 6, 2008 19:19:20 GMT -5 christine~ said:

Sept 6, 2008 9:31:59 GMT -5 syelar108 said:

What a couple of handsome young men! I love these photos - BEAUTIFUL - and which museum are they in?

I think they're a part of the Brian exhibit in Liverpool's Beatles Story Museum

They are indeed. Sadly the photographer didn't take a picture of the photo that you can see down in the lower left... it's a really nice shot of Brian with his parents, obviously taken after the Beatles became famous because you can see other members of the paparazzi in the background. I would have taken a picture of it myself but they don't allow you to use cameras in there and I didn't want to be thrown out. They also had a really nice picture of Brian and Clive on holiday, taken in the early 50s I believe.

[christine~]

Hmmm. I wonder if on Katie's next trip to L'pool she can snap us a pic of that pic. It won't be the best resolution or quality (she's far from being a camera pro) but she is acquainted with the Beatles Story people. I hope she doesn't mind me saying this!

Also, I hope she doesn't mind me telling you that she donated several one-of-a-kind Eppy items to Beatles Story... I can't reveal how they were given to her, though. *eppylover seethes with jealousy* LOL.

So maybe we can indeed get a look at that pic ~ eventually.

[christine~]

Sept 6, 2008 23:47:49 GMT -5 syelar108 said:

Hmm... and I'd just been thinking about asking you: regarding the contents of Cellarful. I've never seen past the cover.

The first time you read it, your "virgin" version should only be the newest Rhino Rediscovery Cellarful.


However, for a collector, the original UK 1964 Cellarful with dustjacket is the most valuable, and is the only one to include the little-seen pics selected by Brian himself.


It of course lacks the Derek Taylor epilogue and the Martin Lewis prologue, which are what make the Rhino Rediscovery Cellarful indispensible. You HAVE TO read the additional material to truly appreciate what Brian himself wrote ~ or, should I say, dictated to Derek! XD

For the past several years I have been in the process of slowly acquiring all the other versions, UK and US, hardcover and paperback. Owning foreign language versions would be a bit over-the-top, but your eppylover is a bit o-t-t anyway, so I'd love to pursue that eventuality, eventually.


This might amuse you ~ I practically STOLE it!
Very unusual to luck into such a low price for the '64 original WITH dustjacket in any condition ~


I do believe that, barring foreign language versions,
below is the only Cellarful I don't own yet ~
The 1965 original UK paperback ~

...which is now on an ending-soon auction, it's in the last couple of days, going for cheap on eBay...
but I've already shot my wad on the purchase of an original programme for Brian's production of "On The Level"
(I have the original LP and one piece of the sheet music now, so it was just TOO tempting!)

I would have killed for this one (below), which of course went for a fortune on eBay:

Sept 6, 2008 23:47:49 GMT -5 syelar108 said:

A future post...,

*sigh* Yeah, I really should give an eppylover-centric review, I suppose.

Here's one page I found saved in my Photobucket ~ for what reason, I dunno ~ most probably to make a point in a comment or post ~

Sept 6, 2008 23:47:49 GMT -5 syelar108 said:

Did you ever figure out where that photo of him (with the eagle/bird) was taken?

Noooo

Someday...

BTW, I just checked, and you can still buy the almost-poster-sized version HERE from EasyArt.com!


~ Brian watches me sleep every night! LOL

I just LOVE the look on his face, close up! LOL
I find it hilarious that in a lot of my Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. image searches for Brian Epstein, the above pic often comes up!

[syelar108]

Wow! "Ask & you shall receive." Thanks for all the great images regarding Cellarfull, Eppylover. I did look into purchasing the Rhino copy a while back from Amazon, but the asking price began at around $30.

Since you heavily support Ebay purchases, I'm tempted to give that a go. I have no doubt that the "5th Beatle" film will dramatically impact the sale of Brian biographies. Not a bad moment in time (at all) to snatch up goodies. I NEED to get my hands on Alistair's book! If you see one for sale, please let me know.

Yes; I'm definitely an Eppy follower, who would have killed for the Cellarfull autographed copy! Do you remember the (fortune) asking price for it?

Glad your flister in Texas got out! We've had our eyes glued to the tube the past couple weeks, since my grandmother & other family members live near New Orleans. They had to put down roots in Arkansas for a month during Katrina. Fill up them gas tanks folks!

Hope you feel better in the morning. How goes the job hunt?