The Beatles were due to have played an open-air show at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field on this day. However, the promoter failed to provide a cover for the group, and heavy rain began shortly before they were due to take the stage.
The support acts on The Beatles’ final tour were The Remains, Bobby Hebb, The Cyrkle and The Ronettes. The downpour began after each of the acts had completed their sets. The promoter originally insisted that The Beatles should perform, but they refused unless he could guarantee their safety.
In Cincinnati on August 20, torrential rain caused the cancellation of the show at Crosley Field Stadium, the first and only time this happened during The Beatles’ touring years. The decision to put off the boys’ appearance was taken when Mal [Evans] was thrown several feet across the stage while plugging into a wet amplifier. We were advised that touching any of the stage’s rain-soaked electrical equipment could be lethal so Brian Epstein had no option but to call off the concert.
John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me
The rain was serious enough for The Beatles to have risked electrocution had they performed. As the heavens opened there were 35,000 fans inside the stadium, but the show was postponed and rescheduled for noon on the following day.
Cincinnati was an open-air venue, and they had a bandstand in the centre of the ballpark, with a canvas top on it. It was really bad weather, pouring with rain, and when Mal got there to set up the equipment he said, ‘Where’s the electricity power feed?’ And the fella said, ‘What do you mean, electricity? I thought they played guitars.’ He didn’t even know we played electric guitars.It was so wet that we couldn’t play. They’d brought in the electricity, but the stage was soaking and we would have been electrocuted, so we cancelled – the only gig we ever missed.
The Beatles had performed in Cincinnati on one other occasion, on 27 August 1964.
Also on this day...
- 2019: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: State Farm Center, Champaign
- 1998: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: The Point, Dublin
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Concord Pavilion, Concord
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Celeste Center, Columbus
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Castle Farms, Charlevoix
- 1973: Recording: Mind Games by John Lennon
- 1972: Wings live: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
- 1969: Mixing, editing: I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- 1968: Recording, mixing, editing: Yer Blues, Mother Nature’s Son, Etcetera, Wild Honey Pie
- 1965: The Beatles live: White Sox Park, Chicago
- 1964: The Beatles live: Convention Center, Las Vegas
- 1963: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1962: The Beatles live: Majestic Ballroom, Crewe
- 1961: The Beatles live: Hambleton Hall, Liverpool
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
What did the Beatles do that night right after they cancelled the concert do to the rain out?
They laid over in a hotel in Cincinnati, then played the following day at noon. Everyone got a rain check. I know, I was there. Beautiful sunny day, and Bobby Hebb appropriately opened the show with his hit, “Sunny.”
My grandparents lived at The Vernon Manor Hotel, and sadly the Beatles returned to the hotel: I considered inviting the four men to spend time in our flat, but I was too young to figure out how to make an invite contingent on changing into dry clothes. We had a grand piano in our flat, and I thought the four might be in a dark hotel room.
As I was meeting the four for the first time as they waited to leave, both George and Ringo were very distressed at the view of outside. When the two resisted initial efforts by Paul to come over and meet me, I thought the two were concerned about the hundreds of fans outside, all dressed like flower children. It was not until the release of George’s autobiography that I learned the rained out concert was the first and only one: George and Ringo were looking at the dark rain clouds.
The next day is a day I will always remember, because a large paparazzi broke in and shouted he was going to touch each of the four: Paul picked me up and ran into an elevator kept open for security reasons. I was 13 years old, but so tiny. Paul protected me by placing his body in front of me, while he distracted me with warnings about “grabby guys” and included the same warning for when I grew up: used a British word for adult, but I understood. I remember looking up at Paul and wanting to thank him, but I was still too frightened to speak. It amazes me to know Paul was only 26 years old: always believed Paul was a true knight to be the first to recognize a child in the room, then act in an instant to protect a child in danger.
Long ago I loss my sheet souvenirs, but I have saved my present from John Lennon. John wanted to “thank me for allowing him to know some children dressed like children.” I wanted the present to be from my new friend and hero, Paul. I decided to label my present as a gift from the Beatles. There are no pictures, unless the busboy who violated the rule captured me in his effort to take a photo. Each famous visitor gifted a signed photograph to the hotel: as you came in the lobby you could see all the pictures framed on a facing wall.
So, the Beatles just returned to the hotel that raining night. I was in the flat located beneath them on the 5th floor. If you think a member of the group waved, it was me waving.
Not sure, but my brother was there that day. He and his buddy were out in front of the stadium when all four of the beatles filed right past him, separated only by a chain link fence. Ringo was the only one of the four that acknowledged the small group of fans that had gathered.
I was there and shot film. ( 3 years ago I sold it to Apple Corp) As Phil stated, the 4 went right past me wearing cream colored suits with thing blue stripes. On Saturday, there was NO tent. The rain came in and they tried to cover everything up. The following day a tent appeared. Good thing too because it was SO hot that day that I’m surprised they could perform.
I was there..my mother bought tickets for me and my best friend…it was an exciting night but the rain was terrible then they told everyone to save their ticket stubs and come back the next day..many were crying because they threw their stubs away…we went back the next day and it was a beautiful sunny day and Bobby Hebb sang Sunny…I will remember that moment forever and the Beatles performed..I couldn’t hear them and shared my binoculars with my friend..it was a memory that will last for the rest of my life..a wonderful gift from my parents…I was 15.
They played on my Birthday August 21st 1966 and the state I was born in.They were 233 miles away from me. What fate! 🙂
I have heard a rumor that Paul was almost electrocuted many years ago to the point that blue was coming out of his mouth but have never found that story anywhere. Is this true or not?