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Detroit concert memories from the fans

August 13, 2016, 4:53 pm
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One thing that people don't realize now is that back then it wasn't so easy to get tickets.  There were no toll-free numbers, no credit cards, and very few interstate highways to zip along to other cities to see more concerts.  Most people had to get tickets through the mail.  I won two tickets from the Cunningham Drug Store Company, twenty-five words or less, why you like their drug store.  We also bought a pair of tickets for $7 each.  We gave the extra two tickets to the children of the parking lot attendant.
 We saw lots of fans with Beatles decorations on their cars; one even had a huge model of a yellow submarine tied to the roof of their car.  Our seats were about halfway back to the right of the stage in the stands.  We were only a couple of seats away from one of the entry ramps.  While the Beatles were on, we happened to look over, and there was Brian Epstein standing in the entry watching the concert!
 It was too bad that the crowd's screaming was so loud that the songs were almost impossible to hear.  The year before we had been on an exchange to England with our university and had seen the lads in concert in New Castle-on Tyne.  The concert was in a small city hall auditorium with about 2,000 people who actually listened to the songs and only screamed in between!
 We decided to wait at the back entry to the arena after the concert to see if we could see The Beatles.  There was a big crowd at first but after half an hour there were only about fifty or sixty people, and we were all standing around talking about The Beatles and how great they were and which ones were the favorites (mine is John).  The garage door finally opened and a huge bus came out.  My friend and I ran back to our car across the street, got in, and followed the bus.  Olympia is not in the best part of Detroit, so we were a bit apprehensive about where the bus was going and if we could find out way back since we lived in Ann Arbor.  Surprisingly we seemed to be the only ones doing this, and after about a mile, the bus pulled over and parked at the curb.  We stopped behind it and wondered what to do now that we had our chance.  One of the windows opened (can you imagine our excitement?!) and a member of The Cyrkle stuck his head out.  We asked him if The Beatles were on the bus, He said they weren’t, but would we like some popsicles?
So we got back in our car, turned around and headed home.
--Sue D.
 

I saw The Beatles in concert at Olympia Stadium, Detroit, 1966.  It was right after the controversy over John stating that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.  While my friends and I were outside the stadium waiting for the second show to begin, a group of teens showed up with anti-Beatle signs.  We chased them, seized the signs and destroyed them!
And yes, once inside, I was one of the many crying, hysterical girls, loving every minute of it!  As difficult as it was to do, we decided to leave the building when we felt the show was nearing an end.  We gathered out back where the Greyhound buses were parked and, sure enough, we got a glimpse of Paul waving to us as the bus drove away!  What a trill!!!
--K.R.W.

I was at that show also.  My friend and I watched from behind the stage and nearly went nuts when John turned around and waved.  After that they alternated throwing a wave and smile to the dedicated fans sitting behind the stage.  I really treasure those memories.
-Ted 

I too saw the Fab Four in Detroit.  I was up in the balcony and they looked like ants. I couldn’t hear a thing because everyone was screaming so loud, especially me.  I was fourteen at the time.  I just loved Paul.  I even wore a black straight skirt and white blouse because I read in Tiger Beat that that was what he loved.
--Lee Ann
They played in Detroit, and then took the Ohio Turnpike to play in Cleveland.  Their bus stopped at the Vermilion (Ohio) Turnpike at 2 A.M., where I met them.  Paul sang a shortened version of “Michelle” to me – a thirteen year old Michele.  Imagine!
--Michele

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Cleveland Reference

August 14, 2016, 4:28 pm
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We have already established that I am obsessed with the Beatles 1966 North American tour.  One of the two concerts that interests me the most is the one in Cleveland, Ohio on August 14, 2016.   I like to think about the fans that rushed the stage and wonder what it must have been like to have been there that night.


There are two great books that focus on the Beatles in Cleveland, and have great stories that go along with the 1966 tour.

The first book is Dave Schwenson's book "the Beatles in Cleveland" and the second book is Confessions of a Beatlemaniacby Dee Elias.
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Bad comparison?

August 14, 2016, 4:48 pm
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In both of these newspaper article I found about the Beatles in Cleveland in 1966, the fans rushing the stage are compared to racial riots that occurred a few weeks earlier in Cleveland  in the Hough neighborhood.   Now I know that I am looking through this with the glasses of 2016 and not 1966 and times were different, but it just seems like a terrible comparison.    People died and were seriously injured in the Hough riots.    No one was seriously hurt in the Beatles "riot."     And the guy that said that both groups rioted because they had nothing better to do just made me cringe!   Yikes!      I don't think today or back then anyone did something that others would call a "riot" out of boredom.    Anyhow---I am posting these stories as they were printing in newspapers in August of 1966.


Beatle Fans go Wild again:  Worse than riot police say
Associated Press (Cleveland)

Between 2000 and 3000 screaming teenage Beatle fans rushed onto the field to Cleveland Stadium Sunday night in an attempt to mob the famed quartet, halting the show for about a half hour.

The young fans leaped a small fence and raced past police to the stage during the concert.  The Beatles finished their song and raced to a small trailer behind the stage set up on second base of the baseball diamond.

A local disc-jockey helping to coordinate the show ran to the stage and yelled over the microphone, “We’ll stop the concert unless you move back.  Hold it.  Move back.”

About 100 of the 150 policemen on duty were on the field during the fifteen minutes of rebellion.
Stadium officials said the infield of the Indians baseball diamond was extensively damaged by the rampage.   “I thought I was going to get trampled,” said one of the officers.

One policeman, who said he was the first to the stage when the fans surged forward, said the wild fifteen minutes was like the recent rioting in Cleveland’s East Side Negro Hough area.  “I got it worse in this than I did in Hough,” another officer said, as he rubbed his arm.  “But this was worse than Hough because there you could fight back.” 

“Oh, they’re the greatest,” the fans screamed.
“They’re great musicians, especially John,” one fan said.
“I love them all, especially John—he’s the brainy Beatle, you know, “ said another.

The only quiet part of the concert was when Paul McCartney sang “Yesterday.”

Earlier in the day, Lennon said he was sorry for the way people took his statement about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus.  He said the statement was taken out of context   “In England, they take what we say with a a pinch of salt,” Lennon said, “They say, ‘well, he thinks that way and I don’t.’  If you are asked about things, you can say, ‘no comment.’”




Riot made Reporter wish he hadn’t said a thing
By Jack Hartman
Norwalk Reflector
August 15, 1966

I wish I never said it!  I wish I had never told the policeman behind the snow fence that reporters and photographers would like to have a little mob action for news purposes.

When I saw the little blonde climb over the wall  back to her seat, her hair disheveled and face red with tears—I wish I had never seen it.  Let alone said it.   She had been trampled and she was hurt.  I wondered if she had just touched the shoe top of one of the Beatles if she would still feel pain.
Fortunately, Sandy Bunn and Kathie Sanders, the Reflector Beatles contest winners stayed put, but I wondered how they felt.

The concert left me with one basic question—what makes the Beatles so popular? What makes so many people go wild?  A group that barely says a word between songs.   If even repeated itself saying, “We’ll carry on now with…” between several of their songs.

What makes a group of four teenage singers from Indiana  called The Ravens come all the way here to see them perform?  What makes one of the four say, “I would give anything just to shake hands and meet Ringo?”

What leaves teenage girls with “I love George” buttons fastened proudly to their blouse sitting and crying after the concert’s over?

What makes teenagers risk their next by running in front of the limo carrying the Fab Four out of the concert?

The mob action reminded me of the recent Hough riots and both occurred, I believe for similar reasons.  The Negro population erupted because it had nothing to do while the kids swarmed the Beatles because they had nothing better to do.

Sandy, always fighting to keep her composure, broke down and cried at her father’s side during the disturbance.

I am sure that for as long as Jerry G., disc-jockey in Cleveland is on the air, Sandy will be listening.  I cornered him on the track in front of the stands during the preliminary acts and asked him to say “hello” to Sandy .  He responded without hesitation.  He climbed into the stands without hesitation and sat down beside her.

They talked while I fired away with a camera.  At least he talked.  Sandy was probably too excited to say a thing.

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Beatles fan never got to 2nd base

August 14, 2016, 4:53 pm
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Beatles’ fans never got to 2nd base
By Paula Brooks

Anyone who is an avid Beatle fan as I am, understands how I felt upon receiving word that I would be representing the Beaver County Times’ Young World at the Beatles’ Press conference in Cleveland last August.   This was a dream of a teenage lifetime, to actually see the Beatles in person and possibly talk to them!  As you can imagine, I could think of nothing else form that moment on.

Unfortunately, two days before their scheduled stay in Cleveland, their manager announced that all press conferences were cancelled for the remainder of the tour.  To say I was disappointed is an understatement.  However, I recovered and decided to try to see them somehow.

I arrived at the Cleveland Sheraton early in the afternoon.  Although the sky was gray and overcast, this didn’t dampen the spirits of the many fans clustered around the hotel.  At regular intervals, a unified scream could be heard signifying that someone, possibly a Beatle, had been seen at one of the windows.

No one knew for sure if it was john, Paul, George or Ringo, but that didn’t matter to many of the girls who kept their vigilant watch all afternoon.  As long as they saw someone they thought was a Beatle, they were happy.

As I stepped off the elevator on the parlor floor where the Beatles suite was located, I was really excited.  The security guard read my letter of introduction, but told me he was very sorry but no member of the press was permitted to see the Beatles except the few reporters who were traveling with the tour.  It was rather frustrating to be so very close to them, just down the hall from their rooms, and not be able to see them.  The security guard told me I should talk to some of the people traveling with them.  I saw two British disc jockeys in the lobby, but they too said they were very sorry but there was nothing they could do to help me.

Again I took the elevator up to the parlor floor.  This time the guard permitted me, along with four other girls who had press passes, to stand at the end of the hall and wait in case any of the Beatles came out of their rooms.  One girl told me that about two minutes before I arrived there, they had seen John Lennon walk down the hall.  Before he went in another room, he waved and called hello.  While I stood there I did see Brian Epstein, their manager.  He was friendly but was too busy to stop and answer any questions.

