#9 Dream come True (repost)

This week's flashback post is from the June 1976 issue of McLen fanzine and was written by Margie Paturzo.

#9 Dream Come True

From Issue #12 (June 1976) issue of MacLen

By Margie Paturzo

On the morning of May 24, 1976, Monday, Kathy S. and I woke up early and proceeded to go to the Dakotas. We arrived there at 9:45 and sat down in the front on the railing.  The doorman was giving us dirty looks, but we didn’t care.  We sat and waited.

Around 10:30, some more girls joined us.  We all sat there talking about John and showing each other pictures we carried with us.  Then, one of the girls, Karen B., said, “Here comes Sean.”  We all turned to look and we saw this elderly look and we saw this elderly Japanese woman wheeling a beautiful baby in a stroller.  We were all delighted as we watched him pass by us.  I must admit, he is cute.  He was wearing shorts and had on a white hat and what looked like some kind of Japanese slippers.

After he went by, we were even more excited ‘cos we figured that John would be out soon.  We were wrong.  We waited and waited and around 12:15, the nanny brought Sean back.  Again we were delighted and we were sure John would be out after the nanny took Sean up.  Or so we thought.

Around 2:15 or so, Ann joined us with Pat and Joy (from “With a Little Help from my friends” fame) and Maryann.  We talked for a while and Kathy and I told them about seeing Sean.  After a while, Pat, Joy, and Maryann left.  Ann joined the rest of us to wait for John.

We started getting hungry so Ann went down the corner and got us hotdogs and sodas.  Believe me, hotdogs never tasted so good!   I kept thinking, “Watch John come out and see me with a hot dog in me gob!”

Around 3:10, Sean was wheeled out again.  I must add that no one took pics ‘cos we were afraid the nanny would tell John and then he would be furious when he did come out.  So we just watched, Ann getting her first glimpse of Sean.  And then we continued to wait.

We were all standing on the doorman’s side of the entrance at that time.  Well, after about another hour, Ann and I walked over to the other side.  I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and the other side.  I sat on the wall while Ann stood in front of me and talked to me.  Well, at around 3:30,  I caught a glimpse of two people, a man, and a woman, walking out.  I recognized Yoko first, because of her long, frizzy hair.  Well, Ann hadn’t noticed them yet and was still busy talking to me, so I said, “It’s him, it’s him!” as I recognized the man in the white Levis.  Yoko must have heard me ‘cos she turned around to look at us, smiled and said, “Hi.”  By this time, Ann and I were on our way over to them.  So was everyone on the other side.

John was looking up and down the street for a cab and when Ann and I arrived by his left side, he was looking the other way.  Well,  Ann backed away and started taking pictures.  So I took out my pen and paper and said, “John?”  Well, he jumped back, looked at me and said, “Oooh, you scared me.”  In turn, I said “Oh John I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.  Can I have your autograph?”   All this time I was looking up into his face, unable to believe I was there with HIM!  He took the pen and paper and proceeded to sign his name.  I moved over in front of Yoko and John handed me back the pen and paper (see black and white photo).  I took it and was shaking so bad from being nervous that I hugged Yoko and told her how beautiful I thought Sean was (The things one will do when they see their favorite Beatle!).  Anyroad, I stood near Yoko, out of everyone’s way while they took pictures, and just watched that man.  While he was signing Kathy’s autograph, he asked where we all were from.  Well, everyone was yelling out their hometowns:  Chicago, Ohio, Delaware and then I yelled out “Connecticut!”.  Well, he must’ve realized (or thought) that I was the one he had written a letter to recently thanking me for “whatever I had sent him” to quote his words.  He looked up and glanced at me for a second, then went back to doing what he was doing.  I nearly melted into the ground.  All I kept saying in my mind was, “thank God he didn’t ask me if I was Margie.”

He finished what he was doing and looked up and raised his finger and said, “Here’s the cab.”  He took Yoko’s hand and started to cross the street.  Everyone yelled, “Goodbye John” and watched him cross the street to the waiting taxi.  I immediately started crying ‘cos I just couldn’t believe what had just happened.  Kathy and I hugged each other and cried (her favorite is John too, can you guess?)   We watched the taxi until it turned out of sight and then we ourselves took a taxi – to the Stanhope Hotel, where Paul stays.  Within an hour of seeing John, we saw Paul leaving his hotel.  But that in itself is another story…

Beatles '76

Photo does not go with story, but fits timeframe

This story was found in the editorial section of  the October 1976 issue of MacLen fan magazine.  Apparently in the Autumn of '76, a 16 year old held his own Beatles convention and it wasn't very good.    This is what people were writing about, but in the midst of that I found this gem of a story. 



You are so fortunate not to have gone to Beatles '76.  It was so disorganized, run by a 16 year old rude punk.  they were  to have a dancing contest but cancelled it due to no participants.   Allan Williams was there, drunk as usual!   Flea market had a few good things, but they'll be there in February.   The only good thing about this convention was the promos.

The convention was so rotten that I spent 36 hours outside the Dakota.   Saw Sean.   He looks right at you.  He was clapping, playing with his feet and laughing.   His hair is lighter now and is he big!   I didn't take any pics because I respect their wishes.   We saw him about eight times.

John and Yoko came out at 2:00 on Monday.  Does he look good!?!   We hadn't eaten or slept for 24 hours so we just sat there and said "Oh my God!"  They looked at us like "come on."  The doorman blew the whistle for a cab.  John jumped in mid-air!   Meena had an aghast look on her face, so he gave her a mocking one back.   by this time, we stood up and they were in the cab.  He waved, we did, he did, we did, they did, then we went crazy and John smiled at us as they took off 

They returned at 6:00 walking up the street.  We started to "crawl" and they both smiled.  It was sprinkling, but they took time for us.  Meeena's pen wouldn't write, so John licked it with his tongue (souvenir now).  Yoko was fascinated by a picture I had of them in April.  John looked at it and said, "What was I, drunk when you took this?"  Yoko wanted to know all about it.  She thought she was pregnant in it (she wasn't).  She was so funny.  She kept pulling on John's jacket saying, "Oh John, when was this taken?"  Like he would know, right?    When they first walked up to us, John said with so much concern, "they're still here."    In April, Yoko was the one who said that.  He just couldn't believe we'd waited in the rain for him.  Anyway, they want a copy of the picture.  I was so flattered since Yoko is a photographer/artist.  John looked at us and said, "what are you -- the new Beatle freaks?"  I've loved them since I was seven.    He said, "How old were you, 2?"  I told him since I was seven -- their jaws dropped and they both repeated, "seven!"  He things were 15 pushing 20.  He said they only  had a little time because they wanted to see Sean before bedtime.  A young boy was there and he went to shake his hand and John said, "Right on, man!"   As they were leaving, I called to John  and explained that I wouldn't be there October 9th and gave him two cards (Sean and John).  He took them, looked right in my eyes -- just like Macca -- and said "thank you."  It's not much, but for me that did it!   The nanny came out and asked if we were happy and started to laugh, saying she was glad.   She's nice after all.   She took Sean for a walk and it started to pour.  She flew across the street saying, "oh my God."   Sean is just like Daddy because he slept through the rain! 

Anyway,; John had a bit of growth of hair (a start of a beard?), tight jeans.  He looked like he lost weight and looks fantastic.  He's so nice.   So through the whole weekend, John and Yoko made mine worthwhile!

--written by Karen Blackburn (from Delaware)

A night to remember

The BEST concert memory of the Cleveland show comes from Joy Kilbane of MacLen magazine.  She wrote this in 1976 for the 10th anniversary of the show.    

A night to remember (round #2)

By Joy Kilbane

MacLen fanzine issue #10/11  February-April 1976

As of this writing it’s been almost 10 years since that night in Cleveland, Ohio.  I’d like to once again share my experience of the August 14^th Beatles concert.  That day was very overcast, but there wasn’t any rain, thank God!  I went to downtown Cleveland with some friends of mine.  Lynda L., Donna T., Sherry S., Nita C., Chris D. and your truly.  And all of us were on our way downtown via the rapid transit.  Once we reached Public Square – the big deal center of town, we headed toward the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel.  I wore a blue and green polka-dot mini dress with high heels.  You know, the blue and green was for Paul and John.   All over the place there were Beatle people!  It was really a beautiful and exciting experience to be a part of.  I can’t really explain how I felt then.  I’m sure all of you know the feeling.  Well, the first thing all of us did was look up at the hotel and at least in my mind I thought this was it!  The guys you’ve wanted to see in action and not on the movie or TV screen.  This was MY first concert and I still couldn’t believe I was actually going to see them in action!  Also this was the second time there were in Cleveland.  The first being September 15, 1964.  I wasn’t able to go.

We had plenty of time to kill before the concert, so Donna and I went back to the Terminal where the rapids are located.  I can’t remember the reason we went back there.  Inside the Tower, there is a decline, can’t really explain it—like a ramp, no steps you climb down, just a smooth ramp.  As I said, I wore heels and I started to slip on one of the declines.  Had this really WILD idea to scream out the guys’ names.  I just felt like doing it, just to see what would happen.  Well, I started letting go with “John! John!”  Donna picked up with yelling for George.  I had to run in order not to slip and fall on my boomer plus our yelling caused a near riot inside the building.  There were at least 200 or 300 kids running inside the building after us.  We hid, naturally.  The others stayed outside while Donna and I had our jollies.

Boarded the bus that was to take us to the stadium.  I was a nervous wreck!  The stadium came in sight and my stomach was really letting the butterflies go.  Such a Beatleful feeling it was.  Found our seats – they were directly in front of the stage but far away.  WIXY 1260 on a banner tacked n the front of the stage where the guys were going to be.  WIXY wasn’t even a year old and yet, it was them that brought the guys back!  All over the stadium were banners.  I can’t remember what all of them said but I think one said “Bernard Webb Forever” and “Give us a kiss” was another one I saw.  Too much! 

I spotted Mal Evans on the stage setting up the guys’ stuff.  I told the others who he was and we started to yell out his name just to see what he’d do.   He turned around and all of us waved like mad.  He waved back at us and then started to resume what he was doing.  Again his name was called and again he turned and  waved back at us.  We did it again and all he did was wave since he knew where we were.  Again came the beautiful feelings.  

The time passed and more kids arrived.  I spotted Brian Epstein leaning against one of the legs(??)   He wore a purple suit and I told Donna that he reminded me of a grape.  Then the guys came.  Shit! What a feeling I felt!  They got out of their limo – I saw all of them but I can’t remember what the others wore except John.  He was in all white.  Yes, that is what he wore.  It was as if by magic, when the guys arrived everyone stood right up.

  The acts before the guys were enough to drive you out of your mind!  The waiting. The waiting…I don’t remember all the acts except the Cyrcle and Bobby Hebb, and the Ronnettes.  If I remember correctly, the Cyrcle was the act before the guys.  The Cyrcle did pretty well—the flash from the cameras was like lightening for them.  

Then it was time.  The WIXY DJ’s all came on stage and I thought, “Oh God!  This is it!”  They started with their small talk which drove me up the wall!  Now, I was really a nervous wreck!  Then WIXY DJ’s introduced themselves and talked about the radio station.  Then began the “Give me a B (We screamed B)---give me an E (we again let the DJ’s have it)—give me an A (we did) –give me a T (again)—give me an L (ditto)—give me an E (we did)—give me as S (again)—what does it spell?  (The Monkees?  What do you think it spelled, you dumb DJ’s???).  BEATLES! (louder) BEATLES!! (louder) BEATLES!!! “Okay, here they are—the Beatles!!!!!!”

The door of the specially built trailer for their use behind the stage opened and out they came!  All the screaming and the flashes from cameras all over the stadium—what a sight that was!  The guys ran up on the stage and went right to their instruments.  I was in such a state of shock that I can’t remember the first song they did!  Whatever it was, it was beautiful!  I know they sang “Nowhere Man.”  I had this great love for “If I Needed someone”—I really adore that song very much.  It wasn’t released in the States until the summer American LP “Yesterday and Today.”  So, I was really zonked out when George started that one!  I started crying.  I just couldn’t take it anymore!

The snow fence—if you’ve ever read in any magazine about the tours, in their description of the Cleveland Stadium concert, they mention a little fence (about waist high and very flimsy which surrounds the outfield).  This  my friends is the snow fence.  The police, thinking that they were so smart and not many police would be needed for the concert since the Beatles weren’t as popular.  There weren’t many of the little blue meanie there.   George really started the gathering during “If I Needed Someone” and so it began.  A guy was able to get on the field and naturally he was cheered on.  But the police cut the trip short.  George began the beginning of “Day Tripper” and that’s when it happened!  The kids (including yours truly) started to leave their seats.  It was like magic.  I could see the fence slowly give way and the police running toward the stage since that was the only thing they could do.  The guys on stage were really enjoying all of this.  They really started to act up and motioned for us to keep coming, which we did!  Those four were really throwing themselves into that song, all the while motioning for us to keep coming.  The police couldn’t argue with thousands of kids.  Speedy here made it to the middle of the ground, my stupid heels got stuck in the mud!  Needless to say, I was able to see the men I love up close once again, only in action this time.  John was having a good time.  He kept teasing the girls that were right up to the stage with his foot.  Paul was laughing because of the girls  came with were tickling him (on his leg).  The police began throwing the kids off.  That’s no joke!  In one of the articles about the Cleveland riot, it stated that Ringo was pulled off the drums, but that’s not true.  A girl asked if she could shake his hand and he said it would be okay.  It is just that a “nice” policeman just happened to grab her while she was still hanging onto Ringo’s hand!  That’s why he was “pulled off I his drums.”

I felt like I was going to faint.  It was so hot on that field and all the kids were just shoved together which didn’t help matters.  It was bad news, but I told myself that I couldn’t let myself faint.  I watched Paul and the guys, with the help of the police leave the stage and go into the trailer rather fast, I must say.  Jack Armstrong, one of the DJ’s started yelling that we broke our promise about not mobbing the stage.  He was crying!  That’s what I said—he was crying.  Since he’s a jerk, nobody listened to him.  The field was covered for about 20 minutes but it seemed like an hour.  After a while, it was finally cleared and an English voice came over the loudspeakers and told us that if the field wasn’t cleared right away, the show wouldn’t go on.  I swear to this day that the voice belonged to George!  After the little speech, the field was cleared fast.  I remember telling Donna that we were going to really  make news because of the riot.  Well, would you believe that in one of the Cleveland papers the next day they printed just what I said?

Also before the riot I remember one of the amps weren’t working and Paul announcing a song, “Our next number will be--- our next number WON’T be…” as no sound came from the amp.  Then Mal was called on stage and with a quick flip of a knob, got it to work (good old Mal!)

Anyway, the show started up again and the guys played “I feel Fine.”  I just wanted to die!  That’s another one of my songs.  Oh!  Another thing I forgot to mention.  One time during the show Donna was standing on her seat and was bouncing up and down.  It seemed as though Lennon was looking in our direction or our section.  Good old Donna—she was still bouncing up and down and her half-slip fell down!  It was so funny!  And John just doubled over at that moment, laughing (strange).   Also, Lynda leaned over too far and fell right into the dugout, where some of the DJ’s were sitting along with other people and on the news that night there was a film of her display of grace.

The concert ended with “Long Tall Sally” then the guys left the stage because the filed was getting full again since everyone knew that would be their last song.  I was in total shock and I just couldn’t believe that I was actually at the concert!  All of our “gang” or most of us anyway, some  were lost in the riot, met up and started back toward the Terminal Tower.  Outside the stadium the WIXY satellite studio was playing all Beatles songs and “And I love her” was playing.

On our way back, I heard this English voice.  So the lot of us ran to see who it was.  Would you believe it was Mal? I about croaked when I saw him!  He was walking back to the hotel.  I no doubt figured that he thought nobody knew who he was so he’d be safe.  Only a few girls were with him with Donna, Bonnie, Lynda, Sherry and myself ran up to him and started to rattle off about meeting him at EMI Studios on Abbey Road that past April.  I asked him if he remembered me and he did.  He asked how I liked the concert and I told him I just loved it!  Someone asked him if it would be okay with him if we kissed him.  He said it would be okay so each of us gave him a kiss.  When it was my turn, he put his hand on my back and helped me up to him.  That man has such a soft cheek and he smelled so good!  Bonnie asked him to give John and kiss and he gave her a funny look.   I offered to do it for Mal, but he just looked at me as if to say “I just bet you would.”  Oh well. I would have been able to give John that kiss if I had a few drinks in me.  Told Mal that we saw “Help!” and we liked the part he had – you know, coming out of the water and asking Lennon if he made it to the White Cliffs of Dover.  I asked him if he was cold and he said he was.  I told him I wished I’d been there to give him a towel and he said he wished I was too.  One of his friends met up with Mal and he said that he had to go.  We begged him to let us come with him but he said there were too many of us and he was going for a drink with this other guy and we weren’t old enough.  So we gave Mal all the gum chains that we had made for the guys.  I bet he was most thrilled about that.  But he did take them from us.  I bet he threw them away from we left.  Then again maybe he didn’t—I’ll never know.  And we said goodbye to him as did the other girls.

I’ll never forget that wonderful day as long as I live.  Thanks Mal!  Indeed it was a night to remember. 

Wings across the east coast

I have been following the stories of a group of fans who traveled around in the spring of 1976, going to Wings concerts and meeting John through several issues of MacLen magazine.  I recently bought the October 1976 issue and it has more of the story.  This part isn't as exciting as the other parts, but I might as well post it anyhow.   In case you missed the first parts, they are linked within the story.   In reading this story of the 1976 Wings concert, it made me think that the feelings you get at a Paul McCartney concert has not changed over the years.  If you didn't know the date this was written, you might think she had attended a Paul concert this past summer. And with Paul's make-up dates beginning in just a few days, it is fun to read. 

I am not totally sure who wrote this story, but I think it is a girl named Ann. 

With an interesting present backstage in Boston

Jimmy and Paul in Boston

Paul in Boston 1976

Wings forever!!  Linda in NYC '76

Paul in NYC '76

Paul NYC '76

New York May 23-25, 1976

At 8:30 Saturday morning Margie and I were up, packed and ready to board a train that would take us to Boston and to Paul’s concert.  We were lucky to get tickets for that night’s concert.   Through telephone calls between Tempy and us, we were informed that we would meet her at the train station, who would then take us to their apartment.  We also found out that two other friends were going to the concert and that they would be on the train.

At 10:35 we boarded the train, very nervous and extremely excited.  We knew this time we would see the whole concert without fear of being crushed.  This concert wasn’t general admission so we were assured seats.

Once on the train, Margie and I began looking through all the cars.  When we spotted Peggy S. and Marina S., we sat down in front of them.  The rest of the “normal” people in the same car must have thought that we were a bunch of loonies.  All we did for the three hour train ride was talk and show pics of the Beatles.  Margie thought she was a little outnumbered bring surrounded by three Macca-maniacs, her being a John fan.

At around 1:00 we arrived in Boston, met Tempy and walked to her and Deb’s apartment.  Later that day we were to meet some more friends, but until then we all made ourselves comfortable and day-dreamed about the even that was to happen that night.

At around 4:00, people began to arrive at the apartment the  Cincy Gang --- Barb C., Kay P., Stephanie G., Sue F., Kathy S,. and the Boston people Penn S., Tina and Patti G., George T., plus the Cleveland gang:  Pat S. Joy K., Marla R., and Kris S.  Imagine a tiny apartment with about 14 people in it who all had a certain man on their minds.  The conversations were funny and wild.  I thought to myself – what a completely different situation from what happened in Largo.

At around 5:00 we decided that it was time to leave.  The moment was finally here.  We all piled into the famous van and we were off to the Boston Gardens.  After quickly finding a parking space, we all piled out and ran to the ramp where Paul was to drive up in the limousines.  We waited nervous as hell and more people began to arrive.  Standing there I started to hear various conversations from other fans of when they saw Paul.  That didn’t help the nervous feeling in our stomachs; in fact it only made us worse.  As the words hit me -- “He’s arriving,” I tensed and as the limo drove by us, I saw a glimpse of him sitting in the back seat.  As I was doing, Margie was also straining to see him.  He was so close but yet so far away.  Cheers broke out and stopped as he disappeared into the arena.  We all knew that we wouldn’t see him again until the concert so we all walked over to a nearby McDonalds.  Margie and I ate our usual and sat down to gobble it up.  Inside we saw another friend, Lyndsey V., and we chatted for awhile.

An hour later we decided to get back to the arena and wait until the doors would open.  The scene inside the lobby was like a miniature Largo.  Everyone was pushing to get closer to the doors.  Margie and I had our tickets held tightly in our hands. We were ready along with everyone else.  We found out that Peggy and Marina would be sitting with us and once the doors opened, we found our seats.  Again poor Margie found herself surrounded by Macca-maniacs.  Kathy let Margie borrow her binoculars and I had my brothers, so we could see the stage beautifully. 

