Thousands of overwhelmingly female, hyperventilating fans converged upon Pan Am Flight 101 when it landed at Kennedy Airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The “Fab Four,” who had just skyrocketed to the top of the charts with “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” were poised to conquer American radio waves and the hearts of eager teens from coast to coast.
By simply taking their first steps on American soil, the adorable, coiffed lads from Liverpool started a near-riot. Their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, two days later, solidified the beginnings of musical and cultural revolutions and the Beatles’ place as rock ‘n roll royalty. On August 15, 1965, the wildly popular foursome continued their love affair with New York fans by performing rock music’s first stadium concert to record-breaking crowds at Shea Stadium.