The security guard would only let us stay there for about 15 minutes at a time, and he told us we should come up one at a time.  I made a total of seven trips up the elevator that afternoon.  Although I did not see the Beatles it was an experience I will never forget, and I feel fortunate that was able to get even this close.

On my way to the Cleveland Stadium for the concert, I noticed a large crowd around the back exit of the hotel.  This, along with two limousines, and two police cars could mean only one thing—the Beatles were going to leave by this exit.

After waiting for over half an hour, I figured they must be leaving by another exit.  Since the concert was to start in two minutes, I decided I’d better leave.  No sooner had I walked to the end of the block, when a scream went up that I knew signaled the Beatles departure.

Never have I run so fast as I did back up that street.  First came a police car, to clear the way.  Next came a limo.  Thinking it was the Beatles; I rushed up and took a picture of it.  It turned out to be a decoy car.

The next thing I knew, there was George Harrison right in front of me with only the car window between!  The car was moving pretty fast, but I also had a glimpse of John Lennon.


The concert was as wonderful as I expected it would be.  The only incident that marred it was the mobbing of the stage by 3000 fans.  One girl jumped the fence during the third song and ran toward the stage, which was set up on second base.  The police caught her and carried her off the field.

However, this started a chain reaction and before the police could stop them, fans began pouring onto the field.  Some girls even climbed onto the stage.  The police escorted them into the mobile home set up behind the stage, which served as a dressing room.

The DJ’s from radio station WIXY, who sponsored the show, warned the fans that the show would not continue until everyone sat down again.  After one half hour, everyone had returned to their seats.
The performance continued without further interruption. 

  All four of the Beatles gave a good performance, especially Paul.  He showed a great deal of personality and animation and would wave to the audience during songs, causing the already deafening screams to become even louder.

During the last number, the fans again rushed the stage.  As soon as the song was over, the four Beatles were whisked into the waiting limousine and rushed back to the hotel 
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Backstage in the trailer

August 14, 2016, 5:15 pm
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Much has been said about the fancy trailer that was parked back behind the stage that the Beatles used as a dressing room as well as a safe haven when fans started to jump on the stage.   It was decorated with what looks like gaudy things like zebra print couch and purple plush carpeting.   The trailer for years was seen as fairs in Ohio and for a quarter you could pay to tour the Beatles' trailer.
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Opening up

August 14, 2016, 5:26 pm
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WIXY Disc jockeys

The Remains
Bobby Hebb  with  backing band, The Remains

The Cyrkle
The Cyrkle 





There aren't a lot of photographs of the support acts on the Beatles 1966 tour performing---but here are some shots from Cleveland.
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3000 Beatles fans Wreck Cleveland Baseball Field

August 14, 2016, 5:34 pm
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3,000 Beatles Fans Wreck Cleveland Baseball Field
Associated Press (Cleveland)

The Beatles barely missed being mobbed last night as nearly 3000 screaming teenage fans surged the stage at Municipal Stadium.  The show was halted for about half an hour as the Beatles raced into a trailer behind the stage, set by the baseball diamond.

The crowd milled around the stage for about 15 minutes before returning to their seats at the urging of police and disc jockeys.  “We’ll stop the concert unless you move back,” the disc jockey yelled into a microphone on the stage.

Stadium officials said the screaming fans caused extensive damage to the Indians’ infield.  They crushed a small fence police used to try to hold them back.  About 100 of the 150 policemen on duty at the Stadium to control the crowd of more than 24,000 rushed to the field to restore order.

The fans squealed their usual comments about the quartet – particularly about John Lennon, center of the controversy about a statement he made recently that the Beatles are more popular than Jesus.

“I love them all, especially John – he’s the brainy Beatle, you know,” said one fan.

Beatle Paul McCartney’s rendition of “Yesterday” was the only time during the concert that the fans remained quiet. 

Police reported no arrests or injuries. 
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Cleveland concert memories

August 14, 2016, 5:46 pm
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I saw the Beatles in concert on a rainy Sunday evening. I was 13 and my parents insisted on making it a "family outing" so there I was with my best friend, Tina, and Mom, Dad and my younger brother and sister all in tow. It was pretty embarrassing!
The rain had stopped just before the warm up acts. There were three, as I recall - Bobby Hebb ("Sunny"), The Cyrkle ("Red Rubber Ball") and the Ronettes. Nobody in the audience seemed to care. We wanted the Beatles.
There were about 25,000 people in the audience, all seated in the stands. The stage was set up on second base, so when The Beatles finally did come on, we had to use binoculars. We couldn't hear very well although we could tell what song they were singing above all the screaming (we did our share too).
I remember that The Beatles wore dark green suits and yellow shirts and we were kind of surprised that they weren't wearing ties.
The concert was very short by today's standards. They sang about 10 songs and half way through several hundred fans rushed the stage, forcing security to get The Beatles off the stage and stop the concert until everyone sat down again. We waited for what seemed an eternity for The Beatles to come back, but they finally did, and a half-hour later it was all over. We couldn't believe it -- we had really seen them!-Rozy 

