Encounter with Britain's Beatles Leaves PHS Sophomores in a daze (1964)

 

Encounter with Britain's Beatles Leaves PHS Sophomores in a Daze

By Nancy Karnath

Pensacola News Journal

September 24, 1964

    A Hard Day's Night was spent by Sue Green, Jessica Hendrix, and Linda Maddox, three Pensacola High School sophomores, when they motored to New Orleans to visit the Beatles, England's fourfold answer to America's. Elvis Presley.

     "They're so sweet!" exclaimed Linda. "I love them," chimed Sue. "I was in a daze," interrupted Jessica.

     Arriving in New Orleans at 12:30pm, the girls passed the Congress Inn. "I saw Paul McCartney!" shouted Sue.  Linda and Jessica attempted to convince their friend that she was seeing an apparition. Later, to their amazement, they discovered that Sue had seen Paul, and the Beatles were staying at the Congress Inn.

    On calling City Park Stadium, the girls were told arrangements for their visit had been made, and they were to report to the motel, room 100, that afternoon for The Beatles' press conference. 

    The time arrived, but the girls nearly missed the conference because of a frustrated crowd of fans. Pushing their way through the mob of several 100, they attempted to enter the door. One fan clutched Sue's handbag in an attempt to prevent her from entering. With a slight struggle, and with the aid of Linda, she freed herself and stumbled into the motel. Linda heard one girl shout, "Gosh, we're from Mississippi. Doesn't that count?"

     Approximately 100 members of the press swarmed into the single room for the conference. Sue, Linda, and Jessica were the only fans allowed to sit in. "The Beatles looked disgusted, but had a great sense of humor", said Sue.

     At the press conference, the shaggy Britains termed their New Orleans visit as the "roughest" of their tours. Explaining this, they said their limousine failed to follow the designated route to the Inn. Upon arriving at the motel, the fans were so dense they forced the car to back up and hit a police patrol car. Damage was reported as slight. 

    The crooners were quite relaxed.  They sat at a table drinking lemonade. Reporters fired questions and photographers frantically clicked camera shutters. When asked if his guitar really had 21 strings, George Harrison replied, "Yeah, sure."  When asked what he thought of New Orleans girls, he replied, "Haven't seen any yet."  Asked what they thought of the topless bathing suit. Ringo star quipped, "We've been wearing them for years."

     And accepting the key to the city of New Orleans from Mayor Victor H Shiro, Beatle John Lennon said," You look like a nice fellow, Lord Mayor."  

    The Beatles' disgust with their visit was warranted by their having to be locked in one room because of the insistent fans.  They had to forgo a swim and visit to the French quarters, which they had anticipated. 

    The group said the thing they liked most about the United States was the money, but stated emphatically that they were not multi-millionaires. American tea was singled out as a thing they most disliked.

     Although the girls were unable to present the keys to the city of Pensacola to the Beatles in person, since the performance was 45 minutes late, they did give the keys to George Martin, the Beatles' manager