Hot day in the sun

August 21, 1966

So handsome

Getting a photo with the Beatles

What a great way to get a photograph taken with all four Beatles, right?   

Besides the fact that this is a great photograph, my reason for posting this photo is to ask if any of you out there recognize this young fan?   Scott Belmer, the expert on the Beatles in Cincinnati is trying to figure out this mystery and I offered to post it here and see if any of you know.

The best guess is that it is the son of a newspaper photographer/reporter.  But who??    Leave a comment if you know his identity.

Questions, questions, questions

Taking a walk

Everyone wants a photo with the Beatles

August 27, 1964 - Cincinnati, Ohio

Protection from the blazing sun

Welcome to Cincinnati

When will the bubble burst?

Heading toward St. Louis

The Beatles got onto a plane and went over 300 miles to St. Louis, Missouri.  Bob Bonis took photos of this for us to enjoy 50 years later.

Barry from ??? the Remains, George and Neil enjoy a smoke and a soda before take off. 

Fans remember the hot Beatles show

I was actually at this show. It rained like hell the night before and the concert took place at 12:00 noon on Sunday. Price of the ticket - $3.00. Oh my goodness. I was in 8th grade. We were from Texas, visiting relatives in Chicago and Detroit, but my dad finally relented and took me to see them at Crosley Field. Awesome! – Margaret

 I saw them 8/21/66 at Crosley Field, Cincinnati. We were rained out the previous night and the Fabs, even with McM having been reportedly sick that night, agreed to do a show the next sweltering afternoon.

The speakers run out from the second base stage were horns; the "flat' three hole kind. Being in the first row in an open air setting enabled me to hear the band.

They were rather ragged as I recall. I do remember them nailing "Paperback Writer" and "If I Needed Someone". Paul mangled "Yesterday" and I wondered if the key was too high for him that day. –“fabgear”

 My first concert was the Beatles in Cincinnati at Crosley Field. I was 13 years old. I remember my dad drove me there and picked me up after the concert. I went all by myself. Couldn't do that nowadays.  –anonymous

 The Beatles in Crosley Field didn’t even register because you couldn’t hear them and it was kind of like I was just in the same baseball field with them.  -  Tom

 I was there, couldn't see much. They got rained out Sat night, came back at noon on Sunday, thank goodness. Sunday was terribly hot, close to 100 and very humid. I felt sorry for them in those suits.  – Debbie

Once again--if you want to read more fan stories and get more information about the Beatles concert in Cincinnati in 1966, there is an entire chapter about it in my book, "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis."    I go into detail about a lot of the things touched on here and the fan stories are really good.   www.stlbeatles.com

It's Yeh Yeh Yeah for the Beatles Show

It’s Yeh, Yeh, Yeah for Beatles’ Show

By Susan Vonderbrink

Enquirer

Yeh, yeh, yeah…

And the Beatles finally made it to Crosley Field Sunday afternoon. 

The sun occasionally peered through a milky sky and by show time, high noon, a very blue, puffy-clouded sky smiled down on the Cyrkle, the Ronettes, the Remain, Bobbie Hebb and none other than the long-awaited Beatles.  

Most of the estimated crowd of 15,000, which withstood Saturday night’s disappointment, made it back yesterday.   Consisting primarily of teenage girls, both Saturday and Sunday’s fans were to be commended on their patience and all round orderliness.

What could have turned into a rather messy occasion was handled with utmost decorum.  About 150 of “Cincinnati’s finest” were on hand at both performances to make sure there were no disastrous consequences.  The stage, situated on second base, reminded me much of a carrousel with the peaked tarp covering the platform and the policemen circled around the circumference.

After all kinds of “that you’s” and “the Beatles are here” from WSAI Good Guys, the first act to come out was  the Remains.  For all of you rather more seasoned teenagers, the Remains have appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, probably the night you just happened not to be home.

They opened with “Hang on Sloopy” and their other numbers included “Don’t look Back,”  “Walkin’ the dog” and “I’m a Man.”

Singer Bobbie Hebb probably would have sounded much better had the Remains remained a little softer with their accompaniment.  During Bobbie’s act, many fans were part of a mass exodus – some undoubtedly had seen the Beatles emerge from their dressing room.

I must admit that Hebb did frighten me a bit.  A couple of times I thought he would propel right off the stage.  His big hit, “Sunny” brought out the first real signs of enthusiasm in the audience.

The Cyrkle, billed as a new sound in today’s music world, appeared bedecked in red and black striped blazers.  Singing “Why can’t you Give Me What I Want” and a medley of songs made famous by other groups, they were a favorite of the afternoon.

