📸 Meet John and Yoko...For Real!

[Starshyne9]

Hello everyone!

This is Sara Schmidt, creator of the site called "Meet the Beatles...For Real!" which features the photos and stories of those who have met one or more of the Beatles in person. I will be pulling some of the best stories from the site that focus on fans who met John and Yoko and share them here. I hope this is something you all will enjoy and by all means -- if YOU have met John and/or Yoko at some point and have a story/photos to share -- please feel free to post them here!
Sara.

 

[Starshyne9]

John Goes to John’s
July 7, 1972

First published in the April/May 1976 Issue of “TheWrite Thing”
By Jim Marazzo from St. Paul, Minnesota

One afternoon in my beach house in Ventura, Calif. (in ’72), as I was writing a song, my roommate ran up the stairs shouting John Lennon and Yoko were at John’s, a seaside restaurant. We, like made (sic), dashed over there and found him and Yoko playing pool. He was in good spirits at the time, cracking jokes.

Then people started asking him to play some songs, he said he hadn’t any guitar. So somebody said he had one close by, and he’d run and get it. John said, “OK, lad, off with you.” He returned with is guitar moments later, John took it and said, “I see a piano here someone play with me.” I had a camera with me so I took a picture. About three people, including my friend Charlie (the one at the piano in the picture), dashed forward for the piano, and Charlie got there first. Little did John know that there happened to be two people there who knew EVERY chord to every Beatles and post-Beatle song (me & Charlie). Well here we were in Calif. Two struggling musicians influenced greatly by the masters: Lennon and McCartney (Beethoven & Chopin, etc)…

Standing and playing piano with John Lennon. Lennon shouted out, “Revolution, key of A.” With acoustic guitar, he did the first guitar lick, and where Paul screams on the record, Charlie took Paul’s part. Lennon and Yoko did an about-face in amazement and looked stunned. During the song, he’d yell to Charlie, “Really rockin’ Lad.” It made me feel really good to hear that. Charlie knew all the chords. They played songs like “Give Peace a Chance,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “In my life,” “Woman is the Nigger of the World,” “Luck of the Irish,” “New York City,” and “Imagine.”

When it was all over, he went out, and we went with him. He said I wish we could have had some electric guitars; it would have been a gas. We said ya. As we just stood there looking at each other in silence for a while, he said, “Well, bye, Lads, bye.” We felt like saying, take us with you. But the dream was over. Fast……..

 

[Ingryd Medeiros]

You were like a teacher to me when I became a Beatles fan in 2019. Thank you for everything you do in this fandom.

 

[CynCP]

John Goes to John’s
July 7, 1972

First published in the April/May 1976 Issue of “TheWrite Thing”
By Jim Marazzo from St. Paul, Minnesota
View attachment 1314View attachment 1315View attachment 1316
One afternoon in my beach house in Ventura, Calif. (in ’72), as I was writing a song, my roommate ran up the stairs shouting John Lennon and Yoko were at John’s, a seaside restaurant. We, like made (sic), dashed over there and found him and Yoko playing pool. He was in good spirits at the time, cracking jokes.

Then people started asking him to play some songs, he said he hadn’t any guitar. So somebody said he had one close by, and he’d run and get it. John said, “OK, lad, off with you.” He returned with is guitar moments later, John took it and said, “I see a piano here someone play with me.” I had a camera with me so I took a picture. About three people, including my friend Charlie (the one at the piano in the picture), dashed forward for the piano, and Charlie got there first. Little did John know that there happened to be two people there who knew EVERY chord to every Beatles and post-Beatle song (me & Charlie). Well here we were in Calif. Two struggling musicians influenced greatly by the masters: Lennon and McCartney (Beethoven & Chopin, etc)…

Standing and playing piano with John Lennon. Lennon shouted out, “Revolution, key of A.” With acoustic guitar, he did the first guitar lick, and where Paul screams on the record, Charlie took Paul’s part. Lennon and Yoko did an about-face in amazement and looked stunned. During the song, he’d yell to Charlie, “Really rockin’ Lad.” It made me feel really good to hear that. Charlie knew all the chords. They played songs like “Give Peace a Chance,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “In my life,” “Woman is the Nigger of the World,” “Luck of the Irish,” “New York City,” and “Imagine.”

When it was all over, he went out, and we went with him. He said I wish we could have had some electric guitars; it would have been a gas. We said ya. As we just stood there looking at each other in silence for a while, he said, “Well, bye, Lads, bye.” We felt like saying, take us with you. But the dream was over. Fast……..

WOW ... just wow !!! Now that is a story (with awesome photos to prove it) !!! Thanks, Sara

 

[Starshyne9]

#9 Dream Come True
From Issue #12 (June 1976) issue of MacLen
By Margie Paturzo

On the morning of May 24, 1976, Monday, Kathy S. and I woke up early and proceeded to go to the Dakotas. We arrived there at 9:45 and sat down in the front on the railing. The doorman was giving us dirty looks, but we didn’t care. We sat and waited.

Around 10:30, some more girls joined us. We all sat there talking about John and showing each other pictures we carried with us. Then, one of the girls, Karen B., said, “Here comes Sean.” We all turned to look, and we saw this elderly Japanese woman wheeling a beautiful baby in a stroller. We were all delighted as we watched him pass by us. I must admit, he is cute. He was wearing shorts and had on a white hat and what looked like some kind of Japanese slippers.

