The Big Apple

John and Cynthia leaving CBS Studio 50 after The Beatles rehearsal for The Ed Sullivan Show

Very exciting city, everyone is drawn to it, good and bad. By 1972, John would make New York City his home up until his death. Needless to say that he fell in love with the city. But let's stay in 1964. On the late afternoon on February 7th, the Beatles and their party arrived at the Plaza Hotel where they relaxed after a long flight, customs, and a press conference with some photo ops along the way… no doubt that everyone was exhausted. They were also trapped inside so they couldn't go out and catch a Broadway show or whatever with fans crowding below. But I can't blame them for wanting to stay in. They kept themselves occupied with television, listening to the radio and calling in to request records that weren't their own, becoming acquainted with Murray the K, a popular New York City Deejay. Murray became a friend, slightly annoying though, leeching on to them to Washington DC and Miami, but in the beginning while in New York, he did take them out and have a night out in the city- but more about that very shortly in this post. Another oddity was that some models were brought in. It was at that moment when Cynthia realized that John had temptations on the road and no way shape or form that he would be an angelic faithful husband. John and Cynthia had their own room.

Cynthia, John, Louise, George, with Paul and Ringo in the background in the Plaza Hotel in New York City

On February 8th, George Harrison was too weak with a sore throat (that he was starting to battle the day before) that he couldn't go out and ordered to stay in bed by a doctor. His sister, Louise Harrison Caldwell, came immediately from Illinois to nurse her baby brother and joined in on the tour. John, Paul, and Ringo went out to sight see, particularly Central Park, with the press photographers. I don't know where Cynthia was… maybe she came along but hung back and was very careful not to be photographed or filmed- Brian's work of keeping her in the dark at its best. The same day, they went to CBS studio 50 to rehearse for The Ed Sullivan Show. Since George couldn't make it, Neil stood in for George for camera set up run thru as it was a live variety show and everything had to be perfect and ready. Cynthia was there; from what I heard, she sat in the empty audience chairs while John was on stage, getting ready for the TV appearance that will later reach a record breaking audience viewership. Afterwards, they went to 21 Club for a dinner party hosted by Capital Records and then went on a car tour to see the landmarks.

Paul, John, George, and Cynthia walking on the streets of New York City after The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show

February 9th is a historical day for television, among of many. The Beatles appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. America was curious about these four mop-tops young men from Liverpool with a number one hit.

In the film, The Beatles First US Visit documentary, before leaving the hotel to go to CBS studios for the show, John was seen and heard saying, “See you later, Cyn.” Does that mean that John left and Cynthia left a little while later to watch the show from the wings? It appears so. George was still ill but managed to buffer up for the event, despite against doctor’s orders… who would want to miss this? I wouldn't be surprised if Brian dumped lots of energy pills in George to get him on stage. They arrived at CBS Studio 50 around 9:30 AM for dress rehearsals and even taped a couple of performances to air after they depart back to England for February 23rd. In between rehearsals and performances, the Beatles with Cynthia and Louise hung out in their dressing rooms. When the live showtime came, The Beatles performed five songs: All My Loving, Till There Was You, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. During Till There Was You, there were four introduction names for each one of who’s who; only John got the Sorry Girls, He’s Married. Brian wasn't aware of that extra touch made by the producers and was furious. Cynthia was relieved, as she watched from the wings. Over 73 million viewers were a ratings hit! With energy to burn afterwards, Murray the K took Ringo, Paul, John, Cynthia, George, and his sister Louise out.

They went to the Playboy Club for dinner in it's lounge before trekking the streets to the Peppermint Lounge where they- especially Ringo- danced until 4 AM. At one point, John showed Cynthia's wedding ring off to prove that he was indeed married. George and Louise left early as George was still ill with the strep throat.

On February 10th, the day was filled with press conferences, gold record presentations, and cocktail parties. The next day was their trip to Washington DC before returning to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall, the only one of two concerts the Beatles would perform on the trip… to be honest, it was more of a visit than it was a tour.

"It's a sentimental journey. The last time I was at the Plaza Hotel in New York was during the Beatles' first trip to the States. There's also a more personal reason for coming back - it was in New York that I made my official 'debut' as John's wife. We had been married for two years and our son Julian was one but the Beatles' manager had convinced us to keep our marriage a secret - he said we had to think of the fans. Believe me, it was a relief not to have to hide myself away after that trip."

Cynthia, 1990

Drawing For Stuart

Early 1961, Stuart Sutcliffe made a life-changing decision to live in Hamburg with Astrid rather than go back to Liverpool. Until Stuart's death in April of 1962, whenever John returned to Liverpool, they would write to one another. Here's a drawing by John that was sent to Stuart of Cynthia, Aunt Mimi, himself, and other family and friends.

Mister & Missus

Legendary Music Producer

Cynthia and John posing for photographer Harry Benson while Brian talks to Phil

Phil with his back to the camera talking to Brian while John takes photos of Cynthia and George

Photographed by Harry Benson

Also on board on the flight to America, was legendary music producer Phil Spector… as talented he was, Phil isn't the greatest guy in the world. Phil was mainly based in Los Angeles/Hollywood, California. Why he was in England and on the same flight, I don't know. Later on, he pissed off Paul for adding strings to The Long and Winding Road and both John and George had unpleasant experiences with Phil during their solo recording sessions… let's just say that Phil eventually later gave everyone a bad taste in their mouths.

Journey to America

“Generally life became even more exciting. The Beatles grew more successful than we'd ever dreamed possible and by 1964 John had had enough of pretending that he wasn't married. Early in the year the group was due to tour the USA and John wanted me to go with him. He knew there would be reporters and photographers every step of the way so in effect he was saying to the world: ‘Look, whether you like it or not this is my wife and I have a baby.’”

Cynthia, 1994

John and Cynthia being driven to Heathrow Airport in London to board their flight for America

As early as January of 1964 when The Beatles song I Want to Hold Your Hand went to number one in America while they were in Paris, John was determined to do one thing: bring Cynthia along. I don't know how Brian Epstein felt or said when John first brought it up, but the outcome was that John got what he wanted. Tony Bramwell believes it was more done in rebellion, some others thinks that it turned out to be a mistake to bring her along… not that her company was unwelcome- but the pressure, the rush, it was the men’s world with addition of groupies hanging about, and Cynthia was basically extra baggage. It was a whole new world that Cynthia was not familiar with on a daily basis. It was one thing for a weekend visit, but almost a month? With her home and son an ocean away and being in a strange country on top of that. John, Cynthia, and Julian had just moved to London and already, the ball was rolling! On February 7, 1964, John and Cynthia, along with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, hopped into the car and drove to Heathrow Airport to meet the Press about their upcoming visit and to board on the Pan Am Flight 101. Their son Julian, who was 10 months old, stayed in their new London apartment with his grandmother, Lillian Powell.

“Days after the move the Beatles went to Paris on tour, and there heard the news that I Want to Hold Your Hand had reached number one in America. They returned from Paris and went to America two days later. Cynthia got to join John on the trip, while her mother looked after Julian back in London.”

Julia Baird

“The crowds were always biggest at Heathrow when we flew off on tour or returned from abroad. The worst time for me was when the Beatles returned from their first trip to America. Four of us were each assigned a Beatle to take care of and I was there to ensure John and Cynthia got through Heathrow safely… The Beatles looked really scared as the crowd got closer and we could see policemen's helmets being knocked off as the coppers started to lose control. John, Cynthia, and I dived into the back of the faithful old Austin Princess.”

Alistair Taylor

“The day of our departure to America was finally upon us and we found ourselves with the thrill of the whole adventure. I think I must have been the most envious young lady in the British Isles and America that day. I felt like a billion dollars.”

