1939
Cynthia Lennon is born Cynthia Powell in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. She attended the Liverpool College of Art, where a meeting with John Lennon in a calligraphy class led to their relationship. She was married to Lennon from 1962-1968, and they had a son, Julian Lennon, who was born in 1963. The couple lived at Kenwood in Weybridge, outside of London, England, where she kept house and shared with her husband the roller coaster ride of Beatlemania. She published two books about her life with the famous Beatle: A Twist of Lennon (1978) and John (2005). Cynthia was married three other times, to Roberto Bassanini, John Twist, and Noel Charles.
1950
Brian starts working at his family furniture store, I. Epstein & Sons, Walton Road, Liverpool.
1962
George and John just bought guitars, at Rushworth and Dreaper’s Music in Liverpool.
Performance at the Queen’s Hall, Widnes, along with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Geoff Stacey and the Wanderers.
1963
Savoy Hotel. Luncheon hosted by the Variety Club Of Great Britain. The Beatles are awarded ‘Best Vocal Disc Of The Year’ (‘From Me To You’), as voted by readers of ‘Melody Maker’.
After the luncheon, the Beatles, Billy J. Kramer and Susan Maughan pose for photographers in Victoria Embankment Gardens, behind the Savoy.
Early afternoon. John and Paul go by taxi from the Savoy Hotel to their apartment (57 Green Street). While riding down Jermyn Street, they see Andrew Oldham, who invites them to see the Rolling Stones.
Afternoon. The Rolling Stones rehearse at the Ken Colyer Club. John, Paul and Andrew Oldham attend. John and Paul offer ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ to them.
The newspaper with the world’s biggest circulation, Britain’s Daily Mirror, publishes a two-page feature article about The Beatles. Written by writer-columnist, Donald Zec, the feature is entitled “Four Frenzied Little Lord Fauntleroys Who Are Earning 5,000 Pounds a Week.” He referred to the Beatles’ haircuts as “a stone-age hair style.”
BBC’s ‘Pop Go The Beatles’ broadcast (recorded 3 September 1963, 2.00-4.30pm).
1964
The Beatles were to have had a rest day in Jacksonville, Florida, but stayed in Key West until Hurricane Dora passed.
1965
It is reported that Brian is handling negotiations for the British screenings of ‘The Beatles’, US television cartoon series.
1966
US. The Beatles song ‘Yellow Submarine’, 5th week in the Top 30.
US. The Beatles LP ”Yesterday’… And Today’, 12th week in the Top 30.
1968
Studio 2. Recording: ‘Helter Skelter’ (overdub onto take 21). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith.
1969
The New Cinema Club in the Institute of Contemporary Arts screens films by John Lennon and Yoko Ono: Self Portrait, Smile, Folding, John and Yoko’s Honeymoon, Two Virgins, and Rape. Self Portrait is a film of John Lennon’s penis in various stages of erection. The film is not known to have been reviewed. As Yoko would later say, “The critics wouldn’t touch it.” Two people sit on stage shrouded in a white bag.
1980
At the conclusion of the recording of the album Double Fantasy, John Lennon agrees to a series of interviews with David Sheff for Playboy magazine. Lennon talks about every Beatle song ever written and tells Sheff: “This is going to be the reference book.”
1983
Studio 2. Show ‘The Beatles At Abbey Road’ (3 times).
1996
Biographer, Ray Coleman, dies of kidney cancer in Shepperton, England, at age 59. Coleman was the former editor-in-chief of Melody Maker, known for his biographies of The Beatles. He also contributed to music magazines such as Disc, Black Music, and Musicians Only.
2001
It was announced that Paul McCartney would read original poetry at the 21st Poetry Olympics on October 4.
