Copyright 2013 by Mary Jane Dougherty. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the prior written consent of the author/publisher or the terms relayed to you herein. www.mary-jane-dougherty-multi-media,com Table of Contents Table of Contents...1 Face to Face With John Lennon...2
Face to Face With John Lennon "The Beatles are here!" "The Beatles are here!" shouted my older sister Betty, as she tried to wake me up on that warm sunny June morning in 1966, in Anchorage, Alaska. "What?" I groaned, "Who's here? " Betty said, "The Beatles are here. They're on their way to Japan and they landed here because of some problem." Betty quickly turned and left my bedroom. Slowly waking up, my sister's words, "The Beatles are here" were still hanging in the air. As I sat up in bed, I looked around my bedroom. On my night stand was my record player with a display of my Beatles albums. There on my dresser, sitting on my stack of,"16 Magazines," was my pink vinyl Beatles lunch box. Even though I was 14, I loved reading my "16" magazine because it always had pictures and articles about the Beatles. After scanning my room and making sure I wasn't dreaming. I got out of bed to find out if what my sister had said was really happening or if it was a practical joke. As the youngest of a large family, they loved to tease me. I slowly walked down the hallway just waiting for Betty to jump out of the kitchen and yell, "gotcha!" But their was no gotcha. My sister and my brother Norman were sitting on the couch in the living room. They had really big smiles on their faces and were waiting for me to say something. I asked Betty again, "What are the Beatles doing here in Anchorage?" She repeated what she had heard. That the Beatles had to land at the airport and were staying at The Anchorage Westward Hotel. At that moment I had heard enough. I shouted, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get down there!" How does one get ready for an event like this? I quickly ate breakfast and as I got ready, the Beatles song, "She Loves You" was going through my head. I chose my Sunday best summer dress, blue coat and dress shoes. Then I was ready to see the Beatles. To see John Lennon, my favorite. Ever since the Fab Four appeared on television and on the news, John Lennon was my favorite. His songs, his dry sense of humor, wit and poetry had spoken to me. My friends and I often had long conversations and even arguments about why we had chosen our favorite Beatle. I called my friends to see if they had heard the unbelievable news. We all decided to meet outside the hotel where the Beatles were staying. Our excitement was uncontainable. Imagine, I was going to see, the Beatles. I was a very proud and dedicated Beatles fan. I saw their first movie, "A Hard Days Night" thirteen times. And saw, "Help!" eight times. Betty, Norman and I left the house and jumped into our car. Our conversation on the drive was full of questions about what we were going to see. We wondered if their
would be barricades and police, just like we had seen in all the newsreels. Would the Beatles wave to us from their hotel window? As we made our way downtown we listened to the radio. It was surreal. They were talking about the Beatles being in Anchorage and they were playing all the Beatles songs. My stomach was full of butterflies. As we pulled up to the Anchorage Westward Hotel, I peered out the window, "Look!" I shouted. "Look at the crowd!" Betty and Norman and I were astonished at what we saw. It was the largest crowd of teenagers that we'd ever seen in the parking lot. Our plan was for my brother and sister to drop me off at the hotel, then come back and check in with me later. My mother, Feodoria, always insisted they watch over me. And because they didn't want to get grounded, they agreed. I got out of the car and was anxious to meet up with my friends, and to see if the Beatles were actually staying at the Anchorage Westward Hotel. I had jumped out of the car, butterflies and all, and stood on the sidewalk amazed at what I was seeing. The hotel was very tall and I imagined the Beatles on the top floor, so that's where I kept looking. I had wanted to look my best, in my Sunday best, but now because of the hot sun, I was wishing that I hadn't worn my blue coat. Pushing my way through the crushing crowd, I finally spotted my friends. My friends and I were in awe of all that we were witnessing. We've never seen so many people. After talking for a little bit, my friends turned and walked away. I was left standing there all by myself, trying to figure out what to do or even where to go. Would the Beatles appear at their hotel window? As I stood there I could hear the large group of teenaged girls shouting very loudly and reciting poetry from, John Lennon's book, "John Lennon, In His Own Write." I had learned from experience to stay away from a large group of teenagers. In 1964, The Beatles first movie, "A Hard Day's Night" was playing at our favorite movie palace, "The 4th Avenue Theater." When the Beatles came bursting onto the screen, bigger than life, the teenage girls became hysterical. They cried and screamed when ever their favorite Beatle appeared on the big screen. Personally, I thought it very annoying. I couldn't even hear the movie. I couldn't hear what the Beatles were saying or the songs they were singing. So, I decided to get up very quietly and move to the back of the theater. It got so bad that the theater manager came out and said that for everyone's safety, the teenagers were only allowed to see the movie once a day." Beatlemania" had arrived in my hometown! As I sat there listening to the theater manager, I came up with a secret way for me to be able to stay and watch the movie again and again on the same day. And as for my secret way, it will forever remain a secret. I just loved that movie. Their music, their British accents and their wardrobe. And I could watch John Lennon sing. At the hotel, I wanted to distance myself from the noisy crowd, so I stood next to a nearby lamp post. The butterflies had returned to my stomach and as the day wore on,
