Wellington

 

Paul and George in Wellington during the tour in June of 1964

Interviews and autographs -- a typical Beatles day

 

June 21, 1964 -  Wellington, New Zealand 

Rubbing noses

 Hmmm -- looks like I am missing a photo of George getting his nose rub in Wellington.   

Tony Taylor and Beatlemania

I made a tiny mistake.   I had this information labeled as "Auckland" and just now when I went to post it all, I see that it is really "Wellington" and I should have posted it yesterday.   Oh well---


Tony Taylor has an interesting Beatles story.   He is a professor of psychology  at Victoria University of Wellington and in 1964 he decided to write a paper about the effects of Beatlemania.   He did attended two of the Wellington concerts (and got the university to pay for his tickets) and he spoke with fans outside of the hotel and really put a lot of study into his research.   I wish I could find his paper online, because I would be very interested in reading it.    Part of what he did was interview John Lennon for his paper.    He talked to John about the type of music the Beatles play and about their target audience.   He got the Beatles autographs, but they signed different names (like Paul signed for Ringo)...which I would think would make it worth more.   Anyhow....there is a 20 minute audio of Tony Taylor talking about all of this from Radio New Zealand.    I recommend listening to it. 

Tony interviews John Lennon

Ringo's mystery cousins

John wasn't the only Beatle meeting family members from New Zealand, Ringo also had some distant cousins who came up to the hotel room to greet their long, lost family member.    Christine (age 16), Patricia (age 13) and Theresa (age 12) Starkey had left Liverpool and emigrated to New Zealand in 1963.   Since Ringo's father, Richard Starkey, left when Ringo was a small child, he really did not have any connection to the Starkey family.   

Christine Starkey was quoted as saying, "It was just too much, I never dreamed it would actually happen!"  Ringo gave the girls his autograph and said, "It was nice meeting them, but I'm not quite sure where in the family they fit in."

Unlike John's cousins, who were known to John at least by name before the trip, these cousins of Ringo's were unknown.    Most likely these girls were some distant branch in the Starkey family tree, who were Beatle fans that took advantage of their fortunate surname.  Not that anyone could blame them.  

Family reunion

John's Aunt Mimi traveled with the boys to Australia, not to enjoy the music of the boy she raised and his friends, but to meet up with family members that lived in Eketahuna, New Zealand.   Mimi was with the Beatles at the beginning of the tour, but left for NZ a week earlier and spent time with her cousin Jim  Mathews, whom she had been corresponding with through letters for many, many years. 

On June 23, 1964 Mimi came along with Jim Mathew's daughter Lynda and three other cousins to the St. George hotel to visit with her nephew and his friends.   Mimi was also there to tell him that she was going to stay in New Zealand longer than originally planned and that she would find her own way home to Liverpool.    While this has never been confirmed in any way, I can't help but wonder f the fact that Mimi's boyfriend, who was a former boarder at Mendips, was also living in New Zealand at this time.  Mimi ended up staying in New Zealand for 3-4 more months.

Mimi and the family she stayed with in New Zeland

Anyhow---back to the visit with John's relatives from his mother's side of the family.  John's second cousin, Lynda recently spoke about her visit with her famous cousin

Getting through the crowd was really hard because the police had to take us through and girls were spitting and obviously there was anger that we were getting through and they couldn't. Then we were just sitting in their bedrooms and drinking and talking. And they all came in to see me as they came out of having had a shower," she said.

"He just kissed me and said 'hello, love' straight away. He spoke of seeing my sister and about how Aunt Mimi was getting on. Because Aunt Mimi at that stage had been here with my parents for a week nearly."

Fifty years later, Lynda Mathews finds the experience more surreal than she did then.

"Just holding onto the memories. It's been good to share with other relatives and remember those who aren't here with us as well. Just remember the really good times about it and that the music still goes on and on."

Autograph John signed for Lynda

John's cousin also got to meet the other Beatles!

I already wrote about Lynda's story for this blog, and you can find the story here 

John and Mimi with Mark, Susan and Helen Parker "The Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library".

John with his 2nd cousins Mark, Susan and Helen Parker "The Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library".

Mimi and John with Mr. F. Parker "The Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library".

 

Fans went a little wild in Wellington

At some of the Wellington concerts, the fans got a little crazy.   No one got seriously hurt, but the fans did start to move out of their seats and forward toward the stage when the Beatles came on.  Many fans tried to get onto the stage, and few of them were successful.  In his 1999 book, The Beatles in New Zealand, Bruce Renwick says this:

Police battled with hundreds of screaming teenager in near riot scenes, forcing girls back to their seats.   Everyone of the seventy strong police contingent was called to a position in front of the stage to reinforce a wall of constables fighting a losing battle with the crowd.  Policemen were knocked to the ground or slid helplessly towards the stage under the pressure of the surging fans.  People sitting in the front row were advised to move aside when the crowd showed signs of getting out of control.  By the time the police had formed a wedge in front of the hall, the entire crowd was on its feet and surging forward.  Screaming girls climbed over seats to get close to their idols.  The crowd came in waves and the police only had enough time to deal with one outbreak before another would surge towards them.  As the group sang it's last song, a solid wall of fans was struggling with the police.   One fan did manage to get on stage and almost knocked a bemused Ringo from his stool before four burly policemen got on the stage and grabbed the youth and tossed him back up the stairs.  Ringo who was taken totally was surprise was able to still smile cheerily at the youth.  Paul was nearly dragged into the crowd but the four remained straight faced throughout the incident and did not stop playing.   Some of the more exuberant girls were almost catapulted back into their seats by the arms of the law.  Paul facetiously commented later that it 'got a bit exciting towards the end, we were hoping for few fans on stage dancing, but the police dragged them back. '

This Wellington concert photo shows some of the chaos that broke out

This is what the newspaper said

First, two girls started dancing in front of their seats from the time the Beatles started their first number, then two more girls tried to invade the stage and so it went, with someone always on their feet from then on.   Four girls were next to venture into the aisles twitching, stiff limbed and glassy eyed in time with the music.  Police rushed from the stage to stop them.  It wasn't the right place for the Birdland Twitch or the Hippy Hippy Shake.  Two youths then rushed the stage but were similarly dissuaded, but soon scores of young people in the stalls were on their feet.  Police were on their  feet too, guarding the stage.  One young acrobat dived between the police, ran along the stage and grabbed Paul before the police removed him off the stage.  He was last seen retiring to the back of the hall holding his stomach.  Two other youths also succeeded in mounting the stage but they too were individualists, with insufficient backing, causing their success to be brief.   The crowd standing in the aisles meanwhile pressed forward with a couple of the more husky ones attempting to wrestle with the police.  Some verbal abuse was given and the police needed reinforcements when they were pushed back.  From the stage it was obvious to see that the melees were getting closer and things were getting rougher.  Finishing their last song the Beatles were off and away before the fans knew anything and when the National Anthem started a few second later practically everyone was on their feet, if only to see what was happening.  There was no more trouble and the crowd dispersed but no bodies were left behind, not even a fainted one and there had been no arrests.

Fans at the Beatles concert, Wellington Town Hall, June 1964
Photographer: Morrie Hill
Reference number: 1/4-071853-F
Cellulose triacetate negative.
Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library

The Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library".

 In this photo, the constable in the helmet is Trevor Morley, who worked all four of the Beatles concert in Wellington.   He is currently trying to find out who fan in this photo is.  So if any of you know him, let me know because I have the email address to contact.   He says, "At the time things were pretty hectic in the Town Hall, so there was no thought of arresting him.  We were just trying to get him off the stage, so I didn't get time to get his name."  (Thanks to Lucy Atkins for sending me the article).



Of course not everyone recalls there being a surging crowd during those shows.   Damien O'Shaughnessy who attended the 3rd show said in 1984,

There were no great crowd surges at the concert I was at.  The occasional girl would run down the aisle and try and throw herself on the stage and just get dragged away.

Wellington Concerts

The first concert the Beatles gave in Wellington was a disaster.   The sound was set very low on the microphone and the houselights were left of during the whole show.   John Lennon threatened to cancel the rest of the tour if things didn't get fixed.    Derek Taylor wasn't sure what to do, and Brian Epstein wasn't even in New Zealand with the boys.   So opening act artist, Johnny Devlin took over and and talked to the PA operator about the problems and the sounds at the 2nd show wasn't great, but it was an improvement

Derek Taylor was very thankful and asked Johnny what he could do to repay him.  All Johnny wanted was his photograph taken with the four Beatles and he got that request filled.

To the joy of the fans, Ringo was well enough to begin singing on stage again!   Ringo was back to belting out "Boys" and driving the girls crazy whenever he shook his mop hair.

Here are memories of fans in Wellington that were found on various webpages online

"I was there at the Beatles Wellington concert 50 years ago - a screaming, sort of hysterical 15 year old. Actually, I don't recall too much about the concert apart from screaming myself hoarse, along with all the others.

But I do remember being a part of the crowd that blocked off the intersection of Willis & Manners Streets when the Beatles came out onto the balcony of the St George Hotel. I remember me & my friend racing through Suzies Coffee Bar and out onto the veranda, walking along that (it extended right to the corner of Boulcott St back then), just so that we could be that much closer to our heroes. There were quite a few of us that did that.

Afterwards, my Dad, who had driven me & my friend into the city to see the Beatles, said that he was really worried that the verandah would collapse under the weight of the people who were up there.

Of course I never gave that a thought. All I could think of was that I was that little bit closer to the Fab Four - especially Paul who was the one I loved best."- Jenny B. 

"I was lucky enough to see the Beatles in Wellington – The first 6 o’clock shows it must have been. My sister and I had been suffering whooping cough and were not allowed to go to school for six weeks.  We just about drove each other, and our parents mad.  At the end of the six week isolation we were given the all clear to return to school , and for enduring each other’s company for so long, our parents bought us tickets to see the fab four.  I was 12, little sister was almost 10.   

I don’t remember too much of the opening acts, only that there was some confusion when Sounds Incorporated took to the stage.  Many young girls in the audience thought they were the main act and ran forward to get as close to the action as possible. 

I remember thinking to myself, there is no way we’ll see anything if we remain in our seats.

When the Beatles finally did make an appearance, the noise was deafening.  It was Ringo’s first performance after suffering tonsillitis in Australia, and he did sing “Boys.”  In fact, I only heard two lines in the show; Ringo singing “I been told when a boy kiss a girl.”  And Paul McCartney with the opening line to All My Loving.  “Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you” - the rest of the 25 minute long set was completely obliterated by the screams of those around us.

OK I screamed too, and as I did I remember this older girl, she must have been 18 or 19, looking daggers at me.  She told me to stop screaming so she could hear the show, and I told her “If you can’t beat them, join them.”  

I think that screaming was definitely part of the enjoyment of being there.  It wasn’t a concert, it was more an expression of teenage rebellion.

We couldn’t hear the Beatles, but we could see them alright and they all looked to be enjoying themselves, except for John Lennon who looked more and more pissed off as the set went on.

Did I enjoy the show?  I was the only one in my class at school who went, so what do you think?  Bragging rights were far more important than actually hearing anything." - Jimmy 

"My then girlfriend and I went to the early concert on the second night they played in Wellington, ie the third of four. During the concert I had to go to the loo and saw gaps in the security you could drive a tank through.

Went home, had a couple of drinks, rang my teenage girl cousins and said that if they could get their parents permission, I was pretty sure I could get them into the sold out last concert. They managed to get this permission, I picked them up and headed back to town.

Before entering the Town Hall I told them to absolutely ignore anybody calling after them and to head right on into the actual hall. The warm up act, Johnny Devlin was in full flight.  The security guards, all looking as if they'd been conscripted from the RSA, and all thinking their job was finished for the evening, were far away from the double lot of double doors leading into the hall proper.

We all marched up the steps, across the foyer, with me at the rear. By the time the security got to me all three girls were inside. The guard ask where my ticket was, I said "my girlfriend has the tickets, do you want to see them"? He said "yes" so I said "I'll get them", and promptly disappeared inside.

The fact that it was a sold out performance mattered not and we ended up standing on seats 4 rows from the front. 

There was one really funny moment during Johnny Devlin's performance.  His electric guitar cord fed back through the curtain which was his backdrop. One time as he gyrated to one side, the cord got caught up with the curtain. This pulled the curtain aside, exposing Ringo's drums, resplendent with  "The Beatles"  painted on. The crowd erupted and I could just imagine Johnny thinking "I don't know what I just did but I'd better add it to my repertoire."- Rufus C 

"I lived in Foxton and was only able to attend the Beatles concert in Wellington because a friend's parents let her buy 2 tickets and were prepared to drive us down to make the 6p.m. concert.

We were not exactly wealthy so I had to pay for my own ticket, from memory 30 shillings, which was a lot of money to a 13 year old.

We left straight after school and what a great experience. Seats were second row from front and we were in "heaven". Have vivid memories of the screaming and do remember wishing the fans could be a bit quieter so I could actually hear the music! Still a fan and have always had a soft spot for Paul"

- Christine B 

"I attended the Wellington concert as a Nelson 18 year old. Somebody, I have no idea who, organised a charter flight from Nelson. I think the aircraft was a Friendship - and it was full. Can't remember the price of the trip and concert ticket but on a £7.15 a week wage a fair bit of saving must have been done. It was to be a same day return after the concert.. Concert experience, of course, was great (and my memory says Paul asked for quiet for one song - and got it) . However, the weather that night in Wellington was so bad that the return flight was abandoned. Result was a plane-load of Beatles fans bunked down for the night in the old Wellington Airport terminal. The high after the concert was such that I doubt anyone minded a bit. Late to work the next day - well worth it." - Chris R. 

"I went to the first show on Monday and I had front row tickets -A13- and there was a row of policemen in front of me with all their helmets under the seats.   Being in the front row we could actually hear it.  The music was good, just like on the records.  The guitar was good and you could hear the words.  I remember John Lennon saying "Shuddop" and the crowd gradually quieted down.  It was quite quiet at one stage, the crowd must have screamed themselves out and George must have done a few little dance steps, and the crowd went berserk!  Just because he acutely moved!  Ringo sang a song too - Boys--and that brought the house down!" -Damien O'Shaughnessy

Meet the Press for Real

The girls with the autograph on their arm

Two girls, Annette Fairey and Winkle Pettit had the opportunity of the lifetime at the St. George Hotel when they met Ringo.

Here is how the story was originally reported in the newspaper:
GIRLS BEAT BEATLES’ SECURITY GUARDElaborate security precautions taken to guard the Beatles at the Hotel St George broke down last night.
Four Lower Hutt girls calmly walked past a security man guarding the Beatles’ sixth floor suite and into the arms of Ringo Starr.
Everyone except Ringo was taken by surprise. When the girls mobbed him he took control of the situation.
"Now girls, no nonsense or I’ll leave," he shouted. The girls then quietly produced autograph books.
The excited fans, all 14-year-olds from Chilton St James School are Winkle Pettit, Christine Mantell, Wendy Allen and Annette Fairey.
"We just walked into the hotel and asked to see the manager but they wouldn’t let us," Annette said. "A radio announcer told us the Beatles were on the sixth floor so we walked up the stairs."
But the girls were not content with autographs in books. Ringo also autographed each of the young intruders’ arms.
"I won’t wash this for weeks," Winkle told a laughing Ringo.
The Beatles’ surprised press officer, Mr D. Taylor, summed up the intrusion. “Well girls, if you can get past the security men, good luck to you.”



And here is how Winkle Pettit talks about what happened in 1984

"We just walked up the stairs of the St. George.  That's all.  As we came out at the 6th floor, Ringowas just going across the foyer, so  we grabbed him!  So amid great excitement he signed our arms and we were all saying, "Oh! It's really him!"  We just couldn't believe it.  There was a photographer there and a reporter from the Dominion and the next day our pictures were in the paper.  Back at school we got called out at assembly while our friends said, "Look, she's going to make you scrub the signatures off!"  So we put fake signatures on our other arm.  The head mistress produced Ajax and said, "Scrub it off," so we all pulled up the wrong sleeve and she said, "and I'm going to check both arms." 


Another story states that the girls first got autographs in their autograph books and then asked Ringo to sign their arms as well, which he agreed to do as long as they remained calm.   When they got to school, not only did they have to scrub off the autograph, but they were told that their action was a "disgrace to the school.'  As punishment, they were ordered to write a letter of apology to the school board.


So that just makes me shake my head.   What kind of apology do you write, "I am sorry that you are offended that Ringo Starr signed my arm."    The kids I teach come to school with things written on their arms, temporary tattoos, etc.   I know we live in a different time than 1964---but really---how is Ringo's autograph on your arm a disgrace to the school?    Thank goodness these teachers aren't around  today where people get autographs tattooed on their arms.


Information found in
The Beatles in New Zealand (book) by Bruce Renwick (1999)
 "Fab! Said New Zealand, It's Them!" by Chris Bourke for the New Zealand Listener June 23, 1984