The Beatles performed one show at the Public Auditorium, also known as the Public Hall, in Cleveland, Ohio. Also on the bill were, in order of appearance, The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, and Jackie DeShannon.
The night before The Beatles had stayed in the Sheraton-Cleveland hotel. A police cordon was erected around the building, but was breached when The Beatles appeared at a window to wave at fans in the streets below.
It was an eventful time: an 11-year-old girl arrived with a stolen key for a room; a young boy hid in a packing case being delivered; another tried to get into the Kon Tiki bar, pretending to have a reservation; and another pretended to faint outside, only to request she be given first aid inside the hotel.
The police asked that The Beatles stay on the same floor that the press conference was held on, rather than the presidential suite, to throw fans off the scent.
During the day the police drove a riot bus several times between the Sheraton-Cleveland and the concert venue. Fans initially thought The Beatles were inside, but quickly realised it was a decoy. However, just before showtime The Beatles left the hotel inside, fooling the fans gathered outside.
At the Public Auditorium a police line of over 100 people attempted to keep the fans from the stage, but was slowly pushed back by the crowds. Eventually a handful broke through the cordon and climbed onto the stage. Concerned at The Beatles’ safety, Inspector Michael Blackwell and Deputy Inspector Carl Bare decided to stop the concert.
Bare walked onto the stage and took a microphone, telling the crowd that the show was over and to sit down. At the time The Beatles were performing ‘All My Loving’, and continued to play despite the police wishes. Blackwell also arrived onstage and gestured to The Beatles to stop performing. They reluctantly put down their instruments and temporarily left the stage, amid the sound of booing fans.
In their dressing room backstage, John Lennon told Art Schreiber from local radio station KYW: “This has never happened to us before. We have never had a show stopped. These policemen are a bunch of amateurs.” An angry Brian Epstein nonetheless put up a diplomatic front, saying “The police were absolutely right. This has never happened before, but it was clear to me from the start that there was something very wrong. The enthusiasm of the crowd was building much too early.”
After a 10-minute delay Blackwell told the crowd the concert would continue if they remained in their seats. The morning hosts from KYW, Specs Howard and Harry Martin, were brought onstage to tell the audience to remain sitting, and shortly afterwards the show continued.
I don’t blame the children. They’re young and they can’t be expected to behave like adults. And I don’t blame The Beatles – there is nothing wrong with their act. But if we hadn’t stopped it there would have been serious injury. One little girl was knocked down in the charge and there were 300 other youngsters about to trample her.
The Beatles performed their standard 12-song set: ‘Twist And Shout’, ‘You Can’t Do That’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Things We Said Today’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘If I Fell’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘Boys’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’.
When the concert eventually finished, The Beatles escaped through a rear door while the police once more drove the decoy riot bus at high speed from the venue. They were taken to Cleveland Hopkins Airport, from where they flew to New Orleans.
Also on this day...
- 2024: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Fraze Pavilion, Kettering
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena, Stateline
- 2022: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: St Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Madison Square Garden, New York City
- 2017: Album release: Give More Love by Ringo Starr
- 2016: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr attend the world premiere of The Beatles: Eight Days a Week
- 2015: The Beatles’ hits and videos come together with new stereo and surround sound mixes
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
- 1975: Wings live: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
- 1972: UK album release: Some Time In New York City by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band
- 1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed by ITV News
- 1967: Filming: Magical Mystery Tour
- 1966: Paul McCartney watches experimental music in London
- 1963: The Beatles live: Great Pop Prom, Royal Albert Hall, London
- 1962: The Beatles live: Memorial Hall, Northwich
- 1961: The Beatles live: Knotty Ash Village Hall, Liverpool
- 1961: The Beatles live: Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Actually, it wasn’t Derek Taylor who calmed down the fans at Cleveland’s Public Hall. It was the No. 1 morning radio co-hosts, Specs Howard and Harry Martin from KYW. And – this is another reason why this show was so out of control – they weren’t even from the sponsoring station, which was WHK. That is something that wouldn’t happen today…
Also, the police were more distracted by The Beatles, rather than the fans. They couldn’t understand why these four long-haired guys deserved more protection than JFK did only a year before. The girls sort of “snuck up” on them – climbing over chairs and tying sheets together to climb down from the balconies. Very much Beatlemania in full force!!
Thanks for a fun article!
Dave Schwensen
Author of “The Beatles In Cleveland: Memories, Facts & Photos About The Notorious 1964 & 1966 Concerts”
Thanks Dave. It’s great to get some feedback from an expert on the concert! I’ll amend the article now.
Nice site, by the way.
Thanks for the account. I was there. I remember Paul giving a “thumbs-down” as the police pushed the Beatles off the stage into the wings.
I was there also. I was 8 and my father took my sister and I. I remember Paul announcing ‘a song from our new album..Something new Something New, the Beatles” and they went into Things we Said Today…..Fast forward to 26 years later, in 1990. I saw Paul with my wife in Berkeley, CA, which is near where I was living (and am still). During the show he said “I’m going to do a number now from the old days” and he went into Things We Said Today. I felt it was poetry that I got to hear him do this song, like bookends around my life, just like the Beatles seemed to be for me.
Here’s some excellent silent footage from before and during the concert, including when the concert was stopped.
My mom now deceased told me of a story that when she was a teenager living in Cleveland she went to the Beatles concert. At the concert, they heard rumors that a decoy vehicle (I guess the riot bus according to the article above) was going out one exit, but they heard that the Beatles were actually going out another exit that they were fortunate enough to get to and see the Beatles get into a limo. Being the crazy fan that she was, she proceeded to rush the limo & climb on top & she said she actually rode atop of the limo that they were in as they drove away. Would LOVE to find someone out there that could verify or recount a memory of this as I know the Beatles performed twice in Cleveland in 64 & 66 and I’m not sure which concert my mom went to see and have this wonderful experience.
Thank you for letting me revisit my 1st concert as a 13 yr old in 1966! Love that you’ve filled in some of the gaps like the others who opened for them & the actual playlist! Will never forget being a bit angry with the fans between me & the stage. I wanted to actually SEE & HEAR my beloved Beatles! I was thankful the concert was permitted to continue after it was halted to secure everyone’s safety! I will always remember?
I was there when they opened the window of the Sheraton & waved to the 50 or so fans on the sidewalk below. We walked to public hall & enjoyed a good concert. I still love their old songs ! Wonderful memory!!