Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
The Beatles' New York
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Recently Rolling Stone took a 60-second tour of The Beatles' New York, with a little help from Google’s Street Maps feature.
First up on their tour: John and Yoko’s first NYC apartment at 105 Bank Street (where they lived during the release of this album). Here's a closer look at the property, which is also shown at right.
In 1971, after a long stay at the St. Regis Hotel, John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved into a tiny pad owned by Lovin’ Spoonful drummer Joe Butler. This was during Lennon’s most political period, and he often hosted gatherings at the apartment that drew counterculture figures like Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. Lennon also demoed much of his Some Time in New York City album in this spot. After 18 months, though, John and Yoko moved on up, to the Upper West Side apartment building called the Dakota.
Other places on the trip down memory lane include The Dakota (1 West 72nd Street) where Yoko Ono still lives today, the Ed Sullivan Theater (53rd Street and Broadway) where The Beatles played to an audience of 74 million on February 9th, 1964 (#1 in the 100 days that changed music).
The Plaza at 2 Central Park South ends the tour. In February 1964 the Beatles began their American journey there and ten years later they attempted to reunite in the same spot to sign legal documents that would formally dissolve their partnership. However "John didn’t show up. 'He wouldn’t come across the park!' Paul McCartney said. 'I had flown in from England, and John wouldn’t show up. George got on the phone and yelled, ’Take those fucking shades off and come over here.’ John still wouldn’t come over. He had a balloon delivered with a sign saying ‘Listen to this balloon.’ It was all quite far out.'"
Tagged
abbie hoffman
Bank Street
broadway
central park
central park south
city
history
In February
john lennon
maps
Music
new york
new york city
nyc
paul mccartney
Regis Hotel
rolling stone
the beatles
the plaza
theater
Upper West
Upper West Side
usa
west side
yoko ono
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .