My Visit With John Lennon At The Dakota, 1978

Originally Posted by wildewoman

Well, I for one would like to have a cup of coffee in that kitchen. I've seen photos; it looks cool. Very relaxing, homey and casual. Just the place to linger over a cup of coffee, some smokes and the papers.

Omg, I would have loved to hang with John at The Dakota for a day... discussing current events, drinking tea, playing the jukebox, looking out that big window over Central Park... hell, he even had HBO in 1980!

^Well, I'm assuming you two ladies were about 17 or so in 1980, so the possibility isn't too far off- given that several Dakota Scruffs were around that age. Me on the other hand...

I am SO so sorry to hear that. We got HBO in 1977 right around my birthday. And GUESS what was on heavy rotation that summer? Ok, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" was one I loved and I saw it multiple times, but another one was -LET IT BE! Ha ha, I think I saw it every time it was on, even in the early morning hours because it was summer and I didn't have to go to school! Hee hee hee...(oh, and don't get me started on "The Harrod Experiment" with a very young Don Johnson--watched it on the sly after the folks went to bed. If I start reminiscing about that movie I will soon venture into Ninth Walrus territory. Love ya, Ms. Walrus!)

<end gloat>.

Ok, that was rude. And off-topic. Anyway, I have a story about someone who met John in NYC in the late 70's. My sister and I babysat for two British couples, from--Manchester, I believe--some large city in the North of England that ISN'T Liverpool. They were in San Diego on a year's assignment. One of the couples took a vacation in NYC and for some reason found themselves in the Cafe La Fortuna. So they're sitting there lingering over some pastries and coffee and talking and then this guy comes up to their table and starts talking to THEM because he recognized their accents and wanted to hear some homelike accents and proceeded to pump them for information on England in a friendly and eager way. Yes, it was John.

True story.

That story was so cute. I found a ton of stories when I was fishing around for stuff to put in that 12/8 fan spam thread (I have a LOT of stuff still but I'm distracted by work and life at the moment- very soon I shall share). All of the encounters were fabulous. I even read one that seemed like it could have been made up, but then I decided I should just go with it. The guy used to clean that stairwell area next to the Dakota that leads down to the subway and apparently he lost his wallet or something. Oh dang, I forgot the rest but I believe John was around and just pulled $300 out of his wallet and gave it to him and told him to keep his chin up.

Oh don't feel bad about Don Johnson. When I was very young I used to watch Magnum P.I. and Miami Vice with my dad and dream about Tom Selleck and Don Johnson. I also had a troubling crush on Clint Eastwood when I was 5.

Originally Posted by wildewoman

I am SO so sorry to hear that. We got HBO in 1977 right around my birthday.

Yes, I was deprived. Frankly, I don't remember when I first got HBO, but I suspect it wasn't until I moved out and got my own apartment... can't recall. But I'll tell you this for certain: I never recall seeing Let It Be on cable... ¡caramba! That would've blown my mind!! I only saw LIB at Beatlefests or as a triple feature with Magical Mystery Tour and A Hard Day's Night or something at the revival house movie theater down the street from me.

Great little story, btw. Can you imagine John Lennon starting a random conversation with you??

^ Ugh, sorry. That GIF is a little graphic. I'll remove it if it grosses anyone out...

Originally Posted by Maia 66

^ Ugh, sorry. That GIF is a little graphic. I'll remove it if it grosses anyone out...

It doesn't bother me. I live with a man who makes me watch his "action films" and all I wonder the whole time is how many more people are going to die?

That's a fantastic account of meeting a Beatle. And I had HBO around 1980 as well. And also NEVER saw Let It Be broadcast. I remember repeated playings of The Long Riders and some freaking otter movie. I do know that there was a cable service called On TV that aired LIB it around that time. That's where a lot of the booted copies floating around today came from.

...by 1980 they were showing "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" ad nauseum. I think I saw at least part of that about 15 times. It was cute the first 5 times but come on.

Originally Posted by Apple Scruff

Dang, I need to find more late-70's encounters (there are tons!) and stick them in this thread.

That would be awesome. I love anecdotes like these and some of the others that were posted in the past were priceless (my favorite is probably the guy in NYC who passed John on the street and John flipped his eyebrows at the guy's look of shock/wonder). Great story here.

I read this entire article yesterday on my phone. I love it. I seriously have nothing more to say other than John Lennon was the motherf*cking man. Once again it has to be said.

Originally Posted by 834

That would be awesome. I love anecdotes like these and some of the others that were posted in the past were priceless (my favorite is probably the guy in NYC who passed John on the street and John flipped his eyebrows at the guy's look of shock/wonder). Great story here.

I'm going to try and get those together and probably put them in a different thread. I have a few saved, just need to get more.

Great article and extremely well written. Loved it. Im surprised by the questions here about Epstein's photo. All the boys loved him, certainly. And who's to say other rooms weren't loaded with family photos?

Regarding "Manchester" being another large city... It is. It is the closest large city to Liverpool, (less than an hour apart) and the two cities have an ENORMOUS rivalry. Mostly sports related, with Liverpool Football Club and Manchester United being the two most successful football (soccer) clubs in England. At times, they have each best the best team in ALL of Europe. Matches between the two are THE biggest of the year. Incidentally, the Manchester accent is VERY different than Scousers. No "sing song" at all and far more traditional British sounding. Not upper crust West London mind you, but never mistaken for Liverpudlian.

Anyone who follows British football, I'll declare my allegiance right now... YNWA.

just finding this post..in the hosp the week you started this thread...a great encounter...wonder if john asked (on visiting the store at the end) "is charly around?"..since he was "your boy lennon"...who knows maybe a comment about charly from john made the guy say it that way..??

cool story...thanks for sharing it..don't follow huffington much.

gk.

Didn't we start posting other encounters somewhere? Does anyone know what thread that was in? I love reading these accounts...

Originally Posted by Maia 66

Didn't we start posting other encounters somewhere? Does anyone know what thread that was in? I love reading these accounts...

Yes!! 4iiiis made this thread.

I'm going to fish around for some encounters now!