After he went by, we were even more excited ‘cos we figured that John would be out soon. We were wrong. We waited and waited and around 12:15, the nanny brought Sean back. Again we were delighted and we were sure John would be out after the nanny took Sean up. Or so we thought.

Around 2:15 or so, Ann joined us with Pat and Joy (from “With a Little Help from my friends” fame) and Maryann. We talked for a while and Kathy and I told them about seeing Sean. After a while, Pat, Joy, and Maryann left. Ann joined the rest of us to wait for John.
We started getting hungry so Ann went down the corner and got us hotdogs and sodas. Believe me, hotdogs never tasted so good! I kept thinking, “Watch John come out and see me with a hot dog in me gob!”

Around 3:10, Sean was wheeled out again. I must add that no one took pics ‘cos we were afraid the nanny would tell John and then he would be furious when he did come out. So we just watched, Ann getting her first glimpse of Sean. And then we continued to wait.
We were all standing on the doorman’s side of the entrance at that time. Well, after about another hour, Ann and I walked over to the other side. I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and the other side. I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and talked to me. Well, at around 3:30, I caught a glimpse of two people, a man and a woman, walking out. I recognized Yoko first, because of her long, frizzy hair. Well, Ann hadn’t noticed them yet and was still busy talking to me, so I said, “It’s him, it’s him!” as I recognized the man in the white Levis. Yoko must have heard me ‘cos she turned around to look at us, smiled and said, “Hi.” By this time, Ann and I were on our way over to them. So was everyone on the other side.

John was looking up and down the street for a cab and when Ann and I arrived by his left side, he was looking the other way. Well, Ann backed away and started taking pictures. So I took out my pen and paper and said, “John?” Well, he jumped back, looked at me and said, “Oooh, you scared me.” In turn I said “Oh John I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Can I have your autograph?” All this time I was looking up into his face, unable to believe I was there with HIM! He took the pen and paper and proceeded to sign his name. I moved over in front of Yoko and John handed me back the pen and paper (see black and white photo). I took it and was shaking so bad from being nervous that I hugged Yoko and told her how beautiful I thought Sean was (The things one will do when they see their favorite Beatle!). Anyroad, I stood near Yoko, out of everyone’s way while they took pictures, and just watched that man. While he was signing Kathy’s autograph, he asked where we all were from. Well, everyone was yelling out their hometowns: Chicago, Ohio, Delaware and then I yelled out “Connecticut!”. Well, he must’ve realized (or thought) that I was the one he had written letter to recently thanking me for “whatever I had sent him” to quote his words. He looked up and glanced at me for a second, then went back to doing what he was doing. I nearly melted into the ground. All I kept saying in my mind was, “thank God he didn’t ask me if I was Margie.”

He finished what he was doing and looked up and raised his finger and said, “Here’s the cab.” He took Yoko’s hand and started to cross the street. Everyone yelled, “Goodbye John” and watched him cross the street to the waiting taxi. I immediately started crying ‘cos I just couldn’t believe what had just happened. Kathy and I hugged each other and cried (her favorite is John too, can you guess?) We watched the taxi until it turned out of sight and then we ourselves took a taxi – to the Stanhope Hotel, where Paul stays. Within an hour of seeing John, we saw Paul leaving his hotel. But that in itself is another story

 

[CynCP]

Wow - another great story! With photos! John's expression while holding the pen is classic. And John's HOME (restaurant) shirt!

 

[Starshyne9]

John in Philly '72
Written by Holly Price
The Write Thing (May/June 1977)

This account is about John and Yoko, that is, it consists of the effects of prolonged Beatlesmania, adolescence, and shock. I met them in January 1972 while they were in Philadelphia co-hosting the Mike Douglas show. At the time, I was seventeen.

The fact that they were coming to town was a secret I managed to pry out of a man who worked at KYW-TV. I’d hit them all that day, and he was the only one who would answer me. “John Lennon –yeah, he’ll be here tomorrow with Yoko. He’s coming in five Fridays to guest host.” I was just going crazy very serenely. An usher informed me that George was going to be a guest on the show … can you see it?!?! He also told me that Ringo, yes, Mr. Starkey MBE himself, would also be on one of the shows. I nearly screamed hysterically, “and Paul?” “No, Paul couldn’t make it.”

As we all know now, it was yet another of the reunion rumors that occurs anytime one of them goes anywhere. It didn’t matter – if John could render me speechless, I knew I might pass out if all four were there.

I called the ticket office to see if there were any cancellations for Friday’s show. No luck, so on Friday (January 14) I went to the studios and there began the long wait. It was 20 degrees outside.

I met two guys who were Beatle freaks or whatever you wanna call it but they were very obnoxious. Usually I can get along with anyone who shares that particular interest but it wasn’t worth it with these two. So I ignored them. I put my name on the stand-by list in case there were extra seats. I was third on the list.

A woman showed me Yoko’s autograph and we talked about her. “I saw her on the Frost show yesterday,” she said, “and she’s got a good head.” I think Yoko would have liked that comment.

The two obnoxious guys went to get coffee. By the time they had returned, I had met John & Yoko and seen Phil Spector. Ha—the suckers!
I was standing facing the door of KYW when I heard, “Here comes someone.” I turned around, and my heart dived into my feet. There, crossing the street toward us, were John and Yoko Lennon.

It happened so fast. He was wearing a baseball uniform shirt and a jacket. Yoko had her hair pulled back and looked cold. People were asking them to sign things which I wasn’t going to do but figured what the hell. I grabbed the pen in my pocket and fished in my shoulder bag for some paper. My hands were frozen – but mind over matter. Yoko was going on about peace, but my nerves were too fuzzy to concentrate. An older man showed John and old Beatle picture form 1963 and John sort of grinned. The man asked him to sign a cloth hanging of the Beatles. I was not in a thinking state of mind, but now I wonder John didn’t run in, away from all those strange people who identified him with his past. Or say, at least, I’m not a Beatle anymore, y’know.

But he didn’t. He said something like, “I’ve never seen that before.” The man asked him to sign it on the collar.

“Which one are you?”

“There I am,” John pointed out after careful scrutiny. He got down on the sidewalk and asked for my pen. I gave it to him gladly, and he gave me a Lennon smile. After he signed the hanging I asked him to sign for me and he did. The only paper I could find was my school roster, ironically enough, because I was cutting school brazenly.

You may wonder where Yoko was all this time. She was right there, but my eyes were riveted (frozen, more like) to only John.
They went in. My eyes filled up and I started to shiver all over from cold and nerves. I found out that George wasn’t on the show, but the day was young yet (And I, as you may have guessed, was crazy!).

I saw Phil Spector arrive in a black limousine and then the two obnoxious guys came back. I enjoyed myself telling them what they’d missed. They were furious.

Meanwhile, the lucky people with the tickets were beginning to arrive. I stood by the door asking if anyone would sell theirs. I was told then if I solicited tickets I wouldn’t get in, even on stand-by. But my informer suggested I ask for extras. This worked immediately. But once inside, an usher said we were eon stand-by and couldn’t come in until everyone else was seated. For those of you who have never watched Mike Douglas, it’s usually rather mediocre and the audience consists of old ladies and sometimes young housewives. You must write weeks in advance for the tickets and you are never told who will be on. It was a safe bet that most of that audience could have cared less that John and Yoko were on. It was enough to make you scream!



At 12:30 everyone on the stand-by list was allowed to go in. We had to wait while a man known forever as Mr. Crab kept us in suspense for 10 minutes. Finally, five of us got in. Half of me was in satori and the other half was upset because none of my friends made it (they’d arrived too late). Everyone wished me luck and I went in. I sat in the last seat on the farthest row, the worst in the house. But I was there.
Mike Douglas began his song of the day - -Michele – faux pas indeed! Afterwards he introduced them, “and the writer of that song…” When they sat down, John said, “I didn’t write that song, you know. Only the middle eight.” John and Yoko looked great. Until the camera began getting in front of them and I could see only their feet.

John and Yoko had thought of an event. For the five shows they wanted the guests and the audience to sign a huge canvas which would eventually be give to a charitable cause. Of course, it never reached the back row. An usher came up to me and said, “There’s a seat up front.” I grabbed everything and followed him to the front row. I could hardly have had a better seat. One of those unbelievable blessings which sometimes fall on the devoted!

I was just in time for the band, Elephant’s Memory, and two songs, “It’s so Hard” and “Midsummer New York.” This was followed by Yoko’s phone event (calling up an arbitrary person in the phone book and telling her/him you loved them). They called all the John Lennon’s listed in the Philadelphia phone book – no one answered. John remarked, “All the Lennons are in bed!” (This comment was of course edited when the show was on the air a month later).

The ending is filmed twice and before the second one John came over to our row and sat down about three seats away from me. He was besieged with requests for autographs. I was standing there holding a pen and he asked to use it. I decided to buy him some pens. Yoko came over and began signing too, standing next to me. I couldn’t believe how tiny she was. She signed one for me too, and then they called to re-film the ending. Yoko said, “come on John.” He finished and got up. At the last moment he turned and gave me my pen. I was too nervous to look him in the eye so I looked at his hand (what a thrill!) They did the ending again and everyone began to leave.
Friday 28th January 1972: This day, their last day, I had a ticket. The format had drastically changed – this time the first 2 rows were filled with press people and relatives of KYW people. I sat near Jerry Rubin and talked to him before the show began.
They announced they were going to tape a segment of the audience asking questions. A man asked John, “Did you hear the new McCartney album?”

“The Wings one?” John asked. (Wildlife).

“Did you like it?” “Did you?” Replied john.

“NO.”

“Well, I like some of the things on it. I think he’s improving.” They talked about Paul and John said he had dinner with him the other night. This astonished me to no end – it was in the thick of the John vs. Paul business. Someone asked why John wrote “How do you Sleep?” John said something to the effect that he was replying to RAM and that Paul understood.

At the end they passed to canvas into the audience and I got to sign it. Somebody had written, “You know my name – look up my number.”
I went to the Warwick Hotel directly after the show was over and there were a lot of out of town people. After a while they came in, and I numbly watched the crowd bother them. I was behind Yoko as they waited for the elevator and I asked her, “Yoko could I please talk to you?”

“Not now, we must hurry.” She said. We were being literally crushed by the mob. I had a question for her that I didn’t get to ask on the show. One guy was yelling, “Please John, just one picture!” He followed this up with, “I grew up with you, John!”

