The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/9/64 REACTION!!

[@baymaxc1647]

These two young people are just delightful

[@michaelgarza2619]

crazy fact when the Beatles wrote their last music in 1969, the 2 oldest Beatles (Ringo and John) were only 29. George was 26. 250 songs all in their 20's....never to be done again

[@TheGreatGig73]

There is plenty of great music out there but nothing comes close to what the Beatles accomplished in such a short time

[@utmostzen9602]

I think they released more than 250 songs

[@hw2508]

And the development in such a short time.

[@Truefredking2]

And Paul was 27

[@petegiant]

Even crazier is the impact they have had with a recording career of a mere 7 years.

[@Hester-l6k]

73 million people watched this on tv in 1964

[@ashleydixon4613]

And my mom was one of them screaming and singing/dancing along at the TV. She and Paul McCartney are almost exactly the same age- less than a month from each other-and she is a massive Beatles fan (as am, I to be honest.)

[@StanSwan]

@@redletter2008 There were also only 3 channels at the time. So you will never see ratings that big again.

[@baskervillebee6097]

This was a very popular tv show back in the day. Most everyone watched it on Sunday evening. Ed Sullivan was known for being the first to have new acts. When Elvis was on, people were so outraged they would only show him from waist up because of his dancing.

[@scottviverette14]

I was one of them

[@GoldTopSlinger]

@Kevin Nelson I was just barely 5 when they played on Sullivan that night, and from that moment forward (I'm 62) I never had a single doubt what I wanted to do with my life. Play guitar. The list of your favorite artists is packed with players who either saw that February 9th 1964 broadcast or were shown video or audio of it decades later. Watch any documentary that interview clips with a lot of musicians and you'll start to realize the impact of The Beatles, which is still strong.

[@billythehut]

I remember this episode of the Ed Sullivan show. My dad was dancing around the room mocking them. He said "give 'em a week and you'll never hear of them again". LOL

[@kenteague4802]

What did he say 3 years later.lol

[@joannecritchley7141]

Hahaha this has cracked me up 😂

[@jfilesgraphics]

Boy, was HE wrong lol

[@R._Thornhill]

I remember watching that show too, with my parents. My dad said, “bring those kids over here, I’ll give them a real haircut!” My dad also insisted that they would be just a flash-in-the-pan. Sorry dear ol’ dad, you were wrong!

[@Code9]

My dad said the same thing about Elvis in 1956. Haha!

[@deltabravo287]

This was in 1964 - it was the Beatles first appearance in the US. They were already famous in England. The Beatles appearance on this show ( The Ed Sullivan Show) was the most watched TV program in the history of TV up to that time. It was live.

[@warrenhughes911]

I seen this..blew the WORLD away...60 yrs ago!!!

[@Bill_Jones.]

On April 4th 1964, the Beatles managed to occupy the Top 5 songs position on the Billboard Hot 100. No one had ever done this before. Or even come close. The Beatles rule for all time.

[@shaunabeebeefrontyardgarde4574]

They were performing LIVE on TV! My dad hated them but did let us watch.

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

Everyone watched The Ed Sullivan Show back then.

[@yes2day100]

I know. My Irish-born grandmother, visiting us in LA from New Jersey, laughed all the way through the Ed Sullivan Beatles' performances, which pissed off me and my sisters big time. :).

[@anthonylombardo6012]

The Beatles are the best of the best. In six years the led two revolutions. Everyone today owes a little sometging to The Fab Four.

[@mumbles215]

They sure did. Shame the revolution was backed by Bolsheviks

[@Isleofskye]

Great Reaction Guys ! Here are FACTS haha: The Beatles recorded 230 Songs ALL between 1962-1970 when they all went off to pursue solo careers after living in each other's pockets for 8 years. They wrote most of those 230 Songs. They are the biggest selling Singles AND Album artists Worldwide. At one time they had The Number 5 Song in The YSA Billboard Charts AND The Number 4 song AND The Number 3 song AND The Number 2 Song AND The Number 1 song. ALL AT THE SAME TIME. They did not change the World of music, my friends they changed the world and teenage culture for all time and have influenced more groups than any other.

