Beatlemania sweeping Ann Arbor 60 years ago when the Beatles arrived in the United States.
The British Invasion struck Tree Town in August, 1964. Hundreds of enthusiastic teenagers lined up along State Street outside the State Theatre downtown for tickets to see the Beatles’ first feature film, “A Hard Day’s Night.”
“I love the Beatles” was among messages in the crowd, along with posters of the Fab Four from Liverpool, England, known for hits such as “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
Ann Arbor News reporter Dave Bishop and photographer Duane Scheel were there to document the excited scene as tickets went on sale two weeks ahead of the movie’s Sept. 3 opening at the theater. The crowd filled the sidewalk down to Washington Street and was estimated to include about 300 to 400 people.
Ralph Hinterman, a 15-year-old from the Allmendinger Park area, was first in line, sitting in a camping stool, and said the line began forming at 1:30 a.m. — over seven hours before the ticket window was set to open that morning.
“I don’t believe it,” he said in response to rumors the Beatles were “dying out” in England.
“I love the Beatles,” proclaimed 14-year-old Karen Reese, also in line. “I’d do anything for them,” she added when asked if it was worth waiting since 6 a.m.
The length of the band members’ hair was a subject of discussion and debate.
“I’d wear it that way myself if my mother would let me,” said 14-year-old Ted Graham, who said some boys didn’t like the Beatles just because they were jealous all the girls liked them.
Another young fan anxious to see the movie, 12-year-old David Taylor, said he thought the Beatles would look better if they got their hair cut, but Reese said they were “just darling with their hair long.”
Her sister Joyce, 13, explained why girls screamed when they saw or heard the band, saying it was “just a woman’s intuition.”
The crowd outside the theater shouted a countdown for the opening of the ticket window at 9 a.m. Four special showings were planned for the opening day and the movie was expected to run for about a week, The News reported.
That was just one snapshot of Beatlemania as enthusiasm for the band — which arrived in the U.S. for the first time in February 1964 and changed the face of rock and roll — could be seen all around town that year and for years to come.
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