He just read the articles, I am sure.

 

Walking

I didn't realize that after the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York, they (along with Cynthia) WALKED to the Playboy Club.   I knew they went there, but I assumed it would have been dangerous for them to walk, and they just took a cab or a car.    Did fans follow them?  

Dinner at the Playboy club

 

At the Playmate Bar

 

John Lennon- The Playboy Interview 1980

 

Besides the Lennon Remembers Interview in 1970, the John Lennon Playboy Interview of 1980 was one of John's most famous interviews.  I would sure love to hear the entire tape of the interview.  Maybe someday..

Photos form September 26, 1980

George Harrison the Play boy

On October 31, 1968, George Harrison accepted an award on behalf of Apple.  The ceremony was held at the Playboy club in L.A.

The Playboys

Photograph removed at the request of the copyright holder 

April 13, 2021

Either late on February 7, 1964 or early hours of Feb 8-- Paul, Ringo, John and Cynthia visit the Playboy club in New York.  

Playboy Interview

The Beatles: The Playboy Interview -- e-book review

In the fall of 1964, The Beatles gave an interview with Jean Shepherd (who would be forever known as the "Christmas Story" guy) for Playboy magazine.  The interview ran in the February 1965 issue of the magazine, and I would guess that most female Beatle fans were only able to read the interview if they someone were sneaky in looking at their father or big brother's Playboy and if they got caught---well that would have been pretty awkward.

You no longer have to sneak into the pages of Playboy magazine to read the Beatles interview.  The interview is available as an e-book simply called "The Beatles:  The Playboy Interview."

The interview itself isn't full of any "new" information, although it might have been new in 1965. He interviews all four Beatles at the same time, which is a bit confusing. One thing I really believe is that the interview itself would have made more sense and been more entertaining if you had listened to it instead of reading the words on the page. Much of the Beatles' banter comes across better when you listen to it.

The interview itself took place in the middle of the Beatles' 1964 Autumn tour of the UK. Shepherd traveled with the lads on the tour and got to do the interview at a hotel in Torquay after the concert in Exeter, which, according to my files, made the interview occur either late on October 28 or early on October 29.

I found it strange that Shepherd described George as "the most egotistical."  Really?  Everything I have always read has said that George was the most down-to-earth   But his description of the other Beatles sounded about right.  

The Beatles say some strange things in this interview.  I am sure that much of it was said to be funny or as a joke, and when heard aloud, it was funnier than reading it.  Things such as when George is asked if he has any brothers and sisters, George answers that he has two brothers, and John says, "and no sisters to speak of."  Why did he say that?   The fans all knew about George's sister.  Was he not speaking to her at that time or something?   I guess it was a joke, but I just read it and shook my head.  And then Paul called Jayne Mansfield a "clot" and then admitted that he never met her!  What was that about?

The part that was the most interesting to me is when Paul and the other guys are talking about religion and John states that the group is agnostic.  John also says how much he dislikes the hypocritical side of religion (doesn't he say something similar a year later?).  And then Paul says how in America, they are "fanatical about God."  Little did Paul know just how true those words would be!

Another interesting part is when the Beatles are asked about the "homosexual problem."  I liked how the Beatles talked about it, knowing now that their manager was a gay man, they didn't bring up his name or talk badly about homosexuals.  They even talked about a transvestite that they had met.

These are from an auction for the Playboy Beatles photos
 

The one thing that stood out to me is that the part of the interview where Pete Best ended up suing the Beatles for defamation of character was completely deleted from this e-book.  Early in the interview, Ringo was asked about being the last to join the group, and he talked about the drummer he had replaced.  Since I own the original Playboy magazine, I will show you the text of what was originally printed.

On January 19, 1969, Pete Best settled for an undisclosed amount in a defamation lawsuit against the band because of what Ringo said about Pete taking pills.  While it was obvious to me that Ringo was making a rhyming joke, it can be read to sound like Pete was a pill addict (which actually was far from the truth---Pete was someone who did not take pills in Hamburg while the others would partake).  

In the e-book, John's line about Pete having a "periodic illness" and Ringo's jab about the pills are totally removed.

This e-book is just 99 cents and well worth a read over.  Beatle interviews are fun to read, and while this one isn't shocking, the Beatles do have their guard down a little bit with Playboy and even say "tits" at some point.   It is definitely worth getting.

Available in e-book form from Amazon

The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon, where you can purchase this book.  I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara

https://amzn.to/3wQcFyw

Playboy Ringo '64

Photo removed at the request of the copyright holder

April 13, 2021

Ed Rudy part 2

Here is part 2 of the Ed Rudy article.   I will post part 3 next week.  This was found in issue #46 (from April 1984) issue of With a Little Help From my Friends.

So much for Ed's story that George stayed home.  You can see him here with his sister, Louise.

This is the only color photograph I know of that show the guys going to the night clubs.  Notice that Ringo is here with his date, Geri Miller (who I have posted a story about in the past)

Someone snapped John and Cyn leaving the Playboy club.  I hope Brian didn't find out!

During the early rehearsal period, the Beatles’ road manager, Neil Aspinall fills in for George but suddenly George come into the studio and everybody is happy, particularly Paul, John and Ringo.  There is applause and cheers as George takes his place in the Beatle line from everyone:  studio technicians, newsmen and even Ed Sullivan.

After rehearsals George goes back to the hotel and to bed while Paul, John and Ringo go to the exclusive “21” club for dinner.  The dinner was arranged by Capitol Records.  The record executives select filet mignons, pheasant under glass and other gourmet delicacies.  The Beatles order chops and mashed potatoes.  The management enforces their strict orders against table-hopping.  Nobody is allowed to get near the Beatles.  Paul tackles an order of crepe suzettes while John and Ringo go on a tour of the wine cellar.  Ringo glances at all the wine bottles, then humorously asks, “Where’s the Cokes?”

After diner, the Beatle boys headed back to their limousines and made a whirlwind tour of the city with special emphasis on the unique winding streets of Greenwich Village.  They intended to visit some of the Bohemian bistros but the dense crowds, reacting to their presence, prevented this.

Arriving back at their hotel, they stop in to see George and find that his throat is improving.  They take time to conduct special interviews; they answer telephone calls from deejays from all over America.  They turn on the radio and listen to their music being played on just about every radio station they can dial in.  The second great day in America for the Beatle boys comes to a close.

On Sunday, February 9^th, the Beatle boys sleep late then get together for mid-morn breakfast.  We take time to interview them for another of our taped interviews just before they leave for the early dress rehearsal of tonight’s Sullivan show plus the tape to show for February 23.

Beatle fans are packed into the theatre during this rehearsal period.  The theater is filled right up to the rafters.  The noise is deafening and Ed Sullivan wisecracks, “Let’s have less noise—else I’ll send for a barber!”  Rehearsals go well.  The February 23^rd show is taped.  There is a brief period where the Beatles take time to rest, grab a fast bite to eat, get themselves ready for the live show.  The Beatles are a little unhappy.  They want to say something to their American audience to their American fans everywhere for making their visit so great and for the wonderful welcome received wherever they go.  Sullivan will not let them speak.  He wants them to play only.  They end up performing only and no thank you speeches!

During the live show, John’s microphone was accidentally off during one number.  The Beatles boys are not happy about this incident.  They feel that this unbalanced the number.  However the show is over, the mistake was made and that’s that.

Deejay Murray the K takes the Beatle boys over to the Playboy club after the television show.  They head back to the hotel first where George decides to go to bed early.

Paul, John and Ringo plus Murray the K decide to walk over to the Playboy club from the hotel, about a half block away.  They are mobbed by Beatle fans even at this late time of the night and policemen assigned to the Beatles for protection help escort them to the club. They go to the penthouse lounge section of the club, followed by reporters, photographers, policemen.  They relax a little from a hectic day to the sounds of soft music, provided by a combo of piano and bass.  John is overheard saying, “This is music we really think is gear – we do Rock n Skiffle for money!”

The Beatles entourage with the Beatle boys, Paul, John and Ringo leading, then head for the “Peppermint Lounge” the place where the “Twist” originated.  There is a group of four male entertainers in the Peppermint show who did an impromptu takeoff of the Beatles.  Of all the people there, Paul, John and Ringo find this skit the most amusing—laugh the hardest and longest.

The photographs and newsmen have packed the place.  Hundreds of pictures are being taken and everybody is in each other’s way.  Ringo is an expert dancer and he twists with one of the girls int eh show.  Everybody, but everybody is trying to get near a Beatle boy.  Papers and pens are shoved towards them from every direction for autographs. It’s the end of a very great day for the Beatle three. They head back for the Plaza Hotel.  It is 4:30a.m. according to my wristwatch.

On Monday, February 10, the Beatle boys had arranged their schedule so that this day would be free to do with as they chose. However, there were still hundreds of reporters and photographers that applied for interviews and hundreds of deejays that wanted to tape interviews for air play.  So the day was designated as “p” day …for the press, although it turned out to be for “panic” because of the confusion.  Conference upon conference was held.

Asked one member of the press, “which is the sexy one?”  Paul took this question and answered it quickly, “Our manager, Brian Epstein is the one.”  One female reporter asked the question, “who selects your clothes?”  Answered the Beatles in unison, “We choose our own, but tell me, who chooses yours?”  The female reporter shot back, “My husband!”  Then she continued with another question, “Are there any subjects you prefer not to discuss?”  John then shot back a fast, “Yeah, your husband!”

A question was directed to Ringo by a reporter as to why he said less than the other Beatles during the press conference.  Said Ringo, “I’m the anonymous Beatles but as long as they split the money with me, I don’t mind it!”  Another question asked the Beatle boys was “What do you consider the greatest danger?  Dandruff or nuclear bombs?”  George was fast to answer this one, “We consider bomb!  We already got dandruff!”

Press conferences lasted all afternoon into the early evening and great many interviews and quite a few picture sessions.  Throughout the afternoon, the Beatles munched away on roast beef sandwiches and Cokes.  Around 7:00 in the evening, the Beatles decided to relax a little while before going on a tour of some of the New York nite clubs.  We left them, at this time, to join a few other members of the press who decided we would all have a bite to eat before continuing on the evening tour with the Beatles.

When we returned to the hotel, the Beatles were ready to leave and followed in cars behind them.   We first headed for the “Headliners Club” and we met Jill Hayworth here.   The party then headed for the “Improvisation Coffee house and Restaurant”

The club was filled with people, of all ages, who were so stunned by the Beatles’ visit that they couldn’t’ believe their eyes.  The club started to really get packed, when news leaked out in the neighborhood.  Everyone wanted to get in.  When it came time to leave, Ringo almost stepped into the bass drum.  At around 4:00a.m., the Beatles decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel.

George is a Playboy