 "The date was August 14th 1966. This date is indelibly etched in my mind. On this date I saw the Beatles at Cleveland's old Municipal Stadium. The trip to Cleveland was memorable in itself. The bus we were riding in broke down on  the way to the show, on the Ohio Turnpike. I had won the tickets from KQV Radio 1410, and we just barely made it in time to see the Fab Four. We had already missed seeing the Cyrkle, but no one seemed to mind. I was on a bus full of screaming girls, I think there may have been 1 other boy on the bus, and all we wanted see was the legendary Beatles! We got there and about 10 minutes later the concert started. the Beatles were brought into the stadium in an armored car through the center field fence. The stage was set on 2nd base and 6' fences lined the field down the foul ball lines. Murray the K introduced them and then all chaos broke loose!! I have never, to this day, heard that kind of noise. The decibel level was so high that you could barely hear a word they were singing. There were people fainting and being taken out on stretchers the entire show. About 20 minutes into the show the band started to play the first notes to their famous song "Day Tripper" . A girl ran up to the 6' fence and started to climb up and almost over the fence until she was pulled back down. By that time more and more people had run up to and knocked down the fences and when it was all over 10,000 people had stormed the stage. The Beatles were taken off the stage on the same armored truck that had brought them in.  Murray the K said that if people did not go back to their seats the show would be over. About  45 minutes later the crowd got back to their seats and the concert was resumed. It's easy to see why the Beatles gave up live shows. First was the sound quality and secondly the security problem. I salute KQV for the chance to see the Beatles and as you can see, I will forever cherish the moment in time."  - George
 




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A night to remember

August 14, 2016, 5:58 pm
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The BEST concert memory of the Cleveland show comes from Joy Kilbane of MacLen magazine.  She wrote this in 1976 for the 10th anniversary of the show.    








A night to remember (round #2)
By Joy Kilbane
MacLen fanzine issue #10/11  February-April 1976


As of this writing it’s been almost 10 years since that night in Cleveland, Ohio.  I’d like to once again share my experience of the August 14th Beatles concert.  That day was very overcast, but there wasn’t any rain, thank God!  I went to downtown Cleveland with some friends of mine.  Lynda L., Donna T., Sherry S., Nita C., Chris D. and your truly.  And all of us were on our way downtown via the rapid transit.  Once we reached Public Square – the big deal center of town, we headed toward the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel.  I wore a blue and green polka-dot mini dress with high heels.  You know, the blue and green was for Paul and John.   All over the place there were Beatle people!  It was really a beautiful and exciting experience to be a part of.  I can’t really explain how I felt then.  I’m sure all of you know the feeling.  Well, the first thing all of us did was look up at the hotel and at least in my mind I thought this was it!  The guys you’ve wanted to see in action and not on the movie or TV screen.  This was MY first concert and I still couldn’t believe I was actually going to see them in action!  Also this was the second time there were in Cleveland.  The first being September 15, 1964.  I wasn’t able to go.

We had plenty of time to kill before the concert, so Donna and I went back to the Terminal where the rapids are located.  I can’t remember the reason we went back there.  Inside the Tower, there is a decline, can’t really explain it—like a ramp, no steps you climb down, just a smooth ramp.  As I said, I wore heels and I started to slip on one of the declines.  Had this really WILD idea to scream out the guys’ names.  I just felt like doing it, just to see what would happen.  Well, I started letting go with “John! John!”  Donna picked up with yelling for George.  I had to run in order not to slip and fall on my boomer plus our yelling caused a near riot inside the building.  There were at least 200 or 300 kids running inside the building after us.  We hid, naturally.  The others stayed outside while Donna and I had our jollies.

Boarded the bus that was to take us to the stadium.  I was a nervous wreck!  The stadium came in sight and my stomach was really letting the butterflies go.  Such a Beatleful feeling it was.  Found our seats – they were directly in front of the stage but far away.  WIXY 1260 on a banner tacked n the front of the stage where the guys were going to be.  WIXY wasn’t even a year old and yet, it was them that brought the guys back!  All over the stadium were banners.  I can’t remember what all of them said but I think one said “Bernard Webb Forever” and “Give us a kiss” was another one I saw.  Too much! 

I spotted Mal Evans on the stage setting up the guys’ stuff.  I told the others who he was and we started to yell out his name just to see what he’d do.   He turned around and all of us waved like mad.  He waved back at us and then started to resume what he was doing.  Again his name was called and again he turned and  waved back at us.  We did it again and all he did was wave since he knew where we were.  Again came the beautiful feelings.  

The time passed and more kids arrived.  I spotted Brian Epstein leaning against one of the legs(??)   He wore a purple suit and I told Donna that he reminded me of a grape.  Then the guys came.  Shit! What a feeling I felt!  They got out of their limo – I saw all of them but I can’t remember what the others wore except John.  He was in all white.  Yes, that is what he wore.  It was as if by magic, when the guys arrived everyone stood right up.

