Make sure you leave milk and cookies out tonight for Santa Lennon

 

Apple: Merry Crimble 1973

 

Apple: Merry Crimble 1973

Written by Kris Spackman

With a Little Help From My Friends  Issue #11

July 1975

With the closing of Apple, another part of "Beatle History" has come to an end. I must say it's one of the saddest things I've heard all year, because with Apple gone, there also goes the "home away from home" of many of us who have waited there over the last 7 years. Sadder yet, its demise makes the Beatles split even more final.  But in looking back, I hope it will be remembered for its many happy times...and perhaps with a touch of melancholy for the promise lost...

I know we'll never forget the hours we spent on the steps at the St. James Street Office, the friends we made of the employees, the chills and the colds we caught from hours of waiting, the nervous tension...nor the happiness of seeing George, Ringo and Paul pass thru those doors that made all the hassle so worth it. 

One of Apple's yearly great events has been the Christmas parties -- and these are occasions we've all heard much about, as well as the stories of the Scruff and others being welcomed in instead of left outside.  Never "in our wildest dreams" (as they say) did we imagine we'd be invited to this famous festive occasion, but thanks to our deal pal, Angela, who was determined we would go, as well as Sarge and Peter Bendry (loyal employee of Dr. O'Boogie!), such a dream actually came to be!

After 5 months, I guess the Apple people had gotten pretty used to us hangin' out, and 3/4 were always very nice and friendly (the other 1/4 being the "hello, wall" bunch that totally ignored us).  We'd managed to get our point across that we weren't there to bother anyone -- only to look; and, in time, were accepted as part of the daily routine! Because we had gotten to know many of them, the impossibility didn't seem quite so impossible!

The way into the party was via the invitation of an Apple employee, i.e., Angela and a guest. So while Ang maneuvered from inside, we worked from the outside, and by Friday evening, December 21, we were 99% set: Anna Maria would go with Ang; Pattie with Paul, one of the office boys; and me with good ol' Sarge! The odd 1% was Peter Bendry's assurance that he would get Marla and Kathy in - not to mention his own date! The party was a "long dress" affair, and therefore, it was preceded by some frantic shopping and swapping of clothes, as well as a nerve-wracking day of getting ready. And we still weren't sure who was gonna be there. 

But by 6:30 that night, I was on my way in the dreary mist of a light London rain to meet Sarge at Apple while the rest of the gang gathered at Anna's apartment to go from there. 

Sitting in the lobby waiting for Sarge, who was puttering around chatting with Ishmael - the accountant, Bernard Brown, etc. I was suffering a mild attack of the shakes - waiting inside is more nerve-wracking than outside! Also, there was Keith Moon's girlfriend, who was as spaced as usual. (She had lost Keith while they were Xmas shopping and came to meet him at Apple!)

About 7:15, Sarge and I went by underground to Covent Gardens, where the party was being held at a TV studio, whose name at the moment escapes me! And the TV studio escaped us, being buried in one of London's famous little backstreets. But first, we found Ang and Anna as they arrived by cab, and we all tripped inside, where invitations were being checked at the door. The studio was one large room in the basement of the building, and the room itself was decorated and full of tables and chairs, a bar to the side, and space up front for dancing and entertainment.  I was still pretty nervous - til we were all fixed up with a couple strong drinks. And by this time, the rest of our crew had arrived, with Peter hustling Mar and Kath past the bewildered security guard. We stood, chatting with the Apple people and guests, who were mostly all glad to see we'd gotten in and welcomed us warmly - a great feeling indeed!

Tony King was basically in charge of things and soon announced that dinner would be served. Still no sign of Ringo or George, but Mal and Neil were there! The dinner was really lovely - appetizers, soup, a Xmas turkey with all the trimmings, that awful British Xmas pudding, and brandy! It was still a bit hard to believe that there we all were, having dinner on Apple -- and that, perhaps soon, George or Ringo would arrive. During dessert, Tony K. announced the evening's entertainment: George Melly & the Feetwarmers, a jazz-pop-comedy group, presented courtesy of Warner Bros. and Mr. Derek Taylor! At the same time, Pattie Harrison turned up with Chris O'Dell and joined Mal, Neil, and their wives at their table. Mr. Melly & Co. were pretty good, tho the typical British humor is a bit trying at times.

Our table was upfront and right beside a pillar; from my chair, I was able to keep one eye on the entertainment - and one eye on the door in case of "expected arrivals!"  And I wasn't disappointed! Half an hour later, that door opened, and in came Ringo, Maureen, and friends (Nilsson, "Moonie," and Mickey Dolenz!). Ringo, was all dressed up and looking just darling, stepped up to the railing of the stairs leading down to the basement to watch Melly and leaned forward. I caught his eye and gave a teeny little wave with a big dumb grin on my face. And Ringo grinned right back with a teeny little wave.  We were all so glad to see him! Neil came to meet them as they descended the stairs, and they sat down at the back table with Hillary Gerrard and Joan, Ringo's secretary. Next to arrive was Terry Doran, and after Melly finished, we set out to entertain ourselves with a series of trips to the bar. During one refill, we ran into Derek, who was his usual lovely self and kissed us all!

Dancing began to record then, and it took a few drinks to get us out on the floor. But we did and ended up dancing with everyone from the office boys to Sarge to Phil MacDonald (who was the engineer on ATMP and LITMW)

And then came the big "surprise" of the night -- which just blew all our minds! Tony K. introduced "Entertainment" Part 2:  a stripper who didn't completely. But she certainly put on a show and was joined by Phillip and Mal, who chased her around the floor! And in the back of the room, we had quite a nice view of Ringo who stood up to watch. We found him much more interested to look at!

By this time, George still hadn't arrived, and we were all pretty sure that he wasn't going to. But being this would probably be the only Apple Christmas party we'd ever attend, we were determined to have a good time in spite of plus we had just seen him the day before at the office party. 

After the stripper did her thing, dancing resumed, and both Maureen S. and Pattie H. took a turn out on the floor, while he hoped against hope Ringo would.

Then came the high point of the night and I sure was!  As I accompanied Kathy to the bathroom, we passed near where Ringo was sitting, and I noticed he was by himself, tho there were people around him. In the bathroom, I deliberated a moment, then scooted back out and right over to him.  I said hello, asked him how he was, and told him how glad we were to be there.  He was just so sweet, and he told me he was glad we came, too, and that he was very much enjoying it himself. Then I wished him a very merry Christmas, and I kissed him on the cheek! Poor Ringo -- I don't know who was more surprised, but  I was pretty happy about it!  And he really didn't seem to mind.  At the same moment, a friend of Mo's came over and asked if anyone had a pen.  I rushed off to get one from my purse for her - in a minor state of shock.

Somehow I then ended up in the bathroom again, with "our" Patti this time when Pattie H. came in in search of Marueen (present also) because they were getting ready to leave.  Patti and I hurried out and joined our friend, Elena, who was standing by a back table. Ringo was preparing to go and as he came by us, we all wished him a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He stopped and stood with us for 3 or 4 minutes, wishing us a cherry "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Years" while I held onto his hand and told him to stay happy (I was drunk).  Then my intoxicated friend, Patti, asked him if he'd remember which was the gift we'd given him the day before. With an airy wave of his hand, he assured, "Oh, there was no card on it"- which cracked me up completely because there was a card with it!  Ringo thanked us for our good wishes and returned them, then had to go...

After that, the party lasted all night, with people slowly filtering out in small bunches.  We danced and drank the rest of the time away until about 4am, and when we left, there were still a good number hangin' in there! From there, we took a taxi home, completely happy and content.

It was truly one beautiful experience!

Even if Savile Row is sold and Apple goes out of existence, it will continue to live on in our hearts and if that sounds corny, it's meant to be! Like the song says "Though the years they come and go, but the love must surely show me that beyond all time and space, we're together face to face..."

A is for Apple, A is for Always!

Paul's Wonderful Liverpool Christmas

Photos taken by Linda (Eastman) McCartney 

 December 25, 1968 - Liverpool 

Christmas at Friar Park

 Christmas 1973 -  George and Pattie have a party at their home.  

EMI Christmas Party

December 23, 1963 

The Beatles attended the office Christmas party in 1963.  Actually, I have never seen a photo of Paul at the party.  It looks like Ringo and John were having a good time in these photos. 
 

