Following The Beatles’ unscheduled nine-hour stop in Anchorage, Alaska, their long journey to Tokyo continued.
Anchorage, Alaska, was like a cowboy town to us; it was really like a backwater. My only great memory of Alaska is that at the airport they have a huge, magnificent white bear in a glass case.
Ringo Starr
Anthology
Anthology
Ringo Starr was the owner of one of the first portable cassette recorders, and spent much of the journey recording the conversations of those around him on the aeroplane.
The Beatles flew from Anchorage International Airport, and landed at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 3.40am on 30 June.
Also on this day...
- 2014: Ringo Starr live at Chicago Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
- 1968: Recording: Good Night
- 1967: George Harrison is fined for speeding
- 1965: Live: Teatro Adriano, Rome, Italy
- 1964: Travel: New Zealand to Australia
- 1963: Live: Queen’s Hall, Leeds
- 1962: Live: Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
- 1961: Live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I was told the Beatles equiptment was stollen while in Alaska. I have a story about this which is quite interesting and I would like to confirm
I do know that they stayed at the Anchorage Westward Hilton. A friend of mine saw them hanging out the window of their hotel room
We were so excited the day the Beatles came to Anchorage! Yes, they looked out of the windows but no amount of persuading succeeded in getting them to interact further. We all listened on the local radio – it was reported that they played Barefootin’ (Robert Parker) over and over again in their room. Take off your shoes and throw them away; come back and get ’em another day …