Remembering Joe Pope

(We never met Joe Pope in person, but he contacted us during his illness after we had written about him on Abbeyrd's Beatles Page. He sent us several emails which we've included in this story. He kept a positive attitude until the end, as you'll see here. 

EXTRA! The Internet Archive has an hourlong phone call-in show hosted by Joe Pope to discuss the newly televised Beatles Anthology. I guess you could call this historic.) 

By Steve Marinucci

July 26 passed by with little notice as a special Beatle anniversary that you might remember. But maybe you should. It was on July, 26, 1974 that Joe Pope convened the Strawberry Fields Forever Fan Club's first Beatle convention at the Bradford Hotel in Boston. It was the first established Beatle convention.

 Cindy Noe Pope, Joe's widow, sent a description of that convention.

  In as much as I never got to attend MMT, I can't write a recollection of the show other than what I heard about it from others -- including Joe, of course...although he was at the center of the storm, so to speak, so it was a different experience for him.

     Every fan we ever talked to about going to one of Joe's Magical Mystery Tours made a point of saying it was absolutely the most fun, purely fan-oriented (as opposed to $$$ oriented!) Beatles convention they'd ever attended. Joe basically planned them to be big parties -- in fact that's exactly how they got started in the first place. When Joe started publishing 'Strawberry Fields Forever' in '72 there was no fan "community", so he started the fanzine to just find out if there were any other Beatle people out there like him.....and once he found them through SFF he thought it would be fun to have a little 'Beatle Party' so they could meet up! So the first MMT in 1974 started life as a local Boston/New England party that quickly grew out of hand and morphed into a full-blown convention (eventually being booked into a very funky Boston hotel called the Bradford), the structure of which Joe made up as the interest and reservation list kept growing!

      The first night was always a dance, with Beatles sound-alike (but not look-alike) groups; most notably a band from Maryland everyone raved about called Tastie Leggs. People could make new friends and connections that night without the commerce, which was nice. The next two days were filled with rare film festivals (provided by friend & legendary film archivist Ron Furmanek), special guest speakers (Joe was the first to bring over people like Alan Williams & Jurgen Vollmer) he had trivia contests, talent contests, auctions, and naturally the flea market, where dealers could set up their tables and sell cool collectables. The kicker here was -- unlike other Beatle convention$, you didn't have to be a dealer to sell stuff! In other words, you didn't have to buy a table, pay a commission to Joe, or otherwise sell your soul to sell or trade your own stuff! So it was a really collegial atmosphere everywhere with people hanging out all over the hotel, singing along with David Peel in the lobby, kids sitting on the floor in the dealers' room trading albums...it was all so new that the feeling was one of 'anything goes!'

     Also, here's a unique thing about Mystery Tour: it was planned in a very compartmentalized way, so that rather than having everything going on all at once, each 'event' went off at a separate time. You didn't have to choose between seeing a guest speaker vs. a film you've never seen; a band vs. an auction. And as a collector, you didn't have to stress about missing out on an awesome buy in the dealers' room while you were out in an interesting discussion room.

 Cindy

 Joe was publisher of Strawberry Field Forever, an early Beatles fan magazine. He continued to publish it on and off for years afterward.

 It was in 1998 that we first came in contact with Joe after Bill King of Beatlefan sent us a note in February of 1998 that Joe was battling cancer. In June, we received this email from Joe:

     Hi, Steve!

     This is from Joe Pope. Thanks for mentioning my recent illness.....being sick, well....frankly, it sucks....but my attitude is positive and I'm fighting with 110% of my being to beat it. Your site looks terrific....I've only recently gotten on to the Net (that's because I've only recently been able to sit up) but I intend to be a regular visitor from now on.

     Shine On,

     Joe

 That was the first of several emails from him. In July, we received another in which Joe said he'd received get-well cards from George Harrison, Sean Lennon, the Hollies and Geoff Baker, and from several old friends. He said the card from George really boosted his spirits, since it came during George's own cancer situation. He said he appreciated all the cards and letters he'd received and says they're "really keeping my head above water these days." He signed it, "Still Shining On ......................................  Joe Pope."

 In August, we received two notes in one day, which we combined into one.

     Steve,

     Just wanted to send you a short note with a bit of personal news. The first part is some pretty great news, really. I had a test at the doctor's office a while back and when the results came back he told me that I was in partial remission!!!! I'm still not out of the woods yet.....far from it, in fact.

      But for now, at least, the news couldn't be any better! This great renowned cancer specialist actually said to me, "Maybe you should change the lyrics of that song from 'I believe in Yesterday' to 'I believe in Tomorrow!' So, I'm calling Paul to see what he can do and ask if he wouldn't mind recalling all the albums and CDs that are already out there! But, seriously, I did think it was pretty cool of the doctor to put it that way!

 Joe kept a remarkably positive attitude through this. His next note, in September, was even more positive.