The Ronettes did not evoke quite as many squeals and screams from the mostly female audience, but they are a talented trio of young ladies who can produce a good sound.  Their big tuens were “Will you Love me Tomorrow,”  “Walkin in the Rain” and “What’d I Say?”

Although the fans seemingly enjoyed the acts prior to the Beatles, they did not come alive until their idols were brought before them.  You should have heard the noise!  Prior to their appearance, the fans were warned to stay in their seats – kinda like the roller coaster, but when they were announced, the entire audience rose en masse.  The screaming, with was absolutely deafening, continued through the performance. 

I don’t know what their magnetism is—perhaps it’s because they were THE first – it’s hard to say, but you have to admit that their sound is good, head and shoulders above anything heard previously that day.

And they really put on a show, certainly not lettering their loyal fans go away unsatisfied.  They were working under rather adverse circumstances, too; their arrival marred by an incident at Lunken airport, last night’s rain out with more than a few unhappy customers, to say nothing of their running rivalry with Jesus.

Saturday night’s antics were inexcusable on the part of the promoters, but thanks to a great bunch of kids and surprising number of adults, the backers came out smelling like the proverbial rose.

Never have so many badges “I Love George, John, Paul and Ringo” been seen on so few:  never have I seen so many binoculars!

Yeh…Yeh, Yeh…kids, you’re great!

The Still dig them

Luving Fans Return by 1000’s to adore Beatles

“ I finally got to see them!” beamed a teenage girl.

Another cornered a sponsoring disc jockey and pleased, “Please bring them back next year, oh please!”

Two girls put their arms around each other and sobbed until a policeman said kindly, ‘Why don’t you go on home, girls.”  A boy with them just shook his head and moaned.

This was the end of the Beatles’ concert; no one had time to talk.  The thousands of fans were too busy screaming, wiping tears and hair out of their eyes so they could see the stage and waving their “We luv you” placards.

They were well-behaved.  One girl tried to break away from police to run onto the infield, but submitted to being led back to her seat.

Several fans tried to scale the dugout roof but decided the police would never let them past, so they gave up.  They offered to pay policemen and news photographers to touch the hands which might have brushed against one of the hallowed four.

Most important of all, they came back from Saturday night’s rainy cancellation.  One girl said she made her parents postpone their vacation one day so she could come to the concert.

“Let me touch you or I’ll die!  I love you, John,” cried one girl, giving her heart, soul and straight long hair to the Beatles.

Another screamed, “I wish my hair looked like his!”  as Ringo bobbed his head to keep time with his drumming. During the show, one policeman seemed extremely content in the midst of all the wailing as he stood guarding the fence between the audience and the Beatles on the second base stage.  The reason:  his ears were plugged with cotton!

They still dig the Beatles

UPI (Cincinnati)

The Beatles got in their rain-delayed performance at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field yesterday amid the almost continuous deafening screams form a crowd estimated at 12,000 to 15,000 which half-filled the stadium.

The English singing group was to have put on the outdoor show Saturday night but it had to be postponed because of rain.

There were only two minor incidents. 

Just as the group finished the last number one girl leaped the low fence along the first base line and it took two policemen to subdue her and get her back over the fence.  Then a boy jumped over the fence on the third base side and police finally wrestled him to the group and then dumped him back over the fence.

More than 100 policemen stood only a few feet from the fence facing the crowd to keep the screaming youngsters off the field. 

Paul in Cincinnati

When I was speaking to fans who were at the Beatles concert in Cincinnati on August 21, 1966, most of them recalled one thing:   Paul McCartney did not act like his normal happy, thumb aloft self during the concert.   George was more into the show than Paul.  

First thing they noticed that Paul fell way behind the other Beatles when walking onto the field.   The other three bounced on down the field, at times waving to the crowd and got up on the stage.   Meanwhile, Paul lagged behind with his bass up to his ear, trying to tune the instrument.  He was having trouble getting it to sound right.   The rain from the night before was over and in it's place was a hot, humid day.  That humidity had caused Paul's bass to lose tune quickly.

When Paul made it up onto the stage and plugged into the Beatles Super Amp, he complained to Mal that it sounded like a "fuzz box."   Mal just shrugged his shoulders.  What more could he do?   The amps had gotten soaked the night before and he did his best to dry it out.

Besides all the stress with the instruments and amps, Paul just wasn't feeling well.   He was throwing up in the hotel room the previous night.   It was hot--he was sick for whatever reason and the last thing Paul wanted to do was perform.  However, he was there and went through the show.  It just was a disappointment to Paul fans in the audience.

