Little Richard at the Liverpool Olympia

[13_temple_street]

Who is that messing about up there? Get them down here, I need to talk to them. I’m standing next to the stage at the Olympia in West Derby Road, Liverpool. I was startled by the shrieking sound of the voice, instinctively I turned my head towards the sound, so close I could smell the shriek’s breath, at that moment I was grabbed from behind and involuntary guided away from the shrieking voice, I was plonked some distance away from the activity on the stage. The person who steered me from the stage was now standing in front of me. It was a woman wearing a stars and stripes ‘T’ T-shirt, prominently displayed were the words security. The woman spoke ‘Someone slipped up, it’s a mystery how you managed to get so close to him ‘She nodded her head towards the stage area. Little Richard was talking to a group of workers who were assembling scaffolding on the stage for the one-night performance of the Little Richard tour, which ends in Manchester tomorrow.
Teddy Taylor asked me to get him access to the ‘Little Richard' show at the Olympia, West Derby Road. Teddy’s group backed Little Richard when he toured in Germany, naturally became friendly with Little Richard and his staff, in particular his tour manager. The promoters of the event had a choice of at least four prestigious venues to choose from; they chose the out-of-town ‘Olympia. Behind the scenes, you would think that the owner of the Olympia would naturally be over the moon having the venue chosen for the prestigious Little Richard promotion. Chris Zorba, the young owner’s son, was not excited at the prospect of the Olympia’s inclusion by the Tour promoters. He preferred to sit in his favorite armchair in the office behind the box office and play no part in the proceedings being enacted in the main ballroom area. He did, however, arrange with the promoters of the event to prioritize access tickets for Teddy and his wife, Nicky Crouch, and me. A negative reply from the promoters to my request for Teddy to have access to speak to Little Richard. They did organize four place settings at the main table.
Teddy immediately wandered off in his quest to see his old friend, and he eventually had a stroke of luck when he bumped into Little Richard's old German tour manager, who was now in charge of this tour. They were delighted to meet and talk about old times. He also arranged for Teddy to go backstage to Little Richard's dressing room. Teddy enjoyed his meeting with Little Richard, who at one stage of the meeting pulled out of his pocket a twenty-dollar bill, handing it to Ted, Meet me tomorrow in Manchester He was gone to start his performance. Ted discovered the Dollar bill had a note attached with instructions for the arrangements for the Manchester meeting. Teddy duly arrived in Manchester at the chosen venue. Little Richard never turned up.

[doctorwho]

Great story!

[13_temple_street]

Thanks, Gary, for your comments.

[doctorwho]