 At 8:15 the lights dimmed and the cheers were deafening.  Everyone was standing up and clapping.  We had our binoculars ready as Paul came on stage.  He was gorgeous.  Margie and I kept nudging each other, we couldn’t believe it.  The binoculars brought him up so close it was like he was standing right in front of us.  Flashbulbs were being fired and the whole place was lit up.  The crowd was welcoming Paul with open arms.  You could feel the electricity that was being bounced off of him and everyone.   You could tell he loved it too and gave us exactly what he wanted.  With each song he rocked, moved and bounced along.  He was fantastic.  And when he sang “Yesterday,” the crowd soaked up each and every note.    It was the only time the audience was quiet.  It was like a historical moment which everyone wanted to plant in their minds.  When the song ended, the audience went crazy.  We all stood up and clapped, cheered, whistled and Paul loved it.  He threw his hands up and smiled.  The biggest smile I have ever seen.   It was beautiful.  It made you cry for yourself and for him.  With the final number, “Band on the Run” almost for yourself and for him.  With the final number, “Band on the Run” almost over, Margie and I knew it was the end.  Only two more songs and then we would have to wait to see him in New York.  (But Paul only did one encore).  After he finished “Band on the Run” someone threw a shoe at Paul and it hit him on the shoulder.  Being the professional that he is, he amused everyone by putting it up to his nose and made a face as if to say “Phew this stinks.”  It was so cute; we ate it up – Paul’s expression not the shoe.  Then suddenly out of the wings, this guy came up and grabbed Paul’s hand.  He kept shaking it and screaming into the microphone how much he loved Paul and how fantastic he was.  Paul was taken by surprise and reacted to the situation by yelling back, “Yes I love you too.”  He had a quizzical look on his face as to say “Who is this guy?”  Several guards then came on stage and escorted the man off.  Paul walked off.  The crowd wanted him back and cheered, clapped and lit matches and lighters to let him know that.  It was deafening and lasted a good 4-5 minutes.  With a final cheer Paul came back on stage and played “Hi Hi Hi.”  We danced, clapped and with the end of the song, Paul walked off again.  The audience reacted the same way by Paul didn’t return.   The lights went on.  Margie and I just stood there.  I wanted him to come back on.  As the crowd started to file out Margie and I talked about the concert – how beautiful Paul was and now good it was.  The electricity was still flowing.  How to turn it off?  That was impossible.

We all met back at the ramp and waited for Paul to come out.   We were told that he wasn’t going to come out there so we ran to the doors in the back of the arena.  As we got there we saw several limos, a lot of guards and even more fans.  This was it.  Paul would come out this exit.  Were we to be surprised.   After waiting quite a while, a limo drove off.  Was it a decoy to get us away or was it really Paul?  Those questions kept going through our minds.  We decided to stay.  We later found out that the limo was for Paul.  He left from a different exit.  What we did see though were some of the members from the band.  We were so mad for missing him.   

We left Boston Gardens about an hour later and went back to the apartment for much needed sleep.  Sunday would bring us closer to New York City and Paul.

Sunday morning found us up early, a good breakfast at a Howard Johnson’s and into the van for a six hour ride to New York City.  There was Margie and I, The Cincy Gang, Tempy and George T.

We arrived in New York City at around 6:30 Sunday evening.  After checking into the Statler Hilton, we all piled into the van to go to the famous Stanhope Hotel.  What happened that evening has been writtenup in an article which appeared in a previous newsletter.  I met Paul along with everyone else butMargie, Kathy and George.  I won’t’ gointo it again. 

Monday it was up early.  Margie left to go to the Dakota with Kathy S.  I came there later that afternoon and what happened to us will always be remembered.  We met John for the first time.  This adventure was also written in a previous newsletter.  

After John left us, we piled into a taxi and went to the Stanhope.  A lot of people had the same idea as us so we found ourselves among approximately 30 fans.  We all knew that Paul would eb out between 5-7 o’clock so we planted ourselves near the front of the hotel and waited.  The majority of the people were going to Paul’s concert that night, so the conversations were about that.

At around 5:30, the staff from the hotel started to get fidgety.  Paul was in the lobby.  His limo was out front, ready to leave.  Suddenly this big man pushed open the front door with Paul right in back of him.  The crowd surged forward and immediately surrounded Paul.  There were screams and cheers.   Paul’s name was shouted.  Paul was quickly pushed into the limo.  All I remembered was seeing his beautiful face when he first came out.  He looked surprised to see us all and he loved what was happening.  As the limo pulled out of sight we decided to go find a place to eat near Madison Square Garden.  In a few more hours, we would be seeing Paul on stage again.

