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