the crowd grew larger. But Sadly, the Beatles never did appear at the window, no matter how loud and how long the teenagers chanted. But I kept standing by the lamp post and watching the window just in case. Then I had an idea. The Beatles might send someone from their entourage to go shopping for them, for Alaskan Souvenirs or for an Alaskan sized hamburger. Then I spotted someone who looked like a tourist. He was carrying an Alaskan gift bag. He was making his way through the crowd and then he stopped. As he stood there I spotted his, "Beatle" boots, his tan and brown plaid straight legged pants and ivory colored Irish woolen sweater. The topper was... his, "Beatle" styled haircut. He acted like a curiosity seeker and he was watching the crowd. Then he started walking toward the hotel. I'm must have been the only one in the crowd that spotted him. Were the Beatles going to make an appearance and if they did, wouldn't that be something to talk about with my family and friends? I was so excited and I had no idea what time it was. Later that day, Norman and Betty returned to the hotel. They were curious to see what was going on. And the family wanted to make sure I was alright. But I was having such a great time that, time itself had stopped for me. And until Norman and Betty suggested going out for some dinner, I hadn't even realized that I was really hungry. Somewhat reluctantly I agreed to leave the hotel for a short time to get something to eat with my brother and sister. After all, it takes a lot of energy waiting and watching for, the Beatles to maybe make an appearance at that window. After a quick dinner we returned to the hotel to see what was going on. Had The Beatles gone to the window and waved at the crowd? If they had while I was gone, boy would I be upset. Then the hotel manager came out and told the crowd to walk over to the front entrance to the hotel. The parking lot was going to be closed. We were startled at first, but while we were walking to the front of the hotel I recognized a black limousine parked in front of the hotel doors. Anchorage's top officials drove that car around town and in parades. Then the hotel manager came out and made another announcement. The Beatles would be coming out the front doors and down the walk way to the limousine. The Beatles would then be driven to the airport where they would board a plane on their way to Japan. So everyone was to remain calm and stay behind the velvet ropes. Strangely enough, the crowd of mostly teenage girls remained calm and started talking amongst themselves. Now let me explain that during this part of the summer in Anchorage, Alaska, we were enjoying Summer Solstice where it doesn't get dark. Night time was as bright as day. And I suppose that's the reason, all us felt so safe at that late hour. How exciting! The Beatles would be coming right out those front doors. Those very doors that Norman and Betty and I were standing next to. We were mesmerized and didn't care about the time. Oh, my butterflies were back.
Then reality mirrored the movies. It was now shortly after midnight but it was as bright as day in front of The Anchorage Westward Hotel. A large group of people of all ages stood behind both sides of the soft luxurious red velvet ropes. And everyone was still calm and quiet as they anticipated seeing the Beatles coming out of the hotel. I could sense the crowd thinking, "How proud we are of ourselves. The Beatles will be walking right by the most behaved crowd in the universe." Then the Security Guard made an announcement. "The Beatles will come out of the hotel through those doors. Then they will pass by all of you and ride in this limousine to, The Anchorage International Airport. So, please stay behind the velvet ropes." That is what he said, and we believed him because he was wearing the gray uniform and the gray hat of a trusted, Security Guard. I was still standing with Norman and Betty, very close to the front doors. The excitement and the anticipation of The Beatles was now growing stronger. I thought, "How lucky I was to be standing here so close to the doors. Norman and Betty and I will be the first people in the crowd to see, John, George, Paul and Ringo!" I stretched out my hand to feel the soft luxurious velvet ropes that they so generously placed before us. My stomach was filled with the feeling of more butterflies than I had ever felt in my life. I looked around and noticed the happy faces of the crowd. It wasn't dark at all. We would be able to see the Beatles very clearly. But wait a minute. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head. Was looking at the crowd, looking at the limo, looking at the Security Guard. Then, something clicked. I turned and stood toe to toe with Norman. I grabbed both of Norman's hands and yelled. "They're not coming out here"! In a second, Norman figured it out too and we shouted together, "They're going through the kitchen, In the back!" Norman and I started running. Flash! The image of the movie, "A Hard Day's Night" popped into my head. The scene where, the Beatles were running at the train station and were going into decoy cars. And that's just what was happening as the Beatles were leaving the Anchorage Westward Hotel. Norman and I were holding hands and running. And as I turned to look behind me I could see Betty running behind us and the crowd was running right behind her. Then, we ran around the corner of the hotel and there it was. A bus was waiting to take the Beatles to the airport. Norman and I were right. Then the crowd ran past us and began pushing and shoving and screaming. We were caught up in, "Beatlemania!" Suddenly I was next to the bus and Norman lifted me up to a window on the bus so I could look inside.
The windows were tinted black so I pressed my face and hands against the glass to get a better look. As I looked in I could barely believe my eyes. Who was sitting right in front of me? Was it? Could it be... him? It was, it was John Lennon. I pressed my face even closer. Yes, it was John Lennon. I was face to face with John Lennon! I became hysterical. I started screaming, "It's John. It's John Lennon!" Then, John Lennon lit a cigarette and his lighter flame illuminated his face. And with his lighter still in his hand, John Lennon turned and look out the window. He looked right at me and smiled. I started screaming to Norman, "It's John!" Then, I saw the rest of the Beatles as they boarded the bus. George ran past John so fast that when he sat down it made his hair fly up. Then, Ringo ran past George and sat down so fast his hair flew up too. Then, Paul ran in past them and he sat down. It was unbelievable. I was an inch away from John Lennon's face and I could see all of them. John, my favorite Beatle was right in front of me. He was smiling and looking at me through the glass. It was just like a scene right out of the movie, "A Hard Day's Night!" Norman was still holding me up but not for long. The buses engine started revving up and it was time to come back to earth. I slid down the side of the bus and grabbed Norman's hand for safety. Then the frenzied crowd started running to get to their cars so they could follow the bus to the airport. Somehow, Norman and I caught up with Betty and the three of us ran toward our car. In the parking lot everyone was jumping into their cars and began forming a long, wild caravan ride to the airport. In our car we were all talking at the same time. We were so excited. And Betty couldn't believe that I was actually face to face with, John Lennon and that I saw all, the Beatles in the bus. Norman was shouting about how he had held me up to the bus window with all his strength and how everyone was screaming and shoving and pushing all around him. We were shouting and laughing about how Norman and I had been so excited that we had loudly shouted about how we thought the Beatles were going come out of the hotel kitchen. Now, everyone in the caravan had their car windows rolled down, and we could hear everyone laughing and talking about all the fun as the caravan moved on. Car horns were honking and it was an incredible time for everyone. Nothing like that had ever happened to us, " Anchorage-ites." Finally, we made it to the airport. Then, we spotted the bus carrying the Beatles. It was driving around the side of the airport toward the tarmac. We stopped our car and jumped out just as everyone else did. The car drivers were leaving their engines running and their car doors open. Now everyone was running toward the airport lookout so we could see the Beatles one more time before their planet took off. We were running and
laughing. We finally made it to the platform stairs and stood on the platform just in time to see the Beatles leaving the bus and climbing the stairs into the airplane.. Then, to the surprise and delight of everyone, the Beatles all stopped and turned to wave to the crazy crowd of fans. Alright! How exciting for us. To show our appreciation we all started screaming and shouting. "Good-bye, Good-bye!" We were all jumping up and down and were just thrilled that we got to see the Beatles. Then the door of the plane closed and moments later the plane was taxing away. As it did, we continued shouting and waving. Then the plane's engines roared and we watched the airplane going faster and faster down the runway. Then up and up into the air. The Beatles were gone. We all stood there for a moment longer, talking and looking into the sky. Then, one by one everyone started walking down the stairs. We were all exhausted but happy because we had gotten to see, the Beatles. Everyone was talking as we made our way back to our cars. Then we all started laughing when we saw how our cars were all parked in different directions and in crazy angles. Then me, my brother Norman and sister Betty got in our car and started driving away. It was very, very late, but what a day! Later, when I was back in my bedroom where this whole unbelievable day had started and I was getting ready for bed but I couldn't stop thinking about the day. It had been one of the most thrilling and exciting times of my life. On my nightstand was the "Rubber Soul" album and I just kept staring at the picture. Funny, but even though I was home and the Beatles were on their way to Japan, I was still feeling those butterflies in my stomach. And in my mind I kept remembering all the wonderful things that had happened. And that when my sister woke me up with shouts of, "The Beatles are here, the Beatles are here!" I would have never imagined that before the day was over, I would be face to face with, John Lennon. Soon I was in my bed, but the day kept playing and replaying in my head as I drifted off to sleep. As the years have gone by, I've sometimes wondered if John Lennon had ever thought about that girl who was staring at him through the bus window and yelling while hanging onto the side of the bus. I don't know. Maybe he did. And that's how I came face to face with John Lennon. It was a pretty exciting day for a 14 year old girl from Anchorage, Alaska. Thank you, Beatles. Thank you, John Lennon.