  The acts before the guys were enough to drive you out of your mind!  The waiting. The waiting…I don’t remember all the acts except the Cyrcle and Bobby Hebb, and the Ronnettes.  If I remember correctly, the Cyrcle was the act before the guys.  The Cyrcle did pretty well—the flash from the cameras was like lightening for them.  

Then it was time.  The WIXY DJ’s all came on stage and I thought, “Oh God!  This is it!”  They started with their small talk which drove me up the wall!  Now, I was really a nervous wreck!  Then WIXY DJ’s introduced themselves and talked about the radio station.  Then began the “Give me a B (We screamed B)---give me an E (we again let the DJ’s have it)—give me an A (we did) –give me a T (again)—give me an L (ditto)—give me an E (we did)—give me as S (again)—what does it spell?  (The Monkees?  What do you think it spelled, you dumb DJ’s???).  BEATLES! (louder) BEATLES!! (louder) BEATLES!!! “Okay, here they are—the Beatles!!!!!!”

The door of the specially built trailer for their use behind the stage opened and out they came!  All the screaming and the flashes from cameras all over the stadium—what a sight that was!  The guys ran up on the stage and went right to their instruments.  I was in such a state of shock that I can’t remember the first song they did!  Whatever it was, it was beautiful!  I know they sang “Nowhere Man.”  I had this great love for “If I Needed someone”—I really adore that song very much.  It wasn’t released in the States until the summer American LP “Yesterday and Today.”  So, I was really zonked out when George started that one!  I started crying.  I just couldn’t take it anymore!

The snow fence—if you’ve ever read in any magazine about the tours, in their description of the Cleveland Stadium concert, they mention a little fence (about waist high and very flimsy which surrounds the outfield).  This  my friends is the snow fence.  The police, thinking that they were so smart and not many police would be needed for the concert since the Beatles weren’t as popular.  There weren’t many of the little blue meanie there.   George really started the gathering during “If I Needed Someone” and so it began.  A guy was able to get on the field and naturally he was cheered on.  But the police cut the trip short.  George began the beginning of “Day Tripper” and that’s when it happened!  The kids (including yours truly) started to leave their seats.  It was like magic.  I could see the fence slowly give way and the police running toward the stage since that was the only thing they could do.  The guys on stage were really enjoying all of this.  They really started to act up and motioned for us to keep coming, which we did!  Those four were really throwing themselves into that song, all the while motioning for us to keep coming.  The police couldn’t argue with thousands of kids.  Speedy here made it to the middle of the ground, my stupid heels got stuck in the mud!  Needless to say, I was able to see the men I love up close once again, only in action this time.  John was having a good time.  He kept teasing the girls that were right up to the stage with his foot.  Paul was laughing because of the girls  came with were tickling him (on his leg).  The police began throwing the kids off.  That’s no joke!  In one of the articles about the Cleveland riot, it stated that Ringo was pulled off the drums, but that’s not true.  A girl asked if she could shake his hand and he said it would be okay.  It is just that a “nice” policeman just happened to grab her while she was still hanging onto Ringo’s hand!  That’s why he was “pulled off I his drums.”

I felt like I was going to faint.  It was so hot on that field and all the kids were just shoved together which didn’t help matters.  It was bad news, but I told myself that I couldn’t let myself faint.  I watched Paul and the guys, with the help of the police leave the stage and go into the trailer rather fast, I must say.  Jack Armstrong, one of the DJ’s started yelling that we broke our promise about not mobbing the stage.  He was crying!  That’s what I said—he was crying.  Since he’s a jerk, nobody listened to him.  The field was covered for about 20 minutes but it seemed like an hour.  After a while, it was finally cleared and an English voice came over the loudspeakers and told us that if the field wasn’t cleared right away, the show wouldn’t go on.  I swear to this day that the voice belonged to George!  After the little speech, the field was cleared fast.  I remember telling Donna that we were going to really  make news because of the riot.  Well, would you believe that in one of the Cleveland papers the next day they printed just what I said?

Also before the riot I remember one of the amps weren’t working and Paul announcing a song, “Our next number will be--- our next number WON’T be…” as no sound came from the amp.  Then Mal was called on stage and with a quick flip of a knob, got it to work (good old Mal!)

Anyway, the show started up again and the guys played “I feel Fine.”  I just wanted to die!  That’s another one of my songs.  Oh!  Another thing I forgot to mention.  One time during the show Donna was standing on her seat and was bouncing up and down.  It seemed as though Lennon was looking in our direction or our section.  Good old Donna—she was still bouncing up and down and her half-slip fell down!  It was so funny!  And John just doubled over at that moment, laughing (strange).   Also, Lynda leaned over too far and fell right into the dugout, where some of the DJ’s were sitting along with other people and on the news that night there was a film of her display of grace.

The concert ended with “Long Tall Sally” then the guys left the stage because the filed was getting full again since everyone knew that would be their last song.  I was in total shock and I just couldn’t believe that I was actually at the concert!  All of our “gang” or most of us anyway, some  were lost in the riot, met up and started back toward the Terminal Tower.  Outside the stadium the WIXY satellite studio was playing all Beatles songs and “And I love her” was playing.

On our way back, I heard this English voice.  So the lot of us ran to see who it was.  Would you believe it was Mal? I about croaked when I saw him!  He was walking back to the hotel.  I no doubt figured that he thought nobody knew who he was so he’d be safe.  Only a few girls were with him with Donna, Bonnie, Lynda, Sherry and myself ran up to him and started to rattle off about meeting him at EMI Studios on Abbey Road that past April.  I asked him if he remembered me and he did.  He asked how I liked the concert and I told him I just loved it!  Someone asked him if it would be okay with him if we kissed him.  He said it would be okay so each of us gave him a kiss.  When it was my turn, he put his hand on my back and helped me up to him.  That man has such a soft cheek and he smelled so good!  Bonnie asked him to give John and kiss and he gave her a funny look.   I offered to do it for Mal, but he just looked at me as if to say “I just bet you would.”  Oh well. I would have been able to give John that kiss if I had a few drinks in me.  Told Mal that we saw “Help!” and we liked the part he had – you know, coming out of the water and asking Lennon if he made it to the White Cliffs of Dover.  I asked him if he was cold and he said he was.  I told him I wished I’d been there to give him a towel and he said he wished I was too.  One of his friends met up with Mal and he said that he had to go.  We begged him to let us come with him but he said there were too many of us and he was going for a drink with this other guy and we weren’t old enough.  So we gave Mal all the gum chains that we had made for the guys.  I bet he was most thrilled about that.  But he did take them from us.  I bet he threw them away from we left.  Then again maybe he didn’t—I’ll never know.  And we said goodbye to him as did the other girls.


I’ll never forget that wonderful day as long as I live.  Thanks Mal!  Indeed it was a night to remember. 
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Arriving in Washington D.C.

August 15, 2016, 6:41 pm
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Every Beatles tour has one stop that has a ton of photos and information and one that has very little photos and information.    For the 1966 North American tour, Washington D.C. seems to be the stop that is the hardest to get photos and information about.     There are many more photos from the press conference than from the concert.    But I was able to locate a few things---such as this photo of the guys arriving.
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A bunch of Good Guys

August 15, 2016, 6:43 pm
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The D.C. P.C.

August 15, 2016, 6:47 pm
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For years I have been trying to figure out--what is hanging up behind the Beatles during this press conference?   Is it a poster for the Washington D.C. concert?   Art work made by a fan?   A newspaper article about the Beatles someone framed?   Does anyone know?
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Backstage in D.C.

August 15, 2016, 6:53 pm
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These girls were trying to get backstage...


These DJ's got backstage right after the guys got their stage suits on
John and Paul tune up before getting dressed for the concert. 

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Beatles lure Big Crowd

August 15, 2016, 6:58 pm
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Beatles thrill 32,161 at Washington concert
Associated Press
August 15, 1966

The Beatles, steering clear of amateur theology, resume their North American tour today having send thousands of Washington’s teenagers into cheering fits.

Under elaborate police guard, the unshorn quartet performed last night in D.C. Stadium.  The turnstiles clicked a total of 32,164 and the affair went off practically without incident.

Five members of the Ku Klux Klan, proclaimed their objection to Beatle, Lennon’s remark about Christianity picketed the stadium.

But the nearest thing to violence was when a 16 year old youth eluded the police cordon at 3rd base, streaked to the bandstand at second base and laid a hand on three Beatles before being collared.  He explained that he just wanted to touch the musicians because he admired them.


The concert punctuated by piercing cheers and screams followed a news conference. 





For the longest time THIS was the only photo I had from the Washington D.C. 1966 concert.  Four white dots on a stage



Beatles lure Big Crowd
UPI
August 16, 1966

The Beatles, trailing admires and apologies behind them, thundered through a one night stand Monday to the roaring of 32,000 fans.

The enthusiasm of the crowd at National Stadium belied the need for apologies from the millionaire singers’ outspoken member, John Lennon, who has said the quartet was “more popular than Jesus.”
During the performance, four girls and a boy broke through heavy police cordons surrounding the musical group in an effort to reach the stage placed behind second base in the baseball infield.  Only the boy was able to reach the stage where as he raised his clasped hands in a victory sign, he was grabbed by police and hustled away.

Five members of the Ku Klux Klan paraded outside the stadium in protest over Lennon’s remarks on the dwindling popularity of Christianity.   

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Fans remember the Beatles in Washington D. C. (and some not correctly)

August 15, 2016, 7:12 pm
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I attended the August, 1966, Beatles concert at D.C. Stadium.
Being only eleven at the time and having screamed all the way through it, my memories are somewhat vague.  I do remember having to buy the tickets through the mail, at $5.00 each for fifth row seats.
Somewhere, I still have my program and possibly my ticket stub.
I remember, most vividly, the opening riff of “If I needed someone,” as “Yesterday and Today” had just been released.  To this day I get goosebumps when I hear that song.
Bobby Hebb (“Sunny”) and The Cyrkle opened the show.
--Jennifer D.

