73 MILLION WATCH BEATLES ON ED SULLIVAN SHOW
New York City (JFK+50) On February 9, 1964, the British rock band, the Beatles made their first appearance on American television here in New York.
The "Fab Four" performed five of their hit songs on the world famous Ed Sullivan Show. The Manhattan studio audience was composed of mostly "out of control," screaming teenage girls.
73 million Americans tuned in to see the Beatles perform including Knoxvillian Kay Elliott who is quoted as saying..."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."
Jack Stiles said... "I think it was the most defining pop-culture moment in our lifetime." University of Tennessee lecturer Sean McCollough, who teaches a class on the history of rock 'n' roll, added..."When you look at the Beatles from a historical standpoint, they really did transform what we think rock is."
The Beatles performed these tunes on the Sullivan show...
"All my lovin'"
"Til there was you"
"She loves you"
"I saw her standing there"
"I wanna hold your hand."
SOURCE
"It was 50 years ago today: With Beatles' American debut, East Tennesseans' world changed," by Mike Blackerby, Knoxville News Sentinel, February 9, 2014.
Ed Sullivan with the Beatles
Ringo, George, John & Paul