After eating a rushed down meal, Margie and I made our way for the Garden’s entrance.  Mulling through the crowd outside we heard scalpers selling tickets and people selling t-shirts. People were lining up to go inside.  The electricity was beginning to flow again.  New York was ready to receive Paul McCartney.

Once inside we were ushered t our seats where we were greet by Vicki McCartney.  She got us our tickets for the two nights.  Madison Square Garden has always amazed me by its size.  When the place is filled by clapping, whistling people the grandeur of this immense place comes through even more.  As the lights dimmed, everyone was up out of their seats, cheering and when the spotlight hit Paul in the beginning of Venus and Mars, the cheers grew even louder.   The electricity and response was amazing.  The audience was ready for Paul and he was ready for them.  Again he gave us what we all wanted.  Despite a few technical problems, Paul’s performance was fantastic.  He rocked through every song and sang a completed version of Yesterday.  I my opinion, Paul seemed to be a bit nervous throughout the show though.  He gave the audience everything he could but he wasn’t as loose as he was in Boston.  

After finishing “Band on the Run”, Paul left the stage.  The audience clapped and stomped so hard that you could feel the arena shaking and the cheering got louder when he came back on stage and did “Hi Hi Hi.”  Leaving the stage, the audience again cheered.  Firecrackers, cherry-bombs and other assorted fireworks went off.  Matches and lighters were lit and suddenly smoke started to come up from behind the drum set.  With flashbulbs going off, Paul came back on stage to do “Soily.”  Margie and I were at this point totally mesmerized by the show.  We wanted to hear “Soily” so bad and when Paul started the song our appreciation was screamed from our lungs.  The song was fantastic along with the smoke and laser beam.  We love it!

With a good-bye from Paul, the show was over.  Again we just remained in our seats.   It was beautiful.  He was beautiful.  Oh god I don’t believe it.  Leaving the Garden, we went back to the hotel.  After everyone was in the room, we each told each other our impressions of the concert.  And our dreams were of that beautiful event also.

Tuesday Margie and I were up early and we went to the Dakotas again.  After seeing John getting into a taxi, we decided to go back to the Stanhope Hotel.  Again we piled into a taxi along with Karen B. of Delaware.   Upon arriving at the hotel we again waited.  There were more people waiting for Paul.  In fact, the crowd grew so much that the hotel called the police.   Shortly afterwards, a patty wagon and several policemen drove up equipped with riot helmets and billy clubs.  It was humorous to see that but yet it angered me a little.  We weren’t going to tear the place down to see Paul.  In fact, we weren’t that troublesome.  It was like they were expecting 500 people to rush the hotel.

This time Paul was late in leaving.  At around 6:30 Paul came out of the hotel along with his body guard.  People surged forward and Paul was actually pushed to the awaiting limo.  At one point I saw him clearly in front of me and I touched his arm.  From what I could see, he was wearing a shiny jacket somewhat like his “Macca” jacket.  He was gorgeous.  After his limo pulled out of sight, I met Margie again who informed me she saw him too.  We rambled on ad on of how good he looked.

We left the hotel to find ourselves treated to a good meal by Sue F. and Kathy S.  After eating, we split and Margie and I took a cab to the Garden.  We were getting excited but all we kept thinking was that it would be our last time seeing him.  We wanted tonight’s concert to come but then again we didn’t because we knew it would be over soon.

We were dropped off at the entrance to the Garden and quickly got in line.  After finding our seats, we waited for the concert to begin.  At around 8:20, it started and the audience reaction was the same as Monday.  But Paul seemed different.  He was rocking more, bouncing more, especially during Silly Love Songs.  I’ll never forget how he danced completely across the stage, really getting into the song.  He made you dance with him.  Paul gave us everything he could that night.

With the ending of “Soily,” Paul gave us a quick wave, said goodbye and disappeared form the stage.  It was over.  It was all over, from Maryland to New York.  Excitement was replaced by al ittle depression.  When would we see him again?

