February 9, 1964: The world changed (yeah, yeah, yeah). Older DUers: Where were you?

[Faygo Kid]

I was jumping up and down on my bed as a not inconsiderable-sized 12 year old male. And loving everything about it - the Beatles on Ed Sullivan for the first time. And the world would never be the same. What a moment. Later? Goo goo ja joob.

44 years ago tonight. We were indeed a fortunate generation, at least in our music.

[Warpy]

1. I was watching the audience. I saw a very bored blond kid

with dark plastic glasses. I knew just how he felt.

They didn't get interesting until 3 years later when they stopped playing to the screaming prepubescent girls and started to write real music.

[Faygo Kid]

10. "Day Tripper" wasn't interesting?

Some of that screaming prepubescent girls music changed the world.

[Warpy]

19. You couldn't hear it on that show

You couldn't hear anything above all that repressed sexuality of the antiabortion mid 60s being shrieked into the theater.

[Faygo Kid]

25. And nothing like it had been heard or not heard before.

Sinatra maybe came close, in the 1940s. But you make my point. The music itself, though, was revolutionary. And then they went on, and others broke the mold, too. But tonight was a big night. 44 years ago.

[graywarrior]

2. That one photo has stayed in my memory for my entire life

I remember that time so well.

[sheelz]

31. thief

thanks you

[aquart]

3. Watching. I went and got a huge Beatles poster for my bedroom wall.

Tore it down when the rumor came out that Paul was married.

[NC_Nurse]

4. I was not quite 3 years old.

My first album was Yellow Subnmarine...I was still a young kid...maybe 5-7?

[KharmaTrain]

5. I Was At My Cousin's House...

My kids are big Beatle fans but there's no way anyone who remembers those Sullivan shows can relate the excitement to anything else before or since. It was the high after the low of the JFK assasination and lots of fun.

I especially remember the date as shortly thereafter I decided I wanted to be a disc jockey and play Beatle music...a career I would pick up in the years ahead.

[NanceGreggs]

6. I turned fifteen on February 9, 1964 ...

... and watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show with my girlfriends was the best birthday present evah!"

[Faygo Kid]

12. Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NanceGreggs! 59 and still younger than springtime . . .

I'm happy to wish you a happy birthday, and to bring up memories of a very special one that came before.

[NanceGreggs]

24. Thanks, faygokid!

It is a great memory of a special night - and I can't even begin to describe how recent that night seems to be, after all these years.

[Ghost in the Machine]

18. Well Happy Birthday To You, Nance!

:party: :toast:

[NanceGreggs]

29. Hey, thanks!

And allow me to join you ... :toast: ... because, what the heck, it IS my birthday!

[Glorfindel]

59. Big hugs! And many, many happy returns

:pals:

[NanceGreggs]

64. Thanks so much, Glorfindel!

And right back at ya! :hug:

[LibDemAlways]

7. I was 11 and glued to the tv. I try to convey to my

14-year-old what it was like, but she's clueless - even when I tell her the guys she listens to all owe a debt to the Beatles.

[jkshaw]

8. I had just moved to Utah

And was pretty homesick for rain and trees and Democrats and Episcopalians. I also had four kids and had no time to listen to the Beatles. I liked them better later when I could hear what they were singing without the Greek chorus of hysterical kids.

[Faygo Kid]

36. Thank you, jkshaw, for posting on this. Greek chorus indeed.

A woman with four kids in 1964 had much to think about, and I appreciate your post here. (I bet you listened to the Beatles anyway).

Thanks so much. Great story, and be sure to tell your grandchildren about what tonight meant.

[tularetom]

9. I was 23 years old watching it with my wife daughter and my dad.

and I'll never forget it either. My dad was Archie Bunker with an Oklahoma accent. Plus he was in your big one, your WWII. It was funny as hell watching him react to the beatle haircuts. He didn't know whether to shit or wind his watch and my wife and I got more enjoyment out of watching him than watching the Beatles.

It was a scene probably replayed in millions of American living rooms over the next few years.

[Faygo Kid]

14. Did he ever come around to the music? Mom did. Same age, I'm sure.

Mom was Rosie the Riveter in WWII, won a huge award where Eleanor Roosevelt flew to Detroit just to thank her.

Anyway, Mom grew to like the Beatles. Bless her heart, she would have been 90 this year.

[tularetom]

22. He damn near freaked when my brother came back from Vietnam

and let his hair grow down to his ass and bought a motorcycle but he eventually mellowed a bit. The last time I saw him alive he was watching the Eagles on VH1. This was in 2003 about a month before he died.

