I was in the sixth grade. I still remember when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and all my friends were buying magazines with stories about the Beatles. Thanks for the memory.
I remember both events very well! One was a very heartbreaking event, the other one happy and uplifting! As a young teen, I grieved Kennedy's assasination, I was watching as the President was shot! I watched as a should be happy event turned into a tragedy! Watching Jackie Kennedy climb over her dead husband to the back of the limo was a scene I have never forgotten! And then came the Beatles debut!! My family watched Ed Sullivan religiously, but this night was different! When the Beatles came on, I was just like one of the teens you saw in the news pieces, I was gobsmacked! My Dad, not so much! As he said, "turn that garbage off!" I thought at that moment that this happy occasion was also going to turn into a sad one as well! But I managed to convince him to let me watch, and it was more than I could have expected! Two memories from my past that I will never forget! I just wish they both had a happy ending!
I was six and remember watching. My young world was like the 4th of July that night. From that point on, I changed my neighborhood. I'd arrange on Fridays & Saturdays to play 'chase the Beatles'. I'd pick which boy would be whatever Beatle and what girl would be his screamer - chaser. This went on for years. Those were the days you'd play outside all of the time unless you were ill, and one Mom would call out "Dinner Time" and all the kids would know to go home.
When my teenage brother went to see A Hard Day's Night, of course, the theater was filled with loads of other teens, all knew one another. My parents made him take me. He mostly stayed in a slumped position in the chair so he couldn't be seen as much, sitting with his younger sister. Well, I turned into one of the screaming girls from the movie for most of the movie. By the end of the movie, he had crawled under the seats and down a few rows, haha!
This is a wonderful article, younger Barnicle. I'm sure Dad is PROUD! You seem like a son he'd be proud of anyway.
Thank you for this well written piece. I was 8 and have such a vivid memory of their Sullivan appearance. We had this red, spinning chair in our living room on which I was seated. I was so charged from what I was seeing and hearing that I began spinning around on the chair -- ended up making myself a bit dizzy from it all. I will always love them.
Brilliantly written. You’ve captured the essence of the Sixties as I remember them. And for some unexplainable reason, hope that we will survive what’s happening now in the United States. It just takes a Marsha Albert. Thank you!
It was the day after my 10th birthday and I was still very much a little girl, so I didn’t really understand why all the teenagers in the audience were screaming. However, I thought Paul was cute and that the music was pretty fun. We all sang all the songs at school the next day — even the boys.
I was in 7th grade. I’ve long thought that the Beatles insane popularity was in reaction to Kennedy’s assassination in Nov 1963. We needed the lift the Beatles gave us.
Mr Barnicle, well written essay that draws a nostalgic audience; but weak on context of the 1960s. Here's the facts on the British Cultural Revolution of the late 1950s and 1960s. Great Britain and Europe were tired of US occupancy and reconstruction of Europe. They welcomed reconstruction with open arms as American tax payers paid for their infrastructure (Marshall Plan) such as roads, dams, bridges, communications, trains, ports, government buildings, parks, etc. But Europe wanted self rule. British bands such as the Beatles were pivotal in shaping resistance to US dominance, branded as revolutionary by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. To the BBC, it was a draw out of the bag, to which the Beatles took most of the pebbles. Was their music visionary? Not at first. Actually they were simple "redundant" and "romantic", indicating a safe bet to build a return to European sovereignty. They were mass produced, and sent to America and the Ed Sullivan show. The BBC found a wedge and forged a dynastic toehold within Rock and Roll, as well as American mass media and the movies. Hollywood and Detroit ate it up, seeking "rebel" status, without realizing that media in Great Britain and Europe were sniggering behind their hand. Meanwhile, at UC Berkely, the campus liberals projected anything European, were already gearing up for their "revolution", printing the liberal Pleides which fostered the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s, and eventually Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and radical Weathermen. Music was born of the like of Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan which messaged stay home USA and take care of your own back yard. As our government scratched their heads, European governments were subsidizing their industries (like China in the 1970s) with American tax dollars given in aid; and keeping US goods out of their markets. Other than the music and film industry, which provided them a voice.
