The Paul-Jane hoax in Seattle

Paul-Jane Hoax in Seattle

By Rhett Hamilton Walker I

The Beatles have come and gone, another year, another tour.  It was a great financial success than any other.

The screams have subsided, momentarily anyhow, and now everyone is reminiscing, trading individual impressions, some trying to impress others with “inside” info on the fab four and some very probably starting new rumors.  And lemme tell you, here in Seattle, we’ve had more than our share of rumors!  Beatles rumors, that is.

“Paul and Jane to be married?”

“During this current American tour?”

“In Seattle?!?!”

And we all fell for it.

Reservations had been made for the bridal suit at one of the leading hotels here.  Masses of flowers had been ordered from various florists.  Jane was supposed to arrive in town the night before the concert.  A four-tier cake had even been ordered.  And everyone was in a flip!   Circumstantial evidence and everyone jumped on it—well and truly!

Here at KOL, every other phone call asked much the same questions.  Are they really?  Where?  When?  What’s the big?  How?  And the calls came from all over.

Our news director, Don Hughes, was even interviewed by a station in Montreal, Canada for seven minutes live but a DJ on the air.  One of the jox here managed to “acquire” a state patrol car, drove out to the airport and waited for Jane to arrive.  I think he got towed away for being parked in a wrong zone.

And get this!  One li’l darlin’ about 10 years old, called the station at the height of the reports that Paul would be marrying Jane and without even saying “hello” in a tearfully determined voice she said, “to hell with Jane Asher!” and hung up.

And so the calls went on.  Everyone ran around in a panic, tearing their hair out and Jane didn’t arrive.  But the Beatles did.

Paul said, “I just got in and found out I was getting married.”  More panic, more hair is torn out, more running about.

Paul is asked if Jane is actually coming to Seattle and he replies, “No – she’s not coming as far as I know.  If she does, we’re going out tonight anyway, so we would miss her.”

More running about, more phone calls, more mass mumbling, more jaws a-flappin, and our airport representative pays a traffic fine under great duress.  

The Beatles play their concerts here and then they’re gone, but somehow Seattle-ites aren’t quite satisfied.  So, more questions.  What about the marriage?  What happened?  Was it on the level or was it a hoax?

All that is left is pure speculation and a four-tier cake with ‘Best wishes Paul and Jane” written on it.  But people will speculate.

Some are firmly convinced that the couple were to be married but changed their minds at the last minute because of laws concerning marriage in the state of Washington or because of the excitement created by the news that leaked out prior to the ceremony.  Some believe quite simply that it was a hoax. And some believe it was one heckuva publicity stunt.

Who knows?  Nobody.

Well, maybe not quite.

Just before he left Seattle, Paul did say to me “…

P.S. from J.M.:  Here’s a bit of news that will help clear up at least part of the mystery.  Before the Beatles press officer, Tony Barrow, left L.A. he stated that Paul and Jane had made no plans to arrive in Seattle.  All they have been able to find out about the incident is that the reservations (cake, room, flowers, etc.) were made by a “Mr. Bartholomew,” and when it comes to knowing who THAT might be, their guess is as good as yours!  As Rhett said, nobody knows what really did happen.  Fortunately, everyone knows what didn’t happen.  A wedding didn’t happen.  And Mr. Bartholomew if you would like to know what to do with all that cake, I and a few million other people would be more than happy to tell you.