Les Beatles (1966)

 

Les Beatles

By Chantal Delsaux

Fabulous 208

September 3, 1966

    Any girl would have certainly loved to take my place on this special day-- the day of my meeting with the Beatles. It was the fourth day of their three-week appearance at the Paris Olympia. It was their first visit in this town, so they were just known, not famed and loved as they are now. 

    It was certainly easier to meet them then than it is now. I was watching their act on stage when a friend told me they were staying at the George V Hotel and that it would be wonderful if we could meet them. So after the show, we jumped into a taxi to the hotel just in time to see the Beatles running straight from their car (a black Austin Princess) to the entrance of the hotel. We were very disappointed, and my friend decided to go back home. 

    I jumped out of the car to see one of their road managers (it was Malcolm Evans) who was getting out of the Austin Princess. With all my courage, I asked him if it would be possible to see the Beatles and take some pictures with my camera. I was mad when he answered yes and took me by the lift to their second-floor suite apartment numbers 122, 123, 124.

     He knocked on the door, and the face of number two road manager, Neil Aspinall, appeared and let me in. I was very happy when I was introduced to the Beatles. I was a little bit afraid in those luxurious apartments. I listened to records, especially Trini Lopez ones, talked with them and took pictures of them for about an hour. I did my best to speak good English while I was taking some pictures of them. Ringo was doing the same with his camera. 

    During my visit, I heard a phone call from two English girls who were asking for John. I don't think they realized that Paul was answering them.

     They weren't proud or sophisticated as other stars are. They were very funny, and even though they teased me a bit, I think they will always be charming and nice with people who are the same with them.

 After this gorgeous day, I met them four times again before they left Paris. For me, the unknown French girl, it was one of the greatest days of my life.