Sept. 13, 1964 - The Beatles, that strange British export that does to teenagers what good Scotch does to adults, rose up in Baltimore tonight, an event of miraculous proportions.
The Civic Center screamed in feverish excitement, like some sluggish animal finally come to life.
Teenagers, mostly, and girls, primarily, burst loose in hysteric recognition when the quartet appeared.
The enormous cavern of the building had become a vibrant, pulsating shrine with waves of shrieking adulation that burst with concussive force.
The 71 uniformed city and private police who ringed the front of the stage watched in puzzlement. “I can’t even hear the music,” one police lieutenant said ruefully.
There were nearly 13,000 worshippers at each of the two performances — not quite as many as appeared last year for Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk singers.
There were several cases of hysterics treated at the arena first-aid station but not an unusual number “considering the girls were talked into hysterics by the activities in the other cities,” said Mrs. Bernice Moranski, the Civic Center nurse.
George McEeney, ticket taker, snapped the stub of the first ticket at 2:35 p.m. when the main doors opened, five minutes late.
A loudspeaker sternly warned, “Do not run into the building — walk,” but in 30 seconds, the recorded voice was obliterated by the shrieks of exuberant Beatlemania.
Elliott Jaffa, one of three lobby concessionaires, said he sold 150 $1 programs in the first eight minutes.
The Beatles had been snugly guarded in their hotel throughout the morning by a main portion of a 200-man city police Beatle Guard.
As girls stalked the hotel corridors, lobby, and entrances, the Beatles were playing Monopoly or cards, at least according to their booking agent, Edward Leffler.
“They are virtual prisoners everywhere they go,” he said. “It is a pretty horrible life.”
As they go about gathering their fortune (an estimated total income of $14 million this year), Mr. Leffler said the boys follow the rules, stay out of sight, and avoid any provoking appearances other than those they are paid for.
“They are locked up so much of the time — it’s lucky they are fond of each other,” said Mr. Leffler.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
コメント