Close Encounter of the Third Kind

Ann and Paul 6/25/75

Margie and Paul 6/25/75

Close Encounter:  Of the Third Kind
By Margie Paturzo
The Write Thing
February 1978


It's hard to believe, but it's almost three years since my friend Ann and I met Paul.  It was an event that even we found hard to believe, that why we thank God that we were able to get pictures to prove it.

It all began that first day we arrived in England, June 23, 1975.  After checking into our hotel room, we took a taxi to Paul's house in St. John's Wood.  Upon arriving, we rang the bell and waited.  Nothing happened.  We later learned that Paul was in Liverpool that day.

Next day we were back again.  This time when we rang the bell, something did happen.  We heard voices and suddenly the gate opened to reveal Mary, Stella, and Rosie, Paul's housekeeper.  Somehow I got up enough nerve to ask Rosie if Paul was home.  She replied in the negative.  Meanwhile, Mary and Stella stood by her side, curiously looking us over.  They were beautiful.  I then told Rosie that we knew one of Paul's relatives and we wanted to give him a belated birthday gift.   She motioned with her lips to us to return the next day at 12:30.  She didn't want the kids to hear her telling us that.  Anyway, we thanked her and asked if we could take pictures of the children.  She told us no, saying that they tell their father and mother.  So, we watched as they walked down the street, headed for the park.  Then we left.

The next day we overslept.  Typical, right?  We got up at 11 a.m. instead of our intended time of 7:30.  We rushed around the hotel room getting ready for what was to be the biggest day in our lives.  At 12 noon we left the hotel and went to a liquor store to buy Paul a bottle of his favorite wine.  We also picked up a belated birthday card.  Then we got in a cab and head for "the gates."

We arrived a little early, believe it or not!  So, we sat down.  Ann on a milk crate and myself on the ground.  We watched as people walked in and out through the famous gates.  A lot of important businessmen were amongst them, so we figured Paul had to be home.

Finally 12:30 came and I got up to ring the bell.  Rosie answers and I explained that we were there the day before and she had told us to come back and all.  Well, there were some workmen drilling and stuff across the street from Paul's and Rosie couldn't hear me talking.  So she said, "I'm sorry, I can't hear you" and that was it.  I went back to Ann, positive that she wouldn't come out to see who we were.  All of a sudden, the gate opened and there was Rosie.  We ran over to her and showed her the bottle of win and the car, which she took.  Then she told us to wait and went back inside.  We nervously giggled and tried to prepare ourselves for Paul.   After waiting for what seemed like ages, Rosie returned.  By this time we were back to sitting on the ground and on his milk crate.  She motioned us to get up off the ground, telling us that Paul didn't like to see us sitting there.  She then told us that Paul wanted to thank us for the gift, so he was coming out.  then she shut the gate.

We were left standing there in shock.  When we finally realized what was about to happen, we began to pace back and forth nervously.  I kept going over to the keyhole and looking through it, reporting to Ann everything I saw.  After a while, we heard a car starting up and coming towards the gate.  I looked through the keyhole and saw it coming.  Then it stopped and we heard a door slam.  We backed away from the gate and stood there, waiting for what was to happen next.

The right side of the gates swung open and lo and behold it was HIM!  He looked so good in blue striped grayish colored pants, black velvet slippers and blue t-shirt  His hair was in a long shag and he looked so young.  We just stood there so he said, "Hi!" as he walked out.  What followed I'm putting down in dialogue form.

Us:  Hello
Margie:  Happy belated birthday!
Paul: What?
Margie:  Happy belated birthday!
Paul: Oh, thank you!  (He walked over to the other side of the gate and opened it, then came over and stood by me).
Paul:  Where are you from?
Margie:  The States
Paul (slightly amused)  I know that.  But where?
Margie:  Connecticut...Connecticut (Ann later told me that I repeated that about five times, showing how nervous I was).
Ann:  Can I... (She motioned with her camera)
Paul:  Why sure!  you want her in it too? (He reached over and put his arm around me and mine immediate went around him)

Ann was shaking as she tried to take the picture.  Paul must have gotten a kick out of that because he began shaking motions with his hand on my shoulder.  By this time, I had tears of joy rolling down my cheeks.  Anyway, somehow, somewhere, Ann got up enough courage to say "don't do that Paul."

After she took the picture of me with Paul, I told her that I would take one of her and Paul.  I went over and took the camera from her and she went over to stand near Paul.  Right at that point, Mary ran out and hugged Paul's leg, something Ann and I were just dying to do!  Ann thought for sure that Paul would forget about his picture with her, but he didn't.  He gently easies Mary off his leg and reached his arm around Ann, pulling her against him.  Ann immediately put a huge smile on her face.  for that matter, so did Paul. I must have been shaking too cause he started the shaking motions with Ann the same way he had done with me when she was taking the picture.  I almost died, and Ann did too.  She said that she could feel his whole body shaking next to hers.

After that, we thanked him for the pictures and he started towards his car.  As he was walking (or rather, bouncing) back to his car, Ann yelled out, "Love your new album!" which at the time was "Venus and Mars."  He turned back to us and said, "Why thank you!"  Linda was in the passenger seat and Joe English was in the back seat by then.  Paul pointed to Joe and said to us, "Here's another American.  He's from Rochester.  Can you believe it?  Rochester," as he bounced back to the car.  I said, "Who, Joe English?" and he said, "Yeah, Joe English." He was so very pleasant.

Paul got in the car and began to drive slowly out the driveway.  We stood there, watching him.  When he got to the curb, he stopped to look both ways before pulling out into the street.  He waved and smiled at us.  Then he pulled into the street, went a little way, turned and waved to us again.  Then he was gone.

Rosie was standing there with Mary and Stella as we both burst into tears.  Mary and Stella looked at us like we were nuts as we blurted out, "Your father is beautiful!" or something like that.  Rosie was smiling and she asked us why we were crying.  We told her it was because we were so very happy.  Then we told Mary and Stella how beautiful they were.  Those eyes, just like Paul's.  Then we said out thanks to Rosie and began to walk away, still crying.

It was surely a dream come true.  My favorite is John, but I think that if everyone can get to meet one of them, it should be Paul.  He is definitely the nicest and easiest to talk to.  No matter what, I believe that he does love us.  All I can say to him is "thanks" with much love and warmth for that special day in 1975.

And in the end....

I have posted various parts of Barb Fenick's Beatles story from 1969 over the years.   I have located the last part in the July 1974 issue of The Write Thing.  

Photo taken by Barb Fenick 

Monday, August 11th (1969)  was our last day in London and Jeri, Sara and I resolved to try to help Paul get his stolen property back if we could.  Every time we'd ask someone in the know why Paul was so distant and unrelaxed with his fans this summer, they'd always say it was the robbery and now he didn't trust any of his fans.   So we concluded that if he knew who had done it and if he could get back at least most of his stuff then he wouldn't have to take it out on the rest of us.  Although we knew that it was more than just the robbery that had Paul so withdrawn, still our intentions seemed logical and we really wanted to help.  We knew that one guy was selling prints made from the thousands of slides stolen from the McCartney's collections (he was charging $1.20 - half a pound a piece too) and that he knew who the actual thieves were (although we had a very good idea ourselves).



We started out by taking the matter to Apple; the people there got all shook up and called Mal at EMI and told him to expect us.  I turned around to see Rich and Mo coming in and said hello to both of them.  They smiled in recognition and Mo said hello back.  Ringo's chauffer, Allen, said he'd drive us over to EMI if we could wait until he was through there.  But we thought our matter was so urgent that we had to hurry right over to EMI, probably afraid they'd change their minds about letting us inside (they never let fans in), so we turned down his offer and I've always regretted it.  That twice I missed the chance to pull up to EMI in Rich's white Mercedes!

Photo taken by "Richie" on August 11, 1969

Before I got on the subway I called Richie back at the hotel and told her to hurry down to Apple as fast as possible before Ringo left.  she made it too, breaking all speed records as she dashed out of the hotel, hair still wet, and told the cabbie to "step on it."   She got the most beautiful picture of rich for her efforts and had the chance to say goodbye to him, promising him she'd come back next year.


It really felt strange at EMI to go right through the gates and up the stairs without so much as a backward glance, telling the guard, "We have an appointment."  You can imagine what all the fans back at the gates thought about us just marching in like that.  Once inside, they had us wait in the lobby for about 20 minutes, right across from the recording studio that all four of the Beatles were in and we could even hear them recording.  That was so nerve-wracking because I kept hoping that Paul would come out.  the only one who saw us inside there was Geroge, he came up to Mal who was talking to us and started screaming at Mal to get some girls away from the side window.  Then he looked at us and glared.  As they say, if looks could kill...

Finally, we talked the matter over, with Mal who pocketed the eight pictures Sara had bought from that kid, promising to show them to Paul and give them back to her (he told us later he gave them to Paul).  He promised to get on that kid and get the matter solved.  But he had always been buddy buddy with the kid and we realized later than nothing was really goingn to change, all our efforts and concern had been for nothing.   We were all such suckers.  The only thing that changed was us.  We learned a lot of things that summer.  We were never the same again.

At EMI, 3  Abbey Road the Beatles were putting the finishing touches on the last album they were to make together.  The day John came to EMI after his terrible car accident in July, with stitches on his forehead.   Paul ran out onto the steps and hugged him.  And the last track on the last side was "and in the End."

Two fans had a wonderful Christmas time in 1975

This story was written by Peggy Scott and was originally published in the January/February 1976 issue of The Write Thing.   I am pretty sure that I found one of the photographs that go along with the story in my files (I love it when that happens).   This story takes place on December 21, 1975, and was written the same day)

My one and only dream came true, I saw Paul McCartney today!  I went to the Eastman's with Vikie.  It was about 2:30 in the afternoon.  After walking around for a while, we went around the corner because we saw a Volkswagon, and went to check it out.   When we went back to the front of the building and who should be there putting things in the car but Paul himself.  It was a maroon station wagon.  We were approaching him from the back so we just walked up and said, "Hi Paul," and he said, "Hello."  I asked about the U.S. tour and Paul said it should be from March until May.  Linda said they'll probably hit New York in May.  I asked about her book of photos and she said it will be released here in the spring.  She was very friendly.   She came out a while after Paul and we were standing on the side away from Paul because he asked if we could wait a bit as he had so much stuff to pack in the car.  They were heading for the country.    The Eastmans went too.  Linda kissed her father good-bye and Paul told him, "Okay, we'll see you up there.  Have a safe trip."   Paul told us he'd seen John the night before (we hadn't even mentioned John) and that the baby was beautiful.  We also saw Mary, Heather, and Stella.  Mary and Stella had come running out of the building and Paul whistled and pointed for them to back inside.  Linda let us take a photo posing with her.  When I went to stand next o her she put her arm through mine and did the Wings sign.  Paul suggested I take a pic with Vikie's camera of the three of them and then vice versa.  He was very nice.  Some man had wanted him for a minute to say hi to this girl, and he excused himself.  He said, "Next time we'll see who the bum photographer is."  We wished them a Merry Christmas and they wished us one too.  We also got a kiss from them, or they let us kiss them, whatever.   Paul said, "Bye girls," before he got in the car.  I can't get over how natural it was meeting them.   Paul had on a long brown midi-coat and I think grey pants and a hat like in People magazine (the Jackie Coogan cap).  Linda came over and put it on his head, saying "Here's your hat, babe/"  She had on dungarees.  We were the only two fans there.

Liverpool and London 1975

Tonight's fan story was written by George Tebbens and was originally found in the Jan/February 1976 issue of The Write Thing


Liverpool, September 15, 1975

After seeing one of the most electrifying concerts ever, the gang and I walked to the Adelphi Hotel where we had hoped of getting into a McCartney party.

At first, we thought it would be easy but then it seemed like everyone had the same idea.  Luckily we were already inside standing near our only refuge -- the john.

Finally, after about a half hour wait, Paul and the band arrived.  Just before he did the security guard locked the revolving door so the mob would stay outside.  Seeing how Paul didn't know this he, Jimmy, Denny and Joe got stuck in the revolving door trying to get inside.  They were being pushed against the glass by fans.   So I ran over and pulled down the bolt holding the door.  I got thanked by Paul, ut almost killed by the guard who was more interested in being proper than reasonable (He said it was Paul's fault for not using the back door.)

The party was on the 3rd floor and we were in the lobby.  So close but so far.  That's when Steve and Howie asked the girls to have a drink I went investigating.  When I got near the room where the party was I ran into Joe English who was in the hall directing the little kids to the washroom.  He recognized me from a couple days earlier when I showed him some shots from New Orleans.  He told me to come in, but I said I didn't want to impose, and that I felt a bit embarrassed peaking.  That's when he said most of the people didn't even know him, and one more stranger wouldn't hurt.   So we went in and helped ourselves to refreshments, cold cuts and salads buffet style in one room and booze in the other.  I felt like I was on the "James Paul McCartney" special (Part II).  Itw as very much like that party on the show with people talking and drinking and sometimes singing.


Finally, I saw Paul dashing from room to room trying to give as much of himself to each cousin and aunt and uncle as he possibly could.  Occasionally he'd go over and say something to Mike or pose for photos with one of his cousins.  He really seemed like he was enjoying himself.

Once he walked by me and said, "Glad you could make it," and he really meant it.  Not like other people who'd say, "how did you get in here?"

I don't remember how I got into a conversation with his cousin Kate who told me Paul would be producing a record for her after he finishes the American tour.  It seems as though she does have some talent because two weeks earlier she sang back-up on Mike McGear's TV spot.

Paul didn't stay at the party very long.  It seemed as though Linda wanted to leave.  Stella was having fun under the buffet table pounding on everyone's toes and Heather Mary and dozens of cousins were playing in the hall until Linda had Heather round up the kids.  Heather asked me if I had seen Stella because they had to leave.  She really was disappointed.

After Pau left I talked to Mike and Angie about the "McGear" album, met Rose (Paul's housekeeper), also talked to Denny and Jojo Laine and dozens of aunts and cousins.

The party ended about 2am when the booze ran out.  By the time I left, I felt as though I was part of the family.  Everyone had made me feel welcome.

All photos were taken by George Tebbens

London- September 18, 1975

When the London show ended I tried to make my way back up to the balcony to find Cindy, Mary Ann, and Barb but they had already left.

As I was leaving I saw Ringo and his kids near the front row of the balcony.  He sent the kids off with someone and started looking for Harry Nilsson.  To keep from getting kicked out, I went over to talk to him.  I told him I had some shots of him from Elton's rehearsal in L.A. and some from Moon's birthday party.  That's when he said he wasn't at that party.  Then I insisted he was.  He replied, "That night I was so messed up, I really wasn't all there."


As Harry came over he asked if I was going to the party.  I said sure, but actually, I didn't really know where it was.  (Ringo saw my Venus and Mars shirt and thought I was a roadie). 

The party was in the balcony lobby.  The guard at the door at first wouldn't let us in.  He told Ringo e needed to show an invitation.  Ringo said, "But he's my friend, Paul McCartney is my friend."  But the guard kept insisting he needed an invitation until someone told him this was Ringo Starr, one of the Beatles.  I thought the poor old guy was going to die!  He got very apologetic.  Ringo told him Harry (who was also being given a hard time) another couple and myself were all with him.

Immediately after thanking Ringo I got myself lost in the shuffle until all the concert goers were out of the balcony.

Walking through the crowd I recognized a lot of people.  Alice Cooper, Pete Townsend, Gary Glitter, David Front, and a few other English artists were all there.

When Paul arrived he talked first to Mr. and Mrs. Eastman, and then the other celebrities.  He signed about 50 autographs and posed for pictures with Ringo.

During the photo session, I heard David Frost ask Paul about a TV special, but I couldn't get any details.  For the duration of his stay, he talked to Pete Townsend, Ringo, and Harry.

The group starting singing some old-time songs (We ain't got a barrel of money...) while photographers clicked and everyone tried to get a glimpse of what was going on.

Paul only stayed about an hour and split.  I heard that Paul dropped Linda and met Ringo and Harry at a club later that night.

Who would believe it?

This short story about George on SNL in 1976 is from the Jan/Feb 1977 issue of the Write Thing and was written by Regina Vogal.

Who would ever believe that an NBC-TV employee would stop me on the street and ask if I wanted to see George Harrison tape a television program?   Well, that's exactly what happened on November 18 (1976).  NBC had just disclosed that afternoon that George would not be appearing live on Nov. 20th Saturday Night Live but on a pre-recorded segment to be taped that night to a private audience from 7-10pm.

We decided to go to NBC studios at the end of the taping, but we arrived early.  We started to walk around when an employee told us where George was taping.  the "private audience" was the ground floor filled with NBC personnel and friends.  People were being picked up off the street to fill the balcony, which consisted of about 75 people.   We had missed a good deal of the show, but saw Paul Simon do "Homeward Bound" and George do "Here Comes the Sun" for at least four tapings, along with seeing George smile after someone screamed out "Dark Horse" as a request, and also the time time when Paul Simon introduced one of George's films as CrackerJACK Palace.  About two hours after the taping, George came out and met a small crowd before he left in his limo.  Not bad for an ordinary Thursday night!