Filming “Help!” in Austria • Day 5

The Beatles filmed scenes for Help! at three locations in Obertauern, Austria, on this day: at an Olympic ski jump, on the ski slopes, and in an après-ski cellar.

In the evening, John Lennon and Paul McCartney went to the Marietta Hotel in Obertauern, where Jacky and the Strangers, a Berlin-based group led by Jacky Spelter, were scheduled to perform.

Spelter had formed the Strangers in 1953, built around a Fender Jazzmaster guitar he had brought back from Texas, where he had been held as a prisoner of war. It was the first Fender model to appear in Germany. In 1958, they opened for Bill Haley and the Comets in Berlin. While on the road playing GI clubs in Friedberg, they encountered Elvis Presley in the audience. The group also performed in Hamburg in the early 1960s, where they crossed paths with The Beatles.

John and Paul attended the show and decided to jam. John played Spelter’s Fender guitar, while Paul took over on drums. No photographs of George Harrison or Ringo Starr from the event are known, making their presence unlikely. They played several songs together before the performance was cut short. Complaints about the volume of Lennon’s amplifier prompted the hotel manager to intervene, with the manager reportedly remarking that he had booked Spelter’s band to perform — not The Beatles.

In the evening John Lennon and Paul McCartney took part in a jam session at the Marietta Hotel in Obertauern.

Scheduled to play at the hotel were Berlin-based Jacky and the Strangers, led by Jacky Spelter. Jacky Spelter formed the Strangers in 1953 with a Fender Jazzmaster guitar that he had brought from Texas were he had been taken as a POW. It was the first Fender model to appear in Germany and he played on that same instrument (that he lovingly called Jenny) for 50 years.. In 1958 he opened for Bill Haley and the Comets at the Waldbühne in Berlin. In Friedberg, where Jacky and the Strangers played the GI-Clubs, he met Elvis, who was sitting in the audience. In Hamburg he played with the Beatles. The Beatles knew Spelter from Hamburg, where they both played in the early 1960s.

John and Paul attended the show, and decided to join in. John played Spelter’s Fender Jazzmaster guitar, and Paul played drums. Since no photographs of George Harrison or Ringo Starr from the event are known, it is unlikely that they were in attendance.

Lennon and McCartney played several songs with Jacky and the Strangers. However, the volume of Lennon’s amplifier led to complaints and the performance was ended early by the hotel manager. The manager also reportedly stated that he had booked Spelter’s band to perform, rather than The Beatles.

The day-to-day filming activity in the Bahamas is drawn from “The Complete Beatles Chronicle” by Mark Lewisohn.

On the 18th March the film crew threw a party for Mr. Read, Dick Lester’s assistant, in the Hotel Marietta. The fun went on into the night and the Beatles gave a really fantastic two-hour performance for everyone. This was the only time they ever played in Austria during their entire career so it meant a lot to us and everyone who was there will remember that night for the rest of our lives. Apart from singing many of their big hits they also did standards like “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. It was a wonderful party and at one time I thought the small speakers they were using would blow up.

One old lady, who lived in the hotel, rang down to the receptionist and complained very strongly about the noise. Finally she came down — presumably to complain — but ended up joining the party.

Rudolf Aigmüller – From The Beatles Monthly Book – May 1985

Unlike Nassau, high life after dark in Obertauern was practically non-existent because the extremely high altitude tired people almost to the point of collapse. Towards the end of the two-week stint there was, however, one night to remember. The entire unit met at the Marietta Hotel to celebrate assistant director Clive Reed’s birthday. The Beatles, perhaps tiring of the inevitable Viennesse waltzes in the band’s repertoire, decided to take over. With Dick Laster at the piano, they gave a two-hour impromptu concert that nearly took the roof off.

Tony Howard – Publicist for “Help!” – From KRLA BEAT – June 9, 1965

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.

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• https://www.beatlesbible.com/1965/03/18/filming-help-20/