Teen Storm Beatles-Toting Armor Truck
By Joe Dojcsak
The Van Nuys News
August 31, 1965
There was a masterful security plan
to protect Britain's mop-haired Beatles amidst screaming, sobbing, pushing, and
instant hysteria. The Beatles quickly climbed the stairs leading from an
underground exit at the Capitol Records building and hurriedly jumped into an
armored truck after holding a press conference prior to their Hollywood Bowl
concert on Sunday.
As the armored truck headed toward the parking
lot exit, several Beatles fans grabbed for the side view mirror and held on for
dear life. Other emotionally drained girls ran alongside the armored vehicle
and started frantically pounding on the bulletproof glass window and shouting,
“Ringo, George, we love you.” The truck gained speed and headed toward the Bowl
and the sell-out crowd that awaited them.
Swarms of parents began arriving at the Bowl
with their sons, daughters, other relatives, neighbors and immediate friends
Sunday morning prior to the concert. By noon Sunday, such great numbers of
teenagers had arrived at the Bowl. One security guard said, “I bet this is one
day when the beaches are depleted of all girls.”
The area around the Bowl was surrounded by
approximately 100 police, and more than 260 security guards were prepared to
curb any instant outbursts of teenage affection during the Beatles' performance.
More than 100 fans without tickets were
arrested by police and security officers when they tried to storm the Bowl. While
17,600 Fans exhausted their emotions once the Beatles started their
performance, 10,000 additional fans milled around outside the Bowl, attempting
to guess from which direction the Beatles would exit after the performance.
“Parents stopped and asked us if there could
be a riot here, but we tried to reassure them and say we have everything under
control”, said one security officer. “Nevertheless, we have to be careful of a
few nuts who come looking for trouble at performances like this.”
One of these fanatics was walking in front of
the Bowl with a rifle on his shoulder. Fortunately, the gun was a toy, but it
sure disturbed many parents who were dropping off their kids near the Bowl.
At exactly 9:55 pm, after the
performance, 10 policemen plowed through the screaming fans and formed a human
wedge while the Beatles jumped to security in an armored car.
It was almost ironic that the mop-haired group
arrived and departed in an armored truck for their few hours of abnormal
excitement. Each of them earned a cool $45,000.
Although security officers kept a tight watch
on hundreds of fans who roamed the Hollywood Bowl area before the performance,
homeowners were not taking any chances. Sprinkling systems were kept going
during the day and evening to discourage overexuberant fans from romping
through the ivy bushes. “My tree has
become a favorite vantage point for Beatles fans”, said Mrs. Richard Jacobson
of Hollywood. “These kids would risk their lives just to see the Beatles”, she
added.
Following their final performance
at the Bowl last night, the Beatles headed towards San Francisco, where they
will present additional concerts before ending their American tour for another
year.
No comments:
Post a Comment