Apple: Merry Crimble 1973

 

Apple: Merry Crimble 1973

Written by Kris Spackman

With a Little Help From My Friends  Issue #11

July 1975

With the closing of Apple, another part of "Beatle History" has come to an end. I must say it's one of the saddest things I've heard all year, because with Apple gone, there also goes the "home away from home" of many of us who have waited there over the last 7 years. Sadder yet, its demise makes the Beatles split even more final.  But in looking back, I hope it will be remembered for its many happy times...and perhaps with a touch of melancholy for the promise lost...

I know we'll never forget the hours we spent on the steps at the St. James Street Office, the friends we made of the employees, the chills and the colds we caught from hours of waiting, the nervous tension...nor the happiness of seeing George, Ringo and Paul pass thru those doors that made all the hassle so worth it. 

One of Apple's yearly great events has been the Christmas parties -- and these are occasions we've all heard much about, as well as the stories of the Scruff and others being welcomed in instead of left outside.  Never "in our wildest dreams" (as they say) did we imagine we'd be invited to this famous festive occasion, but thanks to our deal pal, Angela, who was determined we would go, as well as Sarge and Peter Bendry (loyal employee of Dr. O'Boogie!), such a dream actually came to be!

After 5 months, I guess the Apple people had gotten pretty used to us hangin' out, and 3/4 were always very nice and friendly (the other 1/4 being the "hello, wall" bunch that totally ignored us).  We'd managed to get our point across that we weren't there to bother anyone -- only to look; and, in time, were accepted as part of the daily routine! Because we had gotten to know many of them, the impossibility didn't seem quite so impossible!

The way into the party was via the invitation of an Apple employee, i.e., Angela and a guest. So while Ang maneuvered from inside, we worked from the outside, and by Friday evening, December 21, we were 99% set: Anna Maria would go with Ang; Pattie with Paul, one of the office boys; and me with good ol' Sarge! The odd 1% was Peter Bendry's assurance that he would get Marla and Kathy in - not to mention his own date! The party was a "long dress" affair, and therefore, it was preceded by some frantic shopping and swapping of clothes, as well as a nerve-wracking day of getting ready. And we still weren't sure who was gonna be there. 

But by 6:30 that night, I was on my way in the dreary mist of a light London rain to meet Sarge at Apple while the rest of the gang gathered at Anna's apartment to go from there. 

Sitting in the lobby waiting for Sarge, who was puttering around chatting with Ishmael - the accountant, Bernard Brown, etc. I was suffering a mild attack of the shakes - waiting inside is more nerve-wracking than outside! Also, there was Keith Moon's girlfriend, who was as spaced as usual. (She had lost Keith while they were Xmas shopping and came to meet him at Apple!)

About 7:15, Sarge and I went by underground to Covent Gardens, where the party was being held at a TV studio, whose name at the moment escapes me! And the TV studio escaped us, being buried in one of London's famous little backstreets. But first, we found Ang and Anna as they arrived by cab, and we all tripped inside, where invitations were being checked at the door. The studio was one large room in the basement of the building, and the room itself was decorated and full of tables and chairs, a bar to the side, and space up front for dancing and entertainment.  I was still pretty nervous - til we were all fixed up with a couple strong drinks. And by this time, the rest of our crew had arrived, with Peter hustling Mar and Kath past the bewildered security guard. We stood, chatting with the Apple people and guests, who were mostly all glad to see we'd gotten in and welcomed us warmly - a great feeling indeed!

Tony King was basically in charge of things and soon announced that dinner would be served. Still no sign of Ringo or George, but Mal and Neil were there! The dinner was really lovely - appetizers, soup, a Xmas turkey with all the trimmings, that awful British Xmas pudding, and brandy! It was still a bit hard to believe that there we all were, having dinner on Apple -- and that, perhaps soon, George or Ringo would arrive. During dessert, Tony K. announced the evening's entertainment: George Melly & the Feetwarmers, a jazz-pop-comedy group, presented courtesy of Warner Bros. and Mr. Derek Taylor! At the same time, Pattie Harrison turned up with Chris O'Dell and joined Mal, Neil, and their wives at their table. Mr. Melly & Co. were pretty good, tho the typical British humor is a bit trying at times.