As Margie and I boarded the train home we kept thinking of all the concerts, of Paul and how fantastic he was.  We thought of John too and of how we met him.  We thought of each song and how it was performed.  Our thoughts kept bouncing around from one thing to another.  It was the month of May and we would never forget the events that took place and the happiness we felt.  Who would?

Baltimore story

I spotted this remembrance of the Baltimore 1964 concert in a 1976 issue of Maclen fanzine and I just thought it was great.   I love these types of stories because Susan wasn't some insider but just a regular Beatles fan telling her story from her point of view.

Beatles 1964

By Susan Lytle

For Maclen fanzine Issue 10/11 (April-May 1976)

Just how do you go about relating an event that happened 11 years ago?  My first reaction as to re-read the 5^th grade-style composition I wrote way back when for my own personal reminder.  Along with fact about the concert, there are minute details such as what color nail polish I wore, what I ate for breakfast, etc.  My reactions to the day are more vivid than the day itself.

The date of the concert, Sunday, September 13, 1964, is more familiar to me than my own birthday.  My girlfriend, Cathy, and I were all dressed p in our look-alike blue outfits.  Blue was Paul’s favorite color, you know.  And I don’t remember ever seeing so much blue and red in one crowd as on that evening.

It was my first rock concert so I was thoroughly convinced that I and my 10 year old companion could rush the stage with no trouble at all.  After seeing the policemen and their dogs surrounding the Holiday Inn, we were too afraid to even consider anything disorderly.  I was angry at the Beatles because I couldn’t get near them and I vowed to tear down my posters when I got home.  (I didn’t).

There was a mob of girls around the entrance to the Baltimore Civic Center.  Someone said that the Beatles were signing autographs, but of course, it wasn’t true.  I began to get that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.  You know the butterflies you get when a Beatle is close by?

Cathy and I bought programs and “I Love Paul” buttons.  My mother attended the show, too.  Her favorite was Ringo and we couldn’t understand at the time how she could resist a Ringo button.

The wait for the concert to begin seemed endless.  Girls all around us were giggling, stomping their feet and shouting out cheers.  And after the excruciatingly long opening acts, THEY came out.  A flood of screams filled the auditorium and the first thing I saw was George’s hair.  “Where’s Paul?  Where’s Paul?” I thought, and after a minute of hysterics, I finally located him.

The Beatles seemed to be having so much fun up on stage.  George kept ducking behind John and Paul.  Paul jerked his bass the way he always does.  John did his foot stomping, hand clapping routine.  Ringo was Ringo.

The song that stands out in my mind is “And I Love her.”  It is such a lovely, romantic song and of course, Paul’s.  During this number, I elbowed my mother to take pictures with my super-duper brownie camera.  We were only hundreds of feet away.   “Mom, take it now!  Take it now!”

My eyes remained glued on Paul.  All of a sudden, I burst out into tears.  I had to do something, but what?  It was like telepathy because Cathy looked at me just as I turned to look at her.  “Let’s scream Paul!”  We waited for what was a quiet moment considering the circumstances.  Then, after a countdown, we let out what seemed to us the loudest screams in the room.  I honestly think Paul did hear us (or was it the dream of a 10 year old?) because he looked up suddenly, stared into the darkness of the audience and gave a quick jerky wave.  It was for us, we just knew it and that’s what mattered.

By the time Paul announced, “for our last song….”, our hands were red from applause, our ears were ringing and our throats felt like cotton.  Yet we didn’t want it to end there was something so damned final about it.

Suddenly, just as a dream ends, it was over and the house lights went on and girls were still standing in awe with tear-stained faces.  My mother led the way for us out of the building.  We were speechless.  Three girls in front of us were sobbing bitterly.  One was moaning, “It’s over.  They’ll never be back!  I’ll never see them again!”  Although we didn’t know at the time the Beatles would never perform in Baltimore again, there was a general feeling that they wouldn’t’ which made the end even sadder.

The aftermath of the concert was typical of the era.  Fainting girls were being stretched out on tables in the corridors.  Red-faced girls and puzzled policemen and parents wandered out onto the street.  A vendor made one last attempt to sell Beatles banners.  We bought the last two blue ones.

I remember trying to force myself to cry.  I actually wanted to but couldn’t anymore.  I had long since run out of tears.

Later that evening, Cathy and I wondered if we’d ever see the Beatles again.  We came to the conclusion that they had to come back.  But that night, I literally cried myself to sleep.