Play Games in Atlantic City

 

On night in Atlantic City

 

August 30, 1964 -  Atlantic City, NJ 

All the George girls start to sceam

Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City

August 30, 1964

Chinese-American boy views the Beatles

This is a news story taken from the Jersey Journal on September 2, 1964.   Written by Fred Chu

How does a Chinese-American boy feel about the Beatles?  Here is the answer from Fred Chu, a 19 year old Princeton University student:

That I am of Chinese decent might make one imagine that I could never enjoy a performance of the Beatles if my parents objected.

Of course this thought assumes that Chinese children always adhere to the commands of their parents.  I don't want to appear disrespectful, but I must admit that when it comes to music, my range of appreciation differs from my father's.

Actually, my father while suggesting that rock n roll is pretty awful, will also express annoyance with "long hair music" in the next breath.   (This may confuse those people who associate long pigtails with the older generation Chinese).

Hence, my father's musical taste is hard to classify.   I don't see any difference in music as long as it satisfies me. True, rock n roll cannot equal Chinese music in delicate tonal combinations, but what music equals the hypnotic beat of rock n roll -- especially that produced by Ringo Starr?

Really I cannot be accused of being a rock n roll fanatic.  I only enjoy it when my mood calls for excitement and movement. What better way to be awaken from the humdrum of life's slow pace than with a quicken rock n roll beat.

My belief that Beatle music is  not bad was confirmed when I met the Beatles in person at a backstage press conference and saw their show in Atlantic City.

To reassure parent, these fellows put on a fine. wholesome show for teenagers. And for the interview they were nattily dressed in black, velvet trimmed no collar suits.

After bouncing in front of the room and waving and calling "Hi everybody!" in their familiar "A Hard Day's night" fashion, they settled down for pictures and questions. 

Here are some of the questions they were asked:

"What do you intend to do for the next few years?"  Said George with a slight grin, "We never plan -- it all happens." 

"What do each of you miss from your former way of living?"  Paul answered, "Going on buses." Said George "Having nothing to do."  John missed school and Ringo missed going to the movies.

"When will you make your next movie?" they were asked. They told us it was planned for February of next year (I guess these fellows do plan).

"How many rings do you have Ringo?" He answered "about 100" and he said he hardly has enough fingers for all of them.

Leaving another press conference

Girls Get Signatures of Beatles on photos

Here is a nice newspaper article from 1964 about some girls that gave the Beatles a big stuffed dog in Atlantic City  and almost met them.   They ended up with an autographed photo (or photos).   I wonder how many years went by before they learned that it wasn't the actual Beatles autograph, but someone else on the tour (Neil, Mal or Derek).    Although----maybe just maybe they got the real thing.  

Girls Get Signatures of Beatles on photos

Two Forty Fort teenagers who saved their money to buy a gift for the Beatles are now the proud owners of personally autographed photographs of the English singing group.

The girls acquired the photographs as a result of a confusing series of circumstances which began when they purchased a three-foot tall stuffed dog in Wilkes-Barre when they appeared in Atlantic City.

The story began some time ago when Donna Albertson, 16, and Linda McDonald, 16, devised the scheme of giving the dog to the Beatles--admittedly for the purpose of meeting the English song-belters in person.

After saving enough money, the girls purchased the dog and prevailed upon Mrs. Albertson to drive them to Atlantic City.

On the night of August 30th, the dog was presented to the Beatles---not by the girls, however, but by one of their publicity men who received the gift from the girls at the stage door of the Convention Hall in Atlantic City.

The next day the girls--somewhat dejected by this time, made their way to the 8th floor of the Lafayette hotel in Atlantic City, an area reserved exclusively for the Beatles and their entourage.  Here, while exhibiting a photo of the dog they had presented to the Beatles, they encountered another publicity man who said that the Beatles had the dog and that "they loved it" and wanted to express their thanks to the girls.

Later in the day, the girls were invited again to the 8th floor of the hotel through what Mrs. Albertson described as a "frightening" array of police and security men to meet the Beatles.

The personal meeting failed to materialize, however, and the girls were presented autographed photos, signed in ballpoint pen by the Beatles themselves which state, "To Linda and Donna, love and best wishes, The Beatles."  The photo was signed by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Mrs. Albertson said that she was informed the girls could have met the Beatles in person if they had been able to stay longer.  She said though, that the girls still consider themselves fortunate in that they had their photograph taken with Fred Paul, one of the Beatles retinue and had penetrated the Beatles lair on the 8th floor, an accomplishment in itself since teenagers were not even allowed in teh hotel if they were not guests there.

Both Linda and Donna are Juniors at the Forty Fort Junior-Senior High School. 

Please Mister policeman sir....

Oops!  I left this one out of Atlantic City and it is just too great not to post.   I love the little girl asked the policeman if she could meet the Beatles and I love the big sign.   Plus this is a great photo of what the Lafayette Hotel looked like.

Atlantic City concert memories

Copy of photo taken by The Press of Atlantic City. Historical photo archives

Please remember to click on the "Atlantic City" tag to read more stories and see more photos from this concert.   I also recommend reading Judith Kristen's fab book "A Date with a Beatle" to read a great story about a fan who met George during this time.

These fan memories were collected from various places online (youtube, beatlesbible, comments, etc)

All these years I thought the car (truck) I seen John Lennon in was an ambulance, they were parked and I went up and asked a man there did he have any aspirin I had a awful headache. I seen movement under some sheets and John popped his head out and gave me a big smile , I just looked at him and smiled back, Then the man closed the door and the truck took off, I went back to my friends who hogged the binoculars at the concert and told them what I saw. They were not amused that I did not call them over. –Lillian S.

I was there, 18 years old. My step dad had worked there and I knew how to get around. 3 friends and I got up to the balcony. Could not hear the music for all the screaming. Don’t recall 18000 people, seemed a lot smaller from my vantage point/memory.—Douglas B.

My two friends and I (age 14) purchased three tickets ($4.90) to the concert. We also sent away for press passes from Teen Magazine, and received two thin paper passes with PRESS typed on them. There was a raised press box to the left of the stage, and we decided to give the passes a try. Since there were only two passes and three of us, two of us presented the passes and were allowed to climb up the stairs to the press seats. Then one of us took both passes back down, gave one to the third friend and once again were allowed in. We sat IN FRONT OF Dick Clark, and sometime during the concert the police had to pull my friend down off the press table (gently, and just asked her to remain on the floor)as she was standing on it screaming. Dick Clark signed my white “genuine leatherette” purse, and some years later my mother threw it out not releasing how important it was to me! And yes, the Beatles stayed at a hotel that was about 6 blocks from the Convention Center. We walked over there and one friend used the press pass again to get up to the floor where Beatles were staying. UNFORTUNATELY, she was told by a guard that they were not accepting any more questions from the press at that time.  –Bonnie

the Beatles at Jersey Shore

August 31, 1964 -- The Beatles and Al Black at his home.  photo by Richard Black

Al Black re-connected with Ringo in 1999 and shared the photo with him.

Here is part of an article about the Beatles in Atlantic city with security officer, Al Black.   Click here to read the entire report.

When the Rolling Stones came to town George Hamid  Jr. picked them up at the airport in his convertible and drove them to the boardwalk where he bought them hot dogs and pizza, and hardly anybody recognized them. He couldn’t do that with the Beatles.

By August the Beatles had continued to feed on their skyrocketing popularity and were to be met in Atlantic City by thousands of screaming fans, mainly teenage girls with high pitched voices, so they required special security to keep them safe from the unruly crowds.

Hamid grew up in a circus family so he was used to this sort of thing, and to handle this problem he turned to Al Black, an Atlantic City private eye in the best Sam Spade - Peter Gun tradition. The son of a policeman, “Big Al” was a former marine, around the island swimmer, and later a central figure in an undercover sting operation. A TV detective show with Brian Dennehy - “Big Shamus, Little Shamus,” was based on Big Al’s exploits.

