Sept. 18, 1964 - At the Dallas Memorial Auditorium tonight, the Beatles topped a bill which also included, in order of appearance, The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, and Jackie DeShannon.
When the group arrived in Dallas, they were driven to the Cabana Motor Hotel, which is owned by Doris Day. There were chaotic scenes outside the Cabana, with fans pressing so hard against a glass door that it broke. The Beatles’ journey from their car to the building’s rear entrance proved equally hazardous, with both George Harrison and Ringo Starr losing their footing in the melee.
At the Auditorium, the stage was three times the normal height for a Beatles concert. A telephoned bomb threat delayed the start of the show, but no bombs were found. However, during the search, a number of Beatlemaniacs were discovered hiding under the stage and in washrooms.
The crowd numbered 10,000 — all the tickets had sold out in one day. Following their 30-minute set, the lads were driven off to Dallas Love Field, from which their chartered airplane took off. The Beatles were taken to a Missouri ranch for a well-deserved day off.
During the flight, Paul McCartney led the Beatles’ entire entourage in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for manager Brian Epstein, after which a number of gifts, including glassware and a vintage telephone, were presented. Epstein, whose birthday is actually tomorrow, will be 30 years old.
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