- From Faith Current: “The Sacred Ordinary: St. Peter’s Church Hall” - May 1, 2023
- A brief (?) hiatus - April 22, 2023
- Something Happened - March 6, 2023
Back when smoking was a thing people did in cafes.
This morning, as I tried to get over not being able to afford Kenwood, I found a couple of videos to share. From WNYC, here’s “John Lennon’s NYC”—a great little video showing the Lennons’ local pharmacy, Cafe La Fortuna, 105 Bank Street (just around the corner from where I used to live!), and Madison Square Garden.
For some reason, I love the idea of John Lennon chatting with his pharmacist. “Do you have any natural alternatives to Pepto-Bismol?”
What other NYC venues should they have investigated? Smith’s Bar? Do any of you recall the health food stores John used to frequent? (“Do you have any natural alternatives to Red Zinger tea?”)
I don’t think I ever stumbled in here, but I might’ve. “Do you carry bootlegs?”
I must admit I was looking forward to seeing at least one thing a little racy—a shot of “The Magickal Childe” perhaps, or maybe even that notorious Korean brothel on 23rd Street. John Lennon’s New York City was for sure quite a bit less tame than what we’ve led to believe, especially when he and Yoko lived down on Bank Street.
And if you don’t like that, here’s a squib about “John Lennon’s Camera”—a Pentax which he may or may not have used to snap the cover of Two Virgins.
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Why I love John Lennon
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John Lennon on Allen Klein, 1973
John’s Vocals on Don’t Let Me Down
When I’m Seventy-Three: What John Lennon would look like today
I keep wondering what John & May’s “penthouse apartment” on 434 East 52nd Street was like. It’s the only New York place apart from Bank Street and the Dakota that John lived in (or is it?), and for quite a while too (before he was hypnotized into making a baby or something), but it’s hardly ever mentioned, and there don’t seem to be any pictures of the couple at their abode. Wonder why that is, huh huh huh.
Oh, and Kenwood was “named for previous owner Ken Wood”? Really?
Good catch, @Velvet! John and Yoko also lived at the St. Regis Hotel.
Here’s a pic of 434 East 52nd St, plus more: http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/tag/434-east-52nd-street/
I think the Dakota is too exclusive for UFOs.
Thanks!
Strangely enough, the Dakota does not seem to have been too exclusive for astro-, numero- and, possibly, various other -ologies in the years that followed.
And maybe it WAS Yoko in that “large, circular object”, plotting May’s (and John’s) comeuppance!
Kenwood was definitely not named after manufacturer Kenneth Wood – dunno how that one got started, but I have it from his relatives that they never lived there.
It was possibly named after the famous house designed by Robert Adam in London. Or not.
Thanks, @Kenwood. BTW, love love love your site. It’s http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.co.uk/, for anybody who hasn’t stopped by.
Thanks Michael. I’m a long-time lurker round these parts – always interesting.
Speaking of which, do you have any more on John’s connection with The Magickal Childe?
Glad you like it. I was just reading your post about Lionel Bart’s home full of secret passages. (Funny thing, I just watched “From Russia With Love” prepping for my next book, and Bart wrote the theme.)
Somewhere in my couple years’ research for Life After Death For Beginners, I read that Lennon frequented The Magickal Childe, but I don’t recall which source. I’d start with “Dakota Days” by John Green, for obvious reasons; then try Goldman. But of course that makes perfect sense: TMC was apparently the most well-respected occult bookshop in NYC in the 70s and 80s, so if John were buying such things, he’d be going there. FWIW, my instinct was confirmed quickly by this book review (read down).
People forget how common these types of beliefs were then—and may be, today, depending on where you live. The Magickal Childe seems to have been more occult rather than occult/alternative/Eastern philosophy, but my jokey caption aside, I don’t think I ever went in.
Hmmm. I feel a post coming on (or, at least, one joining the queue).
Re. 434 East 52nd Street, here’s the link to a post I did on it a few years back, if Velvet Hand is interested:
http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/new-york-city-434-east-52nd-street-1974.html
Thank you, very nice. And a new Magickal Childe post too! More interbloguality, please.