[@luckymustard]

I love how you say they "lived in each other's pockets"! A little additional information for the OP reactors... John Lennon and Paul McCartney met, and Paul joined John's already going band (not yet called The Beatles), five years prior to the aforementioned 1962. And George Harrison joined the band only a year later. During those early years, 1957-1962, they formed a very tight friendship.

[@Isleofskye]

@@luckymustard Yes, you are right, my friend. The Quarrymen even The Silver BeETLES until they replaced the second "e" with the "A" :) They were great mates,for sure learning their Art by performing for 7 hours a night without a break ( apparently ) solid for 4-6 Months non-stop in The Star Club, Hamburg with Pete Best as Drummer then and the rest is history.....:)

[@curbelo1919]

DAMN! I've never heard it put better, "They didn't change the world of music, THEY CHANGED THE WORLD!

[@Isleofskye]

Yes, indeed,Raymond :)

[@mikefannon6994]

I was 12 in Feb. 1264 at the time of this show. Every boy had a flat-top or buzz haircut. The next morning all that hair started growing! Mine eventually grew half way down my back. The previous November Present Kennedy had been assassinated, leaving young folks bewildered and depressed. The Beatles gave us a reason to smile again!

[@justcallmefred4644]

I was a toddler with a toy guitar, a Beatle wig, and singing, "I want to hold your HAT!" Great Reaction guys. Thanks for the memory.

[@beverleyrankin3482]

I had a Beatles wig too! Don’t know what happened to it, though. Remember adults being appalled by the length of their hair 😂

[@julieneild4505]

😂 I'd love their reaction to Wings " Band on the Run"!

[@joelanderos23]

asked my mom for beatle boots when they came out with them.

[@jamessollazzo4860]

i Had a beatle banjo, which i saw on roadshow antiques show and found out it's worth thousands today!

[@60sbaby456]

Hat! That had to be a joy to see. I was born around that time

[@edprzydatek8398]

This was basically the song that introduced the Beatles to the American public. I think it was their first hit song in this country. I remember watching this live on our little t.v. Nice reaction.

[@knockknock705]

These were the ages of The Beatles when they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show: John Lennon-23 Paul McCartney-21 George Harrison-20 Ringo Starr-23

[@knockknock705]

@@shavedfish These are the dates I show: Paul was born June 18th, 1942 George was born February 25th, 1943 The Ed Sullivan show in question was on February 9th, 1964. This would make Paul 21 years old. This would make George 20 years old and very close to 21. Do you have different dates than these?

[@markmoscatello9461]

Ringo was the oldest. Then John then Paul then George the youngest.

[@cynthiaahern9081]

I remember watching this live. I was spending the night at my Great-grandmother's house. I was 7. I was mesmerized. My Grandma Mary said, "Oh my!" Lol. NEVER have forgotten it.

[@babylonsister118]

i was 6 years old when I saw this on T.V. and even as a six year old i fell immediately in love!

[@chrisbowling4060]

Ditto, except I was 8. Shaped my musical tastes.

[@debjorgo]

I was 7. This was great for kids our age. I know I bought a few packs of Beatles' bubble gum cards. Everyone at school, in the neighborhood, were Beatle crazy. It was just so much fun and the music was great!

[@chrisbowling4060]

@@debjorgo In all the years since, I can think of no phenomenon that quite rivals Beatlemania. The Ed Sullivan theater audience was sedate compared with stadium crowds, or even the streets outside of the band's hotels.

[@debjorgo]

@@chrisbowling4060 Well, Ed did make the girls promise to behave themselves.

[@kattcity]

Me too ....I remember sitting in front of the TV on the Floor watching it on the Ed Sullivan show with Mom and Dad. I remember Mom and Dad kept saying ...:Look at their hair" LOL

[@GoWestYoungMan]

You have to understand that up until the mid 50s there was classical music, jazz, big band music and not much else. Rock n Roll was very new so when the Beatles, Elvis, and some others showed up, people went CRAZY. No one had ever heard anything like it.

