John Lennon and Yoko Ono had flown from London to the Bahamas on the previous day, hoping to hold their second bed-in for peace at the Sheraton Oceanus Hotel in Freeport.
After spending a night there, however, they came to realise that the Bahamas were further from the United States than they thought, so wouldn’t attract as much publicity as hoped for. Furthermore, the prospect of spending a week in bed in the sweltering heat was far from ideal.
Footage from the hotel shows Lennon attempting to arrange a hotel in Toronto, Canada. Derek Taylor, Apple Corps’ press officer, then announces that he has booked a direct flight from Freeport to Toronto at 5pm. Lennon strums his acoustic guitar and sings “Good old Air Canada!”
Despite being held at Toronto airport for over two hours by immigration authorities, they were eventually allowed to enter the country. They spent the night at the King Edward Sheraton Hotel, Toronto, and the following day flew to Montreal.
Also on this day...
- 2024: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas
- 2022: Paul McCartney live: Hard Rock Live, Hollywood
- 2013: George Harrison memorial garden opens to public
- 2010: Paul McCartney to perform at Old Vic Theatre fundraiser
- 2004: Paul McCartney live: Estadio El Molinón, Gijón
- 1997: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston
- 1976: Wings live: Madison Square Garden, New York City
- 1973: Wings live: Hammersmith Odeon, London
- 1967: Recording: It’s All Too Much
- 1965: John Lennon is interviewed in Cannes
- 1963: The Beatles live: City Hall, Sheffield
- 1962: The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1960: The Silver Beetles live: St Thomas’ Hall, Keith, Scotland
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.