Robbie has been saving for months.  Years even.  And finally, after the cash he received for his 17th birthday tipped the scale, he had enough.  Robbie finally had the money to buy a plane ticket and fly to Liverpool, England to see the best band of all time: The Beatles.

November 22, 1963 rolls around.  Robbie has stuffed two t-shirts and a pair of slacks in his backpack in preparation for his three day trip.  Why did he think bringing three articles of clothing would be sufficient?  Beats me.  But his mom was clear that the one condition for his trip was that he be home by Thanksgiving the following week.

While Robbie was sitting at his gate, waiting to board, a group of police officers began running around like madmen.  They whispered something to the flight attendants and then rushed off to the next gate.  The man next to him turned the radio up and the whole world faded away as Robbie heard a series of words including “President,” “Kennedy,” and “assassinated.”

Flight Z29 to England has been canceled

    Robbie’s flight had been canceled as the nation grieved the devastating loss and worried about the stability of the country.  Honestly, all Robbie worried about was that he had missed his chance to see The Beatles.

    It has taken him two years, but Robbie finally regained the money to buy a Beatles ticket, this time in the city that never sleeps, New York City.  

TONIGHT ONLY - BEATLES LIVE

    March 1965, Robbie arrives in the big apple, psyched to explore the city and see The Beatles perform.  He can see the venue from where he’s standing, but everyone seems to be traveling in the opposite direction.  “Vigil for Malcolm X for his assasination.  You should come man.”  says a passerby when Robbie asks what is going on.  Robbie’s heart sank.  He had been an advocate for antiracism and a huge fan of Malcolm X.  He was devastated after last month’s events and felt compelled to attend the vigil.

TODAY!!! Vigil for Malcom X

    As much as it disappointed him, Robbie knew the right thing to do.  He sold his ticket to a man on the street, and he headed towards the vigil.  Once again, Robbie missed his opportunity.

    Robbie decided to get a job bagging groceries at his town market.  If he was going to ever attend a concert, he needed more money.

NOW SHOWING: STAR TREK

    A year later, Robbie worked enough hours to buy a ticket.  September 8, 1966.  This was the night he would finally see The Beatles.  That is, until his friends told him that that new sci-fi show, “Star Trek” was getting released and they had bought him a ticket to go.  What night was the premiere?  September 8, 1966.  Robbie didn’t even care about the show.  All he wanted was to go to the concert, but he knew he couldn’t ditch his friends.  Once again, Robbie was flooded with disappointment as he sold his ticket and went to the premier.  

    In June 1967, Robbie’s family moved to California, just in time for him to get tickets to see The Beatles play there in July.  On July 11, 1967, Robbie rolled up to Anaheim Stadium, psyched for the concert.  Except when he arrived and saw baseball jerseys and gloves instead of leather jackets and boots, he knew something was wrong.