Since I already posted about August 23, 1962, let's take a look into August 23rd from 1963 until 1968. In grand total, John and Cynthia were married for 6 years. For the longest time, John and Cynthia's marriage was the shortest until Paul and Heather Mills McCartney, married for four years although technically legally married almost six years if you want to count the separation and divorce proceedings.
Here is the tally:
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach… 37 years and counting (April 27, 1981)
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell… 7 years and counting (October 9, 2011)
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Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman… 29 years (March 12, 1969 - April 17, 1998)
George Harrison and Olivia Arias… 23 years (September 2, 1978 - November 29, 2001)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono… 11 years (March 12, 1969 - December 8, 1980)
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd… 11 years (January 21, 1966 - June 9, 1977; 3 years separated)
Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox… 10 years (February 11, 1965 - July 15, 1975; 1 year separation)
John Lennon and Cynthia Powell… 6 years (August 23, 1962 - November 8, 1968)
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills… 5 years and 11 months (June 11, 2002 - May 12, 2008; 2 years separation)
Of course, Paul & Linda and George & Olivia's marriages would have lasted a lot longer if death hadn't happened. John and Yoko? Questionable, as there were talks (or rumors) of divorce around the time John died. John and Yoko did separate in late 1973 until very early 1975 with talk of divorce but, obviously, the separation failed and they got back together and had a child; John and Yoko remained together until his death.
Cynthia and John in Bournemouth on August 22, 1963 to celebrate their first anniversary the following day
Ringo and Maureen in Bournemouth on August 22, 1963
First anniversary- August 23, 1963
John was in Bournemouth, England during the tour with The Beatles. Cynthia briefly joined John while he was on tour in England, leaving 4 month old Julian with Aunt Harrie, Aunt Julia, and Aunt Jackie to care for him. John did an interview with fan-magazine The Beatles Monthly and was even photographed with Cynthia while telling the magazine not to mention that they were married… meanwhile, John openly held his wife's hand! Yet, that was on August 22, a day before. And Cynthia was accompanied by Maureen Cox to visit Ringo. Now, I don't know what exactly John and Cynthia did on their actual anniversary, on the 23rd. I don't even know how long Cynthia (and Maureen) stayed in Bournemouth. All I do know for sure is that The Beatles were in Bournemouth for a few days for concerts, did some interviews, and did a photo shoot with Robert Freeman for their With/Meet the Beatles album cover. John's marriage was still a secret but getting known slowly but surely.
Second anniversary- August 23, 1964
John was on tour with the Beatles, performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles while Cynthia was settling the family in their new Kenwood home in Weybridge, Surrey with renovations being done, I don't know if John sent Cynthia a letter, called, or sent her flowers to mark the day but I like to believe so.
John was in Los Angeles on tour with the Beatles while Cynthia was in Libya, visiting her oldest brother, Charlie. John wrote his infamous letter to Cynthia about his neglect on 2 year old Julian and his homesickness. However, only the last two pages are known out of 7 pages; 1 thru 5 are unknown whereabouts so in those pages, it is very possible that John acknowledged their anniversary. At least, I am hoping. Guessing. Either way, on that day, John was very much thinking about his family and yearned to be with them.
Fourth anniversary- August 23, 1966
John was in New York City on tour with the Beatles while Cynthia was at home in England. On the day before the second appearance at Shea Stadium, the Beatles had their press conference where the fans got to participate in. One fan decided to wish John a Happy Anniversary:
“I’d like to wish John a happy wedding anniversary.”
“Oh, thank you!" John
Then, the next day, a couple of fans had banners wishing John and Cynthia a happy anniversary to which John acknowledged and waved to them. Apparently, in between songs, Paul kept saying Happy Anniversary to John, who eventually got annoyed.
“At one point, I thought John Lennon was waving at me, only to realize he was acknowledging a poster behind me that congratulated the Lennons on their fourth wedding anniversary.”
Marc
“I’m a veteran of both Shea concerts: August 15, 1965 and August 23, 1966. The second concert happened to be on John and Cynthia’s anniversary, so I decided to make a banner for them and hang it at the concert. Imagine my dad’s reaction when the paint leaked through the sheet, and the message, Happy 4th Anniversary John and Cynthia, was now on the driveway!”
Anonymous
“Every time Paul comes to the mike, he says, ‘Happy Anniversary, John.’ After a while, I think John gets a little annoyed.”
Sue, 1966
Fifth anniversary- August 23, 1967
The first time John was home to celebrate their anniversary and, sadly, perhaps ironically, their last official anniversary spent together. John had stopped touring a year before. According to the Beatles’ chronologies, they were recording Your Mother Should Know for their Magical Mystery Tour. Whatever John and Cynthia did to mark their anniversary is with John and Cynthia.
Sixth and final anniversary- August 23, 1968
Unfortunately, John and Cynthia were not together. John was with Yoko and they were expecting a baby that was conceived during their first time having sex at John's house while Cynthia was away in Greece in May. John sued Cynthia for divorce over her alleged adultery with creepy Magic Alex (more about divorce post whenever I eventually get to it) but after the expecting baby announcement, Cynthia countersued divorce against John the day before their wedding anniversary, August 22, 1968. I don't know what exactly John and Cynthia did but I could imagine Cynthia crying in bed while John giving zero thoughts and didn't care about his anniversary while being lovey-dovey with Yoko.
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