Getting the Fab Four to their gig and then to their hotel with thousands of screaming fans blocking the streets was certainly a big chore, but not for Al Black. Keeping the Beatles on time, safe and secure was something that Al Black could do, with a lot of help from the Atlantic City Police Department.

The police thought they had their hands full with demonstrators during the Democratic Convention, but this was more difficult, as thousands of hysterical teenage girls can be more dangerous than terrorists.

Robert Palamaro, a former AC motorcycle policeman recalls today that, “I was detailed to them, and we brought them in inside a bread truck.”

Palamaro says that, “Al Black was the one who put it all together. His father was a policeman, a detective and a truant officer when I was in school.”

Palamaro got friendly with Al Black, who was also pals with Palamaro’s father-in-law Skinny D’Amato, owner of the famed 500 Club. Since Palamaro married Skinny’s daughter Paula Jane, and served as Sinatra’s bodyguard, he is loaded with fantastic stories and celebrity photos, including one of him with the Beatles.

Assigned to the Beatles security, patrolman Clifton recalled the Beatles arriving in a limo. “We arrived at 5 p.m. the night of the show and at least 1,000 fans lined Pacific Avenue, the street that fronts the stage door entrance to Convention Hall. We were told that the motorcade with the Beatles would arrive at 6. During that hour we watched the crowd in the street grow larger. About 5:45 we were alerted the caravan was en route, barricades were moved into position, creating a passageway from the curb to the stage door. When the crowd saw this happening, it was their cue to move into a better position…In an instant, hundreds of people made a rush across Pacific Avenue, oblivious to moving traffic, concerned only with getting closer…The Beatles were coming…The crowd moved as one, like a great wave of humanity, pushing, showing, straining to see, holding cameras up over their heads, hoping to be lucky enough to get on decent shot. As the limousine pulled up to the curb, an eager fan jumped in front of it, only to be pinned at the knees, caught between the front bumper of the limo and the rear bumper of a police car stopped in front of it….The car door opened and out came the Beatles, wanting to smile, wanting to be friendly. The crowd made its move, rushing forward to greet them. For their own safety each young man was surrounded by police officers. Paul McCartney, the last Beatle to exit from the limousine, was practically shoved through the single opened door that led into the building. The crowd continued its surge and in order to restrain them, police officers picked up the wooden barricades and charged into the mob of people. Finally, the stage door was closed and bolted.”  

The Beatles were in the building.

                                                     

Al Black took the Beatles back to his home for this little-unknown trip

But the Beatles weren’t out of town yet. Al Black had them in the back of the truck so he took them home, to his house at 1112 Bay Drive in West Atlantic City to meet the family and some of the neighbors.

Al Black’s daughter Donna, who now runs the Black security service, was only a child who sat on the shoulders of a neighbor when the Beatles visited the Black’s home. A few photos were taken, but only one survives.

Donna Black recalls, “My babysitter was among the throngs at Convention Hall, and was really upset at missing the Beatles at my house.” But some of the local neighbors came by and the lads from Liverpool got a taste of the real Atlantic City while they were here.

The pit stop in West Atlantic City isn’t mentioned in the Beatlesbible chronicle that says they continued on their Jersey Shore journey: “2:15 pm left Lafayette Motel–Hotel in fish truck which took them to their tour bus, which took them to Cape May where they stayed at the Lafayette Hotel.”

Both Lafayette hotels, the one where the Beatles stayed in Atlantic City and the one in Cape May, were named in honor of the French hero of the American Revolution - Gen. Marquis de Lafayette, and neither are standing today. Although no one today seems to recall them being there, records indicate the Beatles stayed in Cape May for the two days, a short hiatus before their September 2nd show in Philadelphia, when they had to get back on the Beatlemania bus.

