Moment in Time, 1964: Beatles give first Canadian concert
BRAD WHEELER
The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Aug. 22 2014
Beatles singers Paul McCartney and John Lennon play at Empire Stadium in Vancouver on August 22, 1964. After a mere 27 minutes, police cut the show short because they feared the 20,261 screaming fans were going to rush the stage and riot.
(George Diack/The Canadian Press/Vancouver Sun)
Aug. 22, 1964: Beatles give first Canadian concert
In 1964, the Beatles released the album Something New, which is what they were to North American audiences. Their first Canadian concert took place that year at Vancouver’s Empire Stadium, where tickets topped out at $5.25. The concert was broadcast live on CKNW and, for a performance that lasted 27 minutes, the band was contracted to be paid 60 per cent of the $100,000 box-office take. According to Vancouver Sun music critic William Littler, the money was barely earned by the “Liverpudlian tonsorial horrors” who looked “anthropologically interesting” but were loud, monotonous and unmusical. Littler, who went on to write for the Toronto Star, predicted the Beatles phenomenon would soon dissipate and allow “music lovers everywhere [to] rejoice – yeah, yeah, yeah.” The band never played Vancouver again.
(George Diack/Vancouver Sun/The Canadian Press)
www.cbc.ca
The Beatles played Vancouver 50 years ago today
The Fab Four played their first Canadian show in Vancouver on August 22, 1964
By Lee Rosevere, CBC News
Posted: Aug 22, 2014
During the summer of 1964 North America was in the middle of full-blown Beatlemania, and Vancouver was no exception when the Fab Four came to town.
The west coast city was chosen as the location for the Beatles first Canadian concert, to be held at the PNE's open-air Empire Stadium on August 22, 1964.
Local radio legend Red Robinson was Master of Ceremonies for the event. He was the program director for C-FUN 1410 at the time.
"The show was supposed to start at 8 p.m., but it started at 9:23 p.m., because the pilot of the plane [carrying the Beatles] forgot to sign a certain document. They had to pile all the Beatles into a car, and drive them out to the airport again," Robinson recently told the CBC.
Once the Fab Four finished with the paperwork, they headed to the stadium, where over 20,000 fans were getting a little crazy with anticipation, Robinson recalled.
"I get up there, and I say: 'Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the PNE, and C-FUN presents: the Beatles!'"
"The guys come rushing out on the stage, and go right into a song."
A riotous show
The band opened with Twist and Shout, and the crowd did, creating concerns that a riot would occur.
Halfway through the show, Robinson was told to get back out on the stage and tell the rowdy concert-goers that they would have to calm down, or the Beatles would have to leave.
"I walked out on the stage at the end of a number, and said: 'We've got to back some people up, there's been two kids crushed already, they'll have to cancel the show.'"
"John Lennon said, 'Get the F... off our stage, nobody interrupts the Beatles!' And I said, 'John, Brian Epstein [the Beatles' manager at the time] sent me up here. And he looked down, and Brian's giving him the 'Hi' sign, meaning let him do it, and he goes 'Okay, carry on mate'."
"It never leaves your brain, it's indelible. But to have done Buddy Holly, Elvis, Nat King Cole, The Beatles...all those shows I MC'd, that was one of the great highlights of my career. Unbelievable," said Robinson.
Were you at the 1964 Beatles concert at Empire Stadium? Post your memories of the event below.
It was a night to remember, newspapers reported, as Beatle fever took over Vancouver during their performance at PNE's Empire Stadium on August 22, 1964.
Speculation runs rampant as to where the Beatles will be staying when they arrive in Vancouver for their Empire Stadium concert. (The Columbian Newspaper)
Columnist Ormond Turner writes about all the rumours surrounding the Beatles visit to Vancouver, August 21 1964. (The Columbian Newspaper)
UBC psychologist Dr. J. E. Ryan provides professional assessment of the mental health of teenagers after attending the Beatles concert in Vancouver (1/2) (The Columbian Newspaper)
www.vancouversun.com
50 years ago: Beatlemania hits Vancouver
The world’s most popular rock ’n’ roll band played Empire Stadium
BY JOHN MACKIE, VANCOUVER SUN
AUGUST 16, 2014
The Beatles at a Vancouver news conference.
Photograph by: Bill Cunningham, Vancouver Province
George Harrison (left), Brian Epstein (centre) and Paul McCartney (right) walk on tarmac at the airport after arrival with press in tow.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
The Beatles play Vancouver’s Empire Stadium on Aug. 22, 1964. Left to right: Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
Photograph by: George Diack, Vancouver Sun
Paul McCartney at a press conference after arriving at the airport in 1964 ahead of their Vancouver concert at Empire Stadium.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, PNG
Paul McCartney (left), John Lennon (centre) and Ringo Starr in sunglasses in back seat of car on arrival at the airport ahead of their Vancouver concert in 1964.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
George Harrison at a press conference after arriving in Vancouver in 1964.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, PNG
John Lennon (left), Ringo Starr (centre) and George Harrison (right) in sunglasses in back seat of car at the airport after arriving in Vancouver in 1964.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
Paul McCartney in sunglasses in car giving the thumbs up during arrival at the airport after arriving in Vancouver in 1964.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
John Lennon at a press conference after arriving at the airport: 1964 Vancouver Sun file photos of Beatles’ arrival at RCAF Station at Sea Island in Richmond on August 22, 1964 for their concert at Empire Stadium.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
Ringo Starr at the Beatles press conference after arriving at the airport: 1964 Vancouver Sun file photos of Beatles’ arrival at RCAF Station at Sea Island in Richmond on August 22, 1964 for their concert at Empire Stadium.
Photograph by: Deni Eagland, Vancouver Sun
Beatles concert tickets from Aug. 22, 1964 for the concert at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.
The front page of The Vancouver Sun for August 24, 1964 on the arrival of The Beatles for their concert at Empire Stadium.
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