Thank you Tim. I was a young girl sitting in the front seat with my parents holding my Beatles cards collection going to visit my cousin. Driving around the circle in Indianapolis listening to 🎶I want to hold your hand🎶. There was something Evil in American at that time that killed my heroes, 🎶Abraham, Martin and John🎶
To continue: Sadly, liberals were once more used by the European dynastic peerage as in the past. Woodrow Wilson was wildly popular in Europe - why? WW1: Lloyd George and Clemenceau falsified the public image of Woodrow as intelligent, beneficial and profound, then soaked the US taxpayers for millions and millions of financial aid that went into the pockets of such men like Chamberlain. Moreso, George and Clemenceau soaked Wilson's government for US bank loans to underwrite and reconstruct Germany, France, England, etc... George and Clemenceau promoted Article 23 of the Treaty of Versailles but never ever intended it to pass unless they controlled the ultimate position (kinda like the Global Economic Forum of today). Wilson (more ego than brains) ate up the attention by his European superiors; agreed to the outrageous reparations the Germans were forced to pay - thus setting the stage for 1) the Great Depression 2) Chamberlains and Clemenceau's government in amassing great personal wealth and 3) eventually WW2. Think about it -
I still prefer the American Artists such as The Cream, BST, Chicago, SLY and the like who really captured the voice of American youth idealism. But even idealism cannot ascend Platonically as long as California dreaming demanded pot and LSD to pave the psychedelic dream road. to liberty.
I was in the sixth grade. I still remember when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and all my friends were buying magazines with stories about the Beatles. Thanks for the memory.
Very interesting that a request to a radio station from a young fan may have changed the history of the Beatles.
Thank you- I needed this today.
I remember both events very well! One was a very heartbreaking event, the other one happy and uplifting! As a young teen, I grieved Kennedy's assasination, I was watching as the President was shot! I watched as a should be happy event turned into a tragedy! Watching Jackie Kennedy climb over her dead husband to the back of the limo was a scene I have never forgotten! And then came the Beatles debut!! My family watched Ed Sullivan religiously, but this night was different! When the Beatles came on, I was just like one of the teens you saw in the news pieces, I was gobsmacked! My Dad, not so much! As he said, "turn that garbage off!" I thought at that moment that this happy occasion was also going to turn into a sad one as well! But I managed to convince him to let me watch, and it was more than I could have expected! Two memories from my past that I will never forget! I just wish they both had a happy ending!
Thank you Morning Joe for including this outstanding segment!
Such an interesting and enlightening discussion on so many levels.
The Beatles performed two times in Cleveland, 1964 &1966.
Some of my friends were able to convince their parents to drive them to the concert!
I remember the excruciating loss of JFK and the sensational entrance of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show.
I was six and remember watching. My young world was like the 4th of July that night. From that point on, I changed my neighborhood. I'd arrange on Fridays & Saturdays to play 'chase the Beatles'. I'd pick which boy would be whatever Beatle and what girl would be his screamer - chaser. This went on for years. Those were the days you'd play outside all of the time unless you were ill, and one Mom would call out "Dinner Time" and all the kids would know to go home.
When my teenage brother went to see A Hard Day's Night, of course, the theater was filled with loads of other teens, all knew one another. My parents made him take me. He mostly stayed in a slumped position in the chair so he couldn't be seen as much, sitting with his younger sister. Well, I turned into one of the screaming girls from the movie for most of the movie. By the end of the movie, he had crawled under the seats and down a few rows, haha!
This is a wonderful article, younger Barnicle. I'm sure Dad is PROUD! You seem like a son he'd be proud of anyway.
Thank you for this well written piece. I was 8 and have such a vivid memory of their Sullivan appearance. We had this red, spinning chair in our living room on which I was seated. I was so charged from what I was seeing and hearing that I began spinning around on the chair -- ended up making myself a bit dizzy from it all. I will always love them.
