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The ones that almost made it
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Forest Hills memories
"I was at the Beatles concert at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium on August 28, 1964 from Levittown. I went with 3 girls, my girlfriend, her friend, and her cousin. We were in the first row stage right. My photo was on the front page of the Long Island Press the next day shown restraining my girlfriend."– Tom H.
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| I was able to find the photograph! |
"My brother and I bribed a gatekeeper with five or ten dollars to let us in. We just happened to be walking home that evening. Our seats were way up high. It was a waste of money since the girls’ screaming was so loud you couldn’t hear any singing."– Martin K.
"I was at one of these shows with my parents and two older brothers. I was five years old. I remember it well. I cried the whole time and wanted to leave because of all the noise from the screaming girls. Don’t worry, I became (and remain) a Beatles fan. And how cool were my parents to bring the whole family?!"– Gail P.
"I, too, attended the Beatles concert at the Forest Hill Tennis Stadium with my best friend at the time, Barbara. We were so excited. These childhood memories are some of the most cherished memories I have. I remember they added seats on the tennis courts so our seats, if I recall correctly, were in the first row, center, of the actual stadium seats after the court seats. I can still recall vividly the Beatles arriving in the helicopter. Because my friend and I were in the stadium seats that were higher up, it seemed as if the helicopter was quite low. We could see the Beatles in the helicopter and they were waving as they were coming in. So exciting for young girls who were so mesmerized by these four young men who burst onto America’s shores with their new style of music and charm!"–Janet M.
"I was there the first night with my 3 best friends (all of us 13 years old). We were very close to the stage and I remember there were a lot of girls throwing jelly beans at the band. That must have hurt them, as it hurt us. With undying thanks for the efforts of my grandfather (who was there for the Red Cross in the medical tent to take care of all the fainting girls), he actually got me backstage just before the show, and I spoke with Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall. When the band walked by through the hallway to take the stage, I was so shocked I couldn’t say a word – or even breathe! Mr. Evans gave me a postcard signed by all four of them that I have treasured to this day… A night never to be forgotten!"– Terri
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Long Island Girl Invited to Party in Beatles' Own Suite
I dont' think most girls who were invited to party with the Fab 4 in the hotel suite talked about it to the newspaper the next day. But this is one exception!
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Long Island Girl Invited to Party in Beatles' Own Suit
Writer Unknown
Long Island Press
Penny Brandstatter of Laurelton drops back to earth today -- from Beatleland Beatlemania and a Beatle party in the mopheads' own hotel suite.
the 16 year old lass, who spent the last two days in the rarified atmosphere of the Hotel Delmonico in Manhattan where the Beatles are nesting, reached the pinnacle of all success last night with an invitation to a Beatle party.
"It's wonderful, it's wonderful," Penny enthused.
Penny wheedled the invite through a Bay Shore disc jockey for whom she had been giving hourly reports on the doings at the Delmonico.
"I tell him things like the kids are climbing up the fire escape," Penny said.
Penny checked into the hotel when the Beatles moved i over the weekend. She was accompanied by here sisters, Lynne, 21, and Debbie, 5. Lynne can do without the Beatles but Debbie finds them "positively just wonderful."
The girls are staying in a 442 a day room paid for by Penny for the sales of Beatle paintings she did over the past several months.
She said she has gone through $300 to be near the Beatles and get all their newest records.
She comes home today after the Beatles check out in a swirl of hair to devastate Atlantic City.
The Beatles wrapped up their two-night stand in Forest Hills last night at something called a "concert" in the West Side Tennis club.
Needless to day, six times more than could fit into the stadium turned out.
You can read Penny's little sister, Debbie's account of meeting the Beatles in this post from 2009.
Long Island Girl Invited to Party in Beatles' Own Suit
Writer Unknown
Long Island Press
Penny Brandstatter of Laurelton drops back to earth today -- from Beatleland Beatlemania and a Beatle party in the mopheads' own hotel suite.
the 16 year old lass, who spent the last two days in the rarified atmosphere of the Hotel Delmonico in Manhattan where the Beatles are nesting, reached the pinnacle of all success last night with an invitation to a Beatle party.
"It's wonderful, it's wonderful," Penny enthused.
Penny wheedled the invite through a Bay Shore disc jockey for whom she had been giving hourly reports on the doings at the Delmonico.
"I tell him things like the kids are climbing up the fire escape," Penny said.
Penny checked into the hotel when the Beatles moved i over the weekend. She was accompanied by here sisters, Lynne, 21, and Debbie, 5. Lynne can do without the Beatles but Debbie finds them "positively just wonderful."
The girls are staying in a 442 a day room paid for by Penny for the sales of Beatle paintings she did over the past several months.
She said she has gone through $300 to be near the Beatles and get all their newest records.
She comes home today after the Beatles check out in a swirl of hair to devastate Atlantic City.
The Beatles wrapped up their two-night stand in Forest Hills last night at something called a "concert" in the West Side Tennis club.
Needless to day, six times more than could fit into the stadium turned out.
You can read Penny's little sister, Debbie's account of meeting the Beatles in this post from 2009.
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I can't hide....
This is (supposedly) a photo of Bob Dylan outside of the Delmonico Hotel on his way into the hotel to see the Beatles for the first time. Is that Neil Aspinall in the photo?
50 years ago Bob Dylan showed the Beatles how enjoyable it is to smoke pot. It wasn't the first time the Fab 4 smoked the drug. The first time was in 1960 when they were in Hamburg. I think people get confused and think that the Beatles had NEVER smoked it until they met Bob Dylan because Brian Epstein said "We have never smoked it before." But Brian, who wasn't with the Beatles in Hamburg, spoke for the entire group when he really was just speaking for himself. The Beatles had smoked marijuana a few times and George says in the Anthology that they tried it and didn't feel any effects.
But Bob Dylan did turn the Beatles onto the effects of the drug that night in the New York hotel room and it really changed the Beatles lives. Once pot was introduced and became part of the Beatles lives, their music began to change. John, George and Paul all were arrested at some point in their lives for having marijuana. It truly was a game changer for the Fab 4.
I am not a pot person. I don't smoke it. I don't enjoy being around people who are smoking it. But everyone is free to make their own choices and what someone does on his or her own time is none of my business.
I do think it is funny some of the stuff that happened that night.
- Ringo wouldn't pass the joint around (because he didn't know the proper rules)
- Brian kept saying that he was "so high I'm on the ceiling."
- Paul having Mal follow him around with a pencil and paper so that he could write down everything he said
- Ringo started to giggle and everyone was laughing at his giggling.
If you want to read a great re-telling of what happened by someone who was there. Check out this page!
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Unseen Atlantic City Press Conference photos
When the Beatles came to Atlantic City, New Jersey on August 30, 1964, they were set to do their press conference. The conference was set to take place at the Conventional Hall, where the Beatles were performing that night. There was a lack of proper security from the hotel to the hall and Ringo was almost hurt by fans. But they did make it in one piece to the Convention Hall for the press conference. The press conference only lasted 15 minutes (most press conferences lasted 30 minutes) and only about 70 people were allowed inside. One of those people allowed inside the quick press conference was the father of Cameron Cloutier who was working as a reporter at the time. He took some great photographs of our favorite fabs. These photos remained unseen until his wife pulled them out of storage a few years ago. Cameron published them on his blog, Obnixious and Anonymous.
In doing research for this topic this past year, I discovered the photos and contacted Cameron and asked him if I could share his photos with all of you and he kindly agreed!!! So I hope you all enjoy these amazing photographs as much as I do. A big thank you to Cameron for sharing this great photos with the Beatles community.
I am posting the copyright notice that is on Cameron's blog.
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In doing research for this topic this past year, I discovered the photos and contacted Cameron and asked him if I could share his photos with all of you and he kindly agreed!!! So I hope you all enjoy these amazing photographs as much as I do. A big thank you to Cameron for sharing this great photos with the Beatles community.
I am posting the copyright notice that is on Cameron's blog.
