It Was 55 Years Ago Today – The Beatles Came to The USA
Feb 7, 1964 – The Beatles Leave London For New York – The Beatles singing group is shown at London airport this morning prior to departing for appearances in New York. From left are Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. AP wirephoto via cable from London
Our headline (thank you, Sgt. Pepper) points out that remarkably it has been 55 years, not 20 years ago today that the Beatles left London for New York City. The British Invasion was underway. The world would never be the same, not just musically, but in fashion and pop culture.
If you want to get a sense of what Beatlemania was like when the Fab Four first arrived in New York, there is a forgotten little film called I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978) starring Nancy Allen. It was the first feature film written and directed by the talented Robert Zemeckis. The Executive Producer was some guy named Steven Spielberg.
The plot involves six teenagers from New Jersey who run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 in the hope of meeting their idols. But, they don’t have tickets.
It’s the sort of charming film that would never be made today.
