In honor of Women’s History Month, Aidan Moyer from Atwood Magazine reviews an advanced screening of ‘One to One,’ a new documentary featuring Yoko Ono that chronicles the art and activism of the Ono-Lennons during the early 1970s in New York City.
When discussing John, Paul, George, and Ringo, I often say, “they’re four beautiful artistic individuals who have moved beyond the Beatles.” When introduced to Paul, George, and Ringo, they would ask, “what do you think of Yoko?” They never acknowledged me, which I view as male chauvinism.
– Yoko Ono, 1971
The term “John Lennon NYC” evokes a singular image: a 33-year-old artist with windswept, shoulder-length hair, dark sunglasses, and a tank top, standing with crossed arms on a Manhattan rooftop against a hazy skyline.
Photographer Bob Gruen solidified this iconic representation in summer 1974, during a period when Lennon, briefly separated from Ono, was residing with assistant May Pang. The context surrounding LennoNYC extends far beyond Gruen's snapshot.
This background is explored in ‘One to One,’ the latest examination of the Ono-Lennons by documentarians Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards. While Gruen’s photo omits Yoko, she takes center stage in this film.
Illustration after Bob Gruen
Yoko Ono faced severe backlash from the British media, and once they wrapped up with ‘Imagine,’ the Ono-Lennons turned their attention to New York City. The Dakota, prominently included in early photographs of John, Paul, and Ringo in Central Park around 1974, was not where they intended to go. Rather, the couple opted for “two tatami rooms” to “live like art students” on Bank Street in the Village. The main visual feature in ‘One to One’ is a meticulous recreation of their living space, adorned with a Peanuts bedspread and copies of ‘Encouraging Words’ and ‘Abbey Road’ scattered about. Central to the scene is a television, which for the Ono-Lennons “replaced the fireplace” and acted as a “window to the world.”
The film navigates through various television channels and contemporary events that influenced Lennon and Ono’s writing in real time, creating a connection to the newly remastered soundtrack. Sean Ono Lennon and Paul Hicks superbly enhance the live tracks with a modern touch; I attended a screening at the Lincoln Center IMAX, and the sound was impressive.
The Lennon estate initially planned a 2022 box set to revisit 1972’s ‘Sometime in New York City’ but ultimately scrapped it. This album, both confessional and politically charged, stirred controversy upon its release. A recorded phone conversation between lawyer Allen Klein and Lennon clearly illustrates their dynamic:
John Lennon: We’ll do two songs, ‘John Sinclair’ and ‘Attica State.’
Allen Klein: How about just ‘John Sinclair’?
Lennon: Well, ‘Attica State’ is the only one Yoko knows acoustically, you see. What’s the issue with ‘Attica State’?
Klein: [laughs] Tsk… “what’s the issue with Attica State??”
Ono and Lennon quickly integrated into a New York artistic community that included activist Jerry Rubin, eccentric singer David Peel, and beat poet Allen Ginsberg. Together, they aimed to organize anti-Nixon protests and charity concerts; John and Yoko were eager to participate in all endeavors. Initially, Lennon seemed unconcerned about causing a stir. However, drummer Jim Keltner voiced some concerns:
Jim Keltner: Aren’t you worried about… no, I probably shouldn't even say it.
Lennon: What, that someone might try to kill us?
Keltner: People who are against political figures.
Lennon: I’m not worried about getting shot.
Within their partnership, Yoko was the more practical member, coordinating meetings and determining the agenda. A recurring comedic theme involves their persistent attempts to source flies that would survive long enough for a debut in Yoko’s ‘Fly.’
Meanwhile, Lennon enthusiastically brainstorms countless ideas with a spirited naivety, like inviting Bob Dylan to a concert during the 1972 RNC, or launching a “Free The People Tour” where the first 500 inmates, listed “alphabetically,” are bailed out using the proceeds. “It’s like Robin Hood, bloody brilliant!”
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To commemorate Women’s History Month, Aidan Moyer from Atwood Magazine evaluates an early screening of 'One to One,' a new documentary featuring Yoko Ono that chronicles the artistic and activist endeavors of the Ono-Lennons in New York City during the early 1970s.