Restaurant Invite

An invitation to Cynthia's restaurant Lennon's private party opening. From Terry Doran's private collection.

Imagine: John Lennon

It was a documentary that showed John and Yoko working on their classic and successful album, Imagine, made and released in 1971. It also served as a documentary of John's life with The Beatles, home movies, and interviews from Yoko, Sean, Cynthia, Julian, and May. The documentary was directed by Andrew Solt, released in October of 1988, and had a book to accompany the film. I admit it has been a while since I have seen the documentary, but there was a time when I was a little obsessed over it and so everything I type here is by memory. I recall Cynthia talking about how she met John in art school (by the way, most of the quotes from the film and book have been posted scattered around the blog in their rightful places), being a secret life, John being an absent dad with remorse, being left behind from the train,and their divorce. She also shared her final insights at the end. I believe most the Imagine recording documentary part was later used for a more insightful dive into the Imagine album in a documentary called Above Us Only Sky, which Julian also provided an interview for while visiting Tittenhurst Park.

"Cynthia is the mother of Julian, and she was a very important part of John's life. It was very important that we received her participation in the film. But even without that she's a very intelligent, sensitive woman whom I respect very much."

Yoko, 1988

I already posted the premiere photos called Imagine These Premieres so you can check them out. A few months before the premiere, Yoko said they (she and Cynthia) had lunch at the Russian Tea Room where they buried their differences. As we know now, that momentum was brief and far.

Take a Wiff

While a student at Liverpool College of Art, Cynthia took a part time job selling cosmetics and perfume at Woolworths. A fellow co-worker, Colette Winterburn, saw John Lennon often visiting Cynthia (she also saw The Beatles perform at the Cavern and had a crush on John). I believe this was when Cynthia was living with Aunt Mimi during 1961-1962 college term before eventually getting her own place to live. She needed money to pay rent. 

"Considering there were so many books about my life, etc, etc. I became pregnant before I could finish my teaching. I did teaching for a while. Then I became pregnant and following that The Beatles and everything else that happened. But, no, I haven't had a job. The work I had as a student was working in Woolworths. On the perfume counter. The cosmetic counter. But, that was when I was a student during holidays. But full-time work, I haven't really done. I have worked in recent years."

Cynthia

Years later, after Cynthia's 3 year contract was over with Vantona Vyella (designing houseware products), she started a new venture with Ellan Vannin Perfumery and created her own design company, Cynthia Lennon Creations Limited, launched on March 30, 1988. At the time, Cynthia and her boyfriend Jim Christie were living at Isle of Man.

"The actual island is a very small place and you get to know people very quickly. I went to the Ellan Vannin factory to choose some perfume, then we got to know the people socially. The idea came about that we should all get involved, bringing out my artwork for the design and the packaging. It all happened gradually over a period of about six months. The factory is 10 minutes away from where we live. Now we have gone into partnership with two other people and we are going to launch a range in the autumn with the perfume Woman, named after John's song. We're working on a range of skin creams and body treatments and a man's aftershave. I am achieving a dream now, even though I missed out during the Beatle years. I just wish I had as much energy now as I did then!"

Cynthia. 1988

The perfume was named Woman, a song by John during his solo years (it's on Double Fantasy, released in 1980) ironically written for Yoko Ono. However, it was one of Cynthia's favorite songs and she felt it wasn't just for Yoko but also for herself and May Pang. 

"I'll be criticized for using the name, but it has taken a lot from me. I don't think it's unfair to take something back." 

Cynthia 1988

The packaging designed by Cynthia

As for the launch party, the perfume was released in 1988.

"We're having a party at Stringfellows, and Maureen and Pattie are coming along. I did ask Paul, George, and Ringo but they can't make it."

Cynthia, 1988

I don't know if Maureen and Pattie really came - only pictures that surfaced from the event were just of Cynthia and Jim. Maybe they did come? I don't know, hopefully one day more pictures will surface.

I don't know how the sales did for Cynthia, but I think her time with Ellan Vannin Perfumery quickly came to an end; there was another perfume released but no fanfare as Woman had gotten and it's so rare that no one knows the name of it - it's practically non existing. Woman may have since discontinued but you can still find it on eBay, maybe Amazon on rare occasions, and other auctions. I even have my own, thanks to eBay: my opinion is that it's a strong perfume, strong on the floral notes and it's something I think my late Grandmother would wear. You'd have to have two squirts to be enough without it being overpowering.

All For Charity

 

Cat Lady

 

Isle of Man

Cynthia and Jim in Douglas, Isle of Man, where they lived for many years in 1988. They had a small yacht in Castletown, and had five cats (Daisy, Gin Trap).

Also to note that I updated Cynthia and Jim's relationship regarding their breakup in The Longest Relationship post as I have found out more details since I last published the post almost 3 years ago. 

Imagine These Premieres

Julian and Cynthia attended the documentary film premiere of Imagine: John Lennon on  October 7, 1988 at the National Theatre in New York. Yoko Ono and Sean also attended as did Cynthia boyfriend Jim Christie and Julian's girlfriend Fiona Flanagan. There was an after party at the Russian Tea Room. This was really the first time Yoko and Cynthia were together since 1970.

"It doesn't exist really. I don't hold any bad feelings towards her. If it hadn't been her, it would have been somebody else. It was something that happened. For the film about John we had tea at the Russian Tea Rooms in New York. There was Yoko and Sean, Julian and  his girlfriend of the time, Jim and me. It was a bit strained, but we don't really have anything in common. All that time isn't really part of my life now. I still keep up with Maureen and Pattie occasionally. But I don't see the others."

Cynthia, 1988 

Cynthia was referring to any kind of rift between her and Yoko... I'll be exploring that soon (it's in the process of writing at this time!). Personally, I really do not like this outfit on Cynthia! She was usually great on fashion style, but this? Blah... Makes her look frumpy. The London premiere 18 days later looked better: 

Cynthia and Jim on October 25, 1988 for the Imagine: John Lennon documentary premiere at Canon Cinema in London. Yoko and Sean were also there, but I don't think Julian attended this one. 

Charity Event

Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach, Pattie Boyd Clapton, and Cynthia Lennon at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre charity event at the Intercontinental Hotel in London, 1988.