The Beatles return to Washington D.C.

The rotating platform

Washington D.C.

The Revolving Stage

Everytime I watch the Washington D.C. '64 concert (which is one of my all time favorite Beatles concerts), I hate seeing Ringo and Mal struggling with that darn revolving stage and I just want to run down there and help them.   

One fan

This has to be my favorite photo at the  moment.  I love that all of the other fans' attention is drawn somewhere that we can't see -- but one girl realizes that Ringo is basically right in front of her and the camera happens to snap just at that exact moment. 

Beatles Off Limits to LBJ's Daughters

Please Daddy---let the Beatles come visit our house.

Beatles off Limits to LBJ's Daughters

Washington (UPI).  The Beatles -- four reasons why there may not always be an England -- arrived  in the nation's Capital Tuesday to shake their floor mop haircuts before thousands of screaming teenagers.

The British youths came from New York by train for a whirlwind tour of Washington, a sold-out concert Tuesday night, a visit to an Embassy ball, and a possible tour of the White House.

One occupant of the White House couldn't have been more delighted.  President Johnson's 16 year old daughter Lucy Baines wanted to meet the Beatles.  But a White House spokesman said home work comes before rock n roll, and Lucy and her sister Lynda did not get a chance to see the Beatles perform.

After the concert, The Beatles planned to switch from teenagers to diplomats.

They were scheduled to appear at a masked celebrity ball given by the British Embassy, but a spokesman stressed that they would just peer out from under their thatched roof haircuts.  They were not scheduled to sing.

Lady Ormsby gore, the ambassador's wife, is giving the ball for two charities -- one of them Britian's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Dark Horse over the White House

Fans remember the Beatles in Washington D. C. (and some not correctly)

I attended the August, 1966, Beatles concert at D.C. Stadium.

Being only eleven at the time and having screamed all the way through it, my memories are somewhat vague.  I do remember having to buy the tickets through the mail, at $5.00 each for fifth row seats.

Somewhere, I still have my program and possibly my ticket stub.

I remember, most vividly, the opening riff of “If I needed someone,” as “Yesterday and Today” had just been released.  To this day I get goosebumps when I hear that song.

Bobby Hebb (“Sunny”) and The Cyrkle opened the show.

--Jennifer D.

This concert was one of the last of their last tour, and it was in what is now RFK Stadium in downtown Washington D.C.  They were one of about twelve other acts, including The Cyrkle (“Red Rubber Ball) and Bobby Hebb (“Sunny).  They played for about forty-five minutes to a very excited, flashbulb-happy, screaming crowd.

The most memorable part of the sow came when someone, enraged by the then-recent John Lennon statement that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ, broke past security, ran up to the stage and began pummeling John.  In the tumult that followed, Ringo jumped down from his drum kit and pulled the attacker off.  The crowd, needless to say, was taken aback by this, but the show went on.  - anonymous 

I was there to see the BEATLES I was 10 years old and tagged along with my older brother and his girl friend. It was a life time memory all for 3 dollars and 50 cents.George was on our side and I recall someone getting by the cops and he ran up on stage and touched John,Paul and George. I still have the ticket stub !  - Wayne

I was there too..I was 15 yrs old and had won the trip to see them along with about 30 other kids on a local radio station. I remember we had pretty good seats…right at first base if i recall, but, I couldn’t hear anything for the screaming. I remember thinking how dumb all those girls were. I was there to hear as well as see them…but, I did get to ‘see’ Paul..one of the girls had binoculars so that made it a little better to be able to see him up close even if I couldn’t hear a thing! I wish I had been able to afford a program, I would have loved to have that souvenir. – Teresa

I was at this concert, too! I was 15 and so thrilled that I could buy a ticket for myself and my older brother, who “chaperoned” me. We were sitting right behind the dugout that the Beatles came out of, in the second row, and when Paul came out, turned around, and waved to the crowd…….I about fell out of my seat!   -- Francie

We had front row tickets for, I think, $3.75. The guy who ran on stage was with us. His name is Gerry Canning, and he was the drummer in our little garage group. -  Richard

I was there also. I was only 8 years old at the time. I and my two older sisters talked our parents into taking us as our family vacation. We traveled from North Carolina to see them. I still have my ticket stub. It cost $5 dollars…$25 for my entire family. We were pretty much “in the rafters” of the stadium and could only hear an occasional note that would make it through the constant screaming. – K.

