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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,961 posts)
Tue Feb 7, 2023, 07:25 AM Feb 2023

"Beatlemania Grips Gotham" as the Beatles arrive in America on this day, Friday, February 7, 1964.

Last edited Wed Feb 8, 2023, 10:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Mon Feb 7, 2022: On this day, Friday, February 7, 1964, the Beatles arrived in America.

Mon Feb 8, 2021: February 7, 1964: Beatles arrive for first American tour at newly-named JFK Airport, New York

1964: The Day The Beatles Came To New York – This Is What Happened



UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 07: Throng is on hand to greet the Beatles as they stepped triumphantly from plane at Kennedy Airport for the first time from London for a 10-day tour. (Photo by Tom Gallagher/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Their American Invasion Begins!

It was a Friday to remember.

On February 7, 1964, The Beatles arrived on American soil and nothing was ever the same. They boarded in London via Pan Am Yankee Clipper Flight 101 and just before 1:30PM, The Beatles landed at the Kennedy Airport to the sound of deafening cheers and high-pitched screams from 3,000 hysterical fans.

Six days before, they had their first #1 hit in the US with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” They immediately held their first press conference inside the Pan Am lounge in front of reporters who have been waiting for hours to cover them.



NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 7: The Beatles arrive at Kennedy Airport for the first time from London for a 10-day tour on February 7, 1964 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

{snip the rest of the article, which has been made unnecessarily difficult to copy}



The Beatles Arrive In New York for their First US Visit, 7th February 1964
246,261 views Feb 7, 2014

The Beatles
6.37M subscribers

Paul: "There were millions of kids at the airport, which nobody had expected. We heard about it in mid-air. There were journalists on the plane, and the pilot had rang ahead and said, 'Tell the boys there's a big crowd waiting for them.' We thought, 'Wow! God, we really have made it.' "

On Friday 7th February, 1964, The Beatles landed at Kennedy airport and were immediately thrust into their now-legendary first press conference there. The place was heaving with rabid reporters, seasoned journalists and camera crews from all over the world.

From there, they took a limo to the Plaza Hotel, where they stayed during their time in NYC. The Beatles' suite was a hub of activity - a place where they anticipated, prepared for and then relaxed after each of the milestone events that they were experiencing in such quick succession. They would await phone calls from journalists or to receive news of how their songs were doing in the charts; they gave in-person interviews, there, and watched themselves on television. Often, they would call into radio stations to request their favourite records.

Bit by bit, they were getting a sense of 'America'. Still, they were tired. It had been a long trip - a long day. And George, it turns out, was coming down with flu...

Click below to see original press footage of the bands' arrival.

To see more photos and footage and to read more about their first day in the US: http://gnikn.us/Mv28wS
Come back tomorrow to read about their second day in the States and their rehearsals for the the first live Ed Sullivan Show broadcast.

Until 23rd February, we'll be posting here about the significant events that led to Beatlemania spreading across the States. Check-in daily for photos and video from the tour, and the story of how The Beatles managed to accomplish what then had seemed impossible to do - making it in the USA.



The Beatles Arrive In New York (1964)
15,710 views Apr 13, 2014

British Pathé
2.65M subscribers

New York, United States of America (USA).



Title reads 'British Invaders - Beatlemania Grips Gotham'.



Various shots of the crowds on the roof of building at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York. MS. Famous British pop band, the Beatles, pause on step of aircraft. MS. The Beatles stand at microphones clowning to the press. Various shots of the crowds of mainly young girls outside their hotel jumping about with banners, etc. MS. Only three Beatles, Ringo, John and Paul, get into car outside their hotel - George is in bed with cold. MS. The three Beatles pose in Central Park for photographers.



(Comb.F.G.)



Date found in the old record - 10/02/1964.
FILM ID:3157.03

A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. http://www.britishpathe.tv/

FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/

British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. https://www.britishpathe.com/

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"Beatlemania Grips Gotham" as the Beatles arrive in America on this day, Friday, February 7, 1964. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Feb 2023 OP
Well, I certainly remember that day Beatlelvr Feb 2023 #1
Radical, heathen, rocknrollers... in a coat and tie. oldfart73 Feb 2023 #2
The soundtrack to the newsreel shows the impact of the Beatles: thucythucy Feb 2023 #3
February 7, 1964: Beatles arrive for first American tour at newly-named JFK Airport, New York mahatmakanejeeves Feb 2023 #4

Beatlelvr

(626 posts)
1. Well, I certainly remember that day
Tue Feb 7, 2023, 10:18 AM
Feb 2023

And how my parents cringed while I watched them on Ed Sullivan. A wonderful experience during my otherwise bleak adolesence.

thucythucy

(8,168 posts)
3. The soundtrack to the newsreel shows the impact of the Beatles:
Tue Feb 7, 2023, 09:24 PM
Feb 2023

the music is thoroughly rooted in the era of big bands, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller etc.

By 1970 a clip like this would have a rock soundtrack. Maybe good, maybe bad, but definitely rock.

I think it's safe to say that the Beatles had a lot to do with that.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,961 posts)
4. February 7, 1964: Beatles arrive for first American tour at newly-named JFK Airport, New York
Wed Feb 8, 2023, 10:37 AM
Feb 2023

Mon Feb 8, 2021: February 7, 1964: Beatles arrive for first American tour at newly-named JFK Airport, New York

First visit to the United States and the British Invasion

{snip}

On 7 February 1964, the Beatles left the UK with an estimated 4,000 fans gathered at Heathrow, waving and screaming as the aircraft took off. Upon landing at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, an uproarious crowd estimated at 3,000 greeted them. They gave their first live US television performance two days later on The Ed Sullivan Show, watched by approximately 73 million viewers in over 23 million households, or 34 percent of the American population. Biographer Jonathan Gould writes that, according to the Nielsen rating service, it was "the largest audience that had ever been recorded for an American television program". The next morning, the Beatles awoke to a largely negative critical consensus in the US, but a day later at their first US concert, Beatlemania erupted at the Washington Coliseum. Back in New York the following day, the Beatles met with another strong reception during two shows at Carnegie Hall. The band flew to Florida, where they appeared on the weekly Ed Sullivan Show a second time, before another 70 million viewers, before returning to the UK on 22 February.

{snip}

Beatles arrive for first American tour at newly-named JFK Airport, New York, today 1964:



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