Cleveland • Sunday, August 14, 1966

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The previous day, August 13, 1966, The Beatles performed two concerts in Detroit. The Beatles left Detroit by Greyhound bus immediately after their second show. Their destination was Cleveland, Ohio, where they arrived at 2.30 am the following morning.

On this day, August 14, The Beatles performed one concert in Cleveland in front of 20,000 people. The support acts for the entire tour were The Remains, Bobby Hebb, The Cyrkle, and The Ronettes.

A press conference was apparently scheduled but didn’t happen, even if some journalists were able to spend time with The Beatles.

The concert was temporarily halted during the fourth song, “Day Tripper“, when 2,500 fans invaded the baseball field. The group spent some time backstage before the order was restored.

One of the wildest shows took place at the Municipal Stadium in Cleveland – where the crowd broke loose, crashed through a four-foot security fence and invaded the field during Day Tripper. Hopelessly outnumbered and overwhelmed, the local police simply gave up and stood back while hordes of fans took control of the stage and the ‘secure’ grassy area around it. The boys rushed off to their makeshift dressing room – a caravan/trailer parked behind the stage – and the concert was stopped for 30 minutes while private guards and police reinforcements restored order. At the end of that show roadie Mal Evans had to stop fans from stealing the boys’ instruments from the stage as souvenirs.

Tony Barrow – From “John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me“, 2006

The Beatles spent the night in Cleveland after their concert and then flew to Washington DC the next day for their upcoming performance.

We arrived in Cleveland early in the morning, driving through the back entrance of the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel. There were no waiting crowds, apparently because no one knew when or how we were arriving. But, by ten o’clock in the morning, there was a large crowd. No press conference or taping session was scheduled, so we didn’t see our four traveling companions. When nothing was scheduled, they stayed in their rooms like prisoners, listening to records, drawing or painting, watching television, sleeping, eating… except that they couldn’t ever sleep too late because the fans outside were busy calling to them. […]

In spite of the gloomy Cleveland sky, there was no rain and the concert went as scheduled. There was a little matter of a riot with hundreds (some said thousands) of mobbing fans rushing the stage. The breakthrough occurred in the middle of their act, and the show had to be stopped because the police couldn’t contain the hysterical fans. The boys just made it off the stage before it became crowded.

They escaped with no damage, just a close call. They waited in the trailer behind the stage for the riot to subside, but some of the press people were trapped outside in the midst of the brawl. It was a frightening first-hand experience, especially because the police kept mistaking me for one of the rioters!

Once the mob had quieted and returned to their seats. The Beatles insisted on continuing the show. That’s what they were there for.

The last number of every show was “Long Tall Sally,” and Paul always announced it as the last song and then tore into it for a screaming finale — but he didn’t announce it as the last one in Cleveland. They plunged into the song, leapt from the stage (literally) into the waiting limousine, and the car practically launched into orbit. The rest of us acted as decoys in three other limousines, going through the expected exit. It was standard practice to lock all doors and keep all windows up — a practice that kept us healthy in Cleveland. The fans beat on our cars, jumped on the trunk, pulled at the doors — even when they could see there were no Beatles inside.

Back at the hotel, finally — a bit shaken — we learned that The Beatles’ limo had had to crash through an obstacle because it couldn’t afford to slow down. There was an estimated $400 damage to the car, and the limousine company refused to supply vehicles to carry us to the airport the next day. Several people spent a long night on the phone making transportation arrangements.

Judith Sims – From TeenSet Magazine – Quoted in “Ticket To ride – The Extraordinary Diary of The Beatles’ Last Tour” by Barry Tashian

From Cleveland.com, August 14, 2016:

Long past dismissals that they were a passing fad or novelty, the Beatles were the most influential group in pop music and in culture when they played Cleveland for a second time on Aug. 14, 1966 – 50 years ago today.

Whether the show was a success or a failure still is a question.

The announced crowd of more than 24,000 at Cleveland Stadium was immense for its time, before rock festivals and Coliseum-scale arena shows, and before stadium concerts became commonplace. Fans who were there remember the excitement of watching the show of a lifetime. And the event helped lift its sponsoring radio station, 8-month-old WIXY, to Top 40 dominance.