This concert was one of the last of their last tour, and it was in what is now RFK Stadium in downtown Washington D.C.  They were one of about twelve other acts, including The Cyrkle (“Red Rubber Ball) and Bobby Hebb (“Sunny).  They played for about forty-five minutes to a very excited, flashbulb-happy, screaming crowd.
The most memorable part of the sow came when someone, enraged by the then-recent John Lennon statement that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ, broke past security, ran up to the stage and began pummeling John.  In the tumult that followed, Ringo jumped down from his drum kit and pulled the attacker off.  The crowd, needless to say, was taken aback by this, but the show went on.  - anonymous 

I was there to see the BEATLES I was 10 years old and tagged along with my older brother and his girl friend. It was a life time memory all for 3 dollars and 50 cents.George was on our side and I recall someone getting by the cops and he ran up on stage and touched John,Paul and George. I still have the ticket stub !  - Wayne


I was there too..I was 15 yrs old and had won the trip to see them along with about 30 other kids on a local radio station. I remember we had pretty good seats…right at first base if i recall, but, I couldn’t hear anything for the screaming. I remember thinking how dumb all those girls were. I was there to hear as well as see them…but, I did get to ‘see’ Paul..one of the girls had binoculars so that made it a little better to be able to see him up close even if I couldn’t hear a thing! I wish I had been able to afford a program, I would have loved to have that souvenir. – Teresa



I was at this concert, too! I was 15 and so thrilled that I could buy a ticket for myself and my older brother, who “chaperoned” me. We were sitting right behind the dugout that the Beatles came out of, in the second row, and when Paul came out, turned around, and waved to the crowd…….I about fell out of my seat!   -- Francie

We had front row tickets for, I think, $3.75. The guy who ran on stage was with us. His name is Gerry Canning, and he was the drummer in our little garage group. -  Richard

I was there also. I was only 8 years old at the time. I and my two older sisters talked our parents into taking us as our family vacation. We traveled from North Carolina to see them. I still have my ticket stub. It cost $5 dollars…$25 for my entire family. We were pretty much “in the rafters” of the stadium and could only hear an occasional note that would make it through the constant screaming. – K.


I was at that concert. I had just dropped out of college and was about to enlist in the Air Force. I sat a few rows behind the third base dugout and watched the opening act, Cyrkle, sing a few of their hits. My memory is hazy but I think four different limos drove on the field from the bullpen and the Beatles got out. The stage was set up on second base. At one point, a guy sitting in front of me jumped to his feet, hopped on to the roof of the dugout and then bolted for the stage. The cops out there were watching the Beatles and didn't see the guy coming. He climbed up on the stage and shook hands with each of them. They never missed a beat. He then dove into the arms of dozens of cops who arrested him only to release him the next day. I remember thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?"  -anyonmous
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Bus ride to the show

August 16, 2016, 4:25 pm
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Beatles in Philly in color

August 16, 2016, 4:44 pm
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Philly in Black and white

August 16, 2016, 4:46 pm
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Philadelphia Fans Enthusiastic:  20,000 cheer the Beatles at Stadium
UPI
Reading Eagle
August 17, 1966

Beatle John Lennon’s remarks about Christianity and his subsequent apology apparently haven’t dampened the enthusiasm of the quartet’s fans, their cheers indicated last night.

And a sampling of fans, most of whom said they weren’t offended by this first remarks stood up for his right to speak his mind about the popularity of Christianity and rock n roll music.

“The church isn’t doing its job—that’s what he meant when he said it,” said Denise Savelli, 14, a Philadelphia High School student.  “If the church was doing its job, rock n roll wouldn’t be more popular than religion.”

She was one of the 20,844 persons at John F. Kennedy Stadium last night to see the long-haired foursome.  

Janet Young, 13, of Abington PA said, “He didn’t offend me, although his remarks were offensive to Christianity.  He has the right to say what he wants to say, but he shouldn’t have said it. “Asked if she was still a Beatles fan, replied, “You bet!”

“If he had said it before I bought the tickets, I wouldn’t have come,” said 13 year old Margaret Schwakoff of Clifton Heights.  Why didn’t she stay home anyway?  “Well,” she said, “when you get back to school, you want to tell your school-mates you did something this summer.”
Peter Manon, 17, of Springfield, who will attend college this fall, said he was glad Lennon made the remarks.  

As Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney began their act, it was obvious this was not a normal Beatles crowd.  It was orderly.      The fans only screamed when the Beatles broke into one of their tunes and then settled down to the point where the twang of the electric guitars could clearly be heard.

When the concert was over, the fans calmly left the stadium without attempting to storm the steel barricades between the stands and temporary stage, about 125 feet away.

And a check with the first aid room, showed just how unusual a Beatle crowd this was.  “Only two girls fainted,” said a nurse. 
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Philly fan recall the show

August 16, 2016, 4:50 pm
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I took this photo somewhere off the Internet from a fan that stated that this was her on the way to the Beatles Philadelphia concert in 1966.  I had full intentions of emailing and asking to use the photo and , well---I lost the contact information.  So if this is you or if you know this adorable Beatles fan, please let me know so you can get proper credit.






I was at The Beatles 1966 concert in Philly . My dear Aunt Elenore  from Roslyn, Pa and her daughter Andy took me there.  I was visiting them from Lorain, Ohio. It was wonderful I was 12 years old and am now 61 and it has been a highlight of my life!!!  Lost my orange ticket years ago when I went to frame it, it was gone. I cried. I wouldn't sell it for a million dollars. Don't know what happened . I had it all these years in an album. We left the concert when Paul announced this was there last song because of a storm coming in. The rain going home was so bad we had to pull over. I have always loved my Beatles and still do. A fan forever - Diane


It was a hot August day.  Lightening was flashing throughout their performance and as soon as the Beatles had left the stage, the sky opened up and it rained down! -  Bob

I was at the concert as a 13 year old. My best friend's dad purchased the $5 tickets so we could see them. We stood up against the fence and were able to see them as they left the stadium. – Christine
We arrived early in the evening and, after snapping up a few souvenirs — a copy of the latest edition of the Beatles (U.S.A.) Ltd. fanzine; a portfolio of photos of the group taken a year or two earlier — and pocketing our precious stubs, excitedly stepped inside.   I was surprised, and frankly a little ticked, that all the seating was at one end of JFK, at best maybe a third of capacity.    In the stadium, we anxiously hunkered down for the long wait. Pop concerts in those days were like revues, with numerous acts preceding the headliners. In ’66, the opening acts were the Ronettes girl group, garage-rockers the Remains, the Cyrkle (also managed, like the Beatles, by Brian Epstein) of “Red Rubber Ball” fame, and R&B singer Bobby Hebb (“Sunny”).    And then there they were. In a blast of light like a pop-art explosion they appeared, waving and hoisting their instruments, just as I'd seen in clips and movies scores of times.  I clearly remember George Harrison's '60s fashion faux pas, white socks, as well as Paul McCartney's signature Hofner violin bass and of course the most famous bass drum skin in history. They opened with some Chuck Berry ("Rock and Roll Music") and closed with a Little Richard rocker ("Long Tall Sally"), repaying their debt to America's rock 'n' roll forefathers, but the music in between showed how far they had taken rock since those early days. For example, “Yesterday.” I’d never have thought that would be on the set list. I was also surprised to hear the recent hit “Paperback Writer” live, given the record’s advanced production techniques. John and Paul handled most lead vocals, as always, with George stepping to the mic for "If I Needed Someone" and Ringo Starr doing "I Wanna Be Your Man."   Despite the screaming, the sound was clear enough, which was the positive correlative to the low turnout, and though they were farther away than I'd have liked, I understood the security concerns. And then they were gone.  -  Tony  



I was 16 at the time and as excited as could be, for I had gotten a ticket for the temporary seating on the field!  This was the closest seating available, and I assumed I would be within Instamatic range of the stage.  I arranged to meet a friend on the train that would take us to the center of the city, where we would then take the subway to the stadium.   This was to be an outdoor concert, and the sky looked like rain.    At the stadium, I bought a concert program and settled into my seat.  Two of the opening acts, Bobby Hebb and the Cyrkle, were very impressive.   During one section of the Cyrkle’s performance, they did a perfect copy version of some of the big records of the day.  I was amazed how much they sounded like the Beach Boys and the Four Seasons.    Once the Beatles came on, all hell broke loose.  The entire audience stood for the whole set.  I remember sitting down for a moment to tie my show and the soundproofing caused by the standing crowd completely shut out the sound of the Beatles.    After the Beatles performed “Rain,” our worst fears came true.  It started to drizzle, and the concert was brought to a close.  Although it seemed at the time that the show was cut short, based on what I have learned since, the show most likely was no shorter than any other.  The postscript to the story is the craziest part of all.  I kept the concert program in my room for several years.  In 1972, when I was moving out of my parents’ house, I came across the program and decided I didn’t need it anymore and promptly threw it out.   After I became a collector and found that the 1966 program was the hardest to come by, I repeatedly kicked myself.  Finally, in 1985, I secured a good copy at a reasonable price.  How I wish I had foresight! -- Carl


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Arriving at midnight

August 17, 2016, 4:25 pm
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Beatles Arriving at Midnight
Toronto Daily Star
August 16, 1966

The Beatles will arrive in Toronto at dead of night, but they'll be assured of a reception committee numbering at least 200.

That's how many policemen will be at Toronto International Airport at midnight to guard the teen idols against over-enthusiastic fans.

There'll be at least 200 on duty again tomorrow when the foursome puts on two shows at Maple Leaf Garden and the Gardens' management has taken some security measures on its own.

A half inch steel cable will surround the stage and a steel wire net behind will protect them from potential souvenir grabbers and worshipers who just want to touch them.

Flying here straight from a show in Philadelphia, the Beatles party will be drive to the King Edward Hotel in three Cadillacs, with two trucks for instruments and luggage  and 45 passenger bus for the supporting acts -  Ron Ettes, The Cyrkle, The Remains and Bobby Hebb.

The Mersey-siders wills stay in the Gardens between the afternoon and evening performances emerging from a private suite for a press conference at 6:30 p.m.

Their route from the airport is being kept a secret to prevent any demonstrations en route.

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