It's all who you know

Paul, Ringo and George pose with Elizabeth Hamid--- Press of Atlantic City file photo. Historical photo archives

Who is this adorable young Beatle fan posing for a sweet photo with three of the Beatles?   It is Elizabeth Hamid, who's father just so happens to have been George Hamid Jr. who opened the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ and was the man who brought the Beatles to the city.    When meeting the Beatles, it helps if your Dad is running the show.    What a wonderful opportunity for young Elizabeth--one I am sure she never forgot and was thankful to her Dad for the rest of his life.

The White House meets the Bealtes --- White House subs that is

Two years before the Beatles told us that we all live in a yellow submarine, they were eating a White House submarine sandwich.  

The White House sub shop in Atlantic City, New Jersey has been open since 1946 and has remained a staple in the city ever since.   After the show, the Beatles were hungry and wanted some local food. Police officer  Bobby Palamaro,(the man in the photos with the Beatles) recalls, “my uncle Tony Basile owned the White House subs, and we couldn’t take them there, so we decided to bring sandwiches to them.”

Way before the Fab 4 were vegetarians, they enjoyed the 6 foot Italian sub sandwich.   Photos were taken and if you visit the shop for yourself, you can see the photographs of the Beatles in person as well as photographs of other famous folks who have tried this taste meal.   However, these rare photos almost weren't taken.   You know how much Brian Epstein did not like using the Beatles for advertisement sake?    Bobby Palamaro says, “Brian Epstein, their manager was there, and he frowned on anyone taking pictures. But we had Jim Barber - the official police photographer there, so they let him take that picture with me and the White House subs.”   

The photos aren't the only souvenir the restaurant has on display.  the paper plate that one of the Beatles used is autographed by all four and is framed on the wall. 

Press of Atlantic City file photo. Historical photo archives

Notice that the top left photo is a different one than what we usually see.   This is what is hanging in the restaurant.  

More from the press conference

I wanted Cameron's photos from the Atlantic City press conference to have it's own  post but I don't want these other photos from the press conference to be posted as well.

Press photo. Historical photo archive

Photo by Mike Blizzard. Historical photo archive

photo by Bruce Miley for Mike Blizzard. Historical photo archives

Press photo. Historical photo archives

Unseen Atlantic City Press Conference photos

When the Beatles came to Atlantic City, New Jersey on August 30, 1964, they were set to do their press conference.  The conference was set to take place at the Conventional Hall, where the Beatles were performing that night.   There was a lack of proper security from the hotel to the hall  and Ringo was almost hurt by fans.   But they did make it in one piece to the Convention Hall for the press conference.   The press conference only lasted 15 minutes (most press conferences lasted 30 minutes) and only about 70 people were allowed inside.   One of those people allowed inside the quick press conference was the father of Cameron Cloutier who was working as a reporter at the time.    He took some great photographs of our favorite fabs.  These photos remained unseen until his wife pulled them out of storage a few years ago.   Cameron published them on his blog, Obnixious and Anonymous.   

In doing research for this topic this past year, I discovered the photos and contacted Cameron and asked him if I could share his photos with all of you and he kindly agreed!!!   So I hope you all enjoy these amazing photographs as much as I do.   A big thank you to Cameron for sharing this great photos with the Beatles community.  

I am posting the copyright notice that is on Cameron's blog.

(All images appearing in this blog post are the exclusive property of Cameron Cloutier and are protected under the United States and International Copyright laws.

The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Cameron Cloutier.

Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of the United States and International Copyright laws. All images are copyrighted.)

Come see the Fabulous Beatles

Fans in Atlantic City, New Jersey line up to see the Beatles movie on August 5, 1964 and then they see the guys in person on August 30, 1964.  

Atlantic City P.D.

It has been difficult for me over the years to find photos and very  much information about when the Beatles played Atlantic City in 1964.   So when I was going through stacks of magazines, I was happy to locate a story written by a former Atlantic City, New Jersey police officer named Robert F. Clifton.  Officer Clifton guarded the Beatles (particularly Paul) during their stay in Atlantic City and was even on the stage while they played!   He wrote a very nice article about it all in the August/September 1983 issue of Beatlefan Magazine. 