I was sickened. John said, “Forget it man.” The elevator came and they left. There was a rush for the elevators and I was swept along with the crowd. Upstairs, the corridor was packed with people. I couldn’t believe it. I left and wandered around the mezzanine, where they were setting up for a press conference. I saw May Pang, although at the time I didn’t know her name. I also had the luck to see Allen Klein. But I knew it was over. They would have a press conference and then leave and I had to go home. I was only seventeen and still subject to my mother’s wishes. “I’ve put up with enough, “she told me, “out late at night downtown, chasing the Beatles around…”

 

[CynCP]

A fantastic story, thank you Sara! Holly's writing made me feel like I was right there! I live in Philly now, so I know all these references: KYW, the Warwick Hotel, the Center City weather in January, etc. I am old enough to vividly remember watching the Mike Douglas Show (although, sadly, not the John & Yoko week). I do have the VHS tapes that were released in the 1990s, and already have tickets to see Daytime Revolution in the theater next week! My recollection from scanning through the VHS tapes recently was how much of what John & Yoko were talking about back then in 1972 is STILL REVELANT today... mind-blowing, really.

 

[Starshyne9]

Meeting John
By Bruce Vogel
Published in "The Write Thing"
June/July 1976
(story and photo from April 9, 1976)

My two friends, Ronny, Lee and myself, set out for Manhattan in hopes of meeting John. We carried along with us a shopping bag full of pictures and books in hopes of getting a few autographs. We waited outside John's apartment for an hour and a half before John and Yoko stepped out of a taxi cab. We approached John and I asked him if it would be alright if I took a picture of him. He said he wouldn't mind. I couldn't believe I was talking to him. Of course, I know what he voice sounds like but to hear it in person is something else. He kindly posed next to me with Yoko on his arm while Ronny snapped the picture. He told us that he had seen us waiting outside but that he had to go out for a while. It sounded as if he was apologizing for not seeing us sooner! I thought it was great of him to say that. The date was April 9 and Sean was exactly 6 months old. I mentioned this to John, and he looked at me and said, "You know about these things, eh?" That killed me. I felt it was a great compliment. He said I looked a little young to be a Beatle fan and I told him I was 17. He signed our books without seeming bothered at all. I asked him if he didn't mind, but he very kindly obliged. Yoko stood quietly behind John but before we left I went up to her and asked her how she was. She smiled and said okay. We said goodbye and thanked them for talking to us. He waved and said goodbye. I went too quickly but I'll never forget how nice he was. THANKS, JOHN!

 

[lorrluvssu]

View attachment 1333

View attachment 1334
View attachment 1335

View attachment 1336


#9 Dream Come True
From Issue #12 (June 1976) issue of MacLen
By Margie Paturzo

On the morning of May 24, 1976, Monday, Kathy S. and I woke up early and proceeded to go to the Dakotas. We arrived there at 9:45 and sat down in the front on the railing. The doorman was giving us dirty looks, but we didn’t care. We sat and waited.

Around 10:30, some more girls joined us. We all sat there talking about John and showing each other pictures we carried with us. Then, one of the girls, Karen B., said, “Here comes Sean.” We all turned to look, and we saw this elderly Japanese woman wheeling a beautiful baby in a stroller. We were all delighted as we watched him pass by us. I must admit, he is cute. He was wearing shorts and had on a white hat and what looked like some kind of Japanese slippers.

After he went by, we were even more excited ‘cos we figured that John would be out soon. We were wrong. We waited and waited and around 12:15, the nanny brought Sean back. Again we were delighted and we were sure John would be out after the nanny took Sean up. Or so we thought.

Around 2:15 or so, Ann joined us with Pat and Joy (from “With a Little Help from my friends” fame) and Maryann. We talked for a while and Kathy and I told them about seeing Sean. After a while, Pat, Joy, and Maryann left. Ann joined the rest of us to wait for John.
We started getting hungry so Ann went down the corner and got us hotdogs and sodas. Believe me, hotdogs never tasted so good! I kept thinking, “Watch John come out and see me with a hot dog in me gob!”

Around 3:10, Sean was wheeled out again. I must add that no one took pics ‘cos we were afraid the nanny would tell John and then he would be furious when he did come out. So we just watched, Ann getting her first glimpse of Sean. And then we continued to wait.
We were all standing on the doorman’s side of the entrance at that time. Well, after about another hour, Ann and I walked over to the other side. I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and the other side. I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and talked to me. Well, at around 3:30, I caught a glimpse of two people, a man and a woman, walking out. I recognized Yoko first, because of her long, frizzy hair. Well, Ann hadn’t noticed them yet and was still busy talking to me, so I said, “It’s him, it’s him!” as I recognized the man in the white Levis. Yoko must have heard me ‘cos she turned around to look at us, smiled and said, “Hi.” By this time, Ann and I were on our way over to them. So was everyone on the other side.