Brilliantly written. You’ve captured the essence of the Sixties as I remember them. And for some unexplainable reason, hope that we will survive what’s happening now in the United States. It just takes a Marsha Albert. Thank you!
I was in second grade. It changed my little world. I’ve been hanging on their every note since.
It was the day after my 10th birthday and I was still very much a little girl, so I didn’t really understand why all the teenagers in the audience were screaming. However, I thought Paul was cute and that the music was pretty fun. We all sang all the songs at school the next day — even the boys.
I was in 7th grade. I’ve long thought that the Beatles insane popularity was in reaction to Kennedy’s assassination in Nov 1963. We needed the lift the Beatles gave us.
Mr Barnicle, well written essay that draws a nostalgic audience; but weak on context of the 1960s. Here's the facts on the British Cultural Revolution of the late 1950s and 1960s. Great Britain and Europe were tired of US occupancy and reconstruction of Europe. They welcomed reconstruction with open arms as American tax payers paid for their infrastructure (Marshall Plan) such as roads, dams, bridges, communications, trains, ports, government buildings, parks, etc. But Europe wanted self rule. British bands such as the Beatles were pivotal in shaping resistance to US dominance, branded as revolutionary by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. To the BBC, it was a draw out of the bag, to which the Beatles took most of the pebbles. Was their music visionary? Not at first. Actually they were simple "redundant" and "romantic", indicating a safe bet to build a return to European sovereignty. They were mass produced, and sent to America and the Ed Sullivan show. The BBC found a wedge and forged a dynastic toehold within Rock and Roll, as well as American mass media and the movies. Hollywood and Detroit ate it up, seeking "rebel" status, without realizing that media in Great Britain and Europe were sniggering behind their hand. Meanwhile, at UC Berkely, the campus liberals projected anything European, were already gearing up for their "revolution", printing the liberal Pleides which fostered the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s, and eventually Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and radical Weathermen. Music was born of the like of Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan which messaged stay home USA and take care of your own back yard. As our government scratched their heads, European governments were subsidizing their industries (like China in the 1970s) with American tax dollars given in aid; and keeping US goods out of their markets. Other than the music and film industry, which provided them a voice.
Addendum: We have that Evil in American that is hell bent in destroying our Precious Democracy.
Thank you Tim. I was a young girl sitting in the front seat with my parents holding my Beatles cards collection going to visit my cousin. Driving around the circle in Indianapolis listening to 🎶I want to hold your hand🎶. There was something Evil in American at that time that killed my heroes, 🎶Abraham, Martin and John🎶
To continue: Sadly, liberals were once more used by the European dynastic peerage as in the past. Woodrow Wilson was wildly popular in Europe - why? WW1: Lloyd George and Clemenceau falsified the public image of Woodrow as intelligent, beneficial and profound, then soaked the US taxpayers for millions and millions of financial aid that went into the pockets of such men like Chamberlain. Moreso, George and Clemenceau soaked Wilson's government for US bank loans to underwrite and reconstruct Germany, France, England, etc... George and Clemenceau promoted Article 23 of the Treaty of Versailles but never ever intended it to pass unless they controlled the ultimate position (kinda like the Global Economic Forum of today). Wilson (more ego than brains) ate up the attention by his European superiors; agreed to the outrageous reparations the Germans were forced to pay - thus setting the stage for 1) the Great Depression 2) Chamberlains and Clemenceau's government in amassing great personal wealth and 3) eventually WW2. Think about it -
I still prefer the American Artists such as The Cream, BST, Chicago, SLY and the like who really captured the voice of American youth idealism. But even idealism cannot ascend Platonically as long as California dreaming demanded pot and LSD to pave the psychedelic dream road. to liberty.
Just a comment/correction about "The Cream."
Cream was a British rock group that was founded in 1966. Members included Jack Bruce , Eric Clapton and Ginger Bake
Baker
Cream=British. By the way, Clapton married George's wife, apparently very nasty things happened in that marriage.