'Imagine Liverpool': New photography exhibit in TA
Intimate photos of Beatles in India, rare pictures of Liverpool soccer club stand at heart of unique exhibit that celebrates British city
A new photography exhibit dedicated to the two greatest symbols of the British city of Liverpool – the Beatles and the city's mythological soccer club, will open in Tel Aviv this Passover.
The story behind this fascinating exhibition, titled "Imagine Liverpool", begins in 1968 in India, when the Beatles travelled to the ashram of the Maharishi Yogi in Rishikesh.
The band members – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Star - went there in order to try and mend the rift that has formed between them. During their stay in India they experienced a creative boom that resulted in the writing of 48 new songs.
The Beatles in Rishikesh (Photo: Paul Saltzman)
At the same time, young Canadian Jewish photographer Paul Saltzman arrived at the ashram, only to find the place closed due to the high-profile visit.
He set his tent outside the ashram and stayed there for several days, until the British stars took pity of him and invited him to join their group, which also included Cynthia Lennon and Mia Farrow, inside the ashram.
Intimate photos
Thirty odd years later, Saltzman stumbled on a forgotten cardboard box in his house that bore the caption, "The Beatles – India."
These intimate photos, which portray the Beatles as they have never been seen before, are now on display at the exhibit.
The second part of the exhibit will contain rare photos from the Liverpool soccer club's archive that were published over the years on the Liverpool Echo daily.
Liverpool's Champion's League homecoming (Photo: Liverpool Echo)
Julia Bird, John Lennon's sister, will be the guest of honor at the exhibit's opening. The Magical Mystery Tour band will provide the musical entertainment with covers to the Beatles' favorite songs.
Visitors to the exhibit will receive a special card that provides significant discounts at restaurants, hotels and Bars across Liverpool. In addition, visitors will be able to win vacation packages in the British city, jerseys signed by Liverpool players, and more.
The exhibit is a joint venture of "The Beatles Story" and the Liverpool soccer club, and is intended to promote tourism to Liverpool. The two bodies are now working on establishing a center for this unique project in Tel Aviv.
- The exhibit will be on display at Dizzengoff Center, 3rd floor, southern building (entrance through gates 1, 3, 5, 7) between April 5-27
- Opening hours: 10 am – 9 pm
- Admission: NIS 10
