The Beatles performed for no fee at a charity concert in aid of the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and Retarded Infants Services on 20 September 1964. It was the last date of their first full US tour.
They loved going to New York, when we stayed at the Del Monico Hotel, flying by helicopter into Forest Hills, the great tennis stadium. Those New York dates were exciting. They did enjoy that excitement, the city lights, the pace of events. Or so it seemed to me.
Earlier in the morning The Beatles left a ranch in Missouri, where they had enjoyed a short break from the tour. Around 200 people descended on the small Walnut Ridge Regional Airport in Arkansas, in anticipation of The Beatles’ return, since the group had switched planes there the previous day. The aircraft they had arrived in waited on the runway, and a number of photographs and home videos were made by local residents.
A local crop duster craft was mobbed after teenagers mistook it for The Beatles’ plane. Unbeknown to them, Paul McCartney and George Harrison had arrived an hour before, and watched the event from a truck parked near to the runway.
John Lennon and Ringo Starr arrived on a small commuter aircraft. As they disembarked they were surrounded by excited fans. They were joined by McCartney and Harrison, and all quickly boarded Reed Pigman’s plane for New York.
The Beatles were due onstage at 10.45pm but the other acts’ sets were cut so they could go on 45 minutes earlier. Outside the Paramount Theatre 200 police officers attempted to control 100,000 fans.
Tickets for the concert had been sold for up to $100, to a combination of young fans and New York’s wealthy elite; and 3,682 people were in attendance. Ed Sullivan paid a backstage visit to The Beatles, and Gloria Steinem was reporting for Cosmopolitan magazine.
Afterwards the group stayed at the Riviera Motel near John F Kennedy International Airport. They were accompanied by Bob Dylan and his manager Albert Grossman. A month earlier, at New York’s Delmonico Hotel, Dylan had turned The Beatles on to cannabis.
During the evening The Beatles’ press officer Derek Taylor had an argument with manager Brian Epstein.
By the end of the US tour in September, Brian and I had a falling out. We actually fell out a lot, because I still had an independent spirit. I knew about trade-union rights and holidays and speaking your mind and that sort of thing. I knew also about blundering into situations which were not tactful, making commitments for one or other of them which, really, only a manager should do: ‘Sure, John can give away a South Australian opal on camera.’ – ‘Well, that’s an engagement,’ Brian said. ‘How dare you commit John to giving away a South Australian opal on camera?’ – ‘I didn’t realise.’ – ‘Well, you should have realised. You’re usurping your power, and I didn’t hire you for that, I hired you for this; you shouldn’t be working with the boys, anyway, you should be with me all the time.’ – ‘Oh, this is crazy, I’m off!’So, I left in New York. I resigned at the end of the tour, in September; but Brian made me work three months’ notice, though, until just before Christmas.
Anthology
Should be the last live performance of many popular songs here; Neither You can´t do that, All my loving, She loves you, Roll over Beethoven or I want to hold your hand were used after this tour, ending with this show. Well, the songs served them well for many a good show anyway.
Re: Beatles performance at the Paramount in NYC Sept 1964. I was at this concert. This is the first time I saw any acknowledgement of this concert. Thank you. I wish you had included more info on the groups who also played that night. I remember that Ed Sullivan was the emcee. I remember the Shangri-las and The Tokens. My seat was in the second balcony. I jumped down to the first balcony and stood directly in front of Paul! I wish I could remember more.
I was at that concert. I don’t remember Ed Sullivan, I remember Steve Laurence hosting, and that he and his wife Eydie Gorme both sang their recent hit songs. I also remember The Tokens doing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and Jackie De Shannon singing What the World Needs Now.
It was certainly a great night to remember.
You remember more than I did lol. I was in the last balcony leaning against the back wall. I just remember seeing the Beatles or I should say hearing screaming lol. Than saw them in 65 and 66 at Shea Stadium.
Nancy i saw the Beatles those 3 different times too
When i tell people that now they have trouble believing that that could have even been possible.I was 9 years old at the Paramount and my father ( God bless him ) took my brother, sister and myself to see The Beatles …..
Hi,
I was there as well. I still have silent 8mm color movies of the crowds outside and of the concert as well. I sat on the 1st level balcony along with my brother Ben, my girlfriend at that time, Delia Luna and her two sisters. I managed to go down to the orchestra level in order to get a better view and get closer to the stage for a clearer movie shot.
I hardly recall many on the program (especially the MC’s). I do remember the Tokens and their amazing falsettos……..but mainly the interminable wait for the Beatles ! FINALLY, Ringo’s Ludwig drum set was dragged onstage, and the SCREAMING began; and so loudly one could hardly hear the group sing. Still, it was a night to remember, being there close to the beginning of Beatlemania. . *Thanks Steffie !
PS. I still have my program
Wow,
I was there as well. What a great night.
Hi,
I was there as well. I still have silent 8mm color movies of the crowds outside and of the concert as well. I sat on the 1st level balcony along with my brother Ben, my girlfriend at that time, Delia Luna and her two sisters. I managed to go down to the orchestra level in order to get a better view and get closer to the stage for a clearer movie shot.
Let me add my two cents. I was twelve and hung out across the street from the stage door on 44th street for hours in hope of seeing them go in. After the longest wait in the huge crowd of mostly teen girls, John and Paul’s big black car arrived. I only cause a glimpse of them. John was tanned and wore a dark blue blazer over a maroon turtleneck. Someone knocked a cigarette out of Paul’s mouth. They waved and were whisked away. The wooden barrier was knocked over by the crowd of girls trying desperately to get to them. I would have followed the girls if it were not for the dozen or so mounted police galloping toward the frenzy.