(All images appearing in this blog post are the exclusive property of Cameron Cloutier and are protected under the United States and International Copyright laws.
The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Cameron Cloutier.
Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of the United States and International Copyright laws. All images are copyrighted.)
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More from the press conference
I wanted Cameron's photos from the Atlantic City press conference to have it's own post but I don't want these other photos from the press conference to be posted as well.
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| Press photo. Historical photo archive |
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| Photo by Mike Blizzard. Historical photo archive |
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| photo by Bruce Miley for Mike Blizzard. Historical photo archives |
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| Press photo. Historical photo archives |
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The White House meets the Bealtes --- White House subs that is
Two years before the Beatles told us that we all live in a yellow submarine, they were eating a White House submarine sandwich.
The White House sub shop in Atlantic City, New Jersey has been open since 1946 and has remained a staple in the city ever since. After the show, the Beatles were hungry and wanted some local food. Police officer Bobby Palamaro,(the man in the photos with the Beatles) recalls, “my uncle Tony Basile owned the White House subs, and we couldn’t take them there, so we decided to bring sandwiches to them.”
Way before the Fab 4 were vegetarians, they enjoyed the 6 foot Italian sub sandwich. Photos were taken and if you visit the shop for yourself, you can see the photographs of the Beatles in person as well as photographs of other famous folks who have tried this taste meal. However, these rare photos almost weren't taken. You know how much Brian Epstein did not like using the Beatles for advertisement sake? Bobby Palamaro says, “Brian Epstein, their manager was there, and he frowned on anyone taking pictures. But we had Jim Barber - the official police photographer there, so they let him take that picture with me and the White House subs.”
The photos aren't the only souvenir the restaurant has on display. the paper plate that one of the Beatles used is autographed by all four and is framed on the wall.
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The White House sub shop in Atlantic City, New Jersey has been open since 1946 and has remained a staple in the city ever since. After the show, the Beatles were hungry and wanted some local food. Police officer Bobby Palamaro,(the man in the photos with the Beatles) recalls, “my uncle Tony Basile owned the White House subs, and we couldn’t take them there, so we decided to bring sandwiches to them.”
Way before the Fab 4 were vegetarians, they enjoyed the 6 foot Italian sub sandwich. Photos were taken and if you visit the shop for yourself, you can see the photographs of the Beatles in person as well as photographs of other famous folks who have tried this taste meal. However, these rare photos almost weren't taken. You know how much Brian Epstein did not like using the Beatles for advertisement sake? Bobby Palamaro says, “Brian Epstein, their manager was there, and he frowned on anyone taking pictures. But we had Jim Barber - the official police photographer there, so they let him take that picture with me and the White House subs.”
The photos aren't the only souvenir the restaurant has on display. the paper plate that one of the Beatles used is autographed by all four and is framed on the wall.
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| Press of Atlantic City file photo. Historical photo archives |
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| Notice that the top left photo is a different one than what we usually see. This is what is hanging in the restaurant. |
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It's all who you know
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| Paul, Ringo and George pose with Elizabeth Hamid--- Press of Atlantic City file photo. Historical photo archives |
Who is this adorable young Beatle fan posing for a sweet photo with three of the Beatles? It is Elizabeth Hamid, who's father just so happens to have been George Hamid Jr. who opened the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ and was the man who brought the Beatles to the city. When meeting the Beatles, it helps if your Dad is running the show. What a wonderful opportunity for young Elizabeth--one I am sure she never forgot and was thankful to her Dad for the rest of his life.
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the Beatles at Jersey Shore
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| August 31, 1964 -- The Beatles and Al Black at his home. photo by Richard Black |
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| Al Black re-connected with Ringo in 1999 and shared the photo with him. |
Here is part of an article about the Beatles in Atlantic city with security officer, Al Black. Click here to read the entire report.
When the Rolling Stones came to town George Hamid Jr. picked them up at the airport in his convertible and drove them to the boardwalk where he bought them hot dogs and pizza, and hardly anybody recognized them. He couldn’t do that with the Beatles.
By August the Beatles had continued to feed on their skyrocketing popularity and were to be met in Atlantic City by thousands of screaming fans, mainly teenage girls with high pitched voices, so they required special security to keep them safe from the unruly crowds.
Hamid grew up in a circus family so he was used to this sort of thing, and to handle this problem he turned to Al Black, an Atlantic City private eye in the best Sam Spade - Peter Gun tradition. The son of a policeman, “Big Al” was a former marine, around the island swimmer, and later a central figure in an undercover sting operation. A TV detective show with Brian Dennehy - “Big Shamus, Little Shamus,” was based on Big Al’s exploits.
Getting the Fab Four to their gig and then to their hotel with thousands of screaming fans blocking the streets was certainly a big chore, but not for Al Black. Keeping the Beatles on time, safe and secure was something that Al Black could do, with a lot of help from the Atlantic City Police Department.
The police thought they had their hands full with demonstrators during the Democratic Convention, but this was more difficult, as thousands of hysterical teenage girls can be more dangerous than terrorists.
Robert Palamaro, a former AC motorcycle policeman recalls today that, “I was detailed to them, and we brought them in inside a bread truck.”
Palamaro says that, “Al Black was the one who put it all together. His father was a policeman, a detective and a truant officer when I was in school.”
Palamaro got friendly with Al Black, who was also pals with Palamaro’s father-in-law Skinny D’Amato, owner of the famed 500 Club. Since Palamaro married Skinny’s daughter Paula Jane, and served as Sinatra’s bodyguard, he is loaded with fantastic stories and celebrity photos, including one of him with the Beatles.
Assigned to the Beatles security, patrolman Clifton recalled the Beatles arriving in a limo. “We arrived at 5 p.m. the night of the show and at least 1,000 fans lined Pacific Avenue, the street that fronts the stage door entrance to Convention Hall. We were told that the motorcade with the Beatles would arrive at 6. During that hour we watched the crowd in the street grow larger. About 5:45 we were alerted the caravan was en route, barricades were moved into position, creating a passageway from the curb to the stage door. When the crowd saw this happening, it was their cue to move into a better position…In an instant, hundreds of people made a rush across Pacific Avenue, oblivious to moving traffic, concerned only with getting closer…The Beatles were coming…The crowd moved as one, like a great wave of humanity, pushing, showing, straining to see, holding cameras up over their heads, hoping to be lucky enough to get on decent shot. As the limousine pulled up to the curb, an eager fan jumped in front of it, only to be pinned at the knees, caught between the front bumper of the limo and the rear bumper of a police car stopped in front of it….The car door opened and out came the Beatles, wanting to smile, wanting to be friendly. The crowd made its move, rushing forward to greet them. For their own safety each young man was surrounded by police officers. Paul McCartney, the last Beatle to exit from the limousine, was practically shoved through the single opened door that led into the building. The crowd continued its surge and in order to restrain them, police officers picked up the wooden barricades and charged into the mob of people. Finally, the stage door was closed and bolted.”
The Beatles were in the building.
But the Beatles weren’t out of town yet. Al Black had them in the back of the truck so he took them home, to his house at 1112 Bay Drive in West Atlantic City to meet the family and some of the neighbors.
Al Black’s daughter Donna, who now runs the Black security service, was only a child who sat on the shoulders of a neighbor when the Beatles visited the Black’s home. A few photos were taken, but only one survives.
Donna Black recalls, “My babysitter was among the throngs at Convention Hall, and was really upset at missing the Beatles at my house.” But some of the local neighbors came by and the lads from Liverpool got a taste of the real Atlantic City while they were here.
The pit stop in West Atlantic City isn’t mentioned in the Beatlesbible chronicle that says they continued on their Jersey Shore journey: “2:15 pm left Lafayette Motel–Hotel in fish truck which took them to their tour bus, which took them to Cape May where they stayed at the Lafayette Hotel.”
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Atlantic City concert memories
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| Copy of photo taken by The Press of Atlantic City. Historical photo archives |
Please remember to click on the "Atlantic City" tag to read more stories and see more photos from this concert. I also recommend reading Judith Kristen's fab book "A Date with a Beatle" to read a great story about a fan who met George during this time.
These fan memories were collected from various places online (youtube, beatlesbible, comments, etc)
All these years I thought the car (truck) I seen John Lennon in was an ambulance, they were parked and I went up and asked a man there did he have any aspirin I had a awful headache. I seen movement under some sheets and John popped his head out and gave me a big smile , I just looked at him and smiled back, Then the man closed the door and the truck took off, I went back to my friends who hogged the binoculars at the concert and told them what I saw. They were not amused that I did not call them over. –Lillian S.
I was there, 18 years old. My step dad had worked there and I knew how to get around. 3 friends and I got up to the balcony. Could not hear the music for all the screaming. Don’t recall 18000 people, seemed a lot smaller from my vantage point/memory.—Douglas B.
My two friends and I (age 14) purchased three tickets ($4.90) to the concert. We also sent away for press passes from Teen Magazine, and received two thin paper passes with PRESS typed on them. There was a raised press box to the left of the stage, and we decided to give the passes a try. Since there were only two passes and three of us, two of us presented the passes and were allowed to climb up the stairs to the press seats. Then one of us took both passes back down, gave one to the third friend and once again were allowed in. We sat IN FRONT OF Dick Clark, and sometime during the concert the police had to pull my friend down off the press table (gently, and just asked her to remain on the floor)as she was standing on it screaming. Dick Clark signed my white “genuine leatherette” purse, and some years later my mother threw it out not releasing how important it was to me! And yes, the Beatles stayed at a hotel that was about 6 blocks from the Convention Center. We walked over there and one friend used the press pass again to get up to the floor where Beatles were staying. UNFORTUNATELY, she was told by a guard that they were not accepting any more questions from the press at that time. –Bonnie
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Thank you!
I want to thank everyone who has written to me through comments and on facebook that supports me and this blog. Your support really means a lot to me and I cannot express how much your messages touched me.
You know, I do this blog because I want a place to keep the stories and photos of the fans. I started the blog for myself and I continue to do things the way I like them to be done. That being said, it really is an honor that MTBFR has become part of so many of your daily routines.
As for the accusations that I am liar, I am not sure what to say. I am never purposely a liar. I work hard to find the correct information to post. I admit that some nights I am lazy and I do not put as much effort in finding out things as I do on other nights. I also know that there is a lot of false information about the Beatles out in the world. I am thankful for friend of this blog, Mark Lewisohn's work in getting the true Beatles history in print. But I am not Mark Lewisohn---far far from it. I try my best and I might get some wrong information out. But I promise that my intentions are pure. One thing I love about the internet and this blog is that we can work together as Beatle fans to find the correct information. Alone I am not a Beatles expert, but with all of you working with me---this blog has turned into a goldmine of correct Beatles information. I am proud of it and I thank all of you who have been positive and helpful along the way.
I am not sure why I seem to have made some enemies except that they must be jealous in one way or another. The arguments that they make do not make a lot of sense to me and when I try to understand them, I end up being called "rude" and "immature" and other things, so I am done trying to understand. I do admit that I have been not so nice to some people online a few times. I get frustrated and irritated and while I never curse and try to stay calm, it isn't always easy to do. I apologize for that.
But at the end of the day we are all Beatle fans, right? Shouldn't we be sticking together? We are a special group of people and we should not be divided. We can disagree on things, but at the end of the day we love John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Peace and Love,
Sara S.
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Please Mister policeman sir....
Oops! I left this one out of Atlantic City and it is just too great not to post. I love the little girl asked the policeman if she could meet the Beatles and I love the big sign. Plus this is a great photo of what the Lafayette Hotel looked like.
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Pressing forward in Philly
The Beatles traveled from Atlantic City, NJ to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by bus and that is why ther aren't any photographs of them departing from an airplane in Philly.
Just five days prior to the Beatles arrival, Philadelphia experienced rioting in the streets of North Philly. John was particularly shocked and upset by the photographs of the police and their dogs among the people in the streets. Being from the St. Louis area and only 20 minutes from Ferguson, Missouri--I can relate a bit to this more than I could ever before. But there was no talk of riots at the Philadelphia press conference on September 2, 1964! It was all about schmoozing with the WIBBAGE radio DJ's, having Beatles cake, and drinking some soda while answering the same questions.
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the Winners
The Beatles concert in Philadelphia was sponsored by WIBBAGE radio. The month before the Beatles came to town, the radio station ran a contest and 9 girls were chosen (9 because of the call numbers 99 of the station) to meet the Beatles live and in person at the press conference before the show at the Convention Hall! How exciting for those 9 lucky girls and how disappointing for the thousands who tried to win and didn't make it.
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If you live in the Philadelphia area, you might want to check out the Broadcast Pioneers luncheon on Wednesday September 17, 2014. One of the girls who won the contest is going to be speaking, along with Larry Kane and a group of former WIBBAGE disc jockeys. They will be talking about the Beatles concert. Sounds like a fun time! http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/
If you live in the Philadelphia area, you might want to check out the Broadcast Pioneers luncheon on Wednesday September 17, 2014. One of the girls who won the contest is going to be speaking, along with Larry Kane and a group of former WIBBAGE disc jockeys. They will be talking about the Beatles concert. Sounds like a fun time! http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/
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One of the only girls in the room
The information I am posting here came from this page. It is about a WIBBAGE radio disc jockey named Bill Wright and his daughter, Kelly. Kelly was only 9 years old when the Beatles came to Philadelphia and she was a Beatles maniac! Because of the connection through her father, she met a variety of bands in the 1960's, but nothing compared to when she met the Beatles 50 years ago today!
Kelly Wright on how she became a Beatles fan:
Kelly on how she got to meet the Beatles:
Kelly on getting the Beatles autographs
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| Copyright Kelly Wright |
Kelly Wright on how she became a Beatles fan:
" I was lucky because Dad used to get promotional albums and 45's. The first one I had was "I wanna hold your hand" flip side "I Saw Her Standing there" and I played that until the grooves wore through."
Kelly on how she got to meet the Beatles:
"There was a press conference that was being held before the show. The first idea was that I would attend the press conference just like anyone else might because my Dad was on at the station. Then we found out there was a strange rule that no females were allowed in this press conference. I was upset beyond compare but I heard Frank Rizzo, the police commissioner, got involved and somehow they figured out an idea that I was to present the Beatles with a plaque from the girls of Philadelphia and that is what enabled me to stay at the press conference when there were no other females allowed except a group of nine girls that had been chosen from the radio audience of WIBBAGE to be able to meet them. That happened after my experience of presenting them with this plaque."Kelly on meeting the Beatles
I remember when they first walked into the press conference. I had my brand new autograph book in my hand. I had my Beatles ring on. I had my size 12 1/2 blue dress and ankle socks. I bit on my autograph book and it still has bite marks on it (Kelly bit on her autograph book to stop herself from screaming. She thought if she screamed, they would kick her out of the press conference and she would miss her chance at meeting the Beatles). Someone ushered me up in between the four of them where they were standing next to folding chairs. My Dad was there. I went to stand up on a chair for a photo with this plaque that was poster size and made of wood and medal. I was so nervous that I almost fell off the chair. John Lennon very gently but firmly grabbed my arm to steady me and help me to stand up straight on the chair. His touch just did it for me. He was my kindred spirit from then on. They were just such regular people. John was just a regular, caring person. Once I was standing on the chair listening to them and talking to them, there was no reason to scream. They were really regular, nice people. They paid some attention to me and that was so important. That John Lennon would be paying so much attention to me, a little girl.
Kelly on getting the Beatles autographs
From my memory, I had been escorted back out to the audience where my brother and our baby sitter was. I realized that I had this autograph book but no autographs. I apparently became a backstage brat. I left my chair and went to the side door and knocked on it. When someone opened it, I said that I was Bill Wright's daughter and I need autographs. Somehow or another everything kicked into gear again and I was being led down a long, this hallway. A door opened up and the first person I saw was John and I made a beeline right to him and he picked up his pen, took my autograph book and he signed it, "to Kelly love from John Lennon." From John I went to over to Paul. He said the same thing in his autograph, "To Kelly love from..." George did the same. Ringo was out in the hall, so when I was leaving and saying goodbye to the guys--Ringo just signed it "Ringo Starr." He was busy flirting with some female reporter. That was it!
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Concert memories in Philadelphia
Not a whole lot of concert photos from Philly are available. When I was on holiday in Memphis, TN about 10 years ago, I one large photo from Philadelphia for sale in a shop on Beale Street. I couldn't believe my luck! Since that time, very few Philly '64 concert photos have appeared. I am not sure why.
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| photo by Glenn McCurdy |
No PA system to speak of. No monitors. Girls' deafening screams prevented them from hearing themselves. My parents paid "top dollar" ($5.50) for "orchestra" seats…folding chairs near the stage. Took me and my three siblings and four friends. My father predicted: "You won't hear about these guys in a year…" One of the few times he was wrong. Thanks Mom and Dad. This concert changed my life! --unknown
I was there that night! It was a 2 hour show and they only came on in the last 30 minutes or so. It was one of the greatest nights of my life! I will never forget the energy and excitement in that venue. You could hardly hear them but it didn't matter, they were in the building and that was all that mattered. I feel honored that I saw them in person and again when they came to Philly at JFK! I have continued to see Paul any time he has come to Philly. Seeing the Beatles will always be a moment in my life I will treasure. -Patricia K.
I was there at Philly show. I didn't hear anything as everyone was screaming. My Grandfather got me and my friend Debbie seats. They had wooden folding chairs and we all stood on them to see them. –Katy K.
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They made it alive!
The Beatles weren't sure if they would make it into Indianapolis alive. Famous psychic, Jeane Dixon, a woman who had (sort of ) predicted that John F. Kennedy would die, predicted that the Beatles plane would crash when flying from Philadelphia to Indianapolis. This obviously made all of the Beatles and crew a bit nervous. Of course, the Beatles plane landed safely at 1:00a.m. in Indy and all was well. Year later Ms. Dixon claimed that she never said such a thing about the Beatles and that it was just something the media made up. Right.....
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Winner of the "I want to meet a Beatle because..." contest
In 1964, the Indianapolis News newspaper held a contest called "I want to meet a Beatle because...." and the winner was 15 year old Elaine May. Elaine got to attend the Indianapolis press conference and during the questioning she was allowed to ask a question. She asked John if he was going to write another book after his first, "In his own write." John answered her by saying, "Yes, tomorrow."
Afterward she presented the Beatles with an original Beatle editorial cartoon by the newspaper's cartoonist, Robbie Robinson.
Afterward she presented the Beatles with an original Beatle editorial cartoon by the newspaper's cartoonist, Robbie Robinson.
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| Elaine May meets with the Beatles -- photo by Curt Gunther |
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| Paul holds up the newspaper with Elaine in the background--photo by Curt Gunther |
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| The Beatles with contest winner, Elaine. Photo by Nick Longworth |
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Shaking hands with royalty
The Beatles always seemed to meet the local beauty pageant winner when they came to town. This one, Miss Indiana State Fair was Cheryl Lee Garrett and she seemed to enjoy meet the fabulous four!
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| photo by Curt Gunther |
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The meet the Press for Laughs
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| photo by Curt Gunther |
They Meet the Press For Laughs
By Richard K. Shull
The Indianapolis Times-- September 4, 1964
The original Mersey dolts, whom the world has come to know as the Beatles, faced a press conference last night in spite of a most ominous threat to their heady careers.
The audience in the Coliseum was so quiet the paying guests could hear their peculiar brand of music. Exposure such as this, without the screams to drown out their guitar thwacking, could be their ruination.
Cheerfully, the four lads from Liverpool filed into an upstairs corridor of the Fairgrounds Communication building last night between their two shows to meet the press.
Outside the building was a press of another nature as several hundred girls loitered in hopes of 1) somehow sneaking in or 2) at least getting a glimpse of them. "Ringo's the greatest!" a shrill-voiced girl shouted. "The Lord is the greatest," a curbstone evangelist admonished her. "Ringo is here," the girl replied. "The Lord is everywhere," quoth the evangelist.
Inside the building, the press, radio, TV and a number of persons who looked suspiciously like friends of the Fair Board assembled through a stair door at one end of the corridor. The Beatles and their omnipresent police escort entered from the other.
"Evenin' folks," Paul McCartney said, when a hush fell over the hall.
"Hello anyway," Ringo Starr added.
Then began a session of flashbulb popping. Before they entered, there "press officer," Derek Taylor, whose hair is too long to be fashionable, and too short to qualify as a beat musician, laid down a few ground rules.
First would come the still photos, then the interviews, and finally the TV. In the interim, three girls representing interests especially dear to the Fair Board's heart were permitted to make token presentations and lay hands on the singers.
Taylor, who was quoted in the Saturday Evening Post as saying the Beatles are so, "anti-Christ they shock me, which isn't an easy thing," then complimented local police on their excellent security.
Then came the questions. Here are some:
About Leonard Bernstein? Paul: He's great. He wrote West Side Story.
Are the Beatles leading a teen revolution against adults? Paul: They've been revolting for years. (George Harrison correct the ambiguity, saying they meant in revolt. john Lennon allowed he like the way Paul had said it).
What do they think of American food and drink? John: Kellogg's is all right. I mean, the cornflakes are all right.
Why does Ringo dislike Donald Duck? Ringo: I can never understand Donald Duck. Can you?
Why aren't the Beatles in the British draft? John: We all miss it. If not, we'd be hiding the south of Ireland.
What is their favorite song? John: Land of Hope and Glory (known in this country as "Pomp and Circumstances).
Were they aware Indiana would take its state tax off the top of last night receipts? John: Really? (with feeling).
What do they do all day locked in their hotel rooms? John: We play tennis and water polo and we hide from our security.
Would they like to be able to walk on the streets without being disturbed? John: We used to anytime, with no money in our pockets.
Is Paul anti-religion? Paul: If anything, I'm agnostic. I'm not religious and I'm not anti-religious.
The Saturday Evening Post said John drank Scotch and Coke. Is that true? John; Scotch and 7-up. It was changed.
Is Paul going to write a book? John: He writes on walls.
What is their favorite U.S. music? George: The Detroit sound. Paul: The Beach Boys have good harmonies.
What do they do with all the presents they receive? George: Ship them back to England. Paul: Unless it's a 50 foot cake, we dont' keep that. John: We haven't received a 50-foot cake. Paul: Well a three foot cake. We give that sort of thing to charity.
Would they go behind the Iron Curtain? Paul: Who's there? John: No rubles. George: No taxes. John: No money, either.
How did they get their hairdos? John: We've told so many lies we've forgotten.
Where did they have their loudest audience? Paul and George: Cincinnati!"
The quietest? John: This was very quiet.
What's the oddest rumor about them? John: That I've got a new baby coming. I've not. I haven't been home that long.
What do they do with their money? John: We can't find it.
Have they ever resented that their manager, Brian Epstein, gets 25 per cent of their income. All in Unison: No. George: Before he handled us, he handled our money. Paul; We've never resented him.
Do their throats get sore on tour: George: I've got a bit of a throat now. So has John.
What do they talk about when they are alone? Paul: We talk very normal with each other.
What would happen if the fans broke through the police lines? John: We'd die laughing.
Conclusion: The Beatles may die laughing, even if the fans don't crash the barriers.
Who else, even the President, could get the press to stand around and cool its collective heels as they did last night? Who else could poke fun at their own music, their fans and their patrons? Who else could induce the state police superintendent to hover about like a "possum over a new nest of eggs?" Or as Paul said, at one point in the proceedings: "God save the queens."
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