Here Is a Mathematical Equation Reflecting a Revolutionary Time in US
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FOLIO LINE FOLIO LINE McClatchy-Tribune umbers never lie. Here is a mathematical equation reflecting a revolutionary time in U.S. history: 45.3 plus 60 equals four guys with mop-top hair- styles and an international frenzy. BY GREGORY CLAY/MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE On Feb. 9, 1964, “The Ed most curious media. Sullivan Show” increased its leg- Amid the high-decibel endary status by leaps and hoopla, the United States needed bounds, with three guitars and a The Beatles — unquestionably. drum set. For an hour, beginning The country was mired in a at 8 p.m. ET, Sullivan owned the perpetual state of mourning — television stratosphere as a mind- a nation of grief and disbelief. boggling 45.3 percent of U.S. When the Beatles first arrived households with televisions tuned in New York, it had only been in to see those four guys in their 77 days since the assassination customary dark suits and ties. of President John F. Kennedy. Let’s take it a rock ‘n’ roll beat His successor, Lyndon Johnson, further. An astounding 60 percent had delivered his first State of of the nation’s households with the Union address only 29 days televisions in use watched his before their arrival, espousing ZUMA PRESS/MCT New York-based show. the virtues of JFK’s ideals. February 1964, the Beatles appear during rehearsal on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in New York Yes, CBS was living a “John Kennedy was a victim — the group’s first American appearance. From left, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Ed dream scenario. of hate,” Johnson said, “but he Sullivan, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Top left, fans wait for Beatles to arrive at Miami On Feb. 7, 1964, Pan was also a great builder of faith International Airport on Feb. 13, 1964. The ecstatic girls jumped the rail moments later. American Airlines Flight 101 — faith in our fellow Americans, with the inscription “Beatles” whatever their creed or their A healthy atmosphere followed grown to about 221 million.” shook-up-the-world” fight with on its side panel landed at New color or their station in life; faith them everywhere they went.” On Feb. 11, 1964, the heavyweight boxing champion York’s newly named Kennedy in the future of man, whatever Simply, The Beatles were Beatles performed their first Sonny Liston. Following a return International Airport. A musical his divisions and differences.” iconic game-changers. U.S. concert, at the Washington to Britain for their United tsunami was arriving in the Then the Beatles made a dif- Their first appearance on “The Coliseum in the nation’s capital Kingdom spring tour, the Beatles form of “The Beatles Coming ference; they brought the buzz; Ed Sullivan Show” garnered 73 during their winter tour. were back in North America for to America” party. they gave Americans reason to million viewers; the nation’s pop- Ironically, on that same snowy an extensive summer tour — 24 Has it been 50 years already cheer and applaud again; they ulation in 1964 was about 190 day, the mother of Lee Harvey cities in 32 days with each per- since Paul McCartney (age 21 also supported the transforma- million. That means approximate- Oswald, the man who assassi- formance lasting approximately and the only left-hander), Ringo tive U.S. civil rights movement ly four out of every 10 Americans nated Kennedy, was entrenched 30 minutes. Starr (23), George Harrison (20) of the 1960s, refusing to per- were watching. Simply put, those in her second day of testifying The first stop was the Cow and John Lennon (23 and mar- form before segregated audi- stats can only be explained in a few blocks away on Capitol Palace in Daly City, Calif., on ried with child) left London’s ences in the South. Super Bowl terms. Hill before the Warren Aug. 19, 1964. “The audience Heathrow Airport for a red, In ’64, Bert Shipp was a tel- “To put the viewership total Commission, charged with was screaming, ‘We want the white and blue first-time hello? evision news correspondent- for the Beatles’ appearance on investigating the murder. Beatles; We want the Beatles.’ Jackie DeShannon was camera man for WFAA in ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ in per- Concert ticket prices were an It was great exposure for us,” among several artists, including Dallas. When the Beatles spective,” said Neil Best, sports affordable $2 to $4. It was a recalled DeShannon, whose the Righteous Brothers, per- arrived there for a concert at media-sports business colum- sellout with 8,092 fans, includ- signature song was “What the forming as warm-up acts for Memorial Auditorium on Sept. nist for Newsday in New York, ing a wide-eyed 16-year-old World Needs Now Is Love.” The Beatles’ North American 18, 1964, he utilized his knack “it wasn’t until 1978 that the who later became vice president The warm-up groups and the Tour in ’64. She vividly remem- for stealth to sneak into the Fab Super Bowl surpassed that fig- of the United States — Al Gore. Beatles sometimes would bers their sense of humility. Four’s dressing room for a rare ure for average viewership — “We all loved their music,” engage in jam sessions on plane “They were great,” said one-on-four private interview. attracting 78.9 million viewers Gore told The Washington Post, trips, DeShannon recalled. And DeShannon, now 72, during a “The Beatles were good for for the Cowboys’ victory over “but clearly there were a lot of they had a pillow fight, too. telephone conversation from her the country,” said Shipp, now the Broncos. By that point, the people in that crowd who loved Before the Beatles headed Los Angeles home. “They were 84, via telephone. “Their songs estimated United States popula- it even more than I did because south to play at the Gator Bowl not stuffy. They were very nice were popular; they were such a tion had they couldn’t stop screaming. in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sept. to everybody. They weren’t spirited group. I’m thrilled that iTunes now has 11, they wanted assurances of standoffish. They were lots of the film of that concert, because desegregation in crowd seating. fun. And their wit — they had a I’ll get to hear the words clearly John Lennon, at the time, added very wicked sense of humor. for the first time.” major clarity on the Beatles’ “You could go to any coun- The screaming shrills by stance: “We never play to seg- try in the world and people mostly female fans induced regated audiences and we aren’t could sing along with Beatles several Washington police offi- going to start now. I’d sooner songs. They were a once in a cers representing the huge lose our appearance money.” lifetime group; the only person law-enforcement presence to Message understood. And who comes close is Elvis stuff their ears with bullets to they ultimately played on in the Presley. They had God-given cushion the sonic boom. Sunshine State. talent and they worked hard, so Afterward, the Beatles After their earlier winter tour, they earned their stripes.” again performed on “The Ed the Feb. 24 edition of Newsweek Those stripes resulted in the Sullivan Show” in Miami, magazine published a cover story unprecedented top five spots on where they found a new titled, “Bugs About Beatles.” the Billboard Hot 100 song chart friend in Cassius Clay (now Its premise was harsh in tone: in 1964: No. 1, “Can’t Buy Me Muhammad Ali), who was “Visually they are a nightmare: Love”; No. 2, “Twist and Shout”; there training for his “I- tight, dandified, Edwardian- MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL/MCT No. 3, “She Loves You”; No. 4, Beatnik suits and great pudding “I Want to Hold Your Hand”; No. bowls of hair. Musically they are 5, “Please Please Me.” a near-disaster: guitars and The Beatles got the party start- drums slamming out a merciless ed with their first news confer- beat that does away with second- ence on U.S. soil, held at ary rhythms, harmony, and Kennedy Airport. The occasion melody. Their lyrics (punctuated was part welcome mat and part by nutty shouts of ‘yeah, yeah, hilarity. When one media member yeah!’) are a catastrophe, a pre- asked how much money the band posterous farrago of Valentine- expected to make in the United card romantic sentiments.” States, drummer Ringo Starr The conclusion: “And so the calmly responded, “Ten dollars.” odds are that they will fade With that, the “British away, as most adults confident- Invasion” had been launched. It WILLIAM LA FORCE/ BALTIMORE SUN /MCT ly predict.” was a veritable orgy of jostling Mobs of screaming teenagers hoping for a glimpse of The Beatles are kept at bay by Now, approximately 1.6 bil- crowds, teenage screams, law- police barricades in Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1964. Above, The Beatles perform at the lion records sold ... and count- enforcement officers and a Milwaukee Arena in Milwaukee, on Sept. 4, 1964. ing ... numbers never lie. PRITCHARD/MCT BEATLEMANIA MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE.