Wednesday, July 26, 2006
QUE PASA NEW YORK!
Little did we know that when John Lennon arrived in New York in June 1971 he would make New York City his home. The local NY area fans were very fortunate to have Lennon on their home turf. Over time the fans had many encounters with John, and became well-known to him. Here is one of those stories as told by Marie Lacey.
JUNE 18, 1971 NEW YORK CITYJohn and Yoko were staying at the Plaza Hotel. We had become familiar with the waiting routine and kept a watchful eye for their Fleetwood limousine driven by their chauffeur, Tom.
On a hunch we went to the Apple offices on Broadway. After awhile we saw the chauffeur go into the building so we knew John was in there. Around 7PM Tom came out to get the limo which was parked in a garage next to Allen Klein's apartment located just one block away.
All of a sudden John and Yoko emerged. We must have all been in a state of shock. We just stood there looking at each other (duh, what are we going to do?)! So there's John and Yoko just standing there for a couple of minutes staring at us. It was so awkward. Yoko gave us the peace sign and John lit up a cigarette. They saw the car at the corner tied up in traffic so they walked over to it while John kept looking at us. We were killing each other, there he was and we didn't go over and say anything. (You could see he was waiting for us to do something).When the car went by, Sher and I said to each other "lets wave when he goes by" so we did, and much to our surprise John perched up in his seat, turned himself completely towards us and with a big grin on his face gave us the biggest wave you ever saw. Well, I nearly fell over. It was like "wow, he really paid attention to us"!
JUNE 19, 1971 NEW YORK CITY
The next day, June 19, when John came out my group of friends all seemed to have gifts for both John and Yoko. Ann gave them flowers and a cute little frog bank for Kyoko. Barbara gave John a card along with a small American Flag button which John promptly put on his jacket. Lynn gave him a big smile button where she had drawn little glasses like his around the eyes and hair. He put it on his bag, where it stayed the rest of the week.
Just as John got in the car I got to him wanting to give him my gifts. When I said "John", he looked up and with a grin said "oh hello, how are you?" as he stretched his arms out like he was going to grab me. I just kept the stupid grin on my face and said "These are for you" and handed over the gifts. John then said something like "oh how nice, thank you". The car pulled up a little and then stopped for 10 minutes.
Everyone gathered around the car and we all (including John) seemed to be having a good time. John was looking at the gifts and opened his side of the window so people could see better. I managed to end up on Yoko's side and motioned to Yoko to roll her window down and John showed her how to do it. At first she wasn't going to but John said it wasn't fair and to roll it down.
My gifts included Avon Wild Country After Shave lotion that was in a decanter in the shape of a mailbox marked "First Class Male" . (Yoko later wrote a song titled "First Class Male"). John opened the decanter and sniffed it by moving it from side to side raising his eyebrows and smiling (reminding me of his antics with the coke bottle on the train in AHDN). John then opened my other gift, which was Bird of Paradise spray cologne obviously for Yoko. John proceeded to spray the cologne all over Yoko's legs, while she jumped and he laughed.I also had given John a letter, which he opened right then and there. It was a weird feeling to see him read it. In the letter I thanked him for being so nice to us.
During this same time period we had encountered Paul McCartney many times while he was in New York but he wasn't always in the best of moods. Being young and a bit immature we would make jokes amongst ourselves about Paul treating us with his rude Eastman ways which I included in the letter. When John got to the line "Eastman ways" he laughed and pointed it out to Yoko saying "Eastman Ways".
John then began showing everyone his furry boots by lifting his leg high up. John also charmed us by showing everyone how he lit a cigarette. By then a big crowd had arrived. A bystander took Sher's movie camera and put it in the window and John put his face right up to it and made funny faces. (the camera was upside down and all you see is his nose). Again this same guy put Ann's movie camera in and John did the same thing only longer. (It came out pretty good, you can see his whole face with a gigantic grin and making all sorts of faces).
Someone started handing John paper for autographs, he signed at least ten giving it to Yoko to sign after he had. I managed to obtain one of those myself.
Soon after John and Yoko had to leave. It was really great while it lasted. A lot more happened then I can remember, you know it was so much a once. Of course since that time a lot more has happened and now it seems like a normal thing to see John. I never thought I could get used to seeing one of them. Now its like an addiction. John is really a very fantastic person, he makes you feel like someone. John says hello first, he pays attention and he does notice you. Even in a big crowd, when he sees a familair face he smiles at you. I could go on for pages about what a great guy he is, but I"m sure you all know that.
*Written by Marie Lacey for "Mrs Lennon's Apple Tree" newsletter 1972
Edited by Karen Dyson
John Lennon photo taken June 19, 1971 courtesy of Marie Lacey
