The first of two performances, the second of which took place the following night, in front of 16,000 fans at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York City.
The Beatles had landed at 3.02am that morning at Kennedy Airport, and were greeted by 3,000 waiting fans. They were driven to the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue and 59th Street where more fans were waiting, even though their stay was supposed to be a secret.
One fan, Angie McGowan, snatched Ringo Starr's St Christopher medallion as he made his way inside the hotel, although she returned it later that day at their pre-show press conference. The fans were dispersed by police at 4am. By the time The Beatles awoke later that morning thousands more fans were outside.
The Beatles were flown to the stadium by helicopter, which departed late as the pilot didn't have permission to depart. They took to the stage at 9.50pm, later than expeced.
Tickets for each of the venue's 15,983 seats were sold out, and extra ones were added at the high price of $6.50. The audience were kept from the stage by an eight-foot high fence topped with barbed wire.
I was at the Beatles concert at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium on August 28, 1964 from Levittown. I went with 3 girls, my girlfriend, her friend, and her cousin. We were in the first row stage right. My photo was on the front page of the Long Island Press the next day shown restraining my girlfriend. Does anyone know where I can get an archive copy of that front page? Thanks.
I was at this concert on August 28, 1964 and I've been looking for the poster for the concert for years. Where can I get a hold of it. Please let me know. I would love it
I have the only known poster from that show,I paid 15k for it 5 years ago.
Hey there, I would love to get a copy of the graphic/design on the poster to make a tshirt out of, for my personal use. contact me at ajjensen01@gmail.com
i have a ticket stub want to talk???
my sister was at the concert one of those nights - not sure which but she snuck an 8mm movie camera in - so we have about 5 minutes of film from the concert.
Can you upload your film on YouTube? I was there and would love to see it again.
actually I haven't had it transferred from 8mm to dvd - when I do I promise I will upload and inform beatlesbible!
Robert, what a wonderful memento from the concert. Your sister should convert it to a dvd and put it up for sale. If it's in good condition she could make some money from it.
I was there, too.
I think I was 10 years old.
Girls were rushing up to the stage only to be plucked by NY policemen.
When the show was over the Beatles left by helicpoter and girls were screaming, crying and fainting.
I loved it!
I was there with my sister. I was 12, and she was 16. When our parnets dropped us off at the gate, my mother told my sister not to let me burst a blood vessel screaming! And scream I did.
My brother and I bribed a gatekeeper with five or ten dollars to let us in. We just happened to be walking home that evening. Our seats were way up high. It was a waste of money since the girls' screaming was so loud you couldn't hear any singing.
I was at one of these shows w my parents and two older brothers. I was five years old. I remember it well.
I cried the whole time and wanted to leave because of all the noise from the screaming girls. Don't worry, I became (and remain) a Beatles fan. And how cool were my parents to bring the whole family?!
I attended both shows and have a bit of film I shot inside the stadium albeit 9 years later. It's available for licensing on Getty Images.
I, too, attended the Beatles concert at the Forest Hill Tennis Stadium with my best friend at the time, Barbara. We were so excited. These childhood memories are some of the most cherished memories I have. I remember they added seats on the tennis courts so our seats, if I recall correctly, were in the first row, center, of the actual stadium seats after the court seats. I can still recall vividly the Beatles arriving in the helicopter. Because my friend and I were in the stadium seats that were higher up, it seemed as if the helicopter was quite low. We could see the Beatles in the helicopter and they were waving as they were coming in. So exciting for young girls who were so mesmerized by these four young men who burst onto America's shores with their new style of music and charm!
Hi Janet - was this Barbara you attended with from Farmingdale?
I was there the first night with my 3 best friends (all of us 13 years old). We were very close to the stage and I remember there were a lot of girls throwing jelly beans at the band. That must have hurt them, as it hurt us. With undying thanks for the efforts of my grandfather (who was there for the Red Cross in the medical tent to take care of all the fainting girls), he actually got me backstage just before the show, and I spoke with Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall. When the band walked by through the hallway to take the stage, I was so shocked I couldn't say a word - or even breathe! Mr. Evans gave me a postcard signed by all four of them that I have treasured to this day... A night never to be forgotten!