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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations July 2-3, 2005:

The Beatles And Baby-Boomers

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries. 

Opens with music: "P.S. I Love You"
"As I write this letter...."
establish and under, fade
RUNS :02

The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum recently purchased John Lennon's boyhood stamp album, 
and plans to put it on display in October. The acquisition has museum staffers like Allison 
Gallaway excited.

"I know there are a lot of people out there who think stamp collecting isn't a really cool 
hobby, and the truth is, you get any cooler than John Lennon?"
RUNS :07

Maybe...and maybe not. Do today's children see the Beatles the same way their parents do? 

And it brings up the broader question....in trying to make stamp collecting "cool" to more 
people, should children or adults be the target audience? Traditionally, it's been children, 
but kids have many interests when they're young....and then drop most of them -- just like 
John Lennon. There's a growing belief that stamp collecting should be promoted to their 
parents and grandparents.

John Lennon would have been 65 in October -- and perhaps looking for a retirement hobby.

And that's Stamp Collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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