August 4, 1966
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Tuesday, August 4, 2026
John and Yoko Live in Montauk (1976)
John and Yoko Live in Montauk
By Craig Neidermeier
The Write Thing
September/October 1976
John and Yoko live in Montauk, Long Island, right now. I had a friend show me his house. It's a secluded oceanside brick home. So, being a curious Beatles fan, one day my girlfriend and I wanted to go and swim on the beach, so we decided to walk through John's yard, not really knowing if he'd be there.
I was really tense because I saw Yoko walking around in the house. Then we got to the backyard, and my girlfriend said, "Hello, John," And I looked to my left, and there he was, blue cut-offs and a T-shirt, and just looking out to sea. He seemed amazed that we were in his backyard with blankets, pillows, and our dog.
I asked him if we could possibly cut through his yard to get to the beach, and he said, "The beach is down the road. Bug off." He was upset that we were trespassing, and I said I was sorry, and he said "Yeah, sure", and then we left.
If I only knew he was home, I would have knocked on the door and did the whole scene more politely. But it was still a great high point in my Beatle life to be actually talking to him in the flesh. You can see him on any given day riding his bike through town. People just act cool, and he feels comfortable. Paul and Linda were in Montauk on September 2, eating in a high-class restaurant there.
North vs. South views on the controversy (1966)
I have always found it interesting to read real people's reactions to John's Jesus Statement during the controversy in the United States. I chose two different areas of the United States to share what people were saying. The first article is from Wisconsin (in the north) and the second is from North Carolina (more in the south).
They're Still Loyal To Beatles
By Clifford C. Behnke
Wisconsin State Journal
August 8, 1966
If some teenagers in the United States are about to burn their Beatles records, it doesn't look like their counterparts in Madison are going to pitch the first disc.
The Beatles' banning and burning began two weeks ago in Birmingham, Alabama, where two disc jockeys retaliated against Beatle John Lennon's remarks in Datebook magazine by instigating a ban on Beatles records on their stations and urging listeners to send in Beatles records, wigs, and other souvenirs for a big bonfire.
Lennon was quoted as saying the Liverpool quartet now was "more popular than Jesus Christ, and that Christianity will vanish and shrink."
"I think it's stupid to ban their music for something he said," freckled Jenny Sheahan, 15, said in Lennon's defense as she finished a Coke at King's Restaurant on the square Saturday afternoon. "I don't think he was right, but he's entitled to what he thinks," said Jenny, who saw the Beatles in person in Chicago last summer. "I think the radio stations know that the teenagers don't want the stations to ban the Beatles," she added.
Madison's two rock and roll stations, WISM and WMAD, which play the Beatles records, will continue to play the group's recordings. The stations are allowing their listeners to voice their views on the controversy over the air. Both report that callers are not in favor of a ban on Beatles music.
Janet Robey, 17, a clerk at Victor's Music Store on Capitol Square, said, "It was ridiculous to say what he did," but she also thinks a ban on the Beatles would be equally ridiculous. Janet added that she thinks some parents and teenagers who never liked the quartet are behind the ban movement.
Tom Forsythe, 17, who leaves for the Air Force today, agreed and said, "I don't think the ban is right." He was one of the few teenagers interviewed who liked the new Beatles single, "The Yellow Submarine", which was released last week. "It's an unusual sound for the Beatles," he said. The majority of teens said they disliked the new record, but not because of the recent controversy. It was too unusual to be readily accepted, according to most.
Freckled and pert, Janice Nash, 16, said, "I still like 'em. I think John was joking around when he said it."
Sue Fass, 17, said she doesn't think religious beliefs should interfere with their music. "I think that's two different things. Christ stands for religion, and the Beatles stand for something else."
Peter Robinson, 14, a drummer in the four-piece Intrigues, a Madison rock-and-roll group, was not a big fan of the Beatles and was also against the ban. But he was critical of the quartet's drummer Ringo. "He doesn't change his beat from record to record."
"I don't think people should take it seriously," said Camilla Carraher, 14, another customer at Kings. "It's just that they're in the public eye so much they have to be careful what they say," she said. "But I don't think John should have said it in public."
A giggling Linda Young, 14, said they didn't mean that when they said that. "It's not their fault. If people listen to the records, it means people aren't paying as much attention to religion these days." Linda said she was ready to picket herself if Madison radio stations banned the music.
Blonde, blue-eyed Candy Lofton, 14, of Minneapolis, said, "The Beatles are not more popular than Christ, and they never will be." She attributed the group's popularity to their hair. Candy was lucky enough to see the Beatles perform in Minneapolis, but she didn't hear one note they sang because everybody was screaming.
And the Beatles still are a scream. Most teens are still loyal fans, and even the less enthusiastic throw cold water on possible Beatles bonfires in Madison.
Beatles Battle: Take It Or Leave It
No Writer Listed
The Salisbury Post (N. Carolina)
August 6, 1966
You can just about believe what you want to about the Beatles controversy with so many different versions out. If you've been looking for a good excuse to dislike the Beatles, you have one now if you want it. Or if you still want to remain a Beatles fan, you can do that too by saying that John Lennon of the Beatles was quoted out of context or whatnot.
What is certain is that the whole incident has caused many local youths to reassess their sentiments about the singing group, as the short interviews indicate. What is perhaps most ironic is that some youths who could never have been swayed into disliking the Beatles by anything their parents or other adults could say have done so now on the basis of what a Beatles himself is said to have said.
The following paragraphs are some of the things carried in several newspapers about the controversy: "The furor was set off after a magazine article quoted John Lennon of the Beatles as saying the mop-haired group is more popular than Jesus. More than a dozen radio stations in North and South Carolina have dropped recordings of the Beatles from their programs because of what they consider a sacrilegious remark attributed to a member of the long-haired group.
"Beatles manager Brian Epstein said John Lennon had been misinterpreted. When a newsman asked Epstein if he actually believed the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, he snapped, 'Of course not!'
"'I do not think for one minute that John Lennon intended to be flippant or irreverent,' said Miss Maureen Cleave, whose interview with Lennon set off the wave of Beatles bannings in the United States. She continued, 'He was simply observing that so weak was the state of Christianity that the Beatles were to many people better known.'
George Chun -- Zimmerman's employee -- Route 4, Moxville: "Personally, I don't think they're more popular than Jesus Christ. I don't think they will outlive Jesus Christ because religion has been here since His time. Man has to have something to believe in and strive toward. This group, I think, is just a passing fancy. The long hair attracts the young ladies. I do like them as a group, although my favorite kind of music is progressive jazz. If anything, I think John Lennon was saying those things in that interview to cause more talk about the group."
John Bulcher --radio announcer, salesman -- Route One: "I never really thought they would come out with a statement similar to the one they are credited with. It seems to me that they are condemning themselves. Lennon has used a comparison which I think is out of bounds. Our station doesn't play Beatles music by the Beatles, but by other groups doing their songs. Our musical format doesn't allow Beatle music by the Beatles anyhow, so we don't have to make a decision about whether or not to play them after this.
Danny Fisher -- Assistant Kenny's Manager -- Morepark: "As I understand it, there's been a mistake in what he said. It's unexcusable if he did say it. What I think must have happened is that John Lennon said, referring to a few teenagers, that even the Beatles are more popular right now with some teenagers than Jesus Christ is. With just a few young people, I think he is correct. I don't believe the majority feel that way, though. I don't really believe Lennon said it, meaning what he did."
Mrs. Eddie Nester -- store decorator-- North Main Street: "I just think it's disgusting. They've got a lot of influence with young people, and he should have known it would cause a big controversy. Somebody like that ought to watch what he says. I used to like to listen to the Beatles, but not anymore. Nowadays, Johnny Mathis is about my limit. I don't have to worry about buying their records because, you know, you don't buy records after you're married. "
Herman Hyman --smoke shop owner--Rutherford Street: "I think John Lennon's statement reflects a kid carried away by his own popularity. I believe the kid is not one who doesn't believe in religion. I think he does. I also think he's sorry now. I don't think it's so much about possible financial consequences as about the fact that he has disillusioned so many youngsters and knows he cannot undo what he has done."
Paula Hyling -- high school senior-- Birmingham, Alabama: "I like their music, but I don't like the things they have been saying. I have bought their records. I just don't believe the things they said are true. They must think they are so big now that they can say anything they want to and get away with it. I used to be a real fan of theirs; they have just kind of made me mad."
Earl Smith -- fiber industry employee -- Route Four-- Moxville: "I'm a Beatle fan, although I'm not crazy about their style, their hair, or their clothes. I think they are kind of overjudging themselves. I just don't think they're that popular. Younger people than myself are really the ones who have kept them in business to date. It's a fad; it will die out."
