In His Own Write

Cynthia and John arriving at the Dorchester Hotel for the Foyle's Literary Guild in John's honor on April 23, 1964

I don't know when John got a book deal for his drawings and writings of poetry & short stories. It must have been sometime in late 1963, or January of 1964 due to its release in April, including an appearance in The Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night. I mean, 4 months to get everything ready? Wow! I think there's a quote by George Harrison saying they were doing one week's work packed into one day… No kidding! Then again, there weren't any distractions as there are now (prime example: cell phone). Although, granted John must have had quite a number of his stuff already done that inspired a book deal. Cynthia remembered him working in a rushed panic in between filming and recording A Hard Day's Night trying to reach the deadline in time. The cover photograph was taken in the kitchen of Emperor's Gate by neighbor and photographer Robert Freeman. In His Own Write was published on March 23, 1964.

On April 22, 1964, John filmed scenes for A Hard Day's Night, running around on the field and, later, being chased by the police (John did a lot of running that day). That night, John and Cynthia went to the Ad Lib Club, partying until early hours of the morning. They returned home and woke up a very few short hours later, hungover and bloodshot eyes. They fumbled to get ready to go to Dorchester Hotel for the Foyle's Literary Guild luncheon, held in John's honor on April 23, 1964. Both had forgotten their glasses and had to bravely encounter press and literary folks. As mentioned in the A Hard Day's Night post, John missed filming the remaining moments of the Beatles' running in the field scenes. John's absence in that part is very noticeable but I honestly love to think that at that moment John was with his wife. I pretend that John was doing something no good while the other three were on camera. 

It was one of those posh/rich parties that would've been fit for the Queen or some kind of country leader. Brian Epstein accompanied them, mixing elbows with his type of crowd. Among the guests were Earl of Arran Arthur Gore, Marty Wilde, Victor Spinetti, Wilfred Brambell, Arthur Askey, Harry Secombe, Millicent Martin, Joan Littlewood, Helen Shapiro, Yehudi Menuhin, Mary Quant, Sir Alan Herbert, Lionel Bart, John Bloom, Alma Cogan, Cicely Courtneidge, Peter Daubeny, Carl Giles, Frank Norman, Victor Silvester, Colin Wilson, and a whole lot more. The event was hosted by Osbert Lancaster. It started at 12:45 PM until 1 PM with lunch… I don't know what was on the menu but from the pictures I've seen, for sure bread rolls were served. There was wine and tea. 

At some point during the meal, the room got quiet. Cynthia didn't know what was going on and asked what was happening. She was told that John had to make a speech. Cynthia freaked, she knew John wasn't prepared. Also, for some strange reason, she and John were sitting apart. Three people (men) were sitting between them. There had been different accounts of what John said in his speech but thankfully it was recorded on film… regardless of what he said, it was very short and quick. No more than 10 words. Honestly, I don't think John was a speech type. Paul McCartney is a speech type. Paul would have easily taken that kind of event with such ease and professionalism, mingle and fit right in. But it wasn't Paul's event, nor was he there. John admitted several times when referring to that that he was scared stiff. He wasn't aware he had to do a speech and so he was definitely not prepared. John felt bad on his misstep that he overstayed the time by signing his book. Cynthia also signed some books that day.