[@kemitamenophis3221]

The year before, President JFK was assassinated. The Beatles were the perfect escape.

[@jenniferjacobs228]

it wasn't called Bealtemania for nothing.... we adored them.

[@georgiakaren2009]

STILL DO!

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Stole all thier ideas from The Rutles.

[@evan1430]

you dont like them now?

[@oliverjones3693]

@@wesleyrodgers886 lol

[@mangelwurzel]

I was a senior in high school when this was shown on TV. You didn't seen many males in the audience because #1, the girls would have trampled them to death on the way in, and #2, most guys were flat-out jealous of the Beatles and we took some time before we really appreciated their music, but we came around in short order.

[@chrisbowling4060]

I was 10 years younger, so I didn't have any adolescent calculations in mind. However, when I was 18, Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours," Heart's "Dreamboat Annie" and Jefferson Starship's "Red Octopus" were big with girls, so we guys -- even Zep-heads like me -- found a way to like them.

[@adriennerobinson8984]

They were all in their early 20s when this was filmed, this is one of their earlier works.

[@evanhughes1510]

None of them were extremely attractive or anything. Kind of ugly actually. Not sure when the girls went crazy over them

[@evanhughes1510]

@Penderyn Lewsyn I’m Welsh and English. And on my Dad’s side Scottish, too

[@utmostzen9602]

@@evanhughes1510 bruh they were adorable in their early years

[@thomasmorris5377]

@@evanhughes1510 they were back then, obviously

[@evanhughes1510]

@@thomasmorris5377 no they weren’t that great looking back then

[@jenniferjacobs228]

1964 and my dad still said they were ' long haired louts' because their hair was not short back and sides, even tho they are in suits and look wholesome. lololol poor dad...just made us love them even more haha

[@completecharleston7142]

The Beatles changed the world of music - I was 10 years old when I saw this on TV, and they gave me the desire to play guitar (which I later on did, and played in bands for many years). Their later albums showed their growth and ingenuity, were amazing as well.

[@thedealer777]

On Nov. , 1963 John Kennedy was assassinated, America went into MONTHS of mourning. When Ed Sullivan had them on his TV show in Feb. 1964, it was like the unofficial moment that America could begin to stop mourning, and move on. In 1964 John and Ringo (Richard Starkey) were 24, George was 21, and Paul was 22. That year they released a movie called "A Hard Day's Night." it's still funny, energetic, and worth watching, Some compare the frantic comedy in it to the 'Marx Brothers, and the music is classic!

[@pitapanda8319]

When my parents called me into the living room to watch this performance of The Beatles on TV - it was THE moment that changed my 12 year old life forever. The parents thought I would find them funny - but I fell in love (and the parents were horrified). I was an original Beatlemaniac. Loved them then, love them now, love them forever.

[@bluebear1985]

Their appearance on this show was iconic, to say the very least. It was one of the highest viewed episodes of this show. Even the crime rate in the US was down for a short time while these four from Liverpool were performing.

[@PC-iv5so]

The first Beatles song I ever heard.. 6 years old. the fact that I still remember that is crazy.

[@tomtomlinson2835]

FYI The Beatles are the best selling artists of all time, by a country mile.

[@frankwaria2268]

they were the most famous band in the world through 60's and 70's...they were the first pop/rock band...their catalogue is enormous! they all had very successful solo careers too....

[@saxoncodex9736]

Fun fact, while this was being recorded, 9th February 1964, (9/2/64 rest of the world style?) the crime rate in USA, was NIL. :-))

[@josebalento1863]

Thank You for helping me celebrate The Beatles on this anniversary.

[@danlalonde2751]

This was the first time i actually seen the Beatles This song was a big hit on the radio at the time. I was at my friends house waiting for them to come on . When they came on our mouths were wide open . I said that their hair was as long as girls . Boys had short hair up until that night.The next week everyone was talking about the Beatles with there long hair. We loved them of course.

[@junglejim3564]

The popular explanation for the breakup of the Beatles is Yoko Ono, John Lennon's wife, but it was really creative differences between all the band members.

[@Retnoob]

They just grew up, that's all. They started at 20 and they were pushing 30 and wanted families. That's it, that's all.

[@ronalddobis6782]

@@Retnoob John, Paul, and George started when they were 14 to 17 years old.

[@ronalddobis6782]

Business had a big part in the break up.

[@Retnoob]

@@ronalddobis6782 Well I meant at the time of this video, but since you felt the need to mansplain at me, I'll let you have your fun.

[@ronalddobis6782]

@@Retnoob Well that's not what you wrote so I just corrected what I considered to be an error so that the makers of the video would have the correct information. If you think all corrections are mansplaining I don't know what to tell you. If you had typed the correct information I would have given a thumbs up. From your handle I have no way of knowing whether you are male, female, or mineral. Anyway however much you hurt me I still respect you.

[@TXRBL]

I saw them on TV. I was little but it made me wanna be in a band. They were the best.

[@shaunabeebeefrontyardgarde4574]

Look up the 1960s British Music Invasion for more info on this band and others.

[@sergiomattos109]

The Beatles rocks!!!! Greeting from Chile, guys!!

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

I am 64... and in 1964 it was a Sunday evening and dad had taken the family out for a Sunday drive and we stopped by his sister's home (our cousins) and while we went upstairs to play with Tom for a little bit, the parents talked amongst themselves. We heard a noise and came downstairs to see his sisters watching Ed Sullivan and it was the Beatles first time in America.. I knew I had to play music at that moment. My dad played piano and had written a few songs, but nothing like this of course. I was a few days from being 7 years old and the world would never be the same.

[@joannryan5929]

this was their US debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, a major variety show in the 60s. It was 1964 and I begged my Mom to let me stay up and watch it. I was 8!

[@davisworth5114]

"The Beatles was love" Son, nobody ever said it better.

[@RetrofanFilms]

Since you asked how old they were. John Lennon & Ringo Starr were both 23 years old during this performance. Paul McCartney was 21 years old, and George Harrison was only 20. As a matter of fact, his birthday was February 25th, over two weeks after they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.

[@davidread7492]

Mccartney was still only 21 at this time. Not 22 until the following June 18.

[@RetrofanFilms]

@@davidread7492 my bad. Keep a watchful eye, I’m gonna edit my comment.

[@beatlejim64]

Feb.9,1964.....This was watched by OVER 73,000,000 people! This particular night....this was the most watched TV program of all time! After this night...NOTHING has ever been the same! On April 4, 1964...The Beatles had the #1...#2...#3...#4...and #5 record in the Billboard "Hot 100"...plus they had 7 other records in the charts...AND...the #1...and #2 albums on the charts! They broke up in April 1970...and have sold an estimated 2.6 BILLION records worldwide!!! Not streaming...BUT 2.6 billion in physical sales!!! The changed everything...and they stand alone at the top!!!

[@smittysmith4746]

They set the record for billboard hits in pop music that has never been broken to this day! Undesputed kings of pop!

[@alexfletcher5192]

This single (originally a UK No.1 nearly 58 years ago) still resides in my loft, where it's been carried from house to house. I used to listen to it on our old mono record player - because it was in mono! These things got made quickly.

[@JohnSmith-oj6ir]

I hope you young people realize that when this show was aired (I was 13), there were no videos, no home computers and no cable TeeVee. Nowadays, if there's a group or singer you want to see or a song you want to hear, all you have to do is punch a few buttons on your phone and you have it. The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show three weeks in a row, and that's when we saw them. If we weren't in the living room when the show came on on Sunday evening, we were out of luck. They'd appear a few times on shows like Shindig, but that could be it for an entire year. We had records, we had the radio, we had magazines, and we had the rare appearance on television. That was it. So the excitement was amazing when we actually got to see our heroes. You could go a year and see some giant groups six to eight times. That's one reason they mean so much to us. For lesser groups that we also loved, the Stones, the Dave Clark Five, the Beau Brummels, the Kinks and the Zombies, the Beach Boys and all, it was the same. Our music and the people who made it were precious to us.

[@boosuedon]

This was the night all American Pop/Rock music changed forever! Ringo (drummer) was left handed playing on a right hand drum kit which gave his drumming a different sound.

[@Banyandio]

They always said they wouldn't come to America until that had a #1 hit, and this was it! December of 1963, then they came to New York and played the Ed Sullivan Show in early 1964. They were a hit making machine! They once had the top 5 songs on the charts at the same time!

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

I believe this was their 1st big hit in the States.

[@luckymustard]

Yep! According to Wikipedia... "It was also the group's first American number-one hit, entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 18 January 1964 at number 45 and starting the British Invasion of the American music industry."

[@jefffoster1626]

From 1st Album to last 8yrs bro!! Mind-blowing the evolution of the band. From my home city of Liverpool. Greatest of all time.

[@MrWillc1975]

I still remember that night in 1964 and was also 6 years old . We were all so excited when we heard about the Beatles being on the Ed Sullivan Show . The show came on at 8:00 that night and we came in the house about 7:45 . Just watching on tv you could feel the electricity in the studio and just mentioning their names , the girls started screaming and going crazy . And when they finally came on stage the place just exploded with screams , it was hard to hear them singing at first because of the screaming . It was like that at the concerts where they played one of the reasons they stopped doing concerts was because they could barely hear themselves singing because of the screaming . That night was truly a magical night that I'll always remember and I thank you guys for taking me back on this trip down memory lane and the music from my childhood . :-)

[@jimcox3380]

I so appreciate seeing young people enjoying the Beatles. They truly are timeless. You said it well - their music is love.

[@jappie72]

I loved it when you stopped at the girl enjoying the show. I always rewatch it a couple of times. She's so into it, so happy :)

[@audkarinen6875]

I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing, etc. the first time I heard this. Their music was that new and revolutionary

[@shihyuchu6753]

THEY got that something....I think you'll understand.....

[@avantprog6902]

The harmonies on this is much different than the studio recording.

[@shavedfish]

Coz John’s mic was busted

[@RobGamesOn]

They also had a hard time hearing over the screaming girls... lol

[@mrjoepad1]

@@shavedfish you can hear John's vocal so his microphone wasn't busted.

[@jeffreyhhatcher3992]

Just a case of vocal mic balance. If they could have heard themselves better they would have naturally adjusted their proximity to the mics.

[@edwardsmith3084]

In the 60's they usually set one mic for the lead singer and the others for backing vocalists. No one expected the Beatles!!

[@CrustyUgg]

I love the aesthetic and style of the 60’s. So cool!

[@djkullik4952]

That was so sweet when you held hands and were dancing in your chairs. First 45 on my brandy new turntable in 1973 was I wanna hold your hand. I felt the same way you did the first time I heard it. For me The Beatles were magical.

[@tb632]

You should react to "a brief history of The Beatles", it tells their history pretty well.

[@picolo4102]

More Beatles

[@eduardolandazuri3639]

The Beatles is the best band in the world!!!!!

[@spacecadet35]

The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on 9 February 1964. On 4 April 1964, the Beatles had the number 1 song on the Billboard top 100. And the number 2 song. And the number 3 song. And the number 4 song. And the number 5 song. And they also had seven more songs in the Top 100. This has never been repeated.

[@wilfbentley6738]

I Wanna Hold Your Hand was a total hit in those days.

[@Frank-pe9pk]

I believe this is their first time in America on the Ed Sullivan show. I was up late watching with my parents. Ed always had the best music groups. I saw the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. Those are the ones I remember but were many others. Loved Ed’s intro of the program... “We have a really big show tonight”😎

[@LaptopLarry330]

I like The Beatles' early recordings, such "I Saw Her Standing There", "Please, Mr. Postman" (a cover of a song originally recorded by the Marvelettes on Motown Records), "Twist And Shout" a cover of a song originally recorded by The Isley Brothers on Atlantic Records), and "Money (That's What I Want)" (a cover of a song originally recorded by Barrett Strong on Tamla Records, and nationally on Anna Records (with distribution help by Chess Records); Tamla and Anna were sister labels to the Motown Records label).

[@steveabdelkoui5663]

Great Band they were. Endless music still loved to today. I love your guys reactions. Bravo !!!

[@gary17509]

I watched this performance on TV when I was probably about the age you two are now! It was just fun music, and you could not see this performance again - it was just this one time on Sunday night - Ed Sullivan show.

[@pallen49]

With the arrival of The Beatles onto the music scene, it was totally a revelation to all..It's like ' HOLY CRAP did you hear THAT '?...and ...' What THE?..We've never heard anything like THAT before '?..lol..Great reactions you two...Cheers.. Long live The BEATLES, ' YEAH YEAH YEAH yeahhhhhh '..

[@woodysthoughts4032]

This was the Beatles' first big hit in the United States. It kicked off a flood of British bands coming to the US. This movement was called the British Invasion.

[@TheGreatGig73]

I moved to Long Island on the same day they played the Ed Sullivan show and that was the first program we watched in our new home. I was 5 and still remember it well. It was a big event.

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

If you think it would have been "ridiculous" the number of hits the Beatles would have had if they'd stayed together, consider this: Each individual member of the Beatles DID have a successful solo career, and every one of them had #1 hits galore after they split up. Here are just a few from each member: John Lennon: "Imagine," "Number 9 Dream," "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." Paul McCartney: "My Love," "Band On the Run," "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," "Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five." George Harrison: "My Sweet Lord," "What Is Life," "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)." Ringo Starr: "It Don't Come Easy," "Back Off Boogaloo," "Photograph," "Oh My My." Of the four, Paul McCartney has been, by far, the most prolific, having released the most albums (including several with his group "Wings," that he formed with his wife Linda right after the Beatles broke up). In all, the Beatles recorded 200 songs during their time together. I'd say that roughly 190 of them are familiar to most music fans, with only a few relegated to mostly unknown status. Honestly, the Beatles were the first group that made music fans seek out all the other cuts on their albums besides just the singles you heard on Top 40 radio. So much so, in fact, that many Top 40 radio stations played Beatles album cuts, not just their singles, a practice that was virtually unheard of at the time. But when you dig into some of their albums, like Rubber Soul, and hear some of the album cuts that were never released as singles -- songs like "in My Life" or "Norwegian Wood" or "Run for Your Life," you begin to peel back the skin on the onion that it the Beatles legacy. Most of the songs you reactors have done videos on have been their singles (with a few exceptions). It just goes to show how remarkable the Beatles were. Their music continues to gain favor among generations that are just learning of them now...fully 50+ years since they broke up. I can tell you this much: In the 1960s when the Beatles were releasing a new album or two almost every year, there were no recording artists from 50 years prior that anybody was discovering and falling in love with all over again.

[@calrowles9790]

There is no simple answer for why they broke up. For me, the number one reason was the death of Brian Epstein (their manager) in 1967. John and Paul were both dominant personalities and Brian knew how to manage the conflicts for dominance. Secondarily, their personal lives were diverging as they developed outside relationships. George was also coming into his own as a songwriter but he knew he would always be eclipsed by John and Paul. Lastly they were just moving in different musical directions. John was becoming more vocal about Paul's "Granny Music". All in all we got the Beatles for 7 years (from Love Me do to Abbey Road...Let it Be was NOT their last album, just the last one released). Let us be grateful for what we received, and for what they gave us as solo artists.

[@williamjordan5554]

This was the Ed Sullivan Show and the Beatles introduction to the American public at large in February 1964. 73 million people were watching, which was well over half the TV viewers. They split up in 1970 and are still the top selling musicians of all time.

