Here is part 2 of the Ed Rudy article. I will post part 3 next week. This was found in issue #46 (from April 1984) issue of With a Little Help From my Friends.
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| So much for Ed's story that George stayed home. You can see him here with his sister, Louise. |
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| This is the only color photograph I know of that show the guys going to the night clubs. Notice that Ringo is here with his date, Geri Miller (who I have posted a story about in the past) |
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| Someone snapped John and Cyn leaving the Playboy club. I hope Brian didn't find out! |
During the early rehearsal period, the Beatles’ road manager, Neil Aspinall fills in for George but suddenly George come into the studio and everybody is happy, particularly Paul, John and Ringo. There is applause and cheers as George takes his place in the Beatle line from everyone: studio technicians, newsmen and even Ed Sullivan.
After rehearsals George goes back to the hotel and to bed while Paul, John and Ringo go to the exclusive “21” club for dinner. The dinner was arranged by Capitol Records. The record executives select filet mignons, pheasant under glass and other gourmet delicacies. The Beatles order chops and mashed potatoes. The management enforces their strict orders against table-hopping. Nobody is allowed to get near the Beatles. Paul tackles an order of crepe suzettes while John and Ringo go on a tour of the wine cellar. Ringo glances at all the wine bottles, then humorously asks, “Where’s the Cokes?”
After diner, the Beatle boys headed back to their limousines and made a whirlwind tour of the city with special emphasis on the unique winding streets of Greenwich Village. They intended to visit some of the Bohemian bistros but the dense crowds, reacting to their presence, prevented this.
Arriving back at their hotel, they stop in to see George and find that his throat is improving. They take time to conduct special interviews; they answer telephone calls from deejays from all over America. They turn on the radio and listen to their music being played on just about every radio station they can dial in. The second great day in America for the Beatle boys comes to a close.
On Sunday, February 9th, the Beatle boys sleep late then get together for mid-morn breakfast. We take time to interview them for another of our taped interviews just before they leave for the early dress rehearsal of tonight’s Sullivan show plus the tape to show for February 23.
Beatle fans are packed into the theatre during this rehearsal period. The theater is filled right up to the rafters. The noise is deafening and Ed Sullivan wisecracks, “Let’s have less noise—else I’ll send for a barber!” Rehearsals go well. The February 23rd show is taped. There is a brief period where the Beatles take time to rest, grab a fast bite to eat, get themselves ready for the live show. The Beatles are a little unhappy. They want to say something to their American audience to their American fans everywhere for making their visit so great and for the wonderful welcome received wherever they go. Sullivan will not let them speak. He wants them to play only. They end up performing only and no thank you speeches!
During the live show, John’s microphone was accidentally off during one number. The Beatles boys are not happy about this incident. They feel that this unbalanced the number. However the show is over, the mistake was made and that’s that.
Deejay Murray the K takes the Beatle boys over to the Playboy club after the television show. They head back to the hotel first where George decides to go to bed early.
Paul, John and Ringo plus Murray the K decide to walk over to the Playboy club from the hotel, about a half block away. They are mobbed by Beatle fans even at this late time of the night and policemen assigned to the Beatles for protection help escort them to the club. They go to the penthouse lounge section of the club, followed by reporters, photographers, policemen. They relax a little from a hectic day to the sounds of soft music, provided by a combo of piano and bass. John is overheard saying, “This is music we really think is gear – we do Rock n Skiffle for money!”
The Beatles entourage with the Beatle boys, Paul, John and Ringo leading, then head for the “Peppermint Lounge” the place where the “Twist” originated. There is a group of four male entertainers in the Peppermint show who did an impromptu takeoff of the Beatles. Of all the people there, Paul, John and Ringo find this skit the most amusing—laugh the hardest and longest.
The photographs and newsmen have packed the place. Hundreds of pictures are being taken and everybody is in each other’s way. Ringo is an expert dancer and he twists with one of the girls int eh show. Everybody, but everybody is trying to get near a Beatle boy. Papers and pens are shoved towards them from every direction for autographs. It’s the end of a very great day for the Beatle three. They head back for the Plaza Hotel. It is 4:30a.m. according to my wristwatch.
On Monday, February 10, the Beatle boys had arranged their schedule so that this day would be free to do with as they chose. However, there were still hundreds of reporters and photographers that applied for interviews and hundreds of deejays that wanted to tape interviews for air play. So the day was designated as “p” day …for the press, although it turned out to be for “panic” because of the confusion. Conference upon conference was held.
Asked one member of the press, “which is the sexy one?” Paul took this question and answered it quickly, “Our manager, Brian Epstein is the one.” One female reporter asked the question, “who selects your clothes?” Answered the Beatles in unison, “We choose our own, but tell me, who chooses yours?” The female reporter shot back, “My husband!” Then she continued with another question, “Are there any subjects you prefer not to discuss?” John then shot back a fast, “Yeah, your husband!”
A question was directed to Ringo by a reporter as to why he said less than the other Beatles during the press conference. Said Ringo, “I’m the anonymous Beatles but as long as they split the money with me, I don’t mind it!” Another question asked the Beatle boys was “What do you consider the greatest danger? Dandruff or nuclear bombs?” George was fast to answer this one, “We consider bomb! We already got dandruff!”
Press conferences lasted all afternoon into the early evening and great many interviews and quite a few picture sessions. Throughout the afternoon, the Beatles munched away on roast beef sandwiches and Cokes. Around 7:00 in the evening, the Beatles decided to relax a little while before going on a tour of some of the New York nite clubs. We left them, at this time, to join a few other members of the press who decided we would all have a bite to eat before continuing on the evening tour with the Beatles.
When we returned to the hotel, the Beatles were ready to leave and followed in cars behind them. We first headed for the “Headliners Club” and we met Jill Hayworth here. The party then headed for the “Improvisation Coffee house and Restaurant”
The club was filled with people, of all ages, who were so stunned by the Beatles’ visit that they couldn’t’ believe their eyes. The club started to really get packed, when news leaked out in the neighborhood. Everyone wanted to get in. When it came time to leave, Ringo almost stepped into the bass drum. At around 4:00a.m., the Beatles decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel.