The Adventures of 5 Scruffs

This is a sweet little article written by Vickie McCartney that was in the June 1976 issue of MacLen fanzine.   There is also a little footnote about George writing to one of the fans from this story that was nice.   

There weren't any photos that went with this story, although it mentions in the story several times that photos were taken.   The best I can do is post photos that we have all seen from May 1976 (this story took place in April of that year).    The best line in this story is the one that says "I'm not wasting my color film on Simon!"

By Vickie McCartney

MacLen June 1976

Hello again, MacLen friends!  Tis little old me, Vickie McCartney with another article, that I hope you’ll all like.   On April 10, 1976, I went into New York and at that famous meeting place, Port Authority; I met Peggy S. and Meena S.  We first walked around Broadway, buying posters of Paul.  Then we headed over to a placed called “Johnny’s T-shirt Shop” in the Village.  We had special black t-shirts with a saying in silver glitter, for Macca’s N.Y. concerts.  Anyroad, we stopped at McDonald’s and then headed over to the Dakota or better known as “John’s house.”  We met Laura D.  And Karen B. there, who informed us that the nurse had taken Sean out and we missed him by 10 minutes.  The three of us good naturedly cursed each other for stopping at McDonald’s.  Laura and Karen told us that Sean’s nurse must be at least 15 years older than Yoko and looked like a karate expert.  We decided a) John wasn’t home or b) it must be a trick, sending Sean out with the nurse, so we’d think no one was home and leave.  We all stayed.  A green station wagon pulled into the driveway, empty.  We didn’t pay any attention to it.  We took photos of the building and Peggy took a pic of the rest of us in front of the building.   I think Peggy was the first one to notice John.  I only remember a shaky voice whispering “there he is!”  And before you could say a word, John and Yoko got into the car and all hell broke loose.  We all threw our belonging at Peggy, who was wondering where everyone was going, and took off  after the car, cameras clicking away.  I almost got run down by some twit and John, who was sitting by the window, watching all of this, for some reason found this a bit hysterical.  We chased the car for 2 ½ blocks.  The car stopped for a red light and just as I was about to snap another photo, John rolled the window down.  Without thinking about it, I said, “I’m so sorry you have no time, I wanted you both to autograph your books for me.  I have them and they’re both beautiful.”  Yoko is smiling at me and John says, “I’m so sorry, but we have to go someplace.”   The light changes and they leave.

We all return to the Dakota, happy and smiling.  We decide to wait for their return.  As we wait, Paul Simon comes past us with two kids, giving us strange looks.  Meena says, “There’s Paul Simon.”  He turned around and gives us more weird looks.  We don’t care and I say loud enough for him to hear:  “I’m not wasting my color film on Simon, I’m saving it for John!”   Simon takes off, as everyone is laughing.   Five hours later, John and Yoko return.  I start to take out their books for autographs, then I say, “Oh, you’re busy.”  John, being so nice, says, “No, come on, let’s have it.”  Yoko asks if I have a pen and I give it to her.  Before she signs, she asks my name.  I can’t get over how petite she is.  She finishes signing and hands the pen to John.  Yoko is really nice, not phony like someone else (I’m sure you all know who I mean).  John hands me back my book and pen and I am surprised and happy to see he wrote my name.  A few last photos are taken, we thank them and they go into the house.  We are all thrilled, jumping up and down, yelling, people can’t figure out why.  Karen starts to cry and before you know it, we’re all crying.  After this, we each part for the day.  Tired, but happy!!

FLASH FLASH FLASH!  One of our members, Laura D., who was mentioned in the above article about John, received a postcard recently from the one and only George Harrison!  You see, Laura is a very close friend of Eric Idle, one of the Pythons.  Anyroad, she missed George when he appeared on stage with the Pythons in New York and it seems that Eric did a bit of talking about her to George.  A couple of weeks later, she received a postcard from George telling her that he was sorry that he has missed meeting her at the Python’s show.  I must say, that is quite an honor – to have George Harrison miss you!  Congratulations to you, Lauri!  I’m sure you’re still on Cloud 9!

