Pan American Flight 101 from London landed at New York's rechristened Kennedy Airport on February 7, 1964. This marked the beginning of The Beatles' first American tour, and signified a revolutionary era on the American cultural scene.

The celebrated arrival of four lads from Great Britain would signal the start of this nation's greatest awareness of tran-Atlantic activities since World War II. The music that The Beatles would bring to America spread quickly along the newly formed "instant communication matrix,' which had been born out of necessity when 10 weeks earlier Americans shared in the tragic drama of President John Kennedy's death.

As The Beatles and their entourage stepped off the plane, they were greeted by an estimated 5,000 fans. 5000 screaming fans. 5000 hysterical, screaming fans. Reports vary as to whether John, Paul, George and Ringo were rushed past customs or subjected to a thorough inspection before engaging in their first entertaining American press conference.

"Are you going to have a haircut while you're in America?"
"We had one yesterday," John snapped.
"What do you call that hairstyle of yours?"
"I call it 'Arthur'," George quipped.
"How do you like this welcome?"
"So this is America. They all seemed out of their minds," Ringo answered.
"What do you think of the campaign in Detroit to stamp out The Beatles?"
"We've got a campaign of our own -- to stamp out Detroit," Paul replied.

The lighthearted answers for the press were reminiscent of the wit that America had tasted in President Kennedy's own press conferences.

Outside, four Cadillac limousines waited as The Beatles were escorted by police and "shoe-horned" into their cars amidst the chaos. The limos traveled past the soon-to-be heralded World's Fair grounds on their way to Manhattan's Plaza Hotel.

The Plaza Hotel is a classic building facing Central Park, with a striking fountain proudly out front. In January, hotel reservations were made for four British businessmen --- Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr. But on this particular February day, the beautiful hotel resembled a surrealistic dream. Mounted police met the limousines. Fans crowded the streets and the hotel. Young girls climbed fire stairs to reach The Beatles on their private twelfth floor. Crowds sang Beatles songs in the streets. Record executives wore Beatle-wigs. Radio stations became Beatle Headquarters, and WINS disc jockey Murray The K interviewed them in their hotel suite. Scenes that are better suited to a Fellini movie than a posh metropolitan environment.

Most of the evening news reports had the Kennedy Airport frenzy as their opening stories. However, the celebrated Chet Huntley told his viewers that NBC covered the event, but that "there is absolutely no need to show any of that film."

George quickly became ill of a sore throat and was cared for by his sister. The other Beatles spent their first night on the town at the Peppermint Lounge and the Playboy Club.

On the following day, The Beatles were photographed extensively in Central Park and rehearsed for their Ed Sullivan debut on February 9. Seventy million are estimated to have witnessed The Beatles perform live on that Sunday night.

In the days that followed, Beatlemania hit the retail shops. There were Beatle dolls, Beatle-wigs, pens, games, cards, masks, Beatle-anything. Billboard magazine listed "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in the number one slot until March 21, when it switched places with "She Loves You"; this enormous hit was finally replaced by "Can't Buy Me Love" in April. The April 4 Billboard chart had The Beatles in all of the top five positions, with a dozen songs in the Top 100 Chart. Concerts were held in Washington D.C. (February 11) and New York's Carnegie Hall (February 12), and on the 16th, an estimated 75 million people tuned in to the Ed Sullivan Show to watch The Beatles performance from Miami's Deauville Hotel.

After leaving America the night of the 21st, a prefilmed appearance was aired on the February 23rd Sullivan Show and the boys were the cover story of Newsweek.

For some, the memories of that legendary month may seem like only "Yesterday," but "It was twenty years ago today...."