Aug. 28, 1964 - The most controversial British export to these shores since tea turned a stretch of staid Park Avenue into Pandemonium Gulch today.
It was Beatles Day, as anyone who had read a paper, heard the radio, or watched a T.V. newscast was sure to know. Those who knew best of all were the deafened citizenry whose business or pleasure took them near Park and 59th Street. There, some 2,500 young ladies of America whooped, wiggled, and chanted “We want Ringo” outside Delmonico’s Hotel.
The Beatles are staying there during their two nights of concerts at the 15,000-seat tennis stadium at Forest Hills Queens. Both were sold out — at $3.95 to $6.50 a seat — two months ago.
Outside the hotel, 200 cops held their ears and their tempers as they kept the shrieking teenagers across Park Avenue from the hotel, which is at the northwest corner. Burns Detective Agency cops were posted inside along with four registered nurses. Four ambulances were on hand.
On the sixth floor of the hotel, two elderly women, permanent residents, emerged from Room 601 — a suite with a proximity to Beatles that some would have pledged a decade of indentured service to get.
“Who cares about the Beatles? I don’t,” one of them said.
The Beatles themselves — Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison — who did not retire until nearly 6 a.m., did not arise until 2 p.m., when they had corn flakes, orange juice, and soft-boiled eggs in their suite.
“They never do windows,” an aide said, explaining why they did not greet the crowd outside. “The police ask us not to because the girls might rush them.”
The Beatles entered the country on Aug. 18 for a 32-day tour of 25 cities that is expected to gross $1 million. They will play at Atlantic City Sunday night and will return to New York Sept. 20 for a charity concert at the Paramount Theater that is already sold out at a $100 top.
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