And John in his cap

 December 23, 1968 

The infamous Apple Christmas Party of 1968

 December 23, 1968

You can always sit on the floor

 

The Apple Christmas Party and there isn't a seat for John and Yoko and they have to sit on the floor?  Or did they want to sit on the floor?  

50 years since the wildest Christmas Party ever

I am sure that many of you went to various Christmas Parties this weekend.  And while some of them might have been a little crazy, I sure hope none of you experienced the craziness of the Christmas Party held at 3 Savile Row 50 years ago today. 

Apple decided to have a Christmas Party on December 23, 1968.   The party was to have two parts.  At 2:30pm there was to be a children's party.   I am not sure what children exactly were invited, but I do know that Zak and Jason Starkey were there as well as Apple employee's kids and relatives.     Somehow John Lennon was talked into playing the part of Father Christmas and Yoko joined in as Mother Christmas.    The children's party went alright, I suppose.    The kids were bouncing off the walls, as would be expected for young kids, especially given the fact that they were fed cookies and candy.    They were entertained by some typical child party entertainers (I recall a ventriloquist).   Then John and Yoko (along with Mary Hopkin) came out and delivered the wrapped gifts to the kids.  John was heard saying a very deadpan, "Ho Ho Ho" and Yoko was heard saying a bizarre "He He He."  Mary was there to help hand out the gifts.

Don't you think John could have worn better shoes when he was Father Christmas?

By 6:00 the adult party was to get started (although some of the kids were still there).   There was a cast of pretty wild characters at the party.   We had the homeless family that was there as well as the Hell's Angles that came by George Harrison's invite.    George wasn't at the party and neither was Paul.    For the second part of the party, John and Yoko changed back to their regular clothing.  Derek Taylor got a turkey that was over 40 pounds and was supposedly the biggest Christmas turkey in England that year.    The turkey was taking a long, long time to cook and the Hell's Angels guys were really hungry and impatient and started a fight.  Someone got punched and John almost got hit as well and then Peter Brown stepped in and tried to get the situation calmed down.    Eventually, the turkey was ready and the main Angel guy, Pete grabbed the turkey leg and ripped it off the bird and gnawed on it while the rest of the crew tore the bird to pieces. 


Crazy but true times at Apple!

Apple Christmas Party 1968

Since it is Christmas Eve, I thought I would post the story of the Apple Christmas Party as published in Beatle fan turned employee, Richard DiLello's book 'The Longest Cocktail Party'. The photos came from that book as well.

Not only was there going to be a conjurer, a Yuletide tree, acres of food and oceans of drink, but John and Yoko agreed to dress up as Father and Mother Christmas and hand out presents to all the children. The crowing glory of the elaborate, stand-up buffet dinner was a 43 pound turkey billed by the supplying butchers as the Largest Turkey in Great Britain.

December 23. Preparations had begun at nine that morning. The children's party was scheduled for 2:30 in Peter Brown's office. At six o'clock the adults' version of the children's party would being in Neil's office. By 11 o'clock the Press Office was filled to overload the Christmas-season glut of good time Charlies on their record company to record company marathon sprint for alcohol, inside talk and free LP's. Of all the record companies in London, Apple was number one on the list for abandoned cordiality and excessive generosity.

By 11:30 the Black Room was swollen to standing room only proportions with hashish smokers puffing their brains out while the front office catered to the scotch and Coke brigade. By noon all pretense had been dropped and the hash heads were indistinguishable from the juicers. The telephones that refused to quit were barely audible above the record player turned to three-quarter volume.

By three o'clock Peter Brown's office was a scene of unparalleled frenzy as more than a hundred children screamed and smashed their way through a mountain of ice cream, cake and sausage rolls, impatiently clamoring to be entertained by the ventriloquist and conjuror they had been promised.

At last Ernest Castro and April, entertainers to the Queen and Duke of Cornwall and the late Sir Winston Churchill, made their entrance. The roar of recognition form a hundred pint-sized Frankensteins just have been honeyed music to their ears. In the greatest tradition of English garden party entertainers, they lanced into their live wire routine of silvered voice projections, sleight of hand wonders and barnyard beast imitations. The eardrum-shattering squeals of delights from the youngsters did not decrease one decibel the entire length of their performance. They closed the show with a sizzling rendition of Lettuce Leaf Hop.

John and Yoko in full Christmas drag were waiting for them in the Press Office when the show let out. Mary Hopkin had joined them to lend an additional two paws to the distribution of gifts. Unrattled by the greedy stampede for toys, John Lennon stood calmly in the middle of the room, deadpan, muttering through the false beard on top of his own beard, "Ho, ho, ho."

From the reception lounge to the Press Office the party goers lined the walls and the landings, filling the building with roof-lifting talk, blue smoke and the rumble of several hundred churning, empty stomachs. The Largest Turkey in Great Britain was locked safely behind the kitchen door away from an increasingly restless crowd. The kitchen counter and sideboard were barely holding up under the weight of a thousand assorted hor oeuvres, platters of cold meat and jellied fish, salads, cakes, bowls of fruit and boiled sweets, biscuits and cheese lined the floor.

John and Yoko, freed from the burden of their costumes, sat on the Press Office floor surrounded by Emily's family (the family of homeless hippies that had taken residency at Apple). The Press Officer hovered nearby, glass in hand, cigarette in mouth, hoping that his employer would not be Beatled unmercifully on this day of all days. The noise level in the room was more suitable for lip reading than conversational audibility.

It took only three seconds for this atmosphere of intense gaiety to turn radically and almost irrevocably sour. Frisco Pete (one of the Hell's Angels George had "invited"), elbows pumping him energetically through the crowd, covered the length of the room in for enormous strides. HE poised menacingly over the slight figures of John and Yoko.

"What the f$%* is goin' on in this place?!?!" he screamed at them. The room dropped into a clammy, itchy silence. No one moved.

"WE wanna eat! What's all this sh$# about havin' to wait until seven?!?"

Mavis' husband, Alan, gallantly interrupted Frisco Pete with a request for a little consideration for the situation. His efforts were rewarded with a single closed-fish punch, carefully measured by a man who knew full well the power of his own strength. The room darkened. Frisco Pete returned his attention to John Lennon.

"You got more f$--in' food in that kitchen than there are people and it's all locked up and those two f$%!in broads upstairs tell me I've gotta wait until 7:00 just like everybody else! There's a forty-three pound turkey in that kitchen and I want some of it now!!!"

John Lennon, at this moment in his life a squeamish vegetarian, looked up at the frightening figure of Frisco Pete in total bewilderment. He knew nothing of the release schedule on the Largest Turkey in Great Britain. The Press Officer turned to the House Hippie and told him to fetch Peter Brown without any further delay. With relief he found him outside in the hall talking to Ron Kass. "Peter, you'd better come inside right away" and the House Hippie pulled him by the arm, fearing the loss of precious seconds.

"I don't know where those f#%!in' heads of yours are but where I come from when we got food we feed people, not starve them!" Peter Brown glimpsed in two blinks what was happening. The House Hippie gulped and closed his eyes as Peter walked calmly up to the San Francisco chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. Tapping him lightly on the shoulder, Peter Brown moved between John Lennon and Frisco Pete just as a fresh flow of verbal punches was about to begin. An audible intake of breaths circled the room.

"Now listen, Pete, we have every intention of feeding you and I apologize for the delay but I was hoping you could appreciate that the kitchen staff have been working since 9:00 and they've been under considerable pressure. We're waiting for the caterers to finish laying the tables and it shouldn't take more than another ten minutes and then we can all go downstairs and gorge ourselves to death but please, I beg you, be patient."

That did it! An up-front answer to an up-front question. Frisco Pete shook his head once, turned and left the room. In the course of 60 seconds Peter Brown had become the hero of the Battle for the Largest Turkey in Great Britain.

When the door to Neil's office was thrown open ten minutes later everyone could see it was going to be a sumptuous feast. The massive catering tables buckling to support food and drink ran the length of three walls Frisco Pete was the firs tot reach the main table where the Largest Turkey in Great Britain sat. Before the waiter had a chance to work up his best carving voice to say, "And would you like white or dark meat, sir?" Pete grabbed a firm hold on the poor dead bird's body and without any further ceremony ripped the turkey's left leg from its torso. IT easily weighed four pounds and more closely resembled a caveman's hunting club than a turkey leg. The hordes were right behind him in full force. By midnight there was nothing left but the washing up. It was a very fine party, just as the Press Officer said it would be.