[Faygo Kid]

32. Mom died in 2003 as well, my friend.

Sounds like both were exemplars of the Greatest Generation.

Damn, that woman could cook. And take care of my brother and me. And put up with the Beatles.

Bless your Dad. Didn't have one in my life. Would have liked to listen to the Eagles with yours.

[tularetom]

35. Thank you for your kindness

My dad and I butted heads on many occasions and now at age 66 I realize that we were essentially, the same personality with different opinions. He was an orphan and didn't have an easy early life but he worked hard to provide for my mom and us kids.

My mom died the same year about 6 months before dad. Your post reminded me how much I miss them both.

You were fortunate to have such a strong mother in your life.

[mitchum]

37. I never understood the outrage about the haircuts...

every greaser with a pompadour actually had longer hair than the Beatles at the time
or
"They look like girls!"
That would have been incredibly short hair for a woman at the time

Was it because they were men with bangs? It seems that may have been unusual in America at the time.

[tularetom]

44. You have no idea how pissed middle aged guys got

at young men with long hair. My dad got his hair cut to 1/64 of an inch in the navy at age 17 and it never grew any longer than that until he died 70 years later. He was enraged that my brother had long hair and he would have been just as enraged at me but I was 5 or 6 years older had a job where longer hair would have been frowned on so I was a bit more conservative.

And you're correct. I remember the leather jacket guys in HS combing their ducktails in the boys crapper and their hair was much longer than the Beatles. Maybe it was that they let it grow over the ears and longer in the back. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard some old guy say "they look like girls".

[frogcycle]

50. I wish I had a nickle for every time my dad said "you need a haircut"

I had a crewcut until 1963. Just stopped going to the barber. I think my next paid-for haircut was probably 1972. Just chopped off handfuls with scissors every now and then.

[rocktivity]

11. I was eight, and I can truly say that February 9, 1964 made me what I am today

That night began a love affair between me and rock music that hasn't diminished one iota. Equally important, The Beatles made me realize that the world was a little bigger than the northeast Bronx, and that I wanted to live in it.

All my loving I do send to them.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Faygo Kid]

39. Glad to bring it up, rocknation, and I'm with you on this one.

All you need is love.

Haven't seen anything in all the years I have occupied this planetary turf to disagree, my friend.

[chemp]

13. Mom & Dad were being naughty

This happened almost 9 months to the day from my birthday.

December 8 1980 had a very sad teenager mourning the death of his hero. On the day after his birthday.

[Faygo Kid]

20. I still mourn John. He had much yet to say and sing.

Tonight, we celebrate them. All of them, and what they have meant to our lives. I include Brian Epstein and Sir George Martin, of course.

[libnnc]

15. I've always been jealous of your generation.

You all got to experience all the good rock and roll first hand.

[Faygo Kid]

33. Not at all. We live when we live, and that's it.

I am going to go see my 31 year old daughter in Tampa next month. For the past five years, I have seen her once a year. Oh, we're in touch via e-mail.

But she makes no effort to see me. And I was always there for her, and the guy who took her trick or treating, and to see Santa, and who walked her to school, and taught her to swim.

I never had a Dad growing up (he split), and I was devoted to my daughter, always. All the school meetings, baseball, music, together every night till she went to college in 94. And now I'm an afterthought, a once a year visitor - for the last five years, I have seen her once each year, and that's me going to see her. I never thought in my wildest dreams this would happen, and I don't honestly know what I did that was wrong. And there's no complaints from her, just dismissal. I don't get it.

Sorry. Extra glass of wine tonight, I guess.

[Cirque du So-What]

16. I was 9 years old

and although our TV was tuned to Ed Sullivan practically every Sunday evening, I can't recall their performance from all the other musical guests on his show. When I first heard I Wanna Hold Your Hand on the radio, my prepubescent libido was a bit repulsed by the thought of holding a girl's hand, so I was completely unimpressed. It wasn't until a couple of years later - with the release of Revolver - that I began to appreciate the band for music that I could tell was innovative and fresh for that time period.

[NastyRiffraff]

17. I was a Beatlemaniac!

I saw them in person in Washington, DC at the armory. Yes, I was one of those "prepubescent screaming girls." And I had a blast!

[dflprincess]

21. Sitting on living room floor watching Ed Sullivan

I was 11 and it was my mother who insisted we watch the Sullivan show that night because she wanted to find out what "all the fuss was about". My younger brother was upset because he wanted to watch "Wonderful World of Disney".

I have to confess that I wasn't that impressed that night - it took me a few more months to become the Beatlemaniac that I still am today.

