Meet the Beatles…
There has been much news coverage of the 60th Anniversary of the Beatles arrival in the US for the first time in February 1964. It has reminded me of a family story about that time.
Our beloved Aunt Linda worked at New York radio station WINS. The star DJ, Murray the K, was an early supporter and promoter of the Beatles and in fact called himself the fifth Beatle. (A lot of people claimed that moniker, maybe he was the first?). Linda worked with Murray although she had more stories about the program director who could never get her last name, Priestley, correct. He would call her Miss Nunley. - priest/nun, get it? Regardless, she was working at the station when the band came to town.
As kids, we often asked her to tell the story, and as she passed away in 1985, I can only tell the story as I remember it. My fact checking tells me that the station broadcast from the Beatles suite at the Plaza Hotel and that must be where she spent time with them. She met all of them, but I don’t recall her relaying any details about John or Paul, who were probably mobbed anyway. She would always say that Ringo was very funny and that George was sweet. She spent a fair amount of time sitting on the couch talking with George.
At the Chrysler museum in Norfolk, there is currently a show of Paul McCartney’s personal photos from that tour. Check out the picture of George next to the yellow bathing suit. It is so compelling. Who wouldn’t want to sit on the couch with him?
She acquired all of their autographs, which she gave away to the daughter of a friend. As kids, we’d cry out “Oh why did you do that?” She would shrug and say, “ I just thought they were a fad and were no big deal.” Which I guess she had seen happen a lot working in radio.
I will point out that she was hoping to make a career as a classics singer and had sung in a few nightclubs. She never embraced pop music and all her life listened to classical music and show tunes. (Which explains why I know all of the words to every song in Oklahoma!)
When I was in art school she gave me the Beatles sweatshirt that WINS printed for the event. I also had a pair of WINS socks that said “Rat Fink” on them - now that’s a fad. I wore them both for a while, eventually the heels of the socks completely wore away, so I did not save them. Now the sweatshirt lives in a box. It could use some TLC, it has yellowed and the neck and sleeves are stretched, but I am still fond of it.
Maybe I’ll attend another Paul McCartney concert some day and wear it again. Does Ringo still tour? I hear he’s pretty funny.
WINS sweatshirt printed for the Beatles arrival in New York, 1964
One of my favorite pictures, taken by Victor Muniec. My mother, Judy Muniec, holding my oldest brother Chris, and Linda Priestley. Probably taken in 1960 in New York City.