I am not sure, but that might be Robert Clifton behind Paul in this press conference photo.

  It was the end of August 1964.  At the time I had been with the Atlantic City, NJ  police Department for five years.  During that time I had experienced a lot, particularly when it came to celebrity security details.  There was Sinatra at the 500 Club.  There were Ricky nelson, Dick Clark and Paul Anka at the old Steel Pier – now gone, lost in the change from a family resort to a gambling resort.  But the impact left by four young mean from Liverpool, England is still with me.  At the end of a 25 year career, I saw nothing during that time that can even equal that one night many years ago.

As the last days of the summer season faded away, we stood and watched as the political banners, streamers and confetti from the Democratic Convention blew away, caught in an ocean breeze and scattered along the Boardwalk.  It was the finish of what had been three long weeks of security, dignitary protection and the beginning of protest demonstrations.  Now it was over but there was more to come. 

The Beatles were coming.

George Hamid, owner and operator of the Steel Pier, had somehow induced the group to come to Atlantic City, a place with a total population then of 60,000 people.  It was unheard of.

Harrid leased the Atlantic City Convention Hall and the tickets went on sale.  They sold immediately and naturally this one night show was a total sell-out.  That was to be expected.  What happened next was unexpected.

WE arrived on past at 5 p.m., the night of the show.  Even at that early hour, there were at least 1,000 fans lining the north side of Pacific Avenue, the street that fronts the stage door entrance to Convention Hall.  We were told that the motorcade with The Beatles would arrive at 6 p.m.  During that one hour wait we watched as the crowd in the street and on the sidewalks grew larger.

About 5:45 pm, we were alerted by radio that the caravan was en route.  Black and white wooden barricades were moved into position on the sidewalk creating a passageway from the curb to the stage door.  When the crowd saw this happening, it was their cue to move into a better position to see, to touch, to be part of it.  They kept repeating, “They’re coming!” In an instant, hundreds of people made a rush across Pacific Avenue, oblivious to moving traffic, concerned only with getting a better place to see, a chance to be closer.  Somehow order was maintained and the excited crowd waited patiently. 

Then the Beatles were there.  First the motorcycle escort, a few radio cars and at last the long black limousine.  The crowd moved as one, like a great wave of humanity, pushing, showing, straining to see, holding cameras up over their heads, hoping to be lucky enough to get on decent shot.  As the limousine pulled up to the curb, an eager fan jumped in front of it, only to be pinned at the knees, caught between the front bumper of the limo and the rear bumper of the radio car stopped in front of it.  There were mixed screams, those of anguish from the caring who witnessed the accident and those of excitement from the crowd as they caught sight of the Beatles seated in the car.

The car door opened and out came the Beatles, wanting to smile, wanting to be friendly.  The crowd made its move, rushing forward to greet them.  For their own safety each young man was surrounded by police officers.  Paul McCartney, the last Beatle to exit from the limousine, was practically shoved through the single opened door that led into the building.  The crowd continued its surge and in order to restrain them, police officers picked up the wooden barricades and charged into the mob of people.  Finally, the stage door was closed and bolted.  The band was then escorted up a flight of stairs to a series of rooms where a press conference was to take place.

The four young men, each dressed differently, sat comfortably at a long table.  Each Beatles had his own microphone in front of him.  Derek Taylor stood in front of a floor mike and the interview began.

It was easy to see as the interview went on that the group who entered the room – sincere, eager and willing to answer questions – soon lost interest in the meeting.  This was probably caused by the people conducting the interview (not all professional media) who asked such questions as, “What do you think of America?  What do you think of American girls?  What do you think of Atlantic City?  Of all the cities that you have been in, which one do you like the most?”  I distinctly remember John Lennon’s answer, “Liverpool!”

