JFK+50: Volume 6, No. 1852
THE BEATLES ARRIVED AT JFK 52 YEARS AGONew York City (JFK+50) Fifty-two years ago today, February 7, 1964, the British rock band "THE BEATLES" arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport here in the Big Apple.
The "Fab Four," including George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, were welcomed by an estimated 3000 to 5000 fans as well as an awe-struck American press.
After stepping off Pam Am Flight #101, the four young men held a press conference in which the press seemed more enamored by their hairstyles, wit and charm than their music.
There was another crowd of fans awaiting them at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan where they freshened up before going to a studio rehearsal for the Ed Sullivan Television Show. George Harrison, however, brought a cold with him from England and could not attend.
Dave Lifton of Ultimate Classic Rock writes...
"After watching the footage of themselves on the evening news, they went to the theater where the Ed Sullivan Show took place for rehearsal (but) without even having played a note, the Beatles had conquered America."
On February 9, 1964, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. They performed five of their hit tunes before a studio audience composed of mostly teenage girls who were described as "out of control."
The tunes performed were...
"All my lovin'"
"Til there was you"
"She loves you"
"I saw her standing there"
"I wanna hold your hand."
Seventy-three million not so out of control viewers tuned in to watch the show on their "tellys."
Kay Elliott said...
"I remember how long their hair was and how exotic I thought they looked. The girls were screaming so loud it was hard to hear the music."
SOURCES
"How the Beatles Conquered America--Without Playing a Single Note," by Dave Lifton, www.ultimateclassicrock.com/
"It was 50 years ago today: With Beatles' American debut, East Tennesseans' world changed," by Mike Blackerby, Knoxville News Sentinel, February 9, 2014.
The Beatles Arrive at JFK
February 7, 1964
The Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show
February 9, 1964
You Tube Video