[varelse]

23. I was still "on the way"

at least I didn't miss the music :)

[PSPS]

26. Ed Sullivan said that, for the only time in his career, he became briefly terrified that night

He said the audience's hyper-pumped mood and their reaction as he began to introduce them made him afraid the stage would be overrun by out-of-control fans.

I was very small at the time, so my memory of it is vague. But the fact that I remember anything about it at all means it was on in my house (on the Hoffman black & white Tee Vee.)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ubkwVWH-Ia0

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jmbuefj4jtE

[Historic NY]

27. "A really big shoe(w) tonight folks"..........

I remember sitting up watching those "Mop Tops" on our Admiral black & white television.

[WinkyDink]

28. I was 14. I was watching the ESS at a friend's house, and can remember getting TICKED at her

for singing along! Jeez Louise! SHUT UP! :)

[Faygo Kid]

30. Can I get a Greatest Post recommendation or two? This is NanceGreggs birthday! See post #6.

Give it up here, Beatlemaniacs.

[annabanana]

34. Oh K&R for the sheer joy!

What a night!

[Fiendish Thingy]

38. I don't have a specific memory of that night, being only six...

but I was definitely aware of Beatlemania at the time, and became a life-long Beatlemaniac myself that summer when I saw A Hard Day's Night. I still have the soundtrack LP my Grandmother bought for my birthday that year.

Hardcore DU Beatlemaniacs will know the Beatle connection in my user name...

[mitchum]

40. I was 3 and decided George was my favorite...

probably reminded me of my dad with his lean face and thick dark hair.
Shortly afterwards, I named a pet rabbit George

George remains my favorite

[Faygo Kid]

41. Do you know that Martin Scorsese is making a movie of his life?

Straightforward, here is George Harrison.

Apparently, he loved George as you and I do. You can Google it, but I will see you in the theater.

[mitchum]

43. Thanks, I didn't know that!

I will be there

[End Of The Road]

70. I still have my George BeatleDoll! eom

[mitchum]

73. I envy you!

He remains the world's most underrated guitarplayer. He never makes those "roll call of the greats"
And my reaction is always, "Y'know, he...was...the...lead...guitarplayer...for...the...Beatles!"

[msedano]

42. didn't they bump topo gigo that night?

i was a freshman in college and the rec room was packed that night to see the fuss. the white buck (shoes) and madras shirted-nativists protested the brit invasion, demanding equal time for the made-in-the-usa beach boys.

[The River]

45. A Sophomore in HS

I didn't they would last but they
ended up changing everything.

[kaiden]

46. I was 11, in 6th grade.

We had a "t.v. room" upstairs for us kids. My younger brothers and I jumped up and down on the sofa until my dad came upstairs and threatened us with mortal injurires.

[Faygo Kid]

55. Glad to see I wasn't the only one jumping up and down, kaiden.

If it had been 1965, I would have hit full puberty, and crushed the bed to smithereens (big guy). Anyway, I am glad you remember the moment, and your (no doubt obnoxious then) younger brothers.

What a great memory for all of us. Thank you for sharing yours.

[stillrockin]

47. I was a 12 year old watching Ed Sullivan.

Six months or so later I attended my first concert, THE BEATLES, in Kansas City, MO! My ticket cost $6.50!

Those were the days of great concerts. I saw 'em all. Favorite? The Jimi Hendrix Experience in Houston, TX, 1968.

[Skittles]

48. I want in England

yes INDEED

[frogcycle]

49. I was just seventeen

and you KNOW what I mean
the way they sang
was just beyond compare

I couldn't listen to another
when I saw them shake their hair

[Faygo Kid]

53. Well, I couldn't dance with another. WHOOO Since I saw her standing there. Here's another favorite

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me...
She showed me her room, isn't it good, norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke, I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, norwegian wood.

[Jack Rabbit]

51. Where was I?

In the living room watching the Ed Sullivan Show on our old black & white TV set that was full of vacuum tubes.

Where did you think I was?

[bikebloke]

52. I remember that subtitle under John!

Crikey, that was what I was doing 44 years ago tonight. What a coincidence. I just finished watching Across the Universe.

[Systematic Chaos]

54. I wasn't even a thought in 1964, but after I was born I caught on quickly enough.

I was born in '69 and I have two (much) older brothers, who were born in '51 and '53. When I was a toddler one had already left home and the other was engaged to the woman to whom he is still married.

I discovered the Beatles while still a toddler when my mom brought up one of my brothers' old 45 collections from the basement for me to play on my Show 'n' Tell (who remembers those?), when I complained that I was bored of the filmstrip stories it came with. I was barely out of diapers at this point but I still remember all these 45s of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Lovin' Spoonful, and all kinds of other stuff. I guess this would explain why I was a top-40 addict through the late 70s and into the 80s, and a progressive rock junkie by the age of 17. :)

[Bennyboy]

56. My first experience with sexuality!

I was being baby sat by my teenage neighbor Rachel Self and she had a bunch of her friends over to watch the Ed Sullivan show. I was nine and they were 16. We watched adn the girls went totally crazy. Crazy in a way I ahd never seen before. I was like they had turned into animals. No longer innocent school girls, they were all sexually charged by these guys.

[frogcycle]

62. ok, now I need a cold shower

[Faygo Kid]

75. Good point. I was 12 and - um - energized by that aspect of Beatlemania.

I suppose it was much the same when Sinatra was red hot in the 40s, and also with Presley in the 50s.

God bless the impact on the girls (until my daughter became a teen, of course).

[kineneb]

57. age 6, wondered what all the screaming was about

wished they would shut up so I could hear the band.

[Glorfindel]

58. I was an 18-year-old gay male

And I was so excited I could hardly breathe! You're right; the world did change, and for the second time in about 10 weeks, following the November 22, 1963, assassination of JFK. Talk about emotional roller-coasters! We certainly were a fortunate generation. Nothing like that will ever happen again, I'm afraid. The world is just too jaded. Goo-goo-ja-joob, indeed!

[PlanetBev]

60. Like a lot of kids

I was 13 years old and screaming in front of the TV. Got to see the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in '65 and at Dodger Stadium in '66.

[Pastiche423]

61. What a cool memory to bring up!

The week before their appearance was the loooooooooooooongest one of my childhood.

Wearing my white (these boots are made for walking) boots, I claimed my spot on the living room carpet. It was then that my nine year old self fell in love for the 1st time.

Paul was sooo dreamy!

When they sang, She Loves You, my sister and I screamed out, WE LOVE YOU, yeah, yeah, yeah!

[MuseRider]

63. 5th grade I think

and I was watching, sitting about a foot from the TV all excited trying to hear them over my father who kept making jokes about how they looked and saying they would never make it here in the USA and they would never last more than a year anywhere. LOL.

[kickysnana]

65. Ticked my uncle Bob off...

I was 13 and babysitting my 2 3/4 year old cousin and taught him to sing (and dance) to Beatles songs...Come to think of it I saw that cousin in January and he has John's Haircut here. LOL

[goodgd_yall]

66. I happened to hear about their arrival---with small interest, but THEN

I watched their performance on the Ed Sullivan Show and my sister and I (aged 10), who were not rock n'roll fans, were tapping our feet. We were won over and became big Beatle fans. I saw them twice, including their last concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

67. We watched, which was the most surprising part.

My dad controlled the TV. One TV, one dad. His house, his TV.

He had turned on Wonderful World of Disney, which started earlier and ran into Sullivan's timeslot. At 7pm my older sister walked over to the set and changed the channel.

Dad said, "Switch it back."

My sister narrowed her eyes and said, "We're watching this."

I didn't know what was going on - I was too young to have the hots for pop singers like she did, and hadn't heard of the Beatles - but I was riveted by the tension building in our living room.

They exchanged a few more terse remarks and then Dad pretended he'd rather read the paper. Amazing! Never before had a kid won the battle for the TV.

Best thing about the Beatles, from my 7-year-old perspective: my sister collected Beatle bubblegum cards but was too embarrassed to buy as many packs as she wanted, so she sent me to the store many, many times. She got the cards and I got the gum. :thumbsup:

[Mister Ed]

68. Six years old and supposed to be asleep...

But I could hear the rest of the family excitedly discussing whatever was coming up on the Sullivan Show. Crept down the hall to peek around the corner and see what the fuss was about. And there it was...

Even a six-year old could somehow sense that the world had shifted slightly on its axis.

[Solly Mack]

69. It changed 7 days before that actually

:D

[Suziq]

71. I was 11 years old . . . .

and sitting about a foot from the TV, screaming! My 12 year old brother looked at me like I had two heads.

Thanks for rekindling a very fond memory.

[Subdivisions]

72. I was a first trimester fetus that night. But I was a Beatles fan by 1965 :) n/t

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

74. I was ten years old and sitting on the couch in our TV room.

Didn't quite know what to make of them but I remember I thought Paul McCartney was cute. I also remember the captioning under John Lennon. Thanks faygokid for posting that.