Dave, The Kid From Cleveland, Schwensen

I just celebrated the 44th anniversary of The Beatles August 14th show at Cleveland Stadium.

Feels like it was just "Yesterday"...
One of the things that made this concert different from others was a house trailer parked next to the stage that was used as the Beatles' dressing room. In "The Beatles In Cleveland" I devoted a chapter to the Luxury Trailer.

John, Paul, George and Ringo arrived by limo before the concert, waved to the fans, and went inside. All eyes stayed on the trailer during the opening acts with fans screaming whenever anyone, (not necessarily a Fab), peeked out from behind one of the curtains. After their third song, "If I Needed Someone," 3,000 fans rushed the stage and the group was taken back inside the trailer for their safety. It became part of the Cleveland legend and I always wondered where it was.

This past May I found it! The trailer is still owned by Phil Braff's family, (who provided it for the concert), and is resting safely at Sahara Mobile Homes. Phil is no longer with us, but I talked with his wife Betty and son Robert and they invited me to see it for myself. I brought along Beatles historian Brian Luoma, (who lives in the area and helped in researching my book), and the Braff's gave us as much time as we wanted to explore the trailer. It's exactly the same as the Beatles left it. The outside is a bit weathered, but the inside has been well preserved. The floors and walls are covered in white shag carpeting. And no lie - so are the walls inside the shower! There are two bedrooms, each with two beds and the bedspreads and curtains are in separate colors for each Beatle. There is a full length mirror surrounded by large light bulbs in one bedroom where they changed into their suits. In the kitchen, the instruction booklet - from 1966 - is still in the oven since it was never used! The highlight, of course, was the famed zebra couch. Photos of the Beatles on the couch with WIXY deejays appear in my book, along with another of Paul, John and Ringo waiting to perform. It was an amazing find - especially after 44 years! For more go to www.BeatlesInCleveland.com.

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