Going onto the field snaps

Beatles all Wet

Beatles All Wet—But they’ll be back noon today

The Cincinnati Enquirer

August 21, 1966

A steady rain washed out an appearance at the Cincinnati Red’s Crosley Field Saturday night by the Beatles, the shaggy-haired English singing group, but promoters said the show will go on at noon today.

Police had estimated there were about 10,000 Beatles fans on hand it is appeared most of them had stayed until the show was called off almost two hours after its scheduled starting time.

The ball park will seat about 30,000 including the bleacher area.

Dino Santangeio, promoter of the show, said the rain had caused condensation in the electrical equipment used by the singers and that use of it might be dangerous.   He said the singers had agreed to change their travel plans and would stay over to put their show on today.

The singers were at the ballpark but never made an appearance before the crowd which appeared to be largely teenaged girls.

About 150 policemen also were on hand to hold back the usual squealing admirers of the singers.  Workers at the park and a lot of youngsters climbed on a grating to give them a view of a ramp leading to a dressing room used by the Beatles, but no one was hurt.

Police said the crowd generally was well behaved during the long waiting period.  The first delay was to erect a tarpaulin cover over the stage. 

The rain started about a hour and a half before the show as to have started.  For a time, there was considerable thunder and lightning and then it settled into just a steady rain.

Beatles’ fans, some of whom came from Florida, looked in vain late last night for officials who could refund their money after the singing group’s performance was rained out Saturday.

“How can I (go to today’s performance),” one girl said, “I’m going to church tomorrow.”

Although officials estimated the crowd at 20,000, experienced guards placed the figure at 15,000.  People were standing around the ticket windows trying to find someone who could refund their money.  No officials appeared anywhere.

Police blocked on staircase, but it was believed that no officials were there. 

Traffic police officials reported that any street within a half-mile radius of Crosley Field was jammed with cars.  Teen congestion plagued police, too. “We try to keep kids from packing on that one corner in front of the stadium but what we try to do and what happens are two different things,” one official said. 

The truth about the night before

Note this photo is NOT from the Cincinnati show at all but from the 1966 tour and is just used because I hate posts without photos. 

Many times when we think about the concert in Cincinnati, we don't think about the legalistic of it all.    The Beatles were supposed to perform at Crosley Field Saturday August 20, 1966 with the show starting at 8:30pm.     Afterwards they were to return to the Vernon Manor hotel and sleep in until they needed to get on an airplane to St. Louis on the 21st and land there around 4pm.     It was never in their itinerary to fly out directly after the Cincinnati show.   That is why it was pretty easy for the show to be rescheduled for noon the next day--they had no plans set anyway.

Sometimes else to keep in mind.   The Beatles were in the dressing room at Cincinnati, waiting for the rain to slow down, as were all of the supporting acts.   The Remains were in their stage suits, ready to go.      According to the Beatles' contract for the tour, a canopy was to be ready for all outdoor concerts in case of rain.     The promoters in Cincinnati did not provide that and actually broke the contract.  They were scrambling around, trying to get a canopy up for the show.    Meanwhile, it was raining and all of the Beatles equipment (except for the individual guitars), including the amps were out in the elements getting wet.   Not to mention, this was an open-air stadium and the fans were sitting there, getting soaked as well.  

The concert was postponed because the representative from VOX, who traveled with them on this tour, told Brian Epstein that it was not safe for the Beatles to play.      The Beatles were said to have said that they didn't care about playing in the rain because the fans were there getting wet and wanted to see them.    Reportedly, Mal Evans got thrown across the stage when trying to plug something in and that was the last straw and Brian made the decision to postpone the show.      If you want to find out how all of that equipment was dried out,  this is all explained in my book Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis  which you can order at www.stlbeatles.com

Something else I discovered from my book research that I will share here for the first time.    You know how Paul says in the Anthology that it was raining and the Beatles were in a big truck sliding around and he decided that the other three were right, and it was time to quite touring?    Paul always says that happened after the St. Louis show, however I am 95% certain that this happened on the night in Cincinnati that the Beatles did not perform.    They had to get out of the stadium that night to go back to the hotel.    From the eye witness reports I interviewed, most people recall the guys leaving in an "Armored truck" or "a big truck--sort of like UPS drives."    No one in St. Louis saw the Beatles leave in a truck.  Everyone, including the newspaper the next day, says they left in a car.      I am pretty sure Paul's experience of sliding around in the back of an empty truck in the rain happened in Cincinnati on August 20, 1966.       And I realize that it really doesn't matter WHERE  it happened, but being the big Beatle geek that I am, I was really thrilled to find out this information and if Mark Lewisohn wants to use this discovery in the next volume of "Tune In," he is welcomed to do so  (wink, wink).