But with tickets selling for $3 to $5.50, WIXY dreamed of attendance hitting 70,000, notes author Deanna Adams, whose books include the history “Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Cleveland Connection.” Promoters considered the concert a “dismal failure.”

One reason was the U.S. publication, only days earlier, of an interview with John Lennon that originally appeared five months earlier in the London Evening Standard, without much notice. Interviewer Maureen Cleave wrote that Lennon was “reading extensively about religion,” and quoted him saying: “We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first — rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity.”

Lennon’s comment in context was an observation about religion losing its connection with youth. It was taken, especially in the South, as an anti-Christian boast, and it led to the banning and burning of Beatles records and memorabilia. The fierce reaction threatened to stop the tour.

“I’m sure it was because of the parents, not so much the kids,” Adams said. “As kids, I think we were smart enough to understand what Lennon was saying.” But concert attendance was affected because, in many cases, “the parents dropped off the kids and picked them up afterward.”

The Hough riots, three weeks earlier, also left some leery of going downtown. A wet and chilly night didn’t add to the appeal.

Ultimately, the Cleveland concert — like most of the Beatles’ 14-city swing — led to the group’s decision to stop touring and performing outside a studio.

The noise in Cleveland Stadium made it impossible for the group, and much of the crowd, to hear the music. And when several thousand fans jumped the stands and rushed the stage, the Beatles had to be hustled to safety, delaying the show for half an hour. […]

From Cleveland.com, August 14, 2016

From the fanzine “With a Little Help From My Friends“, October 1978

[…] This time around, Joy and Pat have asked meto write about The Beatles days in Cleveland, so here goes.  The typewriter is willing, but the gears in my mind have rusted some.  However, let’s take a trip back to 1964 and the Beatles’ first personal appearance in Cleveland at the Public Hall. Maybe we’ll find some memories there. The front acts are finished, and The Beatles seem to be in the middle of their set when a wave of girls rushed the stage (remember Pat?). The police want The Beatles to leave the stage, and George is arguing with one of them, and if I remember right, it went something like this…” This isn’t the first city that our shows had to be stopped because of rowdy audiences. We’ve never had to leave the stage before. We would just wait for things to calm down, or if they didn’t, a representative, like a disc jockey or someone would talk to the crowd and calm them down.”  This is so!  Did not hear the rest of George’s commentary as he was ushered into the wings. (WINGS?) As I recall, John found it all rather amusing, and he leaned against his amp, taking the whole situation in, but later, all were angry and said they were being treated like children. Brian Epstein put it another way…” This is insidious!”  Twenty minutes later, The Beatles returned to the stage and, in case no one noticed, did their whole show over again.  This time, believe me, no interruptions. 

The Public Hall was closed to all rock-oriented shows after all the destruction that happened when The Beatles played there. That is definitely why the Beatles didn’t play Cleveland in 1965, but 1966 was a different story. 

The Beatles returned to Cleveland and this time to the Cleveland Stadium, a “field day” for all. After settling in our favorite hotel, it was interview time for the entourage, followed by various phone calls to radio stations, frantic to know what The Beatles did that day, how they felt, what they said, how they held their mouths when they said whatever, etc.  Then it was to the Press Conference, where two major newspapers and half a dozen radio stations, and various, various, various college, high school, and what have you papers were represented.  From there, The Beatles, their opening acts (The Cyrkle, Ronnetts, Bobby Hebb), and their entourage were ushered to the stadium amid a standing ovation!  The Beatles then entered their dressing room behind the stage – a large mobile home made specifically for them and relaxed until showtime. 

I’m sure most of you will recall that, once again, the show was stopped!  During one of the songs (Day Tripper), thousands of Beatle people rushed the stage, and they just kept coming!  Finally, the boys were literally shoved in the trailer until order could be restored.  It was some time later when the field was cleared then, once again, The Beatles appeared amid the shouts and cries of adoring fans!  Fantastic!

Before I continue, I must add that since 1966 was an all-baseball park tour, we all lived on hot dogs (to this day, I hate them) and Coke. Or, once in a while, hot dogs and beer, and if we were really lucky, some of the ballparks put a little sauerkraut on top of them. And all the time, I bet the general public thought we dined on steak and the like..fooled you!

