THE BEATLES PLAYED BOSTON GARDEN 50 YEARS AGO

The British Invasion conquered Boston 50 years ago this week.

The Beatles sit before a battery of microphones on Sept.18, 1964 at a news conference before a concert in Dallas.

At the peak of their popularity, The Beatles performed before 13,909 screaming fans at Boston Garden on Sept. 12, 1964.

Boston was the 18th stop on a 24-city tour of North America.

Ticket prices for the Boston show ranged from $3.50 for second balcony to $5.50 for floor seats. On today's collector's market, an unused ticket from that sold-out show can fetch between $500 and $1,600, while a torn stub goes for $200 to $450.

Prior the Saturday evening concert, The Beatles fielded questions from the media at a press conference set up at the Hotel Madison, which was adjacent to Boston's North Station.

A sample exchange between the local media and The Beatles:

Q: "Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops Orchestra says he finds your music very relaxing. How do you find his music?" (laughter)
John: "Depends what tunes he plays, you know."
Q: "Have you ever heard of him?"
Beatles: "Yeah."
Paul: "He's very relaxing."
John: "Boston Pops, I Want To Hold Your..."
Q: "Have you heard his version of Beatle music?"
Beatles: "Yes."
Q: "Do you like?"
Paul: "Good tunes."
(laughter)
Paul: "No, it's nice, you know."

The Boston Garden show kicked off at 8 p.m. Opening for the Fab Four were The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence 'Frogman' Henry, and Jackie DeShannon.

The event was two hours long, though The Beatles played for only 30 minutes.

The Beatles' 12-song set included "Things We Said Today" and "If I Fell" from their most recent Capitol Records release "Something New."

After the show,The Beatles were off to Maryland for a Sunday night show at the Baltimore Civic Center.

The Beatles returned to Boston during their final tour, playing Suffolk Downs racetrack on Aug. 18,1966.

On his only solo tour of the U.S., George Harrison played two shows at Boston Garden on Dec. 10, 1974. McCartney returned to Boston Garden with his band Wings on May 22, 1976.

To mark The Beatles' first performance in Boston, the West End Museum is presenting The Beatles Invade Boston: 50th Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 12-14.

The exhibit will feature photos of the Madison Hotel press conference and the Boston Garden concert, as well as Beatles memorabilia. There will be a meet-and-greet with Ron Campbell, a director and an animator on ABC’s Saturday morning cartoon series The Beatles .