Cynthia

John and Cynthia posing for photographers for the first time as husband and wife

“Come over here, luv.”

John

While at Heathrow Airport to meet with the press before going through customs and boarding their flight, reporters spotted Cynthia lurking in the shadows. They requested for her to join her husband for some photos… to Cynthia's surprise, John agreed and motion her over. It was the first time that husband and wife were officially photographed together in public in the VIP (Very Important Person) lounge.

“John and Cynthia had only recently got married, so she came too.”

Dezo Hoffman, Photographer

“John was particularly touchy about pictures on the New York trip because he had his young bridge with him and Brian Epstein had impressed upon us all the importance of keeping Cynthia out of media photographs. To my knowledge, Dezo Hoffmann never took any unwanted shots of Cyn, on her own or with John, but once the group had decided he was not to be trusted within the entourage, I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse their negative feelings.”

Tony Barrow

When it was time to go, John and Cynthia walked to the plane together. On the boarding stairs, Cynthia went up ahead to meet John inside while he posed with Paul, George, and Ringo to wave goodbye to their fans that were there to see them off.

Photographed by Harry Benson

On the plane, the atmosphere was nervous and excitement. Many people who were on board mentioned that John was very quiet and sat with his wife, holding her hand. It was a long flight, about 8 hours. All four Beatles took pictures; Paul even tried to nap with a napkin covering his head after being with Jane Asher the night before. Of course during those long hours, you are bound to talk to fill the boring void: John wasn't happy about his wife being wrapped up and hidden. He also was annoyed about how a few days earlier, a British photographer snuck up and took a picture of Julian; to Harry Benson, it was just the beginning of his life in the public eye.

“John Lennon brought his wife Cynthia, a nice blonde girl and she was horribly put out of sight and stayed home. I know it broke John's heart, John wasn't happy about it- because we spoke on the plane. I photographed her and them on the plane coming over. And you know, photographs don't lie. They tried putting on a black wig on her for a couple of days and that was the sad part that kept quiet because they wanted them to be, like, you know, fresh- which they were.”

Harry Benson, Photographer, 2014

At around 1:20 PM Eastern U. S. time, the Beatles, along with Cynthia, Brian, Mal Evans, and Neil Aspinall, landed in John F. Kennedy Airport, New York City. They were given a loud and unforgettable welcome, much to their baffling surprise. After the plane landed, Brian sprung into action- Cynthia was left in the care of Mal Evans while her husband went off to be the star with his band mates for a press conference.

“As we were taxiing in, we could hear this screaming. We thought it was the engines, but the screaming was that of the fans.”

Cynthia

“In February 1964, Cyn went on the road with The Beatles to America for the first and last time, choosing to be at John's side for what turned out to be the most chaotic if not the most hazardous of the group’s four US trips during the touring years. One observer said she 'looked like a little child lost in a forest of giant ogres.’ She rang her mum in Hoylake most nights to ask after Julian.”

Tony Barrow

Another Girl: Olivia Harrison

Olivia Trinidad Arias was born on May 18, 1948 to Esiquiel and Mary Louise Negrete Arias in Los Angeles, California. Olivia has one older brother, Ronald, and three younger siblings, Linda, Gilbert, and Christine. Her father was a dry cleaner after working as a railroad worker as well as briefly a musician with his brothers and her mother a seamstress. In the 1950s, the family settled in Hawthorne, California and in 1961 until 1965, Olivia attended the same high school as The Beach Boys. She was a Beatles Fan, seeing them in concert twice in 1965 at the Hollywood Bowl and in 1966 at Dodgers Stadium. Olivia found work as a secretary with impressive shorthand and typing skills; by 1973, she was working at A&M Records.

