http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32758087/ns ... ent-music/
As a segueway however, something happened last Spring that I though you'd enjoy reading:
Back in 1966, I hopped a train out of Charleston to Cincinnati Ohio to see the Beatles in concert at Crosley Field. I took with me an 8mm film camera (no sound) that my Uncle owned. That Saturday was rained out. They told us to hang on to our tickets and come back Sunday. All of the kids who had won tickets through radio station giveaways had to return to their respective states. I spent the night on rail siding in an empty train car, because I had maybe 6 bucks in my pocket. (I was going to return home that afternoon remember).
Sunday arrives as one of the hottest days of the year. The Beatles played, but not ONE WORD could you hear due to all the girls screaming from start to finish. Looking at an old photo taken in Cincinnati of their Amps... you can see why.
Anyway, out of the 5 minutes of film that I had in my camera, I managed to shoot maybe 3 minutes of the Beatles, running out on the field from near my position, and then on stage.
Fast forward to this last Spring:
I'm cleaning out my basement, throwing both good stuff and bad into boxes for the trash man. At one point I came across reels of old family 8mm film. As most of this I had transferred to video, I tossed it all into the box. On top however, was this little 5 minute film that I had marked "The Beatles" many years ago. This too I had transferred so it was junk. But the more I thought about the crazy stuff people buy on E-Bay, the more it occurred to me that maybe I could make a few bucks off it.
So I took a sample and placed it on YouTube. Then I offered the silent film on E-Bay with a $5 opening bid.
Within 3 days the film had a bid of $100. I was VERY happy! Then nothing happened until the last 5 minutes of the auction, when the bids started to climb... climb... CLIMB. At the end of the auction, the film had brought $1,550! Problem was, it was someone from England. However, within a few minutes, I get an e-mail from him asking for my phone number. I send it, and within a few minutes, I get a call from a guy who works for the Beatles company, APPLE CORP.
He has purchased the film on their behalf, and sent me(overnight) papers to sign giving up all rights to the film. He says Paul McCartney is the person behind the buying spree, and how they had lost most all of their memorabilia in past business transactions. The money was wired to my bank and the story came full circle: I shot the film and sold it to the Beatles.... what a great ending.
