15 Things You Didn't Know About The Beatles' First Visit to the U.S.

America was never the same after that February of 1964. In one of the most iconic events in music history, the beatles made their first live appearance in the united states on the ed sullivan show. I Want to Hold Your Hand topped the charts and beatlemania conquered the United states. Celebrating 60 years of those historic events, today we will talk about 15 facts about the beatles' first visit to the U.S.

[stevepaul]

I was one of the 73 million people watching the Ed Sullivan show. I was only nine years old but I became a fan for life.

[jackhayesjackhayes]

I was 9 years old, and this friend of mine was all excited in school on a Monday morning. he asked me if I had seen the Beatles last night? I said no, he said they're really cool they've got long hair. They're going to be on The Ed Sullivan show again next Sunday. So everybody was really anticipating it all week and the next Sunday we watched The Beatles and it was instantly insane! We were blown away! The next morning when I got on the school bus everybody was talking and saying no, it's like this, it's like this, combing their hair in all these different ways, trying to make it look like the Beatles! Wild days, and it just went on.

[cdhagen]

I was 8 years old when I watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and I have been a Beatles fanatic ever since. There will never be another band that can equal the Fab Four EVER. I miss them so.

[dj]

It's important to note that they arrived exactly 11 weeks on from the death of President Kennedy, so much of the country was still in a state of mourning. We cannot underestimate how much the Beatles helped America through this tragedy.

[RobertDavis-qhry]

I remember my older sister & her friend were screaming in the front yard..."The Beatles are coming! The Beatles are coming!" I looked down on the ground but couldn't see any. Later that night I SAW THEM!!

[tpatrick]

I watched their debut on the Ed Sullivan in 1964 and became an instant fan! I was 11 years old.

[RayBerndt-copg]

I had just turned 7 years old. The November before my world was to change the upcoming New Year in February 1964. With my older brother in tow. We begged our parents for any type of way to play the new Beatles record. LOVE WAS IN THE AIR! And I am a diehard fan. As well as my brother Tom. May he be resting in peace!

Thank you!

John Paul George and Ringo

Not necessarily in that order.

It wouldn't have been the same without either of you!!! Peace and Love

[timshannon]

I was 12 years old watching Ed Sullivan every Sunday night was something my family always did. I thought they were fantastic. I asked my father what he thought I will never forget him saying they don't say anything in their songs. They certainly proved him wrong becoming the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.

[avlisk]

I was 12 years old, and had my first film camera. Taking pictures was so expensive, especially for a kid, I had to plan my one photo off the black and white TV screen carefully. Just as I snapped the picture of the 4, the cameras switched to a closeup of John, but I didn't realize it until days later when I got the film developed, and there was only one Beatle in it. But I still have that blurry, grainy photo of John today.

[Richard-mhll]

I was ten years old when The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan show. I remember my Mom telling me to finish my book report and I could watch them. It was on the life of President John Kennedy. I cut pictures of him out of Life and Look magazines. When the Beatles came on I danced with my mother she loved good music and could sing like a bird.The Beatles changed everything cannot imagine the world without them. They got me into music and I still play guitar today. The Beatles brought some cheer to the U.S. when it was badly needed after the assassination of Mr.Kennedy. A week later my book report was proudly displayed on our living room table. My grade of AAA+++ made Mom so proud! Miss you so much Mom love you your son Richard.

[daryljay]

It's very rare, but ever so often a musical act comes along that is so innovative, so revolutionary, it changes everything. Beethoven for example. His music couldn't be contained in small salons, restricted to the elites of society. The instruments of the day couldn't handle it either. The pianos we have today, started with him. His music was so big, it broke out to concert halls, where the masses, the little people could enjoy it! Same with the Beatles. Everything we take for granted in music today, started with them. Stadium shows. Massive sound systems. Recording techniques. The advances in popular music that came from 'The Greatest Popular Music Act in Histrory' can not be overstated! I was fourteen when I first heard 'All my Loving' back in February 1964. I was truly blessed to be a witness!

[asheland_numismatics]

I’m a relatively new Beatles fan (last six months) and I can see why they were so popular. 👍😎

[thejerseyj]

Only one year ago, on YouTube, I saw the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan show. I had not seen it since February 9th 1964 but it was exactly as I had remembered it in my mind all the years since. I was only 7 years old in February '64 so it really must have made a huge impression on me that night.
I also remember my mother that night thought that they were cute, and my father thought they needed a haircut!

[mikeeckel]

I was in 4th grade when The Beatles were on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Before they were on, most of the boys had their hair slicked down with Bryl Creme...on Monday Feb 10th almost all of the boys had dry hair and had it combed forward.

[thomasallen]

The Beatles definitely changed music around the world. They also changed the way people dressed and wore their hair. I can attest to that because after 60 years, I’m still wearing my hair long. I’m in my 70’s, and still listen to their music. Back then, people were saying that they wouldn’t last, that they were a flash in the pan. I knew different. They were special, I often wonder what things would be like if there hadn’t been a Mark Chapman, or George hadn’t gotten cancer, would they have gotten back together for a reunion concert? But, we can only imagine.

[peppercub]

Hate to be that guy, but YESTERDAY wasn't composed in Paris in 1964. He wrote it while living at Jane Asher's.

[Godskingdomwithin]

There indeed, was a major shift from life in black-and-white, on Ed Sullivan in 1964, viewed by 70 million people, to a world in color by 1967, when the Beatles performed “All you need is, love, ” on the broadcast “Our World, ” in Britain, which was seen by an estimated 400 million people in 5 continents, That transition was the most unique and powerful change in history!
Amazing how their music, changed the face of life for so many in the world, and that was heralded in by The Beatles.

[gwolf]

I was 8 years old with 9 brothers and sisters. It was my turn to pick the channel that night and I wanted to watch Wonderful World of Disney because I hated the Ed Sullivan Show. The older siblings pleaded with me and promised we would only watch whatever it was and turn it back when it was over. Not having the slightest idea of what they were talking about I relented. I was absolutely stunned and my life changed. Before that I wanted to be a priest or maybe an astronaut. After that moment I wanted to be a Beatle. Oh, I still wanted to be an astronaut now and then but the priest days were certainly over.

[williamf]

I was 11 years old when the Beatles appeared on ed Sullivan in February 1964. Because I had 3 younger brothers ages 8, 7 and 5, we rarely watched Sullivan's show opting instead for the Wonderful world of Disney. Hence my elder brother (14), sister (13) and I had to endure Davy Crockett for the first 30 minutes of Sullivan until switching over for the second half. Hence we missed their first performance of the 3 shows but got to see the finale. It's something we still talk about 60 years later. My parents made up for it by getting us 3 older siblings tickets to the Beatles performance in Chicago at Comiskey Park August 20, 1965.

[RGF]

In 1964 many TV shows were 30 minutes. The Ed Sullivan Show was an hour. It was preceded on CBS by “My Favorite Martian”, a 30 minute Sit-com. The Ed Sullivan Show started at 8:00 pm, AND it’s biggest competitor was the 60 minute “Wonderful World of Disney”, which aired at 7, 30 pm. I was 11 yrs old at the time and wanted to watch Disney, but my parents wanted to watch Sullivan to see what the fuss over the Beatles was all about. I am always grateful, that we watched Sullivan and got to see the Beatles first US performance. Been a fan ever since.