Anyhow---the Beatles were stuck in the dressing room for two solid hours and they gave several interviews that night with local newspaper people, including this one:

Beatles?  They’re Pretty nice Blokes

By David Bracey

Cincinnati Enquirer

August 22, 1966

The Beatles are a pretty nice bunch of blokes.  You’ve just got to meet them under the right circumstances, that’s all.

After three years of chasing the Beatles around the country, a reporter becomes bloody fed up with the begging and scrounging to get near them.  For what?

But Saturday I found myself lounging in a dressing room at Crosley Field chatting with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Britain’s ballyhooed boys.

It was no press conference.  There was no pushing, shoving, snarling and needling questioning.  There were no cameras, cables or bodyguards.

John Lennon and George Harrison were tuning up.  Ringo was sitting on a chair staring into space and chewing pink bubble gum.

Paul McCartney was goofing around in a corner, having a put-on karate contest with one of the show staff.   I wandered up to Mr. McCartney, who chummily took a slash at me with the side of his hand, grinned and said, “Hello.”

Brian Epstein, the Beatles founder and owner, was sitting with his feet on a table reading a newspaper.

I wandered around having a word here and there, bummed a light off John Lennon, put away my notebook and talked about home.

The screaming fans were miles away.  I’d caught the boys—pardon the phrase—with their hair down.  The only thing missing was a cup of Mum’s tea.

These boys are millionaires.  There’s probably no person in the world ale to read who doesn’t know their names.  They have been honored by Queen Elizabeth II and criticized by heads of government.  But suddenly they were four ordinary lads from Liverpool talking about ordinary things in familiar Liverpool accents.

John Lennon talked about his much-publicized remarks on the Beatles being more popular than Christianity.  He was a bit cagey, but he admitted, “I said just what was printed in the article.  I just used ‘Beatles’ as the word.  I could have said rock n roll or TV or Cary Grant.”  But that was all he would allow on the subject.

Paul McCartney, leaning against a wall said, “the uproar appeared because of what people thought John was saying.  They thought he was saying something offensive.  If they’d had the common sense to read the whole thing… He was speaking for Christianity rather than against it.”

“It’s one of those things that sorted a lot of our fans out.  All those people who are still our fans have bothered to think about the thing rather than just blasted off suddenly.”

The Lennon Christianity controversy has not blasted the Beatles out of the popularity orbit, but where do they go now?

Mr. McCartney said they realized they couldn’t go on forever barnstorming the world.  So they will keep it up until something happens.   Meantime another movie is being written for them and there is talk of a Broadway Show.

Mr. McCartney, the only remaining bachelor Beatle, mused about the animosity they have run into.  “You know, people come along with a pre-conceived idea.  The people who really listen to us, you can talk to.”

It’s Mr. McCartney and John Lennon who write the lyrics for their songs.  Mr. Lennon often is dubbed “the intellectual Beatle” because of a couple of the humorous books he has written.

“John is not really an intellectual,” Mr. McCartney said.  “Neither is anyone us an intellectual Beatle.”

Ringo Starr is a nervous looking chap.  He has a very small face and his eyes seem too close 

together.  He’s an engaging charter, though he looks alarmed every time he’s asked a question.

“I don’t think what John said bothered the fans,” he said, “But we’ve lost audiences, you see, because their Mums and Dads pay for the tickets.”

I complained about the way the Beatles avoid their fans, many of whom are innocent kids who spend all their money to see the Beatles or to buy them presents.

“We don’t’ keep away, “he said.  “When we hit a town we have to conform with what the police want to do.  Actually, we’ve been less policed this year.”

And that was that with Ringo about Beatle business, other than an explanation as to how they live while they are on tour .  the answer is simple – like prisoners.  In England, Ringo said, he can go out on the town alone without being hounded by fans.

George Harrison, with the longest hair of the lot, talked about his interest in Indian music, Indian from India that is.

He is studying the “sitah”, a long, stringed instrument.  “I’m  interested in Indian music generally,” he said.  “I’m trying to learn a bit about it.”

“Westerners have a prejudice against Indian music.  You don’t know it, but the prejudice is born in you.”

And on and on he went on a tack like that.  More’s the pity that fans and the foes never meet the Beatles when their volume is turned down.