[@DaveRod76]

I love watching you younger people reacting to the Beatles. I saw your reaction to "A Day in the Life," and I couldn't help but smile at you all. Gotta remember that the Beatles began to experiment with music as they experimented with mind altering drugs, especially LSD. They practically lead the way in the psychedelic era of the 60's, and their sound was very eclectic. :D

[@big106razor]

The performance that launched a million bands!

[@margaretlafleur90]

More Beatles like When My Guitar Gently Weeps , Elenor Rigby, I Am the Walrus, etc. Thank you.

[@laural.enright4780]

Check out the history of the Beatles. It is AMAZING! By the time they hit this part, performing on the Ed Sullivan show, they've already had a bit of success. What came after is amazing!

[@JMD1965]

They not only had the #1 spot, but at one time (April 4th, 1964) they held the TOP 5 spots SIMULTANIOUSLY!! They were 1) Can't Buy Me Love... 2) Twist And Shout.... 3) She Loves You... 4) I Want To Hold Your Hand... 5) Please Please Me ... They are THE ONLY band ever to do that (and probably ever will be..) .... All in all, The Beatles had TWENTY #1 hits total. Another record that has yet to be broken. They were also the first musical act to be animated in cartoon form AND play a stadium (Shea Stadium, NYC April 15th, 1965) thus kicking off the arena rock era!!!

[@patticrichton1135]

For that Ed Sullivan show there were 66,000 request for tickets in a theater that only had 728 seats! Also that night was the largest TV audience in US history at that time. Police even noticed that crime dropped in New York City (where this took place) during that hour that the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan SHow. TV audience was something around 73,000,000

[@deltabravo287]

It’s impossible to overestimate the impact the Beatles had on the world - not just musically. They influenced culture from fashion to hairstyles. The world had never seen anything quite like them up to that point. They were the spokesmen for an entire generation. And musically, their influence is untouchable by any other artist or group. They not only broke records, they charged the way music is recorded. The number of famous musicians who cite the Beatles as influencing them and their music or their decision to become musicians is very, very lengthy indeed. If you are really interested in them, there is a documentary series called The Beatles Anthology - you should definitely watch it.

[@richardgratton7557]

A few months before, Ed Sullivan landed at Heathrow airport in London at the same time as the Beatles. There were so many people there that Ed thought perhaps the Queen was there too! He asked to find out what was happening. He didn’t know who the Beatles were but the fact that so many fans were welcoming them at the airport made him book them for his show in New York. Fun fact in this performance: John’s microphone doesn’t seem to be working so all you hear is Paul’s vocal. You can appreciate his harmonies on the bridge 😃

[@bobstafford2068]

I remember watching that first American performance by the Beatles. I had just turned 7 years old. I saw all those girls screaming for the Beatles and thought to myself, "That's what I want to do when I grow up." Well I tried but didn't try hard enough I guess. I'm a huge Beatles fan. Thanks for the memories.

[@alexakl6445]

I'm 56 years old and STILL wasn't born yet.. almost, I was born in April of '64. Timeless! You should check out when Paul McCartney went out on his own in the mid '70s and formed Paul McCartney and Wings... Several great songs. Start with "Jet" and "Live and Let Die" - I think you'll like them!

[@doncourtreporter]

We were all holding hands in these days, like you two. I saw them in Atlanta Stadium. Peace and love.

[@jlf8570]

"The Beatles was love!" Hell yeah!

[@jmelio1]

This is real early Beatles. This song was their first hit single in America. At that time the girls screamed for them all over the world. They were larger than life throughout their short career and just as successful as solo artists.

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

so many things to love about this video.... one thing that always makes me laugh is that first you see that young girl screaming, and think it's a teeny bopper thing... but then at 5:57 you see a woman at least in her 20's who also been bitten by the Beatlemania bug... I was 9 years old when I watched this on Ed Sullivan which was on a Sunday night.... the next day at school on Monday morning the whole place was buzzing with excitement and it was like a new world.. the start of a great ride that lasted 6 years and the music they created in 6 years still seems astounding.

[@frankp9324]

this was their first live performance in the USA on the Ed Sullivan Show in NYC. Look up the 1964 Billboard 100 top songs in 1964 --the Beatles dominated radio.

