Screaming at the movies

Can you imagine going to see a movie and girls scream through the entire film?    Can you imagine paying to see a film over and over and over again just so you could scream through the entire thing?   I can easily imagine screaming through a concert and not being able to hear the band perform.  However, when it comes to screaming through "A Hard Day's night," I don't really get it.    Sure I understand being so excited that you scream at the beginning and even at some other sections. But the Beatles could not see you or hear you at the movie theater, so to scream through the whole thing just makes for a hoarse throat.   However, while I say that in my rational part of my mind, I also know that there is just something about the Fab 4 that makes you want to scream.    It is something that can't be explained, although many psychologists tried in the 1960's.     The Beatles bring an excitement that no one else seems to bring.    It just seems like the only thing you can do is either cry or scream.    So all of you who screamed throughout the Beatles movies----you are forgiven.

These photos were taken by newspaper photographers of fans  inside of the movie theater watching "A Hard Day's Night" for the 1st time

Beatles First Flick a Squealing Success
By Jack Jelsel

That singing quartet of moptops, the Beatles, will be at the Convention Hall in person on September 2.  So the premiere of their first flick, "a Hard Day's Night" at area movie theaters yesterday was just a preview of coming attractions.

But what a preview!

Take the 69th Street Theater for instance (If it's still standing).

It drew some 1,600 fans of the British exports, including a 67 year old grandmother.  They lined the pavement in two directions form early in the morning until the doors opened at 11:50am.  the movie went on at 1:30pm.

During that 100 minutes a lot of money was made.  A concession in the lobby sold Beatle buttons, Beatle pins and Beatle portraits in color.  The largest color photos (24 x 28) were being snapped up at $1 per shot.

Purchasing such was Mrs. Selma Daniels,  67.  She brought her granddaughter, Nancy, 9, to the opening.

Does she dig the longhaired Liverpoolers?

"Yes.  They're clean cut kids," said Mrs. Daniels, above the din of another "We want the Beatles" chat by  the anxious audience.

"Of course I did feel a little funny standing in line for tickets," the grandmother admitted.  "I was afraid someone I knew would see me."

Patrolman Bill Gala was on the scene, just in case the pandemonium got beyond the squealing stage.  "No trouble," said Gala, "they're really good kids."

An usher at the theater, Jim, 16, held onto the balcony guard rail as the first wave of wailing kids scrambled for seats.

The masses were 99.44 percent female, though an occasional fan of the opposite sex raised his head.  John, 15, was one boy who braved the odds.

John, who sported a semi-Beatle haircut, explained over a bag of popcorn why he was there, "I like the way they sing."

Candy, 16, had another reason.  "I guess it's just because I'm  at the age when I need somebody to idolize," she giggled.  "I think they're cute.;"

Her date squirmed.  He wasn't a Beatlemaniac.