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	Book Reviews

THE BEATLES: Now and Then
Photographs by Harry Benson

July 1 through October 9, 2000
Mon-Saturday 9:30 AM-4:30 PM;
Sunday 12:00 Noon-5:00 PM.

The Chicago Historical Society,
Clark Street at North Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois 60614-6099
Telephone: 312/ 642-4600

Will you still need me.
will you still feed me.
When I'm sixty-four.

The Beatles

The answer must be a resounding -- Yes. In 1970, when The Beatles broke up and went their several ways, perhaps some thought an era had ended. It had only changed. Year by year, new generations discover and make their own a phenomenon which first hit Great Britain, officially on October 13th, 1963 with the historic concert at the London Palladium; but which later went on to frenzy the Yankee young and in-the-know, February 12th, 1964 at Carnegie Hall, N.Y. City; as well as on February 9th and 26th, 1964, on the all-encompassing Ed Sullivan Show, Television - U.S.A.

The Beatles: Now and Then, from July 1 through October 9, 2000, at the Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street at North Avenue, Chicago, presents the photographs of Scotland-born photographer, Harry Benson, who knew and followed the whole affair. This exhibit documents a time of exuberant release and joy, and, at the same time, contrasts that current with contemporary tragedy: Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina is a concurrent exhibition at the Chicago Historical Society, one which shows another side to those years... "the best of times, and the worst of times."

The Beatles: Now and Then is an excellent showing, and is mirrored in a companion photo book by that title as well. Both present the photographic work of Harry Benson, who became a photographer for Life, and, among so much else, followed the 'Fab Four' throughout the years. Benson took some first-rate footage.

Benson has published earlier photographs: The Beatles: In the Beginning (Universe Publishing: 1993). Together with this showing, his work covers a full history of The Beatles and of each member's later careers.

Harry Benson, photojournalist and documentary photographer, does not stage; but where there are possibilities, he does prompt. In an interview by John Loengard, Benson noted:

During their tour in France, they were shut away in these hotel rooms, and they had had pillow fights. So I asked them to have another. It was 3 in the morning, after Brian Epstein had told them that I Want to Hold Your Hand was number one in America. They were feeling like fun -- it meant they were coming to America. I came with them on the same plane. I always knew that I would stay in America. I always wanted to work for a magazine like Life, but I never thought I was up to that standard. Life was very elitist.

in Life Photographers: What They Saw
(Little, Brown and Comp: 1998)

This is a key to Benson's effectiveness: both in capturing the joyous fantasy of popular excitement and simultaneously in bringing a direct, personal quality to the Beatles photographs. Benson himself has made several points about his calling: "A photojournalist's job is to bring back pictures"; "You know, you want to photograph for Life, you don't want to die for it"; "To me a good picture is a picture that you'll stop and look at, and you'll turn the page back and look at it again." [Interview with John Loengard.]

Benson began with The Beatles in Paris, 1964, by which time they were already being managed by Brian Epstein, and had become the sensation in popular music. The Beatles: Now and Then starts with that, and brings the history to current date: McCartney, Harrison, Ringo; their families and their lives; John Lennon's heirs. This exhibition, and its photo book, include as well photographs of how the group was received, adored by fans. At times, Beatlemania got out of hand.

Benson covered The Beatles well. It was at their height that John Lennon had given an interview with British writer, Maureen Cleave, and in an unguarded moment, commenting on declining Christian fervor, had said: "We're [The Beatles] more popular than Jesus now." The group had been strained by the adulation and Lennon's point was directed more toward the popular madness over a group of Liverpool working-class boys made good. Almost a year later, American tabloids headlined the comment out of context, creating a furor with many. Beatles records and memorabilia were to fuel bonfires, especially in the American Bible belt. It was 1966 and The Beatles were in Chicago on an American tour.

Benson was told to get up to Chicago as quickly as possible and, as he reports, Lennon was confused and upset: "Why did I open my big mouth, why did I do it? I didn't mean it." That too is part of this exhibition. Fellow Life photographer, Bill Eppridge, noted of Benson: ""Every time you'd know what the best spot is, who shows up in that spot? Harry Benson." The Beatles: Now and Then offers quality, human documents for a long run of the Beatles phenomenon, and later. Benson is expert, resourceful and present whenever anything was happening.

The Beatles: Now and Then exhibits photographs in black and white, but Benson does include color work. The visitor is treated to moments of the breakthrough Ed Sullivan airing; endearing shots of the foursome gamboling in the waves at Miami Beach; their humbling meeting, at their own request, with boxer Cassius Clay; and very contemporary shots: the McCartneys, Linda and children, Wings; Yoko Ono and Sean, Julian Lennon. The photographs document a course of creativity and achievement, innocence, legacies. That is not surprising given the personalities, and the photographer -- Harry Benson has received many awards for his work: twice selected Photographer of the Year, an Overseas Press Club award, two Leica Medals of Excellence. Benson's photographs are in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C..

The Beatles: Now and Then, a photo book to accompany this exhibition, was issued in 1998 by Universe Publishing/Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. With 128 pages of photographs and text by Harry Benson, it can be purchased in the Chicago Historical Society bookstore for $19.95. The bookstore also carries other Beatles-related books and items.

The Beatles: Now and Then runs from July 1 through October 9, 2000, together with Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina at The Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street at North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614-6099, Telephone: 312/ 642-4600. Website: http://chicagohistory.org.

On Tuesday, September 19, from 5:30-8:00 PM, Terri Hammert of Chicago's WXRT will lead a Beatles workshop at the Chicago Historical Society, in a two-for-one admission event. For information phone: 312/ 642-4600.

--G. Jurek Polanski

Jurek Polanski has previously written and art edited for Strong Coffee in Chicago. He's also well known and respected among the Chicago museums and galleries. Jurek is currently a Visual Arts Correspondent for ArtScope.net.

Editorial Note: Many of the books mentioned in www.artscope.net reviews are in print and may be purchased through this site's Barnes & Noble link. Of particular interest is Life Photographers: What They Saw by John Loengard (Little, Brown and Company: 1998), which contains an excellent interview with Harry Benson.