Beatles museum in Branson

Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison, poses with the Liverpool Legends, Branson’s Beatles tribute band. Holding Harrison, from left, are Kevin Mantegna (as John Lennon), Davey Justice (as Paul McCartney), Marty Scott (as George Harrison) and Greg George (as Ringo Starr). Submitted photo

By Mindy Honey
BDN Staff Writer
mhoney@bransondailynews.com

The nation’s only Beatles museum is set to open in Branson by March 2009, if not sooner.

Louise Harrison, George Harrison’s sister and founder of Liverpool Legends, a Beatles tribute band, is opening the museum.

Liverpool Legends member Marty Scott, who portrays George Harrison, said they are shooting to have the museum, which will be inside the Starlite Theatre on 76 Country Boulevard, open by the time the spring season begins in March, but said they could open it as early as this fall if all goes well. Liverpool Legends perform nightly at the Starlite Theatre.

“We’ve got this giant theater with this giant atrium, so why not do this,” Scott said.

The museum will be filled with Beatles memorabilia from around the world, including item’s from Louise Harrison’s personal collection which have never been displayed to the public before.

“We thought it’d be a great thing to display it to the world,” Scott said. “I think there is stuff that might attract people who have never come to Branson.”

Scott said the museum will be very rare. There are no Beatles museums in the U.S. and only one anywhere in the world — located in Liverpool, England — called The Beatles Story. But, Scott said, it isn’t really a museum.

“We have more stuff than that,” he explained.

Rare items which could be going on display, Scott said, would include hand written letters and postcards from George Harrison.

“Louise just has this stuff laying around in her drawers,” he said.

Scott also said Louise Harrison has several early letters from radio stations that were kind of “rejection letters” explaining the stations weren’t interested in the Beatles and their music.

“It totally needs to be seen,” he said. Branson “was the perfect place” for Liverpool Legends to settle down in because “there are more shows here than anywhere else in the world,” Scott said. Liverpool Legends has been performing in Branson since 2006.

The Starlite Theatre is Beatles-themed and includes 19,560-square feet of glass which creates a five story atrium complete with flying yellow submarines, strawberry fields, London red phone booths, Penny Lane and the famous Abbey Road Crosswalk.