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So much for Ed's story that George stayed home. You can see him here with his sister, Louise. |
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This is the only color photograph I know of that show the guys going to the night clubs. Notice that Ringo is here with his date, Geri Miller (who I have posted a story about in the past) |
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Someone snapped John and Cyn leaving the Playboy club. I hope Brian didn't find out! |
During the early rehearsal period, the Beatles’ road
manager, Neil Aspinall fills in for George but suddenly George come into the
studio and everybody is happy, particularly Paul, John and Ringo. There is applause and cheers as George takes
his place in the Beatle line from everyone:
studio technicians, newsmen and even Ed Sullivan.
After rehearsals George goes back to the hotel and to bed
while Paul, John and Ringo go to the exclusive “21” club for dinner. The dinner was arranged by Capitol
Records. The record executives select
filet mignons, pheasant under glass and other gourmet delicacies. The Beatles order chops and mashed
potatoes. The management enforces their
strict orders against table-hopping.
Nobody is allowed to get near the Beatles. Paul tackles an order of crepe suzettes while
John and Ringo go on a tour of the wine cellar.
Ringo glances at all the wine bottles, then humorously asks, “Where’s
the Cokes?”
After diner, the Beatle boys headed back to their limousines
and made a whirlwind tour of the city with special emphasis on the unique
winding streets of Greenwich Village.
They intended to visit some of the Bohemian bistros but the dense
crowds, reacting to their presence, prevented this.
Arriving back at their hotel, they stop in to see George and
find that his throat is improving. They
take time to conduct special interviews; they answer telephone calls from
deejays from all over America. They turn
on the radio and listen to their music being played on just about every radio
station they can dial in. The second
great day in America for the Beatle boys comes to a close.
On Sunday, February 9th, the Beatle boys sleep late
then get together for mid-morn breakfast.
We take time to interview them for another of our taped interviews just
before they leave for the early dress rehearsal of tonight’s Sullivan show plus
the tape to show for February 23.
Beatle fans are packed into the theatre during this
rehearsal period. The theater is filled
right up to the rafters. The noise is
deafening and Ed Sullivan wisecracks, “Let’s have less noise—else I’ll send for
a barber!” Rehearsals go well. The February 23rd show is
taped. There is a brief period where the
Beatles take time to rest, grab a fast bite to eat, get themselves ready for
the live show. The Beatles are a little
unhappy. They want to say something to
their American audience to their American fans everywhere for making their
visit so great and for the wonderful welcome received wherever they go. Sullivan will not let them speak. He wants them to play only. They end up performing only and no thank you
speeches!
During the live show, John’s microphone was accidentally off
during one number. The Beatles boys are
not happy about this incident. They feel
that this unbalanced the number. However
the show is over, the mistake was made and that’s that.
Deejay Murray the K takes the Beatle boys over to the
Playboy club after the television show.
They head back to the hotel first where George decides to go to bed
early.
Paul, John and Ringo plus Murray the K decide to walk over
to the Playboy club from the hotel, about a half block away. They are mobbed by Beatle fans even at this
late time of the night and policemen assigned to the Beatles for protection
help escort them to the club. They go to the penthouse lounge section of the
club, followed by reporters, photographers, policemen. They relax a little from a hectic day to the
sounds of soft music, provided by a combo of piano and bass. John is overheard saying, “This is music we
really think is gear – we do Rock n Skiffle for money!”
The Beatles entourage with the Beatle boys, Paul, John and
Ringo leading, then head for the “Peppermint Lounge” the place where the “Twist”
originated. There is a group of four
male entertainers in the Peppermint show who did an impromptu takeoff of the
Beatles. Of all the people there, Paul,
John and Ringo find this skit the most amusing—laugh the hardest and longest.
The photographs and newsmen have packed the place. Hundreds of pictures are being taken and
everybody is in each other’s way. Ringo
is an expert dancer and he twists with one of the girls int eh show. Everybody, but everybody is trying to get
near a Beatle boy. Papers and pens are
shoved towards them from every direction for autographs. It’s the end of a very
great day for the Beatle three. They head back for the Plaza Hotel. It is 4:30a.m. according to my wristwatch.
On Monday, February 10, the Beatle boys had arranged their
schedule so that this day would be free to do with as they chose. However,
there were still hundreds of reporters and photographers that applied for
interviews and hundreds of deejays that wanted to tape interviews for air
play. So the day was designated as “p”
day …for the press, although it turned out to be for “panic” because of the
confusion. Conference upon conference
was held.
Asked one member of the press, “which is the sexy one?” Paul took this question and answered it
quickly, “Our manager, Brian Epstein is the one.” One female reporter asked the question, “who
selects your clothes?” Answered the
Beatles in unison, “We choose our own, but tell me, who chooses yours?” The female reporter shot back, “My husband!” Then she continued with another question, “Are
there any subjects you prefer not to discuss?”
John then shot back a fast, “Yeah, your husband!”
A question was directed to Ringo by a reporter as to why he
said less than the other Beatles during the press conference. Said Ringo, “I’m the anonymous Beatles but as
long as they split the money with me, I don’t mind it!” Another question asked the Beatle boys was “What
do you consider the greatest danger?
Dandruff or nuclear bombs?” George
was fast to answer this one, “We consider bomb!
We already got dandruff!”
Press conferences lasted all afternoon into the early
evening and great many interviews and quite a few picture sessions. Throughout the afternoon, the Beatles munched
away on roast beef sandwiches and Cokes.
Around 7:00 in the evening, the Beatles decided to relax a little while
before going on a tour of some of the New York nite clubs. We left them, at this time, to join a few
other members of the press who decided we would all have a bite to eat before
continuing on the evening tour with the Beatles.
When we returned to the hotel, the Beatles were ready to
leave and followed in cars behind them.
We first headed for the “Headliners Club” and we met Jill Hayworth
here. The party then headed for the “Improvisation
Coffee house and Restaurant”
The club was filled with people, of all ages, who were so
stunned by the Beatles’ visit that they couldn’t’ believe their eyes. The club started to really get packed, when
news leaked out in the neighborhood.
Everyone wanted to get in. When
it came time to leave, Ringo almost stepped into the bass drum. At around 4:00a.m., the Beatles decided to
call it a day and head back to the hotel.
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