50 Years Ago Today

The Beatles -- unarguably the greatest and most influential band in history -- arrived at John F. Kennedy airport on this day in 1964 -- and nothing was quite the same after that.  Two nights later, they made their American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.  (Be sure to check the blog on Sunday for a special salute.)

About three months earlier, on November 4, 1963, they performed at the Royal Variety Show in London, in front of the Queen Mother.  Here's "Twist and Shout" from that performance:




This collection of footage gives you a little flavor of the scene at JFK 50 years ago today, and what was to become "Beatlemania" in America and around the world: