I Want to Hold Your Hand
By Steve Nidetz
Hartford Courant
November 21, 1965
Miss Gisa Kothe is not a teenager. In fact, she will never see 20 again, but almost any one of 20 million teenagers would have eagerly traded places with her that late summer afternoon when Paul McCartney, one of Britain's four famed mop top Beatles, took her hand and said to her, "Thanks so much, luv, for the wonderful flight."
The momentous moment happened at the end of TWA Flight 703 from London to New York. Miss Kothe, 21, from East Heartland had just spent seven and a half hours as a transatlantic hostess for the Rock and Roll idols of the teen set. The attractive girl was chosen for the flight for two reasons. She was Miss New York press photographer and Queen of the Forest Hills festival for 1961
When she learned of her selection, she was terribly excited. "I took an extra uniform skirt and had my hair done," Miss Kothe said. Before the plane could take off from London's Heathrow Airport, the mop heads were shuttled aboard in secrecy. Miss Kothe's reaction when the Beatles stepped on board was one of surprise and excitement. Of McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John Lennon, the blue-eyed brunette said, "They were very reserved during the flight."
Besides eating Chateau Briand lobster and cheese and crackers with wine (George's favorite), the fearless foursome occupied its time playing games (Paul won the navigation game), drinking champagne, and watching a movie.
Excitement on board the flight was provided by 20 teenagers who formed a Beatles fan club on the spot. Most of them were tense and nervous trying to catch a glimpse of the Beatles Miss Kothe said the airline staff was prepared for the teenage assault on the first class section and handed out photographs and autographed records. But seven and a half hours is a long time for a teenager to be satisfied with just a picture or a record, especially when the live stuff was around. Many young ladies tried to catch glimpses of the Beatles by peering over the partition separating first-class and coach passengers. However, the alternating screaming and swooning eventually subsided.
But while the noise-making was going on in the coach department, the Beatles were very unconcerned. Miss Kothe said, "They were more typical than the typical first-class passenger."
The five other first-class passengers included a college professor and his wife, who were returning from Saudi Arabia, and three businessmen, one of whom passed out cigars. The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, his secretary, Wendy Hanson, and two of the Beatles' road managers also occupied seats in the first class section.
"Throughout the trip, John wore a pair of wild sunglasses that looked like mirrors." Miss Kothe said, "but when I asked to try them on, he said, 'No, I'm sorry. Maybe next time.'"
When the plane was near New York, the secret landing instructions were opened, and it headed for runway 31 at Kennedy International Airport. By the time the plane stopped on the runway to let the Beatles off so they could avoid the crowds, many Beatles souvenirs had been collected. The pursuer on the flight took all the towels and silverware off the flight and was auctioning them off to teenagers the next day.
Miss Kothe said her rewards included an autographed picture, a record, and, of course, a handshake. "They were just being the Beatles," Miss Kothe said when it was all over. "I enjoyed the trip and I'd do it again." So would any female between the ages of 10 and 18.
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