After The Beatles were through, we were ushered back to the hotel, where we were informed that we could all go to the press party that was already in progress.  John whispered to me, “Get me out of this one. I’m tired and way behind on some cartoon things,” and before I could say yes, no, or maybe, he did a typical John Lennon idiom by raising his voice and saying “that’s a darling girl.”  So, I went but decided that I would stay just a short while, too.  But that wasn’t to be.  After excusing John to Brian Epstein et al., I was politely backing out, smiling all the way, when I felt something hit my back.  Ringo had stuck his finger in my back and said, “I’ll pull the old trigger if you don’t stay here and escort me about.”  Needless to say, I did, and so, the evening melted away. 

The next day was similar to all Beatle tour days, except that when we walked out of the door supposedly to the limos, we were confronted with a bus.  Every other city had limos to pick us up from the airport and take us back, but not Cleveland. Besides the Beatles and their opening acts and entourage, there appeared 1000 disc jockeys in an unairconditioned bus on a hot August day.

When we came to the runway where our rented American Airlines plane was to be, there was not a vehicle of this proportion in sight.  We waited quite a while and then were told that our plane would be a little late…no kidding!

When the plane did arrive, a young gal was escorted off.  “Eh,” John said, “why did you take your sweet time then?” The American Airlines representative whispered as low as he could, “There were no stirrers for your drinks, and we had to get them from the terminal.  It took a while.”  John replied, as we drove out of sight, “That’s alright, chap.  If it had been anything else, we might not have forgiven you” as they walked up the aisle, overheard John ask, “Now that we’ve got that settled, are you sure we have something to stir?”

“Goodbye, Cleveland…” Paul and George yelled, and as the people on the ground began to look like ants, the poker cards came out, the drinks were served (with stirrers) and it was off to another city which The Beatles owned for the day. 

Marilyn Doerfler – From the fanzine “With a Little Help From My Friends”, October 1978 – From Meet the Beatles for Real: The Beatles in Cleveland

From MacLen fanzine, issue #10/11, February-April 1976:

As of this writing it’s been almost 10 years since that night in Cleveland, Ohio. I’d like to once again share my experience of the August 14th Beatles concert. That day was very overcast, but there wasn’t any rain, thank God! I went to downtown Cleveland with some friends of mine. Lynda L., Donna T., Sherry S., Nita C., Chris D. and your truly. And all of us were on our way downtown via the rapid transit. Once we reached Public Square – the big deal center of town, we headed toward the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel. I wore a blue and green polka-dot mini dress with high heels. You know, the blue and green was for Paul and John. All over the place there were Beatle people! It was really a beautiful and exciting experience to be a part of. I can’t really explain how I felt then. I’m sure all of you know the feeling. Well, the first thing all of us did was look up at the hotel and at least in my mind I thought this was it! The guys you’ve wanted to see in action and not on the movie or TV screen. This was MY first concert and I still couldn’t believe I was actually going to see them in action! Also this was the second time there were in Cleveland. The first being September 15, 1964. I wasn’t able to go.

We had plenty of time to kill before the concert, so Donna and I went back to the Terminal where the rapids are located. I can’t remember the reason we went back there. Inside the Tower, there is a decline, can’t really explain it—like a ramp, no steps you climb down, just a smooth ramp. As I said, I wore heels and I started to slip on one of the declines. Had this really WILD idea to scream out the guys’ names. I just felt like doing it, just to see what would happen. Well, I started letting go with “John! John!” Donna picked up with yelling for George. I had to run in order not to slip and fall on my boomer plus our yelling caused a near riot inside the building. There were at least 200 or 300 kids running inside the building after us. We hid, naturally. The others stayed outside while Donna and I had our jollies.

Boarded the bus that was to take us to the stadium. I was a nervous wreck! The stadium came in sight and my stomach was really letting the butterflies go. Such a Beatleful feeling it was. Found our seats – they were directly in front of the stage but far away. WIXY 1260 on a banner tacked n the front of the stage where the guys were going to be. WIXY wasn’t even a year old and yet, it was them that brought the guys back! All over the stadium were banners. I can’t remember what all of them said but I think one said “Bernard Webb Forever” and “Give us a kiss” was another one I saw. Too much!

I spotted Mal Evans on the stage setting up the guys’ stuff. I told the others who he was and we started to yell out his name just to see what he’d do. He turned around and all of us waved like mad. He waved back at us and then started to resume what he was doing. Again his name was called and again he turned and waved back at us. We did it again and all he did was wave since he knew where we were. Again came the beautiful feelings.

The time passed and more kids arrived. I spotted Brian Epstein leaning against one of the legs(??) He wore a purple suit and I told Donna that he reminded me of a grape. Then the guys came. Shit! What a feeling I felt! They got out of their limo – I saw all of them but I can’t remember what the others wore except John. He was in all white. Yes, that is what he wore. It was as if by magic, when the guys arrived everyone stood right up.

The acts before the guys were enough to drive you out of your mind! The waiting. The waiting…I don’t remember all the acts except the Cyrcle and Bobby Hebb, and the Ronnettes. If I remember correctly, the Cyrcle was the act before the guys. The Cyrcle did pretty well—the flash from the cameras was like lightening for them.

Then it was time. The WIXY DJ’s all came on stage and I thought, “Oh God! This is it!” They started with their small talk which drove me up the wall! Now, I was really a nervous wreck! Then WIXY DJ’s introduced themselves and talked about the radio station. Then began the “Give me a B (We screamed B)—give me an E (we again let the DJ’s have it)—give me an A (we did) –give me a T (again)—give me an L (ditto)—give me an E (we did)—give me as S (again)—what does it spell? (The Monkees? What do you think it spelled, you dumb DJ’s???). BEATLES! (louder) BEATLES!! (louder) BEATLES!!! “Okay, here they are—the Beatles!!!!!!”

The door of the specially built trailer for their use behind the stage opened and out they came! All the screaming and the flashes from cameras all over the stadium—what a sight that was! The guys ran up on the stage and went right to their instruments. I was in such a state of shock that I can’t remember the first song they did! Whatever it was, it was beautiful! I know they sang “Nowhere Man.” I had this great love for “If I Needed someone”—I really adore that song very much. It wasn’t released in the States until the summer American LP “Yesterday and Today.” So, I was really zonked out when George started that one! I started crying. I just couldn’t take it anymore!

The snow fence—if you’ve ever read in any magazine about the tours, in their description of the Cleveland Stadium concert, they mention a little fence (about waist high and very flimsy which surrounds the outfield). This my friends is the snow fence. The police, thinking that they were so smart and not many police would be needed for the concert since the Beatles weren’t as popular. There weren’t many of the little blue meanie there. George really started the gathering during “If I Needed Someone” and so it began. A guy was able to get on the field and naturally he was cheered on. But the police cut the trip short. George began the beginning of “Day Tripper” and that’s when it happened! The kids (including yours truly) started to leave their seats. It was like magic. I could see the fence slowly give way and the police running toward the stage since that was the only thing they could do. The guys on stage were really enjoying all of this. They really started to act up and motioned for us to keep coming, which we did! Those four were really throwing themselves into that song, all the while motioning for us to keep coming. The police couldn’t argue with thousands of kids. Speedy here made it to the middle of the ground, my stupid heels got stuck in the mud! Needless to say, I was able to see the men I love up close once again, only in action this time. John was having a good time. He kept teasing the girls that were right up to the stage with his foot. Paul was laughing because of the girls came with were tickling him (on his leg). The police began throwing the kids off. That’s no joke! In one of the articles about the Cleveland riot, it stated that Ringo was pulled off the drums, but that’s not true. A girl asked if she could shake his hand and he said it would be okay. It is just that a “nice” policeman just happened to grab her while she was still hanging onto Ringo’s hand! That’s why he was “pulled off I his drums.”

I felt like I was going to faint. It was so hot on that field and all the kids were just shoved together which didn’t help matters. It was bad news, but I told myself that I couldn’t let myself faint. I watched Paul and the guys, with the help of the police leave the stage and go into the trailer rather fast, I must say. Jack Armstrong, one of the DJ’s started yelling that we broke our promise about not mobbing the stage. He was crying! That’s what I said—he was crying. Since he’s a jerk, nobody listened to him. The field was covered for about 20 minutes but it seemed like an hour. After a while, it was finally cleared and an English voice came over the loudspeakers and told us that if the field wasn’t cleared right away, the show wouldn’t go on. I swear to this day that the voice belonged to George! After the little speech, the field was cleared fast. I remember telling Donna that we were going to really make news because of the riot. Well, would you believe that in one of the Cleveland papers the next day they printed just what I said?

Also before the riot I remember one of the amps weren’t working and Paul announcing a song, “Our next number will be— our next number WON’T be…” as no sound came from the amp. Then Mal was called on stage and with a quick flip of a knob, got it to work (good old Mal!)

Anyway, the show started up again and the guys played “I feel Fine.” I just wanted to die! That’s another one of my songs. Oh! Another thing I forgot to mention. One time during the show Donna was standing on her seat and was bouncing up and down. It seemed as though Lennon was looking in our direction or our section. Good old Donna—she was still bouncing up and down and her half-slip fell down! It was so funny! And John just doubled over at that moment, laughing (strange). Also, Lynda leaned over too far and fell right into the dugout, where some of the DJ’s were sitting along with other people and on the news that night there was a film of her display of grace.

The concert ended with “Long Tall Sally” then the guys left the stage because the filed was getting full again since everyone knew that would be their last song. I was in total shock and I just couldn’t believe that I was actually at the concert! All of our “gang” or most of us anyway, some were lost in the riot, met up and started back toward the Terminal Tower. Outside the stadium the WIXY satellite studio was playing all Beatles songs and “And I love her” was playing.

On our way back, I heard this English voice. So the lot of us ran to see who it was. Would you believe it was Mal? I about croaked when I saw him! He was walking back to the hotel. I no doubt figured that he thought nobody knew who he was so he’d be safe. Only a few girls were with him with Donna, Bonnie, Lynda, Sherry and myself ran up to him and started to rattle off about meeting him at EMI Studios on Abbey Road that past April. I asked him if he remembered me and he did. He asked how I liked the concert and I told him I just loved it! Someone asked him if it would be okay with him if we kissed him. He said it would be okay so each of us gave him a kiss. When it was my turn, he put his hand on my back and helped me up to him. That man has such a soft cheek and he smelled so good! Bonnie asked him to give John and kiss and he gave her a funny look. I offered to do it for Mal, but he just looked at me as if to say “I just bet you would.” Oh well. I would have been able to give John that kiss if I had a few drinks in me. Told Mal that we saw “Help!” and we liked the part he had – you know, coming out of the water and asking Lennon if he made it to the White Cliffs of Dover. I asked him if he was cold and he said he was. I told him I wished I’d been there to give him a towel and he said he wished I was too. One of his friends met up with Mal and he said that he had to go. We begged him to let us come with him but he said there were too many of us and he was going for a drink with this other guy and we weren’t old enough. So we gave Mal all the gum chains that we had made for the guys. I bet he was most thrilled about that. But he did take them from us. I bet he threw them away from we left. Then again maybe he didn’t—I’ll never know. And we said goodbye to him as did the other girls.

I’ll never forget that wonderful day as long as I live. Thanks Mal! Indeed it was a night to remember.

Joy Kilbane – From MacLen fanzine, issue #10/11, February-April 1976 – From Meet the Beatles for Real: A night to remember

BEATLES’ USA – IT’S A RIOT!

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Tuesday. – Five thousand fans smashed down the barriers at the Beatles’ concert here last night during the most frightening, fantastic sight I have ever seen.

The boys were halfway through their act when the invasion happened – 5,000 fans got past the barriers and tried to get onto the platform where the Beatles were singing.

Police were utterly powerless. John, Paul, George and Ringo had to be dragged off stage to the safety of a caravan. After about half an hour, weary officials managed to get the crowds back to their seats and the boys returned to the stage to resume their act. They managed to finish without any more mishaps and later leapt into their waiting car just as thousands of fans stormed the barriers again.

The only major disaster was that I was mysteriously left in the middle of a baseball track and had to walk the long hike back to our hotel. Well, that’s showbiz!

America seems to have forgiven the Beatles after the uproar over John’s misquoted remarks about Christianity. Big badges bearing the words “We STILL Love You, Beatles!” are selling by the thousand, and the total of five shows – at Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland – have been sensationally successful.

But we haven’t yet visited the South, where feelings in the “Bible Belt” are reported to be more feverish than anywhere about John’s comparison between the Beatles and Jesus Christ.

Even there, however, Birmingham, Alabama disc-jockey Tommy Charles has called off the plan to hold Beatles-disc-bonfires after John’s apologies at a Chicago press conference.

Lennon told journalists: “I wasn’t saying the Beatles are better than God or Jesus. I was using the word Beatles because it’s naturally easy for me to talk about the Beatles. I could have said TV, or the cinema, or anything popular.”

It looks like being a tour just as successful as any the Beatles have ever played.

From Disc And Music Echo – August 20, 1966

DISBELIEVING FANS

On the Beatles’ recent American tour, the boys’ coach stopped at a car park on their way from Detroit to Cleveland, so that they could stretch their legs a bit. As George and Paul stepped out of the coach, a young girl ran accidentally into Paul without realising it was him, but she quickly came to her senses, because it’s not every day that one bumps into a Beatle, and asked Paul and George for their autographs. After she’d gone, Paul said: “When that girl gets home, she’s going to tell all her friends and no-one is going to believe her no matter what she says or does. Even if she shows them the autograph they still won’t believe what has happened, and it’s probable her success will have to be spoilt by disbelieving friends.”

From The Beatles Monthly Book – October 1966

Clergyman ‘Speaks Out’ On Beatles

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Baptist minister here says he will recommend revocation of membership of any of his members who agree with a remark on christianity made by John Lennon of the Beatles or who go to see the Beatles here tonight.

The Rev. Thurman H. Babbs, pastor of the New Haven Baptist Church, in making the announcement, referred to Lennon’s remark that “the Beatles are more popular than Jesus.” Lennon later apologized for the statement.

“It’s high time Christians speak out on this atheistic remark,” the Rev. Mr. Babbs said. “l know I’m leaving myself open to charges that I’m a dictator, but it’s high time somebody shocked Christianity’s conscience.”

He said “it doesn’t matter” that Lennon apologized at a news conference in Chicago Thursday that he didn’t mean the Beatles “are or better than Jesus.” Lennon said he was deploring what seemed to him to be a decline in religious zeal. The Rev. Mr. Babbs said members of his church will be asked “where they stand” at 11 a.m. services today,

The Beatles will be at Cleveland Stadium tonight on the third stop of their current American tour.

From Asbury Park Press – August 14, 1966

Cleveland Alert For Beatles

CLEVELAND (UPI) – The city’s riot-experienced policemen were alerted for the “second invasion of the Beatles” Sunday at the Cleveland Stadium. Some 20,000 fans and about
150 policemen, 90 of them on extra duty, will be at the stadium. Four detectives will be at the Beatles’ hotel to be sure there’s no trouble.

The Beatles will be just singing here. Press conferences were cancelled across the nation„ except at New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as a result of reaction to John Lennon’s religious comments.

From Telegraph Forum – August 13, 1966

Cleveland Fans Mob Beatles

CLEVELAND. Ohio. – Between 2,000 to 3,000 screaming teenage Beatle fans rushed onto the field of Cleveland Stadium Sunday night in an attempt to mob the famed quartet, halting the show for about half an hour.

The young fans leapt a small fence, raced past police and onto the field and to the stage during the fourth song of the concert. The Beatles finished their song and raced to a small trailer behind the stage set up on second base of the baseball diamond.

A local disc jockey helping to coordinate the show ran to the stage and veiled over the microphone: “We’ll stop the concert unless you move back. Hold it. Move back ”

About 100 of the 150 policemen on duty were on the field during the 15 minutes of rebellion.

Stadium officials said the infield of the Indians baseball diamond was extensively damaged by the rampage.

“I thought I was going to get trampled,” said one officer.

One policeman, who said he was the first to the stage when the fans surged forward, said the wild 15 minutes was like the recent rioting in Cleveland’s east side Negro Hough area.

“I got it worse in this than I did in Hough,” another officer said, as he rubbed his arm. “But this was worse than Hough, because there you could fight back.”

“Oh. they’re the greatest,” the fans screamed.

“They’re great musicians — especially John (Lennon),” one fan said.

From Arizona Daily Star – August 15, 1966

BEATLES STILL LOVED IN AMERICA AND YOU

FROM facts supplied by NME correspondents in America, we have compiled a Beatles diary. Below is our impression of how the Beatles themselves might write down their day-to-day events…

[…] SUNDAY, August 14: Came on by bus to Cleveland. Played in the Stadium to 24,000. Police precautions inadequate. Seems Mayor refused permission for police to protect us or audience, so concert sponsors hired 90 cops at $10 each, which wasn’t enough. Result was teenagers got over barrier and rushed stage during “ Day Tripper.” About 2,000 got on to baseball pitch. We were rushed off stage to a caravan. Police took 30 minutes to calm crowd and get them off field before we started again. Like PAUL said: “A rave-up !” And no one hurt, we’re glad to say. But we need more police. […]

From New Musical Express – August 19, 1966

BEATLES USA ’66

CLEVELAND. Ohio. Tuesday. — “We STILL love you. Beatles?” That just about sums up the feelings of thousands of American fans so far on this fantastically successful tour. Large economy-size badges bearing this phrase are selling like hotcakes at 50 cents each to thousands of people packing the vast arenas to see the world’s most popular group in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. But I should add that we haven’t yet visited the South, reported at boiling point over John Lennon’s “Jesus” quote. In Detroit last night the manager of the Olympia Stadium told me that the Beatles were still the biggest draw, selling twice as many tickets as the Stones and many tickets as the Stones and three times more than the Animals – Herman’s Hermits show on July 28.

This is the first time I have toured with the Beatles, and they are the greatest fellows. They behave exactly the same off-stage as on. Most surprisng thing to me is that the boys have never ready seen America. I know that sounds daft, but it’s true. I was telling John tonight about the fantastic supermarkets here, and he just sat back lapping it up.
“We dare not go out on the streets,” he told me. “We just stay in the hotel room until the car or coach calls to take us to the show. We miss an awful lot, but I suppose we will see it one day.”

On Saturday night we all travelled by coach from Detroit to Cleveland. The boys got out of the coach at about 1 am — as Ringo put it: “Stopping off at the Rose and Crown.”

Actually, it was an empty parking lot and the boys just walked around stretching their legs and sucking ice lollies. It must have been the longest period of time that fresh air has reached their faces… And frankly, their complexions show it! They looked very pale, as if they spend all their lives indoors. “We feel all right, though,” said Paul. “You can’t really tell by looking at us ’cause sometimes we look terrible and feel great, and other times it’s the opposite.”

I’m trying to get them to take a holiday soon and I hope I succeed. They look as if they need one.

You’ve probably heard by now of the wonderful press conference in Chicago when John explained about the misquotation over his world-famous remarks. He spoke brilliantly and acquitted himself completely. I think the American people agree with me. judging by their wonderful welcome everywhere.

George talked to me at length about his interest in Indian music, the results of which you hear on “Revolver.” “To me, it is the only really great music now and it makes Western three-or-four-beat type stuff seem somehow dead. You can get so much more out of it if you are prepared really to concentrate and listen. I hope more people will try to dig it.”

Does John’s solo film mean he will be leaving the Beatles? “No. it’s just a bit of practice while we have nothing to do for a bit.” What son of picture is it? “Well, a sort of war comedy. I just play a Scouse batman, it should be good experience.”

The kids mob anyone who has anything to do with the Beatles. I have had to run for it about six times so far! One incident scared the life out of me.

At Detroit, the Beatles had just come off stage and a DJ from Louisville, Kentucky, named Ken Doughs, who has a Beatle haircut and mod clothes, was walking back with me to the press room. The kids spotted us. They broke down the barriers and started chasing him. Me? I was stuck in the middle of them and thought it was my lot!

I taped the commentary of the whole incident as it happened, and you will probably hear it sometime this week on Radio Caroline as well as lots of other tapes I am sending back for broadcast. So stay tuned, eh?

From Disc And Music Echo – August 20, 1966

Last updated on September 24, 2023

Municipal Stadium

This was the 1st and only concert played at Municipal Stadium.

Setlist for the concert