The Beatles’ American invasion began on 7 February 1964. The band’s Boeing 707, Pan Am flight 101, left London Airport early on the morning of 7 February 1964, bound for New York City.
Also on the flight were The Beatles, Brian Epstein, Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans, plus dozens of journalists and photographers.
All we knew was that a couple of the records had done well in the States. We believed there was still a huge mountain to climb if The Beatles were really to make it there.At Heathrow there was pandemonium. Thousands of fans had arrived from all over Britain and any ordinary passengers hoping to travel that day had to give up. Screaming, sobbing girls held up ‘We Love You, Beatles’ banners and hordes of police, linking arms in long chains, held them back. We were ushered into a massive press conference, where journalists, spotting me at the side of the room, demanded a picture of John and me together. To my surprise John agreed. He was usually careful to keep Julian and me away from publicity, but this time, carried along by the momentum of the whole thing, he agreed.
Minutes later we were ushered to the plane. At the top of the steps the boys waved to the packed airport terraces as the screams crescendoed.
The aeroplane touched down at JFK Airport at 1.20pm to scenes never seen before.
It was so exciting. On the plane, flying in to the airport, I felt as though there was a big octopus with tentacles that were grabbing the plane and dragging us down into New York. America was the best. It was a dream, coming from Liverpool.
At first The Beatles found it hard to believe the reception at JFK was for them.
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 have really made it.’
Five thousand fans, mostly young girls, were crowded onto the upper balcony of the airport’s arrivals building, waving placards and banners to welcome the group. A further 200 reporters, photographers and cameramen from radio, television and the press were also clamoring for The Beatles’ attention.
It has since been reported that their American record company had promised that every person who turned up at the airport would be given a dollar bill and a t-shirt. What really happened was that the receptionists at Capitol Records would answer the phone, ‘Capitol Records – The Beatles are coming.’ There was a lot of mention on the radio, too: ‘The Beatles are coming!’ It was the people handling the Beatles merchandise at the time who were offering the free t-shirt. I had no idea about that at the time, and it was nothing to do with the record company.
Anthology
The promotion was actually due to Seltaeb, The Beatles’ US merchandising organisation run by Nicky Byrne, which had been approved by Brian Epstein to oversee and collect the royalties for the group’s non-musical products in America.
Byrne had struck a deal with the WMCA and WINS radio stations, in which every fan who turned up at JFK would be given one dollar and a free Beatles t-shirt. Unbeknown to Byrne, Capitol had also arranged for posters and car stickers, bearing the legend ‘The Beatles are coming’, to be distributed throughout New York City.
Murray the K, a DJ at the 1010 WINS radio station, had announced the details of The Beatles’ flight number and time of arrival. The information was repeated by rival stations WABC and WMCA, which only increased the already feverish anticipation.
Also on this day...
- 2013: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch
- 2012: Paul McCartney to headline Queen’s diamond jubilee concert
- 2012: US album release: Kisses On The Bottom by Paul McCartney
- 1970: John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on The Simon Dee Show
- 1970: George Harrison produces Govinda by Radha Krshna Temple
- 1967: Filming: Penny Lane
- 1965: John and Cynthia Lennon return to England from Switzerland
- 1964: UK EP release: All My Loving
- 1963: The Beatles live: ABC Cinema, Wakefield
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Merseyside Civil Service Club, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
was there a stopover in boston before the beatles landed in N.Y. on feb 7 1964? i had heard of this happening several times but nobody seems to be sure if this happenned or not. Or should i ask did the fly from england to n.y. or was there a stopover first in boston?
I’ve never heard or seen anything to provide evidence of a Beatles stopover in Beantown on their first trip to America unless you want to count these words – “When I was a robber in Boston place, you gathered round me with your fine embrace” sung by Paul and heard on Anthology 3.
Boston Place is a street in London where Apple Electronics (headed by Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas) was based in the late 60s.
You may have never seen or heard of any, but i assure you the thousands of us screaming in Harvard Square can certainly remembet they were. I was one of the lucky ones… my Dad put me up on his shoulders so i could see. So,YES THEY WERE IN BOSTON!
You are remembering a different occasion. This flight was direct to JFK.
No, you are incorrect! The Beatles first flight to New York stopped in Gander, Newfoundland, first.
Boston Place is also the side road where the opening scene of A Hard Day’s Night was filmed as they ran toward the camera and where George fell while the balance of opening song was filmed in and in front of adjacent Marylebone Train Station which was off camera left in those first exciting moments.
What ever happened to that same plane they flew on (Pan Am Flight 101)? Anyone know where it’s located or if they scrapped it?
The Panam 707 aircraft in question has been scrapped.
My dad was a Pan American Pilot and he was the Pilot on the plane that flew the Beatles to America!!!!
Wish I had more information from him…… He was a grump I thought! I asked him if he got their autograph!!! He said “why?” Heck, I could be a millionaire now!!!! Damn!!!!
Suzanne Asher
Suzanne- that’s AWESOME that your dad was the pilot of the flight. i’m trying to research a rumor i was told that my grandfather was also on this flight sitting next to Brian Epstein or Neil Aspinall. He was a famous ice skating coach, full name Montgomery Wilson, but he went by Bud. i’m trying to find out if he was a passenger on the plane. Can you or anyone assist? i’d be forever grateful!! i’m at 4sandywhite@gmail.com. Julia Sidford
I think my uncle Glen Parks was also a pilot on that flight. Am I right?
Music is nourishment for the soul,Beatles music is a feast!PEACE!
Doubtful.
http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/02/greenfield_womans_father_pilot.html
The 707 was Clipper Defiance – scrapped in Long Beach in 1977. It was sold to Air Vietnam in 1973, incidentally, then repossessed by Pan Am.
50 years ago today they’re in London preparing to leave. 50 years ago tomorrow they’re off for the US. I wonder what was going through their minds the night prior to the departure. Very exciting.
Fifty years ago today a truly historic moment as the greatest of the british bands without question arrives in America for the first time. Four lads from Liverpool who have forever shook the world
I was a flight attendant for NWA & was at NY airport when Beatles landed
I know dozens of people who were there, even though they weren’t born yet.
And they are poutingly jealous of those who were on the plane with them, even though also not born yet.
I was born already at the time, but I wasn’t on the plane with them because I arrived late at the airport.
Saw Beatles in Dodger Stadium in ’66. What a show. Limo had to turn around in center field and head for the dugout cause fans jumped from center field bleachers. Beatles played on 2nd base for about 45 minutes. 45,000 crazy fans that night including me!
Does anyone know when the Beatles left America after the British Invasion? I am creating a time line for history fair.
If you mean the first visit, they got back to England on February 22nd, 1964.
My understanding is the Beatles stopped over in Boston – very briefly – when they were traveling from England to the States for their 1966 U.S. tour (they would return to Boston less than two weeks later to perform at Suffolk Downs Racetrack). I never heard of them landing in Boston in February 1964, but I suppose it’s a possibility (despite their apparently being no footage of such an event). They did, however, perform at the Boston Gardens in September 1964.
I grew up in NY. Back in the 50’s to 1984 before moving on. I lived with a friend three blocks down from where John Lennon lived. We had a small studio and played music an recorded stuff all the time. I worked as a roadie setting up stage equipment at clubs and played just for myself for fun. Also worked on guitars and made dulcimers. We would hang out side of our building on the side and play on our guitars with our giant stereo blasting along. I was really getting into playing my electric guitar and goofing around dancing when (John and Paul) came walking by and stoped to hang out and listen. At first I had no idea who they where. And they kind of made fun of the Beatles song playing on the radio as I played and song along. I told them how much they influenced me and we loved them no matter what. My friend started to laugh at me cause I was clueless at first. We all had a good laugh as we introduced each other. Very kool afternoon that was only lasted a hour or so but great none the less.
PHIL SPECTOR WAS ON THAT PLANE AS WELL
I feel rather embarrassed for the American “reporters” who asked those ridiculous questions of the Beatles in that presser. I guess they were caught up in the frenzy themselves and lost their professionalism there…sad.
It just shows how “the establishment” had no idea how to react to the Beatles phenomenon, or to anything else about the youth culture at the time.
I was only 11 years old when the Beatles arrived in America. That was the start of my love affair with them. I never got to see them in concert but knew all the places they were playing at each concert. Many years later I had the thrill of seeing Paul McCartney and Wings in Miami, Florida. Couldn’t see much of the stage as I was too far up in the arena, but huge screens of the band could be seen. And I was so thrilled anyway!!
There was no live filming of the Beatles rehearsals for the Sullivan show.