In 1974, A&M Records won the bid to distribute George Harrison's Dark Horse solo records worldwide. During negotiations, George and Olivia spoke on the phone many times and George became curious about the woman on the other side of the phone and sent friends to check her out. Later that year, George and Olivia met face to face at a party and became inseparable and she accompanied George on his Dark Horse in America. George and Olivia welcomed Dhani on August 1, 1978 and they got married on September 2, 1978. Although they traveled and lived well, George and Olivia provided a private life for Dhani away from the public eye. Olivia was involved in charity and created her own project, Romanian Angel Appeal, to provide funds for orphanages and abandoned children's needs and well-being. In 1998, George was diagnosed with throat cancer and recovered. But he was soon diagnosed with lung cancer that spread to his brain; Olivia cared for him and researched for treatments from around the world. At the end of 1999, an intruder broke into their home, attempting to murder George and attacked Olivia, who managed to subdue the intruder until the police arrived. On November 29, 2001, George died with Olivia and Dhani at his side. Olivia and Dhani took on George's projects and updated his previous work to keep up with technology. Olivia met Julian in New York City while he was visiting John and May Pang; Julian went to George's concert at Madison Square Garden despite an earlier disagreement between George and John concerning the Beatles breakup legal documents and John's planned appearance during George's concert. It's not clear when Olivia and Cynthia met, however they last saw each other at the Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil opening premiere in Las Vegas in 2006. In Cynthia's second book John, she wrote about George's fling with Maureen Starkey but Olivia made clear she won't respond to gossip on behalf of George. After Cynthia's death in 2015, Olivia and Dhani released a statement and a photo of Cynthia taken by George; in 2017, the estate acknowledged Cynthia's birthday on their annual 'On This Day’ tweet.

"Cynthia has just written a book about John. That's fine, I just want to appear where I have to. I don't need to say anything about George to present him or preserve him because that's not what he would have wanted. I'm just trying to finish what he started."

Olivia Harrison

The Only One Married

“As the Beatles went to the top in both Britain and America with Can't Buy Me Love, my life and John Lennon’s suddenly seemed similar. He had been revealed as the married one of the group, a fact that their manager Brian Epstein had tried to keep secret but had to admit when they left Liverpool and the press caught sight of John's wife Cynthia with their baby son. On 11 April [of 1964], my marriage was revealed, so both top groups were seen to have one family man each… Lennon's marriage made no difference to the Beatles’ rising popularity and mine was not going to affect us either.”

Bill Wyman from The Rolling Stones

John on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 

From August 23, 1962 until February 10, 1965, John was the only married Beatle in his group. There were constantly rumors about the other three, especially Paul, that were also married but all of them consistently denied it. Ringo, George, and Paul did have steady girlfriends: Maureen Cox, Pattie Boyd, and Jane Asher. As mentioned in previous posts, while John's family was kept under wraps, at first John supported the secrecy but eventually he became against it. By January of 1964, just about everyone in England knew John was married. On February 9, 1964, while appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, everyone in America knew John was married after a tagline under John's introduction name came on screen saying 'Sorry girls; he’s married’. From what I heard, Brian was livid by that announcement while Cynthia felt relieved. I don't know how John felt. I don't know who thought of doing that or why but I do know that it created a standout memory for viewers who watched the show. We will get more into the First U. S. trip later on in it's own post…

"Well, you know, it depends. We needn't always go to the same places together. In earlier days, of course, when we didn't know London, and we didn't know anybody in London, then we really did stick together, and it would really be just like four fellows down from the north for a coach trip. But nowadays, you know, we've got our own girlfriends... they're in London... so that we each normally go out with our girlfriends on our days off. Except for John, of course, who's married."

Paul McCartney, 1964

Cynthia and The Beatles at the London premiere of A Hard Day's Night on July 6, 1964

Here are some snippets of press conferences and interviews that The Beatles have done explaining that John was the only one married:

We’re talking about personal questions. Do they ever bother you? (Interview with John and Ringo, 1964)

“Yeah, this one. You know all the rumors that have been going around America. Ringo, you know all those mad ones about me leaving, you leaving, everybody's married. I'm the only one who’s married, folks.”

Were any of you in love? (Interview, 1964)

“Me!” John

“Yes, he’s married.” Paul McCartney

“That's right!” John

Would you get married to the others?

“No, I don't like marriage, no good, no good marriage.” Paul

“It's good! Hmm-mmm-mmm” John (pretending to rock a baby in his arms)

Was it quite expensive?

“Quite, quite.” John

“How much did she cost when you bought her?” Paul

“She was 50 pounds in Nairobi.” John

Little did Paul know that he would get married three times!

We heard that you were all married (Press conference, August of 1964)

“Only John.” Ringo Starr

You're not married?

“No, John's the only one.” Paul McCartney

Which one is married?

“John is married. We’ll all get married in the end.” Ringo

“Will you?” John

“In the end. Two or three years, you know. Plenty of time.” Ringo

Little did Ringo know that he would get married 6 months later!

Paul, you're the only unmarried Beatle, or are you the only married Beatle? (Press conference, 1964)

“You’ve got it mixed up, Jean. John's the only married one. All the rest of us are unmarried and single and free, and everything.” Paul McCartney

And you're the married one, right?

“That's me, Jean.” John

John's autograph for Sgt.. Buddy Dresner who was the head of security for the Beatles while in Miami, February of 1964

Right of Family Privacy

John and Cynthia at his In His Own Write luncheon, April of 1964

Early on, John must have known how difficult fame could be on Cynthia and Julian. Girls (and some boys) would not only scream and make a grab on John, they were also voyaging to wherever he lived. Obviously they would encounter his wife and baby. Same with reporters/photographers hoping for a front page attention money grabber shot… much like today! However, in 1964, it wasn't as bad as it is today. There was no social media, no TMZ… there were photographers floating around the streets but I don't think the term paparazzi came about until around the time Princess Diana died in 1997. There was a time where there were a few and far between moments, there was obsession, yes, but not as tense and there was a respectable limitations in 1964. People knew things but kept their mouths shut. Now? 6 or more digits of a check dangling in your face hoping for a juicy piece of gossip to put out there. Now, I don't know how John would really know this: to be honest, I can't think of anybody in John's position to know what to do. He may have gone with his instincts. John didn't exactly have anybody in his position to look up to: Elvis Presley wasn't married until 1967, Buddy Holly was married but wasn't exactly a 'dreamboat’ despite being 22 before his death, Bill Haley was married but was practically a middle-aged man, Ricky Nelson was a dreamboat but his girlfriend/wife was integrated into his family's TV show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Same with Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Fabian, Jerry Lee Lewis, you name them, none of them weren't exactly in John's level: a handsome young dreamboat that can make girls swoon with a bonus talent of being a talented musician who had a wife and baby at home. John also quickly learned the line between public and private lives. To us, the fans, John was a musician, songwriter, author, actor, a place to showcase his talent through music, films, and art. To Cynthia and Julian, John was a father, husband, the breadwinner who wore his glasses that majority of the public didn't know until a few years later behind closed doors. I suppose going through magazines with celebrities posing at home with their families was a turn off for John, although he did participate on rare occasions (1965 and 1967, but more about those at another time). In 1966, after John made his The Beatles were more popular than Jesus comment, there was a kidnapping threat on Julian that understandably upset John and especially Cynthia; it does explain why John tend to keep Cynthia and Julian away from The Beatles’ popularity. John continued to dislike seeing his children in magazines and newspapers up until he died in 1980. John also must have known that his fame would be hard on Julian, and later Sean. Nevermind that both boys would be following their father’s musical footsteps and would be constantly compared to John.

A 'paparazzi' shot of Cynthia outside her London apartment, 1964

"I like to keep my work and my private life separate, which is why I keep Cynthia out of the picture. I took her to America because a trip like that comes once in a lifetime, and she deserved it. I'd dearly have loved to take her to Australia, but the schedule looks too grueling."