Ritz, Cream Cheese and Crackers

I have a story for you that comes from the July/August 1976 issue of the MacLen fanzine.  This was was written by Ann Bruno.  Larry Tepper was also there that day.   I spoke with Larry on facebook today and he shared with me some Vinnie Zuffrante photos that were taken that day.   You can see Larry in the photos along with his friend.   Larry says that the girls gave Paul the bathrobe and Linda wasn't too happy about it.  I really had fun finding out the information for this story and talking to people about it.   If any of you readers met Paul and Linda outside of the Stanhope hotel in 1976 and have anything you'd like to add, please do so.

Linda and Paul (with Larry to the left of them).  Paul is looking over at the girls from this story.  Photo taken by Vinnie Zuffrante

Linda and Paul (again with Larry next to Linda).  Paul is looking down at the robe that the girls in the story gave him.  Photo taken by Vinnie Zuffrante

Ritz, Cream Cheese and Crackers

From MacLen Issue 13/14 July-August 1976

How do you write about a day that meant something special to you?  Where  do you find the words that will convey that special feeling?  Believe me it isn’t easy because on May 23, 1976 a very special event happened again in my life.

It took place in front of the Stanhope Hotel in New York City.  At around 8:30, Margie P. Barb C., Stephanie G., Kay P. Kathy S., Kris S. Marla R., Sue F., Tempy S., Patti G., Nancy G, George Tebbens and myself found ourselves sitting myself found ourselves sitting around tables.  The Stanhope hotel has a French-style restaurant attached to the main building, equipped with a huge colorful canopy overhead.  We all sat there awaiting the arrival of Paul.  We found out early that he left by cab so all of us were watching all the cabs pulling up to the hotel.  After a while we decided to be a little elegant and ordered drinks and all of us were satisfied with ordering only one.  So we sat there and waited.  If anyone ever went thru this “waiting period” for a Beatle to arrive, then you can understand the anxiety that goes through you.  It is downright nerve wracking. 

At around 9:00, Margie, Kathy and George decided to try their luck at seeing John, so they left to go to the Dakota Building.  The rest of us remained and again waited, constantly keeping eyes glued for all the cabs.  Well, after a few minutes, a few of us decided to get something to eat , so off they went  to a small supermarket to buy some much needed food.  We were all starving and when they came back we proceeded to eat cream cheese, crackers, and various cheeses like it was our last meal.  We were all sitting there having a small picnic, chatting, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I see a flash bulb go off.  I turned to see and there he was bouncing ever so beautifully.  It was Paul.  Oh god I couldn’t believe it.  He stopped and turned to all of us and said so sweetly, “Hello Girls!”  We were so surprised.  He was supposed to come back by cab and there he was standing there so beautifully.  The street light shone so brightly down on him and you could see him so perfectly.   We were shocked.  In fact, so shocked that Stephanie just stood there with cream cheese near her mouth.  He was wearing a beautiful brown leather jacket and new blue dungarees.   He was gorgeous.  He walked more and stopped directly in front of us.  I stood there just looking at him.  I wanted to plant everything about him in my mind.  I found myself speechless and I curse myself now for not saying anything to him.  But at the time I couldn’t talk.  The girls had a gift for him and Stephanie gave it to him.  He asked them if they wanted him to open it then and with a “yes” he proceeded to do so.  He even shocked them some more when he guessed what was in the box.   It was a beautiful maroon robe.  As he opened it, I kept my eyes glued on him.  I couldn’t get over how gorgeous his hair was and how beautiful his face was.  He said, “Thank-you” and “good-bye” and turned to walk into the hotel.   I knew he had to go but I didn’t want that moment to end.  As he disappeared into the hotel,  I sat down and cried.  He was so beautiful and I couldn’t believe what had just happened.  I wanted him to come out again but I knew that was impossible.  I thanked God for I knew I would see him again in concert the next night but I knew it wouldn’t be the same.  So I left the hotel a little wak, but very happy.  Paul thank-you very much for that special night.

#9 Dream come True

I recently had a very pleasant transaction with an ebay seller for some Beatles fanzines from the mid-1970's called "MacLen."   I had never ever heard of this fanzine before, but I can say that I was pleasantly pleased with the stories and information found inside! 

This story, written by the MacLen head editor, Margie Paturzo is a wonderful story of meeting John and Yoko outside of the Dakota in 1976.   We I am sure that most of us have seen these photos of John outside of the Dakota with the "Home" t-shirt.   Now we have a date and story behind the photos. 

#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 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…