Toronto • Wednesday, August 17, 1966 • 4pm show

Canadian Fans Wait At Airport

TORONTO. The Beatles arrived in Toronto early today from a Phila delphia performance. An airport crowd of 500 teenagers got only a 10-second look at their idols, who were whisked off to a downtown hotel for some sleep before a show tonight at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Another group of fans, including three sisters from Ashtabula, Ohio, who were driven to Toronto by their mother, was outside the hotel.

“Mom doesn’t mind,” said one. “She’s as crazy as the rest of us.”

From Orlando Evening Star – August 17, 1966

Beatles Still Spark Teenage Fireworks

TORONTO — The mania hasn’t gone out of Beatlemania. Not by a long hair. The Beatles returned to Toronto, Wednesday, and, as in the past, it took an army of police to keep frenzied fans under control. They came in for two shows, in the afternoon and in the evening, and once again Maple Leaf Gardens rang to the cheers of more addicts than a hockey game has ever seen. The quartet drew 15,000 to the matinee and 17,000 to the evening show. Total attendance was about 4,000 short of capacity at the Gardens.

On stage, the group generated just as much excitement as they have on previous visits constantly under a barrage of assorted clothing — although they were hindered by a weak public address system.

As usual, the group relied on original hit material. However, their on-stage version of “Paperback Writer” was not up to par and they didn’t do their current hit, “Yellow Submarine.”

Although there were plenty of fireworks at the concert a lot of the excitement centred not in the halt but in a little back room where the press conference was held between shows.

Last month a statement by John Lennon on Christianity started a worldwide controversy.

Before reporters and one minister — there on behalf of a Toronto radio station — John didn’t retract the quote. However, he said on Christianity: “We can support it and recommend it.” As for their popularity, he added: “It hasn’t hurt our image.”

Asked about young Americans who are reported coming to Canada to escape the armed services draft, George Harrison said: “Anybody who feel that fighting is wrong has the right not to go into the army.”

And on the war in Viet Nam, Lennon said: “We all don’t agree with war for any reason whatsoever.” Several weeks ago in Japan, Lennon said he and the other members of the group think about the war every day and feel it is entirely wrong.

In the half-hour exchange, the foursome looked fitter than ever, parrying questions with their experience of three years at the top.

And in the background Brian Epstein, the man who made the Beatles as much of a household item as a refrigerator. stood silently hovering over the quartet, saying nothing, quite oblivious to reporters. The group certainly hasn’t lost its sense of humour.

George was asked about the boys receiving MBEs for aiding the British economy. “Now that the economy is in a bad way, are you going to help it again?” “We’re still assisting the economy,” George replied and John interjected: “We can always start by giving the medals back.“

Other Beatle comments:

On their records: “We’re combining the old and the new, not trying to set any trends although every record we make is considered a new trend.” (Paul.)

On their future: “We can’t go around holding hands for 10 years.” (John.) “The only reason we won’t be around will be because we’re dead. And it would be quite embarrassing to be a Beatle at 35 or 40.” (Paul.)

Judging from the reaction to their latest Canadian visit, they’re still at their peak. “Revolver” is the title of their latest album and it applies aptly to the group which is still the biggest shot in the pop world.

During the performance police were aided in keeping back the rushes of teen-agers by a half-inch wire cable which Gardens officials boasted would stop an elephant.

The performances were spiced with the usual ejections by police and showers of debris — clothing, flashbulbs and paper containers — on to the stage. More than 200 police bolstered 80 officers ringing the stage for both performances and another 50 patrolled streets outside. One girl managed to sneak on to the stage and was carried off by police. Another youth made it to the platform and had to be handcuffed before being dragged away.

St John Ambulance had 122 persons on duty and treated 167 teenage girls. Fifteen were sent to hospital with severe cases of hysteria. Officials said the number of casualties was less than in previous visits, by the group.

The Beatles fly to Boston today, next stop in their 18-day North American tour.

From The Ottawa Journal – August 18, 1966

TORONTO—When the Beatles come to town, they don’t put on a concert. They create a circus.

A circus of screaming, writhing young girls; of over-exuberant boys swinging, Douglas Fairbanks style, from second-floor balconies on rippling curtains; of alert police constables and St John Ambulance men running wildly here and there and carrying fighting teen-agers toward the exits over their shoulders.

And there were lions at the circus here Wednesday. Well, would you believe lines.

From early morning the lines began outside Maple Leaf Gardens. They began to grow along College and spilled onto Yonge street a couple of blocks away. A force of policemen arrived and as they spread out along the line and around the Gardens it seemed there were as many constables as there were teenagers. Even after the show started, when the Cyrcle and other artists began to entertain inside, the lines continued to roar outside. After all, the Beatles hadn’t been seen entering the building and many were determined to catch a glimpse of this momentous occasion.

When the. group arrived, huddled in the back of a police paddy wagon, from the time they were first spotted until they sped into a door of the Gardens, no more than ten seconds elapsed. Some of the fans had been waiting all day.

While the Beatles were on stage the majority of the fans had left the arena… they were off on a flight of hysteria. Their eyes were blinded by tears their ears numb by constant shrieking.

Flash bulbs were popping with such regularity around the huge gardens that an eerie, flickering light continuously glows. While singing (I can only guess they were singing. I couldn’t hear them) the Beatles are continuously bombarded with flying flash bulbs, hastily-written love notes and other tidbits of materials within reach of the fans.
They jump and dart around but they cannot avoid being hit now and then.

“I worry about my eyes,” Paul McCartney said later.

It was Beatle day in Toronto, 1966. And from the whole mad melee I can come to only one conclusion: If you like Beatle music, Maple Leaf Gardens was not the place to be yesterday afternoon or evening.

From The Kingston Whig-Standard – August 18, 1966