John, 1964

“I want my wife to lead a normal life and not be pestered night and day just because she’s married to one of the Beatles. My wife married me, not because I’m a Beatle, but because she loves me. Why should she have to be bothered by publicity?”

John, 1964

“I think Cynthia brought out a soft side to John we didn't see very often. He really protected her and Julian in the early days and made sure they weren't being harassed or bothered so he denied he had a family. She was a really nice girl, always made me feel like I wasn't the runt of the band.”

George Harrison

“Mum and I really lived an isolated life, away from the madness of the Beatles. Dad protected us from a lot of that for a long time.”

Julian

"At first it was quite easy-going because I was kept away from any publicity; so much so that once I was left standing with all our luggage whilst John and the other Beatles pulled out of the station on the train! I was surrounded by the fans and nobody recognised me. A policeman thought I was another fan and stopped me getting on the train. And that wasn't the first time it had happened!"

Cynthia, 1999

I have to say, I saw your wife on TV and she is very, very lovely (Interview, April of 1964)

“My wife? What was she doing on television?”

Filmed with you in New York. You didn't know, but you were

“When was she on?”

At one particular time when you were making a guest appearance in the U. S. and they panned the cameras off on her.

“Oh! Sneaky.”

You didn't know a thing about it, did you?

“No!”

Why do you prefer not to talk about your marriage? (Interview, June of 1964)

“For only one reason- that sort of thing is personal. It's really private business.”

But what if your fans want to know?

“For the record, here are the facts: I met Cynthia in Art School and I flipped for her. Soon, we were married. We now have one 8 month old son, Julian."

Where do you live?

“For the time being, we stay with Aunt Mimi or Cynthia's Mum when we're not traveling. I try to take Cynthia everywhere I go.”

Does she like the notoriety of being your wife? (Interview, 1964)

She prefers to just stay in the background as long as the people know that I'm married. She just wants to be a normal housewife as much as she can be, married to a Beatle, mind you.

You've kept your son out of, uh - out of the press. Has that been your own doing, or is it that the press is not really interested in your son? (Interview, February 1965)

“I don't know, you know. They want pictures, I suppose, but - you know, I just - he's gonna have enough problems as it is being my son, getting pictures in when he's a kid, y'know. I don't like family pictures, anyway.”

Is Julian ever bothered, John, because having a, obviously, very famous father? (Interview, September of 1974)

“Well, ‘cause he doesn't know anything different, you see. You know, if you are the 'son of’, I guess you're lumbered with it, you know? He’s very normal, in the nicest sense of the word. And I think that's probably due to his mother who sort of, you know, put him - we made sure he went into ordinary schools, you know. And mixed with ordinary kids. So I think he’ll survive it as well as you can survive being the son of Dracula or whatever.”

“Before we got to Disneyland, John said firmly, ‘We have to watch out for photographers. I don’t believe in having a kid’s picture taken just because he has a famous dad. I hate all those stars using their families to get free publicity by having themselves photographed with their children. If I see a photographer, I’ll break his fuckin’ camera.’”

May Pang, 1983

"It's nice of them to show just the back of the baby. I don't want pictures of Sean going around. Most stars, as soon as they have a baby, put it on the front page: 'I've just had a baby!' I'm not interested in that. It's dangerous. You know, we make no pretense of being average Tom, Dicks or Harry – we make no pretense of living in a small cottage or of trying to make our child into an average child. I tried that game with my son Julian, sending him to a comprehensive working-class school, mixing with the people, but the people spat and shit on him because he was famous, as people are wont to do. So his mother had to finally turn around and tell me to piss off: 'I'm sending him to a private school, the kid is suffering here.'"

John, 1980

Interestingly enough, as much as John wanted to keep Cynthia (Julian and Sean) away from the spotlight, he had no problems with flaunting his relationship and marriage to Yoko Ono to the press and public. I’ll save this thought for another post.