[@TheC.O.-VISIT]

Great to see you back again, TO THE TOP BABY

[@johnoconnor9343]

In just three years we went from the Beatles singing “I want hold your hand” (1963) to The Rolling Stones singing “Let’s spend the night together” (1966)!

[@patdonnelly9392]

WOW! This was '64.....they were about 21-23 yrs. old. Just kids really!! So amazing. Actually....they were still very young in '70 when they broke up. BTW....I think you two make a great reaction duo!!

[@clydeb7713]

Their songs are covered by more artists than any other groups in history. They were basically only together for 10 short years. Different musical directions broke them up, slthough msny people blamed John's eventual wife Yoko Ono for the break up. The fights and hard feelings became too much. It was like a marriage that had to end.

[@herbertkelly847]

I love watching people discover The Beatles, and you guys are great. One of my most vivid memories is of my brother leaning forward in the back seat of our car when the announcement played that The Beatles had officially broken up. I remember listening to new Beatles records on the sidewalk of our house....because that attracted girls. I became a professional musician because of the group, mostly guitar and a bass player. Any questions on their history, I'm here.

[@pestbsn]

Just think, now those screaming girls are grandmothers and great grandmothers.

[@davidwhitehead1648]

My Mum saw The Beatles live a few days before this song hit No.1 in 1963 in Sheffield at the City Hall!

[@xtheunknown6717]

This song introduced The Beatles to America and the world, very historic performance

[@cuebj]

I'm 67 English. Family circumstances meant I missed early Beatles and was too cool for school about them till my daughter discovered them around 1999. It's fashionable in pretentious circles to applaud their stuff from Rubber Soul onwards to detriment of early records. But the massive exuberance of their first fame pop music is at least as astonishing as their later stuff. The skill and technique displayed in playing instruments (not mere simple strumming with more capable musicians in background) while singing 3-part harmonies on songs they wrote and arranged themselves was a totally new thing. They took Everley Brothers, Crickets, early Motown, Little Richard, girl harmony groups anf created a new dynamic excitement

[@DaveRod76]

There are countless Beatles documentaries,( some of the earliest done while they were still together,) that you two can watch and learn everything you want to know about them.

[@jamesdrynan]

Fun fact: The Beatles first appearance on Sullivan had 50,000 requests for tickets. There were only 700 available. They received $10,000 for three shows or about $85,000 in today's money. On April 4th, 1964, The Beatles held the top five songs in the US, a feat never equaled since.

[@patticrichton1135]

WHEN this was on the Ed Sullivan Show it was their first appearance in the US, Paul, was 21, George would turn 21 two weeks later, Ringo and John were both 24

[@richimalwayslistening2930]

Keep the great music going.

[@kingcassius2586]

This was their 1st American appearance. It was the 1st time the Western world saw men with long hair. It was Feb 1964. It snapped American youth out of the funk of President Kennedy's assassination just a little over a month and half earlier. At the time no pop song had that kind of sophisticated chord structure which is why everyone lost their minds upon their arrival. It was the equivalent to seeing people from the future or aliens. They had reached a level of fame only matched by Elvis and then later Michael Jackson. The best summary as to why they broke up is that they simply outgrew each other. Great reaction video!

[@toltec13]

Ringo Starr was the oldest member. He was around 27 years old when the Beatles broke up (1970). The Beatles has its roots going back to 1957, but it wasn't until 1960 when they went to Germany and did long gigs and they slowly developed their own style. In 1962, Ringo Starr (drummer) joined the group. They virtually were always together either doing gigs and studio recording, or writing songs. Beatlemania got to them! By the late 1960's they pretty much got tired of being a Beatle, and each person wanted to do their own thing. Sometime in April of 1970, John Lennon called it quiets.

[@yes2day100]

The really cool thing about this performance is that John and Paul were both lead singers on this song on the record, but on this performance John's mike wasn't on. The sound engineers made a mistake. Even without being able to hear John's voice very well, Paul carried the day, and the performance still explodes off the TV!