Thursday, April 6, 2017

Don Rickles insulted the Beatles

When I heard that Don Rickles had passed away today, my first thought was "Oh now Mr. Potato Head from the Toy Story movies!"   But then I remembered that the Beatles had an encounter with him when they were in Miami Beach in February 1964.  

Photos taken by Dezo Hoffman 


Story found in the book The Beatles are coming! by  Bruce Spizer page 198

After returning to the Deuville at approximately 11:00pm, the group headed to one of the hotel's night clubs to see comedian Don Rickles, whose routine consisted of launching insults at members of the audience.  Everyone was fair game, including little old ladies and, of course, the Beatles and Sgt. Dresner.  "Look at this.  A police sergeant guarding four Zulus when all over the city there's fighting and burglary going on."   Although the Beatles laughed along with the audience each time Rickles took aim at them, they were not amused.  The group was trying to keep a low profile and resented being publicly embarrassed by the comedian.  George thought it unfair that only Rickles had a microphone.  "If we'd had him on our own terms we could have made mincemeat out of him."  

4 comments:

  1. Mr. Potato Head? How young ARE you? Don Rickles was one of the greatest comedians of the last 60 years. His passing is a very sad occasion. I, too, thought of him meeting and embarrassing The Beatles in 1964. They were not used to that kind of comedy then. Thank you for posting these photos and rest in peace, Mr. Rickles.(MarkZapp)

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    1. I'm not young by any stretch of imagination, but I think of Don Tickles as Mr. Potato Head. You hockey puck!

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  2. Thee age οf thе wonderful rigid airships сame and wеnt.

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  3. A learning experience. If you wanted to keep a low profile and you're famous, than you did not go to a Don Rickles performance.

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