I was at that concert. I had just dropped out of college and was about to enlist in the Air Force. I sat a few rows behind the third base dugout and watched the opening act, Cyrkle, sing a few of their hits. My memory is hazy but I think four different limos drove on the field from the bullpen and the Beatles got out. The stage was set up on second base. At one point, a guy sitting in front of me jumped to his feet, hopped on to the roof of the dugout and then bolted for the stage. The cops out there were watching the Beatles and didn't see the guy coming. He climbed up on the stage and shook hands with each of them. They never missed a beat. He then dove into the arms of dozens of cops who arrested him only to release him the next day. I remember thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?"  -anyonmous

Beatles lure Big Crowd

Beatles thrill 32,161 at Washington concert

Associated Press

August 15, 1966

The Beatles, steering clear of amateur theology, resume their North American tour today having send thousands of Washington’s teenagers into cheering fits.

Under elaborate police guard, the unshorn quartet performed last night in D.C. Stadium.  The turnstiles clicked a total of 32,164 and the affair went off practically without incident.

Five members of the Ku Klux Klan, proclaimed their objection to Beatle, Lennon’s remark about Christianity picketed the stadium.

But the nearest thing to violence was when a 16 year old youth eluded the police cordon at 3^rd base, streaked to the bandstand at second base and laid a hand on three Beatles before being collared.  He explained that he just wanted to touch the musicians because he admired them.

The concert punctuated by piercing cheers and screams followed a news conference. 

For the longest time THIS was the only photo I had from the Washington D.C. 1966 concert.  Four white dots on a stage

Beatles lure Big Crowd

UPI

August 16, 1966

The Beatles, trailing admires and apologies behind them, thundered through a one night stand Monday to the roaring of 32,000 fans.

The enthusiasm of the crowd at National Stadium belied the need for apologies from the millionaire singers’ outspoken member, John Lennon, who has said the quartet was “more popular than Jesus.”

During the performance, four girls and a boy broke through heavy police cordons surrounding the musical group in an effort to reach the stage placed behind second base in the baseball infield.  Only the boy was able to reach the stage where as he raised his clasped hands in a victory sign, he was grabbed by police and hustled away.

Five members of the Ku Klux Klan paraded outside the stadium in protest over Lennon’s remarks on the dwindling popularity of Christianity.   

Backstage in D.C.

These girls were trying to get backstage...

These DJ's got backstage right after the guys got their stage suits on


Edit (9/4/16):  I heard from the son of the person that owns this photo.   His father is standing between George and Ringo and on WEAM radio he was known as "Russ Wheeler" and later he was known on WCAO in Baltimore as Robert C. Allen III.  There is a great photo of him with George on his son's page, which you can find right here:  http://alianielloeyecare.com/JustForFun.html

John and Paul tune up before getting dressed for the concert. 

The D.C. P.C.

For years I have been trying to figure out--what is hanging up behind the Beatles during this press conference?   Is it a poster for the Washington D.C. concert?   Art work made by a fan?   A newspaper article about the Beatles someone framed?   Does anyone know?

A bunch of Good Guys

Arriving in Washington D.C.

Every Beatles tour has one stop that has a ton of photos and information and one that has very little photos and information.    For the 1966 North American tour, Washington D.C. seems to be the stop that is the hardest to get photos and information about.     There are many more photos from the press conference than from the concert.    But I was able to locate a few things---such as this photo of the guys arriving.

First full U.S. concert

52 years ago the Beatles rocked Washington D.C. and boy did they rock!     That concert is amazing---every time I watch it I get goose bumps.   Ringo was banging on those drums and the boys were giving the performance of their lives.    I am SO thankful that the video of this concert exists.  

Snow Day!

My best wishes to all of you who are snowed in right now!   I hope you are all warm and dry.  Enjoy some quiet time with some Beatles books or films.  

Watergate

This past week I watched an HBO documentary called "Nixon by Nixon" that played the infamous Nixon tapes and told the story of his presidency though them.    I have read a lot about "Tricky-Dicky" and knew that he wasn't a very  nice man, but wow---hearing him say some of the things on the tape really showed what a big jerk the former president really was.  

I find it interesting that in June 1973, John and Yoko made a trip to Washington D.C. to sit in on the Watergate hearings.   Of course after having their phone tapped and everything they went through with Nixon,  it is understandable why they would have such a interest in the hearings.    I wonder how many fans they met while they were there?   Did the media report that John Lennon and Yoko Ono were in the crowd (they must have since we have these photos).    And lastly---I wonder if there is any mention of John Lennon on the Nixon tapes---the man bad talked just about everyone else!

Twistin' and Shoutin' in Washington D.C.

The Beatles concert in Washington D.C. on February 11, 1964 has to be one of the most energetic concerts ever given.   The Beatles were rocking and the fans were loving it all.   I am so glad that this concert was captured on film so that we can taste a small bit of what it was like to have been there in person.  

Let it snow

The PC in DC

Wave your flag

Beatle fans during the Washington D.C. show their devotion to England while waiting for the Beatles to come to perform.