NYC Paramount Performance Ends Beatles’ First North American Tour as Group Return to UK The Beatles concluded their first American tour on Sunday (
NYC Paramount Performance Ends Beatles’ First North American Tour as Group Return to UK
The Beatles concluded their first American tour on Sunday (September 20) at New York’s Paramount Theater, after enduring bomb threats and covering 25,000 miles. The chaotic finale capped an eventful tour that included a disaster in New Orleans, overwhelming crowds in Dallas, and Ringo Starr being held in a fan’s stranglehold.
“We Want The Beatles!” A series of acts came and went, mostly to the accompaniment of the steady screams from the audience, “We want the Beatles.” Those facing this withering fire were the Tokens, the Shangri-La’s, Jackie DeShannon, Nancy Ames, Leslie Uggams and Bobby Goldsboro. The Tokens came off best by far of the supporting cast; Jackie DeShannon rates an A for effort and Nancy Ames spells real class but was miscast as were most of the others. The funniest spot came when the Shangri-La’s, a girl quartet, entered to do their one big number, “Walking in the Sand.” A leather-jacketed, dungaree’d conductor came out with the gals to baton the rhythm section of the band in the intricate rhythmic timing employed in this complex hit.
In New Orleans, a poorly organized concert at a football stadium led to a chaotic scene, with fans swarming the field and technical issues. In Kansas City, Charlie Finley paid them $150,000 for a brief appearance, though he lost $75,000 due to low ticket sales. In Dallas, the Beatles faced two bomb scares, a serious fan injury, and intense crowds.
After the Dallas fiasco, the group later spent time at a ranch in Missouri before arriving in New York for a charity event.
Rocking at the Paramount. The party arrived at the New York City Paramount Theater about 6:00 p.m. Sunday, and the Beatles then began a four hour wait before their part of the widely-publicized “Evening with the Beatles” for the twin charities, United Cerebral Palsy and Retarded Infants Services. Despite technical problems and a delayed start, the Beatles received an electric reception from the crowd, who chanted “We want the Beatles” throughout the night. After a wild performance, the Beatles retreated to their dressing room, awaiting police instructions. The next day, they flew to London, where they were greeted by an even larger crowd at the airport.
At the close of the concert, they ran off the stage and back up to a fifth floor dressing room, to wait, as they had many times on the tour, to find out the next move. “I’ve put down the full fees for 15 rooms in advance at four different motels,” explained tour manager Kappy Ditson of Red Carpet Travel Service, and now we have to wait to have the police tell us which one will be best able to handle the situation. We just have to wait here until they phone.”
After a few hours of sleep later at the Riviera Motor Inn, the group took off for London Monday morning (September 21) and a tumultuous reception later at London Airport.
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Much of the information in this post was adapted and was condensed from the credited source: Music Business, October 3, 1964
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