The Beatles are still favorites among Teens (Atlanta 1965)

 

The Beatles are Still Favorites Among Teens

By Lynn Birch

The Macon News

August 22, 1965

 

“We didn't take any chances this time,” the burly policeman who had been guarding the Beatles' plane all day told me in acid tones. He was right. Not one fan out of the 36,000 in Atlanta caught a glimpse of the Beatles, except at the concert.

Of course, this does not mean they did not try. As I surveyed the airfield suspiciously, my thoughts returned to my own adventures of the day. The Atlanta Airport, where my day began and ended, is a disaster to all Beatles fans, for it has no less than 10 exit gates, which the Beatles would use, and presented a strategic problem, so I consulted with my father, and we chose one of the wrong ones, unfortunately.

 At approximately 2pm The Beatles plane landed in a restricted area on one side of the airfield, while my family and I waited in the southern airway terminal on the other side, and some 500 fans besieged the lobby and observation tower in the main part of the airport. Our spot really seemed to be the perfect place for the group to land. Only four fans had discovered it, and it offered easy access to the expressway. The official black limousines, which whisked the Beatles directly from the airport to the stadium, were parked there. Even the majority of newsmen assigned to cover the arrival of the Beatles came to this hangar with their cameras and walkie-talkies.

 While we were all waiting, I met two 19-year-old girls who had come from Lexington, Kentucky, to see the concert that night. They had also seen the Beatles in Indianapolis. As I was talking to these girls, a man from Channel 5 filmed us looking at the various planes in our binoculars. Shortly after this, one of the newsmen said that The Beatles' plane had landed.

We knew what kind of plane they had, so I hopped on top of the car and looked across the field. Sure enough, there it was: an Elektra with a red stripe down the fuselage and the words ‘American Flyer’ on the side. The yellow truck containing their musical instruments was just backing away from the plane. I almost dropped my binoculars in astonishment. The Beatles had eluded all of us  completely.

 At the stadium, after several unsuccessful attempts to enter the press conference, I found my seat and tried to get settled with my pocketbook, transistor radio, souvenir book, binoculars, notebook, pencil, Coke and a box of popcorn. Needless to say, it was not easy.

The platform, which would serve as the stage, was on the second baseline, and there were no chairs on the field. Only half the seats in the stadium were used for no one was sold a ticket that would place them behind the stage. I was very pleased with my position, the sixth row directly in front of the platform.

Over 150 policemen were assigned to the stadium in order to protect the Beatles while they were on stage. Many of them stood shoulder to shoulder on the edge of the field in front of the fans in the bleachers. They were equipped with helmets, nightsticks, and guns. And I noted with amusement that one had two large wads of cotton in his ears.

 Fans from all over the South had flocked to this concert. I realized, as I looked around and saw signs from Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, as well as various parts of Georgia.  One group of girls had arrived on a chartered plane from Cincinnati, Ohio. Others had come from as far away as Maine and New York. Numerous signs proclaiming, “We love you Beatles,” dotted the stadium before and during the show.

The scoreboard was used to entertain and inform the crowd. Such things as “Beatles”,” yeah”, “go”, and “wow” Flashed across. It once told us to holler for your favorite Beatle! I only saw one quick glance at it while the Beatles were on stage. And this is what it said, “Everybody Yeah”.

 The concert began when Paul Drew, a WQXI disc jockey who was on tour with The Beatles, introduced the mayor of Atlanta, Ivan Allen Jr. He had been given the four lads from Liverpool the key to the city during the press conference, and he informed us that they were all now the honorary Atlanta Beatles. “The city is truly big-league! We've got the Braves and the Beatles.” This drew such a deafening roar of approval from the crowd that the mayor's plea for good behavior was all but lost.

The fast-moving show featured a number of very good acts who preceded the Beatles. They were the Discotheque Dancers, King Curtis, Cannibal and the Headhunters, Brenda Holloway and Sounds Inc..

 From time to time, the chant of  “We want the Beatles” became audible. Much to my surprise and delight, I spotted John Lennon watching the show from the dugout while Sounds Inc. were on stage.

Finally, a hush of anticipation fell as Paul Drew introduced them. Bedlam erupted as Paul, John, George, and Ringo ran from the dugout and climbed on the platform. They received the most rousing welcome I've ever heard, and it continued throughout their 35-minute performance. Girls cried, pulled their hair, jumped up and down, beat on their friends hysterically, and screamed. I calmly focused my binoculars on Paul and lost consciousness as hundreds of flash bulbs popped all around me.

 The boys looked very rested and were in excellent spirits. Experimenting with his microphone before he announced the first song. Paul commented, “It's a little loud, isn't it?” I suppose that is why I could hear every word of every song and every word they said. It was fabulous after seeing, but not hearing, the concert in Jacksonville. I could hardly believe it.

 The Beatles sang 12 songs:” Twist and Shout”, “She's a Woman”, “I Feel Fine,” “Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby” (The only song George sang),  “Can't Buy Me Love,” “Baby's in Black,” “I want to be your man” (Ringo is only song) “A Hard Day's Night,” “Help” and “I'm down”. Obviously, they were enjoying every minute of the concert as much as their fans; the Beatles captivated the audience completely. With that showmanship and magnetism,  other personalities make them unique.