John was looking up and down the street for a cab and when Ann and I arrived by his left side, he was looking the other way. Well, Ann backed away and started taking pictures. So I took out my pen and paper and said, “John?” Well, he jumped back, looked at me and said, “Oooh, you scared me.” In turn I said “Oh John I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Can I have your autograph?” All this time I was looking up into his face, unable to believe I was there with HIM! He took the pen and paper and proceeded to sign his name. I moved over in front of Yoko and John handed me back the pen and paper (see black and white photo). I took it and was shaking so bad from being nervous that I hugged Yoko and told her how beautiful I thought Sean was (The things one will do when they see their favorite Beatle!). Anyroad, I stood near Yoko, out of everyone’s way while they took pictures, and just watched that man. While he was signing Kathy’s autograph, he asked where we all were from. Well, everyone was yelling out their hometowns: Chicago, Ohio, Delaware and then I yelled out “Connecticut!”. Well, he must’ve realized (or thought) that I was the one he had written letter to recently thanking me for “whatever I had sent him” to quote his words. He looked up and glanced at me for a second, then went back to doing what he was doing. I nearly melted into the ground. All I kept saying in my mind was, “thank God he didn’t ask me if I was Margie.”

He finished what he was doing and looked up and raised his finger and said, “Here’s the cab.” He took Yoko’s hand and started to cross the street. Everyone yelled, “Goodbye John” and watched him cross the street to the waiting taxi. I immediately started crying ‘cos I just couldn’t believe what had just happened. Kathy and I hugged each other and cried (her favorite is John too, can you guess?) We watched the taxi until it turned out of sight and then we ourselves took a taxi – to the Stanhope Hotel, where Paul stays. Within an hour of seeing John, we saw Paul leaving his hotel. But that in itself is another story

what a lucky woman!!

 

[CynCP]

Meeting John
By Bruce Vogel
Published in "The Write Thing"
June/July 1976
(story and photo from April 9, 1976)

My two friends, Ronny, Lee and myself, set out for Manhattan in hopes of meeting John. We carried along with us a shopping bag full of pictures and books in hopes of getting a few autographs. We waited outside John's apartment for an hour and a half before John and Yoko stepped out of a taxi cab. We approached John and I asked him if it would be alright if I took a picture of him. He said he wouldn't mind. I couldn't believe I was talking to him. Of course, I know what he voice sounds like but to hear it in person is something else. He kindly posed next to me with Yoko on his arm while Ronny snapped the picture. He told us that he had seen us waiting outside but that he had to go out for a while. It sounded as if he was apologizing for not seeing us sooner! I thought it was great of him to say that. The date was April 9 and Sean was exactly 6 months old. I mentioned this to John, and he looked at me and said, "You know about these things, eh?" That killed me. I felt it was a great compliment. He said I looked a little young to be a Beatle fan and I told him I was 17. He signed our books without seeming bothered at all. I asked him if he didn't mind, but he very kindly obliged. Yoko stood quietly behind John but before we left I went up to her and asked her how she was. She smiled and said okay. We said goodbye and thanked them for talking to us. He waved and said goodbye. I went too quickly but I'll never forget how nice he was. THANKS, JOHN!

Another fabulous story and photo - thank you, Sara! I really love this photo from April 1976 - John & Yoko both look great and chic (as usual), but you also have to appreciate the writer's 70's shirt and the cars in the background

 

[Starshyne9]

Another fabulous story and photo - thank you, Sara! I really love this photo from April 1976 - John & Yoko both look great and chic (as usual), but you also have to appreciate the writer's 70's shirt and the cars in the background

The fan makes the photo for me. I love his 70s shirt.

 

[Skylar Moody]

View attachment 1407

Meeting John
By Bruce Vogel
Published in "The Write Thing"
June/July 1976
(story and photo from April 9, 1976)

My two friends, Ronny, Lee and myself, set out for Manhattan in hopes of meeting John. We carried along with us a shopping bag full of pictures and books in hopes of getting a few autographs. We waited outside John's apartment for an hour and a half before John and Yoko stepped out of a taxi cab. We approached John and I asked him if it would be alright if I took a picture of him. He said he wouldn't mind. I couldn't believe I was talking to him. Of course, I know what he voice sounds like but to hear it in person is something else. He kindly posed next to me with Yoko on his arm while Ronny snapped the picture. He told us that he had seen us waiting outside but that he had to go out for a while. It sounded as if he was apologizing for not seeing us sooner! I thought it was great of him to say that. The date was April 9 and Sean was exactly 6 months old. I mentioned this to John, and he looked at me and said, "You know about these things, eh?" That killed me. I felt it was a great compliment. He said I looked a little young to be a Beatle fan and I told him I was 17. He signed our books without seeming bothered at all. I asked him if he didn't mind, but he very kindly obliged. Yoko stood quietly behind John but before we left I went up to her and asked her how she was. She smiled and said okay. We said goodbye and thanked them for talking to us. He waved and said goodbye. I went too quickly but I'll never forget how nice he was. THANKS, JOHN!

And the streets still look the same Thank you for sharing this!!

 

[Starshyne9]

John Lennon Story
By Linda Woods
From 5 Bites of the Apple
Issue #4 (November/December 1971)

I must tell you a very funny story on what happened October 17th. Marie, Anna, Emma, Barbara, Linda and I were patiently waiting for John and Yoko to come out of the hotel. After about a half hour of waiting, John and Yoko did come and it was MY turn to talk to John. I must say, John was in a fantastic mood that day! I went up to him (it had been 10 weeks since I last saw him!) and said, “Hi John, hi Yoko, how are you?” John said to me, “Hi there….” I said to Yoko, “Yoko are you going to watch Ed Sullivan tonight?” Yoko completely ignored me! John said to me, “Oh is that roobish about us going to be on again?” I laughed nervously and said, “John, it isn’t roobish…” imitating him. He looked at me and laughed hysterically.