     Hi, Steve!,

     Here's some news which you can feel free to report any or all of if you like. Last week I went to LA to visit a specialist named Dr. Durie. He is truly the #1 guy in the whole WORLD when it comes tø the type of cancer I have. I figure if you want a good song written, you go to Lennon/McCartney....if you want your Multiple Myeloma taken care of, go see Dr. Durie.

     Anyway, to cut it a bit short, he looked at all my medical records both past and present, examined me, and then said..."Marvelous...absolutely amazing!" He said that I'd made a remarkable comeback...and that MM seems to have a different personality with each person. Mine had the chance to kill me back in March and, to be pretty black and white about it, since it didn't, my prognosis looks pretty good. Of course, that's based on educated guesses, but still it sounded pretty good to me.

     I thought he was going to suggest all kinds of rough treatment. But he didn't. He simply said to continue what I've been doing except for an increase in arydia (bone strengthener). He also said that walking again was a distinct possiblity. Football, however, is out.

     So it was sure a pretty successful visit. I was pretty nervous on the way in but pretty ecstatic on the way out! And keep in mind, as I said, that this wasn't just a doctor...this was the MAN in this whole big world!

 We heard again from Joe on Januray 9 and printed his note the next day. Here's part of it:

     Hi, Steve!,

     Much thanks for asking about my health.....I just went through a couple of bad months, but I guess that's part of the deal. I got some good news last week when all my test numbers went up and I'm finally starting to feel a little better. I've been learning how to walk and I've set myself a long-term goal....to get back to Boston this summer. (That's where I'm from,of course). Please tell everyone they should feel free to write, especially friends from the good old days! I'm still digging out from the avalanche of mail I got in the middle of last year but I'm slowly but surely getting to everyone. ...

     The updates on my health on your Abbey Road Page have been a huge help. Lots of people have gotten in touch with me because of them and that does as much to heal me as any doctor can do!!!

     Still Shining On..........................

     Joe

 That was the last note we received from him. He passed away on April 20, 1999.

  ----------

From archive.org: 

Boston Beatles fan Joe Pope published his first edition of his Beatles' fan magazine, Strawberry Fields Forever, in 1972, and continued publishing monthly issues of the fanzine up until John Lennon's murder in December 1980. After Dec. 1980, the magazine was published only sporadically.
In 1991, Joe began operating "The Beatlephone," a recorded compendium of Fab Four info.
From November 19 through November 23, 1995, ABC-TV in the United States broadcast a documentary television series in three feature-length episodes entitled, The Beatles Anthology.
Joe Pope opened up his Beatlephone to all fans to discuss The Beatles Anthoology TV series directly after each episode aired.

Here is one hour's worth of those fan reaction phone calls.

Sadly, Joe Pope passed after a battle with cancer on April 20, 1999.

--------------------

Here are more communications we received from Joe that we published on Abbeyrd's Beatles Page. Some of it is repeated from above, but I'm just leaving it as is because there are some more complete emails here, along with some things we didn't have above:

Joe Pope news (including some emails from him to us): Update (4/27/99) You can post messages about Joe in a guest book at Joe's website.

Update (4/23/99) Some very sad news: Joe Pope passed away Tuesday (April 20) after a long battle with cancer. Joe was a true pioneer in Beatle fandom. He organized an early Beatle fan convention in 1974 in Boston and for many years edited the magazine Strawberry Fields Forever and provided news updates on the Beatle Phone, even while he was ill. Our most sincere condolensces to his family. As Frank C. Branchini told us in an email, "I only met him once, briefly, at Beatlefest, but we kept in touch over the years through the Beatlephone and letters. He had a gentle spirit and a genuine interest in the many Beatle fans all over the US whom he kept in touch with. I will miss him terribly. If there is any consolation, it is imagining Joe up in heaven with John Lennon and Linda McCartney." (Thanks to Bill King, Frank C. Branchini, Mitch Axelord and Joe Anderson.)

Update (1/10/99) The latest email from Joe arrived today. Here's what he sent:

Hi, Steve!,
Much thanks for asking about my health.....I just went through a couple of bad months, but I guess that's part of the deal. I got some good news last week when all my test numbers went up and I'm finally starting to feel a little better. I've been learning how to walk and I've set myself a long-term goal....to get back to Boston this summer. (That's where I'm from,of course). Please tell everyone they should feel free to write, especially friends from the good old days! I'm still digging out from the avalanche of mail I got in the middle of last year but I'm slowly but surely getting to everyone. They can write to me at Joe Pope, PO Box 880981, San Diego, CA 92168 or by email at Joes Here@AOL.com. Thanks, Steve! The updates on my health on your Abbey Road Page have been a huge help. Lots of people have gotten in touch with me because of them and that does as much to heal me as any doctor can do!!!
Still Shining On..........................Joe

Update (9/14/98) More news from Joe. Keep sending those good vibes, everyone!:

Hi, Steve!, Here's some news which you can feel free to report any or all of if you like. Last week I went to LA to visit a specialist named Dr. Durie. He is truly the #1 guy in the whole WORLD when it comes tø the type of cancer I have. I figure if you want a good song written, you go to Lennon/McCartney....if you want your Multiple Myeloma taken care of, go see Dr. Durie.