This type of questioning continued and Ringo Starr casually leaned back in his seat, as if disappointed with it all.  Hundreds of flash bulbs kept popping.  At long last, and I’m sure with a sense of relief to the group, the interview was over.  It was getting near show time.

The Beatles went about the preparations, changing now into matching suits, combing what was then considered long hair.  Each performer was quiet, reserved, yet friendly in a shy way.  Each was calm.  There was a total professionalism about them despite their youth.  They were ready to perform, if the audience would let them.

I escorted Paul McCartney into the hallway outside the dressing room.  At that moment, I looked out through the window and saw that in over an hour the crowd on Pacific Avenue had increased to a few thousand people.  Those with tickets were out front on the Boardwalk, entering, taking seats, waiting for the show to begin.

Showtime came at last.  We left the dressing room and walking down a narrow staircase to the backstage area.  Each Beatle still remained clam, patiently waiting to go on stage.  The noise from the audience at this time is rather hard to describe.  It was different, not an impatient murmur, but more like one of expectation, a funny kind of excitement.  Then came the words from the giant speakers situated throughout the large auditorium, “The Beatles!” And, all at once we were moving the long wait was over.  We were walking quickly out on to the stage.  Once there we were met with a mighty blast of sound, a solid wall of noise that actually struck you with a force that stopped your forward momentum.  An estimated 25,000 people had jammed into the Hall and they were letting the group know that they were appreciated.

Instead of performing on the stage, the Beatles were on a 15 foot high platform constructed on scaffolding in front of the stage.  Eighteen police officers stood below us.  Eighteen police officers between the Beatles, us (security detail) and 25,000 screaming fans.  But, while they screamed in happiness and appreciation, no one moved from in front of their seats toward the stage.

The Beatles began to play.  Don’t ask what they played, because no one except the Beatles can answer that question.  No one heard one song, one lyric, not even one note.  The cheers never stopped.  The screams never died and the tears from the eyes of young girls never stopped flowing.  It was Beatlemania.

A little over an hour later it was over. At least the show was over.  There was plenty more to come.

As the auditorium cleared, hundreds of fans raced to Pacific Avenue to join thousands who had been there before them.  All wanted to see the group one more time.  The street was filled with milling people.  Traffic stopped and had to be rerouted.  The limousine that brought them was unable to make it into the street from the garage, and even if it had made it there was a danger that the vehicle would be swarmed upon by eager fans.  It became a security nightmare.  As time passed it was evident that for the safety of the people in general and for The Beatles in particular something had to be done.

Finally, a solution was agreed upon and a distinctly marked laundry truck made its way down Georgia Avenue about 30 minutes later.  It made its way slowly through the crowd, eventually arriving in a secure area of the garage. 

Each Beatle was taken to the garage area located below the Convention Hall and placed inside the van, made comfortable and very quietly taken from the building.  The laundry truck was completely ignored by the fans. 

Once they arrived at the Lafayette Motor Inn, located at the other end of town, The Beatles became virtual prisoners in their own suite of rooms.  Outside the fans began to gather, but at this point created no real problems. 

In the protection of their rooms, the group relaxed.  They talked briefly about the show, the audience response and how they had left the area.  Later, they ate submarine sandwiches form the White House Sub Shop.  While they relaxed, the fans continued to mill about, calling from the street below, “Ringo, Paul, George, John!”

Radio cars were sent into the area to clear the streets and sidewalks.  Teenage girls found their way to the rear of the hotel and like human flies began climbing from balcony to balcony in an attempt to see the group, or just one Beatle, or just to be able to say they saw the rooms.

The summer night turned into morning and a few hours later The Beatles were gone, off to some other city, to some other concert.  Many things have happened since 1964, but looking back over the years, that one particular evening stayed with me.  I never forgot it.  I never will.  The Beatles made an impact not only in show business, but in the world.  And I was there seeing, hearing, feeling it, maybe in a very small way a part of it, a part of history that summer of 1964.

By Robert F. Clilfton