Meanwhile Marie, Ann and Emma were filming so John made those “famous” dance steps from “A Hard Day’s Night.” (I couldn’t stop laughing myself). We all walked John to the limo, and by this time a crowd was gathering and I was getting a bit uptight because I had so much to say to John. But I didn’t give up. By this time I was on John’s side of the window along with Emma so I decided to talk to him now since so many people were pushing me. I said to John, “John, I must tell you about channel 13 show…well I was lying there on my bed, minding my own business when all of a sudden Yoko started that screaming and I fell off the bed!” He cracked up again. I then at this point had my head all the way into the car window. No, not purposely, but with all these other people were pushing me, John saw that I was getting a bit annoyed but still kept my cool. I then told John that I was happy for him that the Syracuse event went over well and that I was sorry to have missed it. With this, Emma whispered to me jokingly, “Yeah, I bet he missed you.” With that, I said to John, “Did you miss me??” (Mimicking him in a “funny John voice.” ) He looked at Yoko, she giggled, and John turned to me and said (in the same voice) “Yes, we both missed ya.” (His nose was touching mine when he said that!)

Then, these two Spanish guys pushed their way over to the car and singled to John that they wanted an autograph, so one of them pulled out a dollar bill. With this, John, still looked at me, put the dollar bill in his pocket! (jokingly). I said to John, “John, don’t do that…..give it to me!” He laughed again. I said to him, “John, I’d like to introduce you to two friends of mine.” At this point, John saw that I was putting him on a bit so lifting his eyebrow he said, “Do you know them?” I said, “No!” Laughing, he gave me a look, so of to say, “Are you all right them.” This one sweet old lady came over and said to John, “John Lennon how are you love?” To everyone’s surprise, John yelled out to the lady, Ka Pasa Ka Pasa!” Everyone roared! The car was being delayed because of a parade on fifth avenue. Finally the car was slowly pulling away and I said to John, “See ya John.” He said, “See ya luv.” I waved, smiling because I know him, yet I am sorry to see him go.

 

[CynCP]

A great Story!

 

[Starshyne9]

The Day I met John Lennon
by Donna Screder Reis
This is a story I rarely tell, one that ends with John Lennon holding my hand. It was nearly 40 years ago, and my friend Debi Gerson (Locke) and I wanted to do something to help the patients being mistreated at Willowbrook Hospital.

Geraldo Rivera was the new guy on ABC News, and he received a call from John saying that Yoko Ono had learned of this terrible treatment of adults and children. Geraldo exposed this to the public, and John soon announced that he would do whatever he could to help.

But instead of merely staging a concert -- which was wonderful -- John also insisted on taking the patients out for a day in Central Park beforehand.

Deb and I were only 15. But we got in touch with ABC, and, before we knew it, we were each assigned a patient.

It was a great day for all of them, in a glorious event spread throughout the park. And although Deb and I were split up, we knew we’d eventually find one another.

As the event came to a close, I walked my child back to the bus. Covered in mud from playing in the park, I looked around for Deb. Meanwhile, my new friend and I walked toward a makeshift podium.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a man in an Army jacket next to a smallish woman with straight black hair.

WOW.

I must have looked like I was in a trance. I walked straight toward him, no fear in my teenaged heart, and stuck out my hand.

John Lennon put one of his hands over mine and the other beneath it. He looked at me earnestly and thanked ME for helping HIM!

Debi and I spent many a day down in the ABC basement preparing for this day, and it was great. Then John told us he purchased tickets for all the workers to see the show.

We had already scraped together enough money to buy tickets of our own, but I didn’t care: JOHN LENNON HAD JUST ENGULFED MY HAND!

The concert was great, the ability to help was wonderful, but nothing beats that gesture of gratitude. As he spoke to me, he wasn’t an ex-Beatle, a former member of one of the greatest musical acts in history. He was just a regular guy. The best!

 

[nutopia999]

Fantastic thread! I've never met John or Yoko, but there is a wonderful article written by Linda Mihara about meeting John and Yoko in San Francisco in 1973. John gave her some life advice.

I will provide a link and post the article below:

Source: https://www.nichibei.org/2020/12/a-life-lesson-from-john-lennon-in-japantown/

A life lesson from John Lennon, in Japantown​

LINDA MIHARA
Dec 17, 2020

I was a young teen in the summer of 1973, hanging out at Paper Tree, when in walks John and Yoko. They smiled at my folks as they wandered through the store, bought some postcards, then left.

I was frozen into shock. I mean, it was JOHN LENNON! I couldn’t even say, “Hi.”

At that time, I was a big autograph hound, scoping out the tour buses parked outside the Miyako Hotel. Musicians playing down the street at Winterland and at other venues would stay there. I had a heads-up from Clarence the doorman as to who was staying there, and to bring my autograph book at a certain time when the stars were scheduled to leave.

So as I watched John and Yoko leave the store, I realized that I better grab my autograph book and ask him.

But it was JOHN LENNON! I didn’t have the nerve.

So I followed them as they wandered through the Japan Center, and I hid behind pillars and doorways so as not to be discovered. Nobody recognized them! As I followed them, I was struck by how loving they were with each other — they held hands the entire time, stealing a kiss or two.

They finally reached the end of the Center, and now they were heading back to the Hotel. “Oh no … I have to ask him or lose an opportunity of a lifetime! Here goes,” I thought.

