Sept. 14, 1964 - The Beatles came to Pittsburgh today amidst wild scenes normally reserved for presidential candidates.
The arrival of the British quartet at 4:40 p.m. at Greater Pittsburgh Airport set off a noisy, screaming demonstration followed by a swift motorcade in the Penn-Lincoln Parkway West to the Civic Arena.
A crowd estimated at 5,000 surrounded the Arena, and those who saw the Beatles spirited into the auditorium set up a noisy cheer.
Before the gates were opened at 7 p.m., the pressure of the crowd against the Arena’s big plate-glass windows was so great that Assistant Supt. of Police Lawrence J. Maloney ordered barricades erected to prevent their breaking.
Meantime, the restless throng set up the chant: “We want the Beatles!”
Arena officials announced the paid attendance was 12,603 for a gross gate of $73,767.
Shortly after the mop-topped performers arrived at the Arena, they held a hasty press conference at which interlopers outnumbered news representatives.
Answering a question about the Beatles’ future, Ringo Starr said, “We’ll probably get out when the bubble bursts.”
The opening acts this evening included the Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, and Jackie DeShannon.
When the preliminary acts were over, the crowd was in a feverish frenzy. After a short break, local radio station KQV’s Chuck Brinkman stepped up to the microphone and proudly said, “KQV presents the Beatles.”
The crowd noise drowned out the music, but it didn’t matter. The Beatles played their set to the delight of everyone in attendance. When it was over, the Fab Four were quickly packed into their limousine and rushed back to the airport for the flight to Cleveland.
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