Beatles Concert-Atlanta Stadium August 18, 1965
N 33° 44.361 W 084° 23.389
16S E 741810 N 3736316
This was the only Beatles concert held in Atlanta,Ga
Waymark Code: WM131P
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 12/30/2006
Views: 329
Beatles Concert-Atlanta Stadium August 18, 1965
I was at this Beatles concert as a young boy with two of my best friends. I still have the ticket from the concert. The Fab Four could barely be heard over the screaming fans, using the sound system at that time. The following appeared in The Atlanta Journal and The Constitution.
The date was August 18, and The Beatles were on their 1965 nine-city North American tour. The first date had been their legendary record-breaking Shea Stadium concert in New York. Next were two shows were at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens after which The Beatles headed south. The tickets for the Atlanta show had gone on sale a couple of months prior. The field level seats (which sold out) were $5.50 and the upper level seats $4.50. In the days leading up, The Journal and The Constitution had been featuring articles on the upcoming show as well as advice on stadium parking and comments from Atlanta teens. The August 17th edition of The Journal even had an article showing how to give A "Beatle" haircut.
The 18th was a muggy ninety degree day and at 2 p.m. The Beatle's chartered plane arrived from Canada at Hartsfield Airport and taxied to a remote part of the field, out of view from the fans that had turned up at the terminal. Safety concerns now rarely ever permitted The Beatles to disembark while greeting the crowds as they once had. By 1965 the intensity of Beatle mania had increased to a frightening and dangerous point. They discreetly boarded a group of three limousines and headed for Atlanta Stadium.
At the stadium, a locker room was set up as a dressing area and make-shift headquarters for the Beatles and their entourage. Paul McCartney requested a giant fan for use in the un-air conditioned stadium vestibule, while Ringo Starr wishing to wash his hair, requested a hair dryer. The concert promoter hastily supplied a stand-up model commandeered from his wife. Some tables, chairs and half dozen cots were placed in the changing area. The British refer to these as "camp beds". Ringo, upon hearing them referred to as "cots" humorously, climbed onto one, curled up and began sucking his thumb loudly much to the amusement of everyone in the room. The caterer hired to supply The Beatles dinner, inquired if it was true that they prefered hamburgers. The Beatles quickly shot down that rumor and asked if he could get them "corn on a stick" otherwise known to us as corn on the cob.
Outside the stadium the fans had begun to gather waiting for the gates to open, some walking around the perimeter of the stadium, kissing their tickets. Two fifteen year old girls from Florida arrived at 4:30 a.m. that morning. Fans were also arriving from near-by cities not included on the tour schedule. Inside, the giant fan wasn't doing much good and George Harrison had given up hope of getting his guitars tuned properly in the clammy Dog Day atmosphere. Many VIP's dropped by to visit The Beatles who graciously posed for photos and signed autographs. McCartney, never far from his camera took quite a few shots of the proceedings himself.
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium has since been torn down and replaced by Turner Field, but the outline of the old stadium can still be seen in the parking area.
Site of old stadium, now a parking lot at Turner Field
