Our show idea, I have forwarded our letter to Oprah Winfrey because
she would be more likely to do a full Beatle fan show. Ellen
Degeneres is having actors & musical stars primarily on her shows.
Oprah does special interest shows quite often. So we are asking each
of you to send your Beatle fan story also to Oprah. However, it is
tricky-you have to keep your show idea statement under 2,000
characters unless you mail it hardcopy.
Click on or copy/paste below to get to her site then click on WE WANT
YOUR SHOW IDEAS
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/intheworks/tows_works_main.jhtml

Dear Oprah,
I have an idea that will be very refreshing, as well as
nostalgic, to many people. Beatle fans often have unique, charming
stories to tell about their devotion & life long passion. I hope this
idea can be considered as a show theme or segment to honor Paul
McCartney and/or the Beatles. The theme would be"FANS OF THE BEATLES"
(OR PERHAPS PAUL MCCARTNEY) You have always seemed so kind. I hope
you will consider this idea. All the Beatlefan sites for fans &
merchandise are visited by millions of people.
My history as a fan for 41 years follows. I am Rick
Linville, a 48 year old fan from Columbus Ohio. I have been a Paul
McCartney/Beatles fan since 1963 , when I first started hearing about
the Beatles in the news. My first contact with them was on the Ed
Sullivan Show. I was eight years old, mesmerized & deep down knew my
life had just totally changed. I gave up toys at that point & all
desires became Beatle albums. My parents, sisters & girlfriends , for
the next 40 years or so, knew what I would want for birthdays or
Christmas. Initially, the Beatles were so cool looking & had a cool
different sound. Their songs were meaninful & romantic (sometimes
playfully romantic) All their songs seemed different from each
other.They wrote most of their own songs from the beginning. I would
organize Beatle shows with 3 friends at 8 & 9 years old. We made
wooden guitars, used overturned wastebaskets for drums & pie tins for
cymbals. We would setup on top of my parents big chest freezer in the
basement. Neighborhood girls would pay us 10 cents each to watch our
show. We would play a Beatles record on a small 16 inch by 16
inch "phonograph (AKA record) player & lip sync. At the end of the
show we would run out of the house with the girls screaming behind us
in play. I have always loved singing Beatle songs(even though family,
friends ,even total strangers would ask me to stop singing) When I
was in the third grade 1964 I wore my moms black crushed velvet boots
to school because they looked like the boots on Meet the Beatles.
I have seen Paul McCartney 7 times in concert, Ringo 3
times, George almost once (1971 cancelled) & John never. I saw Paul
once around 1976 with his group Wings. Then I saw him 3 times in
1989. Before the 1989 tour I found out if you joined his official fan
club you can get preferred seating. So I joined & sent a money order
to England. After 3 weeks I got concerned so I sent another money
order. A lady from England called me at work & said the fan club had
received my first money order. She said the only question-do you want
the 2nd money order returned or an extra pair of tickets for a
different show? I thought I must be dreaming. I said send the extra
tickets. I had 2 Cincinnati tickets 18th row. The two extra tickets
were for Detroit 8th row dead center. I was thrilled. A buddy & I
went to Detroit to see him. He was alone on stage singing "Put It
There". The song about his father putting out his hand to shake hands
when Paul was an upset little boy. Everyone was seated while Paul was
on stage singing. When he went into the main chorus, I stood up & put
out my hand. He winked, smiled & nodded at me. I fell back in my seat
dumbfounded. It was the one personal moment I always wanted with
Paul. After that show I also saw him in Cleveland & Cincinnati on
that tour. He came back on tour about 1993 & I saw him in Cincinnati
with my soon-to-be wife. In about 2001 he came back on his Driving
Rain tour. Another friend & I saw him in Cleveland & on the 2nd
leg "Back in the US" saw him in Columbus Ohio. The interesting thing
about the Back In The US tour-my dying mother knew the greatest gift
she could give her then 45 year old son was a main floor seat for the
show. Another bonus-my twin sister Kay, who was ho-hum about the
Beatles since we were kids, wanted to go see him.
So Kay, myself & two other friends went to the Columbus
show. Before the concert, we went to the venue early to see some
Beatles impersonaters band. While we were waiting for the doors to
open, we decided to go over by the limousine entrance. I thought what
a waste of time, but I agreed. While we stood there for 15 minutes
with 20 other people, an English guy said Mr McCartney will be
arriving in 5 minutes. Please do not rush the limo or he will not
slow down for a wave & photos. Pauls entourage (4 limos & police
escort motorcycles) arrived & I handed the camera to my sister,
thinking I might be the one to get too excited to get the picture.
Paul pulls up, pops his head out the window & begins waving. My 45
year old sister begins screaming & jumpimg up & down. She messed up
the most important photo & got a photo of the front door of the limo.
That broke my heart. So we went on in to the concert.
Well. I finally stepped up to a microphone & sang Live &
Let Die (without musical backing) on 3/18/05. It was "The Step Up To
The Mike Columbus" American idol type contest for local singers. I
saw it advertised on a news show at 6pm. So I drove down to see how
many people were lined up downtown at the Promowest PPavilion. Pretty
long line but I decided why not. My sisters Kay & Jane probably got
the biggest kick out of me, of all people, being in a singing
contest. The only phonecall I would probably get would be a request
not to return next year. But it was fun. I told everyone as we waited
that
people often ask me to stop singing. I also said my wife makes me lip
sync in church.
The newer fans of the Beatles will carry on their
legacy. I am proud to have them join those of us around since the
beginning.
In conclusion, I am honored that you allow your own fans
to give feedback about your show.
I AM
RICK LINVILLE-USA