I tapped him on the shoulder as they were walking through the Peace Plaza. He turned around and looked down at me. I held out my book and asked, “Mr. Lennon, may I have your autograph?”

Then he replied, “Why certainly, darling!” He then handed the book and pen to Yoko and said, “Yoko, please sign this for the young lady!” She graciously obliged.

So we ended up talking for a bit. He asked me what I wanted to be, and I remember telling him that I didn’t know. Then he said, “Whatever you do, do what makes you happy.”

I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but when he was shot in 1980, it became clear to me what his words meant. You never know when your time is up, so do what makes you happy.

John and Yoko couldn’t have been more gracious. They were two people in love, and to be that warm and friendly to little ol’ me showed me that what really counts is being nice and happy! Let’s all follow his example.

Linda Mihara is an award-winning Origami artist, and proprietor of the Paper Tree- a Legacy Business in San Francisco’s Japantown.

 

[CynCP]

The Day I met John Lennon
by Donna Screder Reis
This is a story I rarely tell, one that ends with John Lennon holding my hand. It was nearly 40 years ago, and my friend Debi Gerson (Locke) and I wanted to do something to help the patients being mistreated at Willowbrook Hospital.

Geraldo Rivera was the new guy on ABC News, and he received a call from John saying that Yoko Ono had learned of this terrible treatment of adults and children. Geraldo exposed this to the public, and John soon announced that he would do whatever he could to help.

But instead of merely staging a concert -- which was wonderful -- John also insisted on taking the patients out for a day in Central Park beforehand.

Deb and I were only 15. But we got in touch with ABC, and, before we knew it, we were each assigned a patient.

It was a great day for all of them, in a glorious event spread throughout the park. And although Deb and I were split up, we knew we’d eventually find one another.

As the event came to a close, I walked my child back to the bus. Covered in mud from playing in the park, I looked around for Deb. Meanwhile, my new friend and I walked toward a makeshift podium.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a man in an Army jacket next to a smallish woman with straight black hair.

WOW.

I must have looked like I was in a trance. I walked straight toward him, no fear in my teenaged heart, and stuck out my hand.

John Lennon put one of his hands over mine and the other beneath it. He looked at me earnestly and thanked ME for helping HIM!

Debi and I spent many a day down in the ABC basement preparing for this day, and it was great. Then John told us he purchased tickets for all the workers to see the show.

We had already scraped together enough money to buy tickets of our own, but I didn’t care: JOHN LENNON HAD JUST ENGULFED MY HAND!

The concert was great, the ability to help was wonderful, but nothing beats that gesture of gratitude. As he spoke to me, he wasn’t an ex-Beatle, a former member of one of the greatest musical acts in history. He was just a regular guy. The best!

Starshyne - this is outstanding! It is hard to believe that whenever you post a John & Yoko fan story, it is even better than the previous one! I read Geraldo Rivera's expose of the Willowbrook institution as a kid in the 1970s, so I was aware of John & Yoko's efforts to organize and promote the One To One concert to benefit Willowbrook residents. However, I did not know of their more personal involvement in this cause, as described in 15-year-old Donna's experience with her friend Deb. This is wonderful! A truly important story to tell! Many thanks for posting it here

 

[Starshyne9]

Starshyne - this is outstanding! It is hard to believe that whenever you post a John & Yoko fan story, it is even better than the previous one! I read Geraldo Rivera's expose of the Willowbrook institution as a kid in the 1970s, so I was aware of John & Yoko's efforts to organize and promote the One To One concert to benefit Willowbrook residents. However, I did not know of their more personal involvement in this cause, as described in 15-year-old Donna's experience with her friend Deb. This is wonderful! A truly important story to tell! Many thanks for posting it here

I don't think John and Yoko's personal involvement to help the individual children has been talked about. Maybe it will be mentioned in the new documentary about the concert?

 

[Starshyne9]

Pulling Strings
Written by Bruce Edwards Hall
American Heritage Magazine
February/March 1994

I no longer remember the exact date; I can only recall the stark terror of the event. Sometime during the fall of 1979, my employer summoned me to the studio for an emergency rehearsal. I was working as a puppeteer for a little, old-fashioned Manhattan-based marionette theater that performed sweet, beautiful, but somewhat shabby Victorian versions of popular fairy trades in grade schools around the country. My original intention on graduating from college was to move to New York and support myself as an actor at any cost, but this had been the closest I could get. The director was a charming yet hot-tempered Italian with a taste for opera. Long years in the business had left him with no patience with young aspiring actors who didn’t know a shoulder string from a leg bar and whose dreams of staring on Broadway made them reluctant to get up at six o’clock every morning to drive to Long Island for the umpteenth performance of Puss n Boots. Periodically, when another title from the repertory was called for, we would haul our decades old puppets, set, and sound equipment to be subjected to two or three days of manic rehearsal before being dumped into a beat-up old van to start what would inevitably turn out to be a disaster-prone school tour. The vans broke down. The sound systems short-circuited. Prince Charming’s head always fell off as he bends over to kiss the princess. One day, a puppet moose burst into flames during a performance when he was backed into a hot lighting fixture. We rushed offstage, dunked him in a nearby toilet (the only water available), and went on with the show. That charred old moose continued to reappear in puppet plays for years. For all I know, he’s still working.

