Aug. 21, 1964 - A screaming crowd of teenagers trapped the Beatles for an hour in their dressing room at the Seattle Coliseum tonight. They had just given their first concert in Washington state before 14,300 screaming fans.
Police, aided by a group of sailors, were unable to get the mop-haired quartet to an exit a short distance away because of the milling, hysterical throng. Police formed a cordon and assisted the group to the dressing room.
After 59 minutes, police backed an ambulance into a dark recess near the exit and spirited the group to safety. They then returned to the heavily guarded Edgewater Inn on the waterfront.
The Beatles had appeared on stage for half an hour, during which time the stage was peppered with jelly beans, peanut, and even a fountain pen. The noise of the packed house drowned out the Beatles’ own sounds.
Opening for the Beatles were the Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, The Righteous Brothers, and Jackie de Shannon.
During the concert, hundreds of teenage girls rushed the stage in the hopes of catching the eyes of their idols. Police and firefighters did their best to prevent injuries, but 35 people required first aid treatment, ranging from bumps and bruises to all-out hysteria. One girl was restrained on a stretcher, all the while screaming, “Paul! I love you!”
Tomorrow, the Beatles leave for their next performance in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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