Anyway, to cut it a bit short, he looked at all my medical records both past and present, examined me, and then said..."Marvelous...absolutely amazing!" He said that I'd made a remarkable comeback...and that MM seems to have a different personality with each person. Mine had the chance to kill me back in March and, to be pretty black and white about it, since it didn't, my prognosis looks pretty good. Of course, that's based on educated guesses, but still it sounded pretty good to me.

I thought he was going to suggest all kinds of rough treatment. But he didn't. He simply said to continue what I've been doing except for an increase in arydia (bone strengthener). He also said that walking again was a distinct possiblity. Football, however, is out.

So it was sure a pretty successful visit. I was pretty nervous on the way in but pretty ecstatic on the way out! And keep in mind, as I said, that this wasn't just a doctor...this was the MAN in this whole big world!

Also, here's something your readers might be interested in....as you know, Apple Computers is running a campaign based on famous people who "Think different." I'd seen several print ads such as Albert Einstein, Lucy and Desi, etc. And I knew there was a John and Yoko, but had never seen one. Well, shortly after pulling off the freeway, we came across a John and Yoko billboard. I thought that was pretty cool, to see a J & Y billboard in 1998. John seems to have been forgotten by many people these days, so I took it as a good sign. THEN......less than half a mile from the billboard I looked south (from Santa Monica Blvd. for your readers who might want to see this) and saw the same picture...but this time on the side of an eight story building! It was enormous...and it was NOT a mural either. It was actually on an eight- story canvas....absolutely huge and absolutely stunning!!! So, I took that as an even better sign.

Finally I got to the hospital and, as Dave Barry says, I'm not making this up....I met Dr, Durie and he turned out to be a John Lennon lookalike and soundalike. I may be exaggerating a bit on both counts; facially there was certainly a resemblance and his accent was Scottish, not English. But it was all close enough to make me think I was in the middle of some instant karma...and it turned out I was right.

Thanks again for all you've done, Steve!

Update (9/2/98) More news from Joe Pope: He now has his own website just getting off the ground at http://www.joepope.com. You can also write him at joeshere@aol.com. His Beatlephone has added an extra line. You can now hear his daily Beatle news at 619-689-6320 and 619-689-6321. He referred to our site Tuesday, for which we thank him.
Update (8/18/98) Two notes today from Joe, which we've combined into one, with some news which we're happy to pass along:

Steve:
Just wanted to send you a short note with a bit of personal news. The first part is some pretty great news, really. I had a test at the doctor's office a while back and when the results came back he told me that I was in partial remission!!!! I'm still not out of the woods yet.....far from it, in fact. But for now, at least, the news couldn't be any better! This great renowned cancer specialist actually said to me, "Maybe you should change the lyrics of that song from 'I believe in Yesterday' to 'I believe in Tomorrow!' So, I'm calling Paul to see what he can do and ask if he wouldn't mind recalling all the albums and CDs that are already out there! But, seriously, I did think it was pretty cool of the doctor to put it that way!

Also, the Beatlephone has a new number. It's now 619-689-6320. I've given you credit on there a couple of times already and will be doing so again this week. Thanks for a great site...AND thanks for mentioning me. Lots of old friends have gotten in touch as a result of the mentions on there.

Also, you might want to mention that I've just started writing 'thank-you' notes this week to everyone who sent cards, letters, contributions, gifts, stc. It's a long process....but at least I'm finally getting to it! (Yesterday, for example, I did seven letters.....not too many compared to how many I have to do.....but it's a start!)

Update (7/22/98) We received another note from Joe today. He says he's received get-well cards from George Harrison, Sean Lennon, the Hollies and Geoff Baker, and from several old friends. He said the card from George really boosted his spirits, since it came during George's own cancer situation. He says he appreciates all the cards and letters he's gotten and says they're "really keeping my head above water these days." He signed it, "Still Shining On......................................Joe Pope." We'll repeat the address where you can write to him: Joe Pope, P.O. Box 880981, San Diego CA 92168.
Update (6/12/98): We received this note from Joe, which he said we could pass along: :

Hi, Steve!

This is from Joe Pope. Thanks for mentioning my recent illness.....being sick, well....frankly, it sucks....but my attitude is positive and I'm fighting with 110% of my being to beat it. Your site looks terrific....I've only recently gotten on to the Net (that's because I've only recently been able to sit up) but I intend to be a regular visitor from now on.
Shine On,
Joe

(2/27/98) This news from Bill King of Beatlefan:

Some news concerning Joe Pope, founder of the Strawberry Fields Forever fanzine and in recent years operator of the Beatlephone. He's undergoing treatment for a malignant tumor on his spine. Good wishes (and contributions to help with his medical expenses) can be sent to Joe at P.O. Box 880981, San Diego CA 92168.