So it was with this background that my boss wanted me to help him prepare a little show for a birthday party to be held at Tavern on the Green in two days’ time. We both hated working parties and neither one of us wanted to go to any special trouble, so we grabbed whatever familiar puppets we saw on the shelf, spliced together a tape of some musical numbers we knew, and created a very ad hoc marionette revue. After all, it was only a birthday party. We could wing it, just like we always did.

On the appointed day, I drove our old Dodge up to the doors of the famed eatery and we started to unload into a large and sunny private dining room. There were a number of other high-class party entertainers present, as well as a sumptuous buffet that bespoke a very fancy do. My boss was in an especially irritable mood and we had a lot of equipment to set up, so I didn’t pay too much attention to our booking agent as she schmoozed with the roomful of performers and staff.

You know who this party’s for, don’t you?” she asked importantly. I was busying being yelled at as I tried to screw two pieces of the stage together, so I answered her somewhat shortly.

“Well!” She chirped, gearing up to put me in my place, “It’s for John Lennon and his son, Sean. They’re both celebrating their birthdays today, so Yoko Ono is giving them a party. Oh, everybody will be here, Yoko’s mother and….” And on and on, one famous musical star after another, but I had ceased to hear. The entire substance of my universe had riveted on that one name ---John Lennon. The Beatles. The very demigods of my formative years, and soon here would be their most legendary member, the guru of my generation. I literally felt dizzy as I staggered up to my boss and tried to get his attention.

“Wait! Listen!” I chocked, clutching that screwdriver so tight my knuckles were white. “Do you know who we’re performing for? It’s John Lennon and Yoko Ono!”

“Yeah yeah, so what? Plug up those lights! Get that stage up!”

“But, but it’s John Lennon! It’s the Beatles!”

“Who cares? I just want to get this over with!” He was from an earlier generation. He liked opera. Maybe if it had been Ezio Pinza…

“But you don’t understand! We’re performing for John Lennon! The Beatles! And…and…our show is crap!” Actually, I think I used a stronger word.

The guests started to arrive. Here was Yoko Ono, saying hello and giving us our performance schedule. Yoko Ono! The very one who conducted news conferences while sitting naked with John in a London hotel suite bed, talking to me! She seemed different, somehow, dressed in a designer suit. Sean Lennon arrived, an adorable four-year old with a mop of auburn hair, shaped in that famous Beatle cut. And there he was –John Lennon, in his trademark little wire glasses, acting something like a big kid, leaping around, taking photographs, thoroughly enjoying himself.

There was food. There were presents. Yoko gave both John and Sean life-sized doll versions of themselves. I wondered where they would put them until I remembered that the Lennon family lived in a zillion-room apartment in the Dakota. Then the guests assembled themselves in polite audience fashion as a signal for the entertainment to begin, and my heart stood still.
First there was a clown in full regalia. He made balloon animals. He told jokes. However, unlike other party clowns, he was good. Very good. The audience showed its appreciation with delighted surprise.

Then there was a magician. His performance was smooth, his tricks unusual. The children and adults in the room were a model of hushed concentration. I had rarely seen so polite a party crowd.

The other acts when through their paces, and all were in top form. The audience oohed, aahed and was wonderful throughout. This seemed a good sign, because last of all was our turn to perform.

From the beginning I knew we were in trouble. Our music tape revealed the haste with which it had been assembled, some numbers far too loud, others barely audible. The set fell down. Every string on every puppet got tangled as we forgot our unrehearsed routines. WE desperately hissed instructions at each other, trying to coordinate our actions in some semblance of professionalism, while that prince puppet’s head tumbled onto the floor.

Not that any of this mattered, as no one was paying attention anyhow. Almost as soon as we began, the adults started talking, and the children leaped to their feet and began to run around. Reveling in our discomfort, they grabbed at the puppets and taunted us with catcalls as we gamely tried to get to the end of our program. Yoko gossiped with friends. John took a few pictures and then concentrated on a bowl of ice cream. Only Sean sat in the middle of the maelstrom, solemnly watching our self-destruction.

At long last it was over. We were frantically tearing down the set, anxious to get far away from that place fast, when the maitre d’ came over and told me that John and Yoko would like us to stay for lunch. I paused in my flight and looked longingly across the room. There were the other entertainers sitting down to a glorious spread, and in the midst of them was John Lennon.

“Hey! They asked us to stay for lunch!” I said to my boss, by now in the foulest of foul moods.

“We’re not staying for lunch! I just want to get out of here! Pack those puppets! Where are those boxes?”

“But, but it’s John Lennon! The Beatles!” I pleaded, “The Beatles have asked us to lunch!”

“Who cares? I want to go home! Help me load that truck!”

I had to do as he said because not only was he my boss, he didn’t know how to drive. I was nearly in tears.

It was a little more than a year later when I woke up to that awful news on the radio. For days I watched television images of famous people I had bored into stupefaction at what turned out to be John Lennon’s next-to-last birthday party, and I mourned along with the rest of my generation. Fourteen years later, I’m still a puppeteer, only now I work on television on in film, sometimes with very big stars. But there is one performance that has always stuck in my memory (or should I say, my throat?) and I’ve always wondered if somewhere, in one of the Lennon family photo albums, there isn’t a snapshot or two of a mortified young man holding the body of a puppet prince whose head rolls helplessly on the floor.