{"id":3685,"date":"2022-05-29T13:36:33","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T20:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=3685"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:43:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T04:43:08","slug":"from-liverpool-to-los-angeles-a-magical-mystery-tour-with-the-beatles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/from-liverpool-to-los-angeles-a-magical-mystery-tour-with-the-beatles\/","title":{"rendered":"From Liverpool to Los Angeles: A Magical Mystery Tour with The Beatles"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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\"Paul<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Paul McCartney surprise appearance at Amoeba Music in Hollywood 2007. Courtesy of Amoeba Music.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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From Liverpool to Los Angeles:
\nA Magical Mystery Tour with The Beatles<\/h1>\n

By Stacey Gualandi<\/p>\n<\/div>

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It is commonly known that Liverpool, England, is the birthplace of the Beatles, but who knew the lovable lads also had a hallowed history in Los Angeles? (I lived in LA for over 20 years, and I certainly didn\u2019t!)<\/p>\n

From Burbank to Malibu and all the way to the Sunset Strip, the mop tops made their mark in La La Land with enough (mis)adventures and memorable moments to fill a book!<\/p>\n

Cut to: The Beatles in Los Angeles: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, <\/i>a painstakingly-researched book that takes Fab Four fans on a magical mystery tour through Tinseltown with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.<\/p>\n

The Beatles in Los Angeles<\/i> is the brainchild of veteran television producer Jeremy Louwerse, with a little help from his friend and fellow award-winning producer, Tom Weitzel.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cThe idea popped into my head about ten years ago, but I needed somebody to collaborate with and bounce ideas off,\u201d admits Louwerse. \u201cTom had just retired, and I thought he\u2019d be perfect for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Full disclosure: I\u2019ve known both Jeremy and Tom for many years while working in Hollywood and couldn\u2019t be more proud of their collaboration!)<\/p>\n

For years, the LA-based journalists literally worked side-by-side at Entertainment Tonight, and both are self-described Beatle maniacs. \u201cI would say [our love for the Beatles] is equal, but our experiences are so different. Tom was alive when they were doing their thing; I was not.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, Weitzel has interviewed four presidents and two Beatles but admits, \u201cI wish it were the other way around.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says the idea to come together and document the fascinating LA events that happened to the Beatles post-British invasion was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only reason I am the co-author of this book is Jeremy,\u201d says Weitzel. \u201cWe became friends at work, and I have tremendous respect for him as a person, as a broadcaster, and as a student of pop culture. So, when he invited me to lunch a couple of years ago and said, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m thinking of doing this book about the Beatles in Los Angeles, would you be interested in being my co-author?\u2019 It was like an immediate \u2018Yes!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Jeremy<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Beatles maniacs Jeremy Louwerse and Tom Weitzel. Photo by Rich Schmitt Photography\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

After a long and winding four years, these two paperback writers (actually hardcover) were able to detail dozens of stories through interviews with people who are and were truly inside the Beatles\u2019 private circle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think those stories needed to be documented, and the record needed to be straight and accurate,\u201d says Louwerse. \u201cWe know there are two sides to every story, but we\u2019ve really fought for accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adds Weitzel, \u201cAt this point, there is virtually nothing about the Beatles that has been unreported, but there are blessedly still things that are underreported.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not to give away too much because you really need to read the book, but there are several exclusives, including Louwerse unearthing never-before-seen photographs of the monumental meeting between the Beatles and the King.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not gonna tell the story of Elvis meeting the Beatles; everybody knows that story because it\u2019s been told a thousand times,\u201d says Louwerse. \u201cBut there were photos out there, and I didn\u2019t know where we could get them, and I don\u2019t know how we can find them, but let\u2019s find them and tell the story of how they were uncovered because that moment was never, ever, supposed to be photographed, and nobody ever thought it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is also the story of a pre-Newlywed Game fame host Bob Eubanks mortgaging his San Fernando Valley home in order to promote the Beatles\u2019 history-making Hollywood Bowl show in 1964.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, why not mortgage your house for the Beatles, you know?\u201d jokes Weitzel. \u201cBut they could have been one-hit wonders.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Jeremy<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Jeremy Louwerse and Tom Weitzel in front of John Lennon's Santa Monica Beach front home, featured in Chapter 13. Photo by Rich Schmitt Photography\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Weitzel says uncovering the story of John Lennon driving a car in Malibu was his proudest moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody knew about that famous interview he did on the beach in Malibu [with Elliot Mintz], but few, if any, knew that he had gotten behind the wheel on the Pacific Coast Highway and tried to drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to The Beatles in Los Angeles<\/em>, Lennon had never driven after being severely hurt in a car accident years before.<\/p>\n

Since the book\u2019s recent release, Louwerse says more stories have come to light.<\/p>\n

\u201cA friend of mine pointed out that there is a plaque on a booth at Bob\u2019s Big Boy in Burbank where the four lads\u2014in their twenties on tour\u2014once went for a burger. Apparently, that plaque is still there.\u201d<\/p>\n

While both Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr didn\u2019t participate in the retelling of these classic tales, there\u2019s something in the way the authors made the book feel unique.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve created a place where fans can read about Beatles adventures in Los Angeles,\u201d says Louwerse. \u201cI feel like we\u2019ve cornered that market. It deserves even more, you know? It deserves a Volume Two!\u201d<\/p>\n

Which begs the question: any plans to get back together for a sequel? The talented two say they\u2019ll let it be for now. But in the meantime, they hope to hear from Sir Paul and Ringo. If not, they\u2019re still in love with them, and they feel fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such a tribute and such a love letter to them,\u201d says Louwerse of the book. \u201cI just want both Paul and Ringo to smile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adds Weitzel, \u201cI hope that they would say, \u2018My word, we had a good time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t twist and shout out about this book enough! I hope to get back to LA soon and take my own Instagram tour!<\/p>\n

To learn more about the authors and to get a signed copy of The Beatles in Los Angeles, go to thebeatlesinlosangeles.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Also, to find Tom Weitzel\u2019s audiobook version visit Audible here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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