Love at First Sound:
Barbara Fowler Meets the Beatles
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)
Originally published September 2, 1964
On special assignment from the Post Standard, Miss Barbara
Fowler of 11 Melvin Ave, Cortland, 17 year old senior at Cortland High School,
achieved the ambition of her young life Sunday evening when she was admitted to
a press conference with the Beatles at Atlantic City Convention Hall. She also was given a picture autographed by
each Beatle. Following is the interview
she wrote for Beatles fans of this newspaper.
A cloak of mystery and secrecy surrounded the Beatles’
arrival in Atlantic City (I had to interview two men before I was given a pass
to get into the press conference).
The events leading up to the concert were many and
varied. Most all the girls wore “I love
the Beatles” buttons or “I Love Paul” etc.
One girl was promenading up and down the boardwalk carrying a huge eight
feet in diameter, umbrella, which had inscribed on the back “Vote for Ringo.
Yeah Yeah!
Quite a few girls slept overnight on the boardwalk next to
the Convention Hall in order to save their place in line. As the afternoon progressed the tension
increased and the girls would scream even at the mention of the word “Beatles.”
The press conference was set for 7:30p.m. But because of the
tremendous crowd around Convention Hall, Paul, George, John and Ringo were
delayed 15 minutes.
They had to assign two burly policemen to each Beatle in
order to get them out of their car and into the hall.
The police actually carried each “Beatle” in the hall
separately for the press conference.
And then! In walked
those handsome, loveable boys: Paul,
George, john and Ringo! Everyone
started to stand up then everyone climbed onto chairs and tables and anything
they could stand on and started talking all at once.
Some of the questions
asked were:
Q: Paul, do you have
any marriage plans?
A: I have none.
Q: George, what plans
do you have for the next year and a half?
A: I don’t know, can’t
plan that far ahead.
Q: Ringo, how many
rings do you have?
A: 100 I have never
touched.
Q: Is it a drag to stay in a hotel room all day?
A: not when you are
sleeping (laughter).
Q: Did you appear at
the window at the motel at any time?
A: No.
Q: Would you like to
lead a simple life again?
A: No.
Q: What was the greatest
crowd on the tour?
A: 10,000 at
Vancouver
Q: How do you feel
about the rival groups?
A: We don’t mind at
all.
Q: What do you miss
must of all since your popularity?
A: Paul: Going on buses. George:
There is nothing to do. John: School.
Ringo: the movies.
Q: What advice can
you give to new groups?
A: Be original
Q: If Luci Baines
Johnson wanted to meet you, would you like to meet her?
A: Yes.
Q: Who is the oldest?
A: Ringo, he is 24.
Q: What impressed you
the most about America?
A: The size.
At the end of the press conference the policemen pushed them
through the reporters to their dressing room and the press was then invited to
stay for the show at the invitation of George Hamid.
There were four acts before the great Beatles came on and
although the other acts were good and the kids clapped and yelled, it was
nothing compared to the roar that began with the entrance of the Beatles.
With 18,000 girls screaming at the top of their lungs, one
can imagine the din and clamor which still rang in my ears the next morning.
It was so loud that I could only hear the faint drumming of
Ringo. Some of the songs they sang were “She
loves you”, “Can’t buy me love,” “Boys,”
which brought the house down, “things we said today” by Gorgeous George “Long
Tall Sally,” “all my Loving” and “A Hard
Day’s night.”
Some adults – SOME- all the adults shook their heads either
in wonder, disbelief or disgust at the display of emotions. They don’t think the Beatles have anything to
scream about.
How wrong can they be?
The Beatles are handsome, clean-cut, well-mannered and real sincere boys
with a great sense of humor. As for
their music – it’s the most.
I for one think they are in to stay for a long time! Right girls?
Yeah yeah!
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