Charlene Carscaddan - West Rowan, Southmore- Route Six: "Right now, I don't like them. I don't think there's anybody better than God. I was a fan of theirs. I just like their music. Now, I'm not going to buy any more of their records. Period."
Monday, August 3, 2026
My Experience Meeting the Beatles (1965)
When I went to get my notes about the "Bigger Than Jesus" article I wrote after digging through the Art Unger Files, I found a copy of a letter sent to Datebook for publication consideration. The magazine did not publish the story of Lee Donoff meeting the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965, probably because it wasn't true. She was alone? Didn't get their autographs? Didn't take a picture? I personally think this is fan fiction, but I also think how lovely it would be to be a 16-year-old Beatles fan in 1965 and have this beautiful daydream of meeting the Beatles. But then again -- who knows? Maybe it happened exactly like Lee said it did. You can decide.
Dear Datebook: This is the true story of my meeting the Beatles. I send it to you for you to print and share it with other Datebook readers. I found some of their experiences wonderful. The meeting was about five minutes long, and I kept my story as short as possible. Thank you for your time and your wonderful magazine, Lee Donoff. P.S. This is a picture of my cousin and I taken outside of Shea Stadium. I'm the one on the left. If you can print this article, you can cut the picture in half and use just me, or use both of us since she was at the concert.
Meeting the Beatles
by Lee Donoff
West Islip, Long Island, New York
West Islip High School
age 16
Meeting the Beatles is an experience a person never forgets. The Beatles may forget when they met me, but I'll never forget when I met them. My cousin Adrienne and I had been waiting for what seemed like ages until their New York concert. We waited for nine and a half hours to get in, and it was a luxury to sit down. I came all prepared with a camera, film, binoculars, gum, and tissues. Little did I know what was in store for me.
Just before the concert had started, my cousin and I tried to find better seats. Ducking cops and stadium officials, we found ourselves on the field next to two empty seats. It was dark, and the Beatles hadn't arrived yet. I asked Adrienne to come with me to get a Coke, but since neither of us had the correct ticket stubs, we thought it was safer for me if I went alone.
I had already ordered my drink when I heard everyone screaming. I grabbed my Coke off the counter and ran to the railing. I watched the Beatles leave their truck, and I started to cry. I stood there, and after several seconds, I walked back to the counter. The police let me pass because they had seen me buy the drink. As for the girls behind me, they were stopped.
I stood by the counter, and as soon as the man turned his head, I opened a door and ran down a flight of stairs. I was standing at the bottom when I heard an English accent; I just knew it, and I started to cry. I didn't want to, but I couldn't control the tears. They must have heard me because the next thing I knew, they were gathering around me. They were dressed casually. Ringo was shorter than I pictured him, and his blue eyes went on and on and on. George was slender, and his hair was clean and frizzy. John had a bit of a tan. Paul, well, he just looked great.
I was still crying, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop. For the next five minutes, they kept saying, "Please stop crying." Finally, Ringo asked me, and I stopped. Ringo shoved a tissue in my hand, and I still have it. I tried to take a picture, but someone yelled at me. Paul said, "You better not luv. I don't want you to get in trouble." I completely forgot to ask for autographs, although I did take a couple strands of their hair.
Paul turned around and looked at me. "Why does everybody cry when they see us?" I had no answer, and I mumbled something about never expecting to meet them. A voice told me to go because the Beatles had to change. I kissed John, Ringo, Paul, and George, and walked away in tears.
Some cop yelled at me, "Why are you crying? What are you crying about? The concert hasn't even started." Little did he know.
It was all my cousin could do to shake me out of hysterics and find out what happened. Within a few minutes, we were running down the row of steps again. Only they weren't there. A few reporters were milling around, and one approached us and asked if we had seen the girl who had met the Beatles. My cousin said that was me. Next thing I knew, I had a couple of microphones in my face and questions coming from all sides. Questions like "Who's my favorite Beatle?" and "How did I feel?" and so on. They asked us to stand in front of the stadium, and they took our pictures.
The concert was fantastic. I tried to make it to the stage, but a cop grabbed me. I got an encouraging wink from Paul. It was a wonderful experience, and for several minutes every day, I lay down and relived everything that had happened.
Fan club office
Here we have Mary "aka Anne Collingham," Paul, George, John and a mystery person that no one ever knew who he was!
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