Our table was upfront and right beside a pillar; from my chair, I was able to keep one eye on the entertainment - and one eye on the door in case of "expected arrivals!"  And I wasn't disappointed! Half an hour later, that door opened, and in came Ringo, Maureen, and friends (Nilsson, "Moonie," and Mickey Dolenz!). Ringo, was all dressed up and looking just darling, stepped up to the railing of the stairs leading down to the basement to watch Melly and leaned forward. I caught his eye and gave a teeny little wave with a big dumb grin on my face. And Ringo grinned right back with a teeny little wave.  We were all so glad to see him! Neil came to meet them as they descended the stairs, and they sat down at the back table with Hillary Gerrard and Joan, Ringo's secretary. Next to arrive was Terry Doran, and after Melly finished, we set out to entertain ourselves with a series of trips to the bar. During one refill, we ran into Derek, who was his usual lovely self and kissed us all!

Dancing began to record then, and it took a few drinks to get us out on the floor. But we did and ended up dancing with everyone from the office boys to Sarge to Phil MacDonald (who was the engineer on ATMP and LITMW)

And then came the big "surprise" of the night -- which just blew all our minds! Tony K. introduced "Entertainment" Part 2:  a stripper who didn't completely. But she certainly put on a show and was joined by Phillip and Mal, who chased her around the floor! And in the back of the room, we had quite a nice view of Ringo who stood up to watch. We found him much more interested to look at!

By this time, George still hadn't arrived, and we were all pretty sure that he wasn't going to. But being this would probably be the only Apple Christmas party we'd ever attend, we were determined to have a good time in spite of plus we had just seen him the day before at the office party. 

After the stripper did her thing, dancing resumed, and both Maureen S. and Pattie H. took a turn out on the floor, while he hoped against hope Ringo would.

Then came the high point of the night and I sure was!  As I accompanied Kathy to the bathroom, we passed near where Ringo was sitting, and I noticed he was by himself, tho there were people around him. In the bathroom, I deliberated a moment, then scooted back out and right over to him.  I said hello, asked him how he was, and told him how glad we were to be there.  He was just so sweet, and he told me he was glad we came, too, and that he was very much enjoying it himself. Then I wished him a very merry Christmas, and I kissed him on the cheek! Poor Ringo -- I don't know who was more surprised, but  I was pretty happy about it!  And he really didn't seem to mind.  At the same moment, a friend of Mo's came over and asked if anyone had a pen.  I rushed off to get one from my purse for her - in a minor state of shock.

Somehow I then ended up in the bathroom again, with "our" Patti this time when Pattie H. came in in search of Marueen (present also) because they were getting ready to leave.  Patti and I hurried out and joined our friend, Elena, who was standing by a back table. Ringo was preparing to go and as he came by us, we all wished him a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He stopped and stood with us for 3 or 4 minutes, wishing us a cherry "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Years" while I held onto his hand and told him to stay happy (I was drunk).  Then my intoxicated friend, Patti, asked him if he'd remember which was the gift we'd given him the day before. With an airy wave of his hand, he assured, "Oh, there was no card on it"- which cracked me up completely because there was a card with it!  Ringo thanked us for our good wishes and returned them, then had to go...

After that, the party lasted all night, with people slowly filtering out in small bunches.  We danced and drank the rest of the time away until about 4am, and when we left, there were still a good number hangin' in there! From there, we took a taxi home, completely happy and content.

It was truly one beautiful experience!

Even if Savile Row is sold and Apple goes out of existence, it will continue to live on in our hearts and if that sounds corny, it's meant to be! Like the song says "Though the years they come and go, but the love must surely show me that beyond all time and space, we're together face to face..."

A is for Apple, A is for Always!