ONE TO ONE - IMAX PREMIERE -NYC

by Madeline Bocaro

A wonderful night in Lincoln Center brought old friends and young people together – to experience the memories of the early 1970s with John and Yoko.

The IMAX sneak premier of One to One was followed by a talk with the film’s director Kevin MacDonald, Sean Ono Lennon and photographer Bob Gruen – conducted by David Fricke of The Beatles Channel on Sirius XM.

The IMAX experience was thrilling – especially the SOUND! And the close-ups!!

Everyone must experience it for themselves!!

I couldn’t help thinking about Sean’s lyrics “All that I knew of you is what people told me /Though I remember the scar on your chin” when seeing John in extreme closeup …

Special attendees included two Elephant’s Memory Band members, Gary Van Scyoc and Adam Ippolito with their lovely wives. I had the pleasure of meeting Geraldo Rivera, who filmed the horrible conditions and made a stunning documentary about the neglect of children at the Willowbrook institution (and emceed John & Yoko’s benefit concert). He came with a former Willowbrook patient. It’s so wonderful that they remained friends after all these years.

Not only did John and Yoko raise money for Willowbrook with their concert, but they had invited busloads of patients for a magical day out in Central Park with games and an assigned volunteer “buddy” for each child. It’s wonderful to see this in the film.

It was refreshing to hear the people in the theatre applauding after Yoko’s stunning performance of ‘Don’t Worry Kyoko’ in the film!

It was also great seeing Tom Frangione of Sirius XM, talking with Gary of Elephant’s Memory, and chatting with the film’s director Kevin MacDonald. Also met Charlotte Kemp Muhl and Yuka Honda, spoke with David Fricke (who is a big fan and supporter of my book) and the gang from Studio One. Most special was chatting with Sean Ono Lennon- like two huge John & Yoko fans – which we are, and always will be!

You can see my full movie review here: