Aug. 23, 1964 - The Beatles, England’s answer to the Revolutionary War, gave their long-heralded performance tonight in Hollywood Bowl and escaped with their lives.
With 18,700 fans shrieking hysterically, not much of the mop-haired quartet’s singing could be heard. It seemed to be enjoyed, however.
After a half-hour performance, the Beatles left the stage at 10 p.m. and darted directly to a compact car parked alongside. They sped away, leaving most of their fans disconsolately watching a black limousine parked behind the Bowl as a decoy.
About 60 fans ran to the closest gate and clambered for a vantage point on the Beatles’ car on the automobile of a commercial photographer. The roof and hood were caved in.
The Bowl’s first-aid station reported only three fainters for the entire evening.
Harried police bore the brunt of the irrepressible young people’s antics. They fought a losing battle trying to herd them off private property around the amphitheater and untangling a huge traffic jam as parents arrived to pick up their charges after the show.
A random sampling of opinion on the question of why they love the Beatles turned up these answers:
“They’re foreign, and Americans are so gooney.”
“They’re cute — instead of talking about cars and surfing, they talk about love.”
“I like ‘em ‘cause my parents hate ‘em.”
Earlier in the day, Beatle drummer Ringo Starr told newsmen: “Our fans never bother us, but they seem to bother the police and other people. We’re used to wild receptions. In fact, we get quite a jolt out of it.”
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