In perhaps the most remarkably coincidental juxtaposition of events, November 22, 1963 was a dark day in US history as President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Across the ocean, however, that day was a bit brighter – With The Beatles was released in the UK. The sadness of that day will never be forgotten by all who lived through it. It would be barely 5 weeks later that The Beatles helped bring us out of the doldrums with the onslaught of beatlemania. On that same day, Walter Cronkite was going to run the first news story about this new English phenomenon. It, of course, was bumped as we watched the news of the day as a nation. Five years later on this day, The Beatles (White Album) was released. All that music – in a 5 year span!!
Don’t forget to tune in tonight on your local PBS station to watch LENNONYC. There were two PBS specials last night. One was Lennon Naked, which was a dramatic look at John’s life from around the time he met Yoko until they moved to NYC. It was very well done. We will be carrying the DVD of this hopefully by next week. The other, first aired in 2009 – How The Beatles Rocked the Kremlin – dealt with the importance of The Beatles behind the iron curtain and how young people learned English from their smuggled records.
I saw the Masterpeice theater presentation of “Lennon Naked”…I usually like an adaptation of certain news/events of the Beatles or one solo Beatle…but some parts of this movie left me with a shallow feeling. Some parts were “added-on” speculative ideas of one person(screenwriter)and it muddles the key point that “is” fact. All in all it was OK…As much as John was my favorite Beatle…he didn’t impress me with how he led his life. Yeah, I’ve read countless books on his ‘vulnerabilities” and insecurities…people can reach out for help OR wish to remain as they are…with a take for what I am -or “sod off!” attitude with friends and famly.
Is there another time when you will be showing Lennon Naked on your station?
We expect stock of this by next week. Please check your local PBS station to see if they are going to have an encore presentation.