Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
BEATLEMANIA (Room 124)
14th October 1963 saw the official birth of Beatlemania, when Britain’s daily newspapers heavily reported scenes of mass hysteria the night before, inside and outside the London Palladium. The streets around the Palladium were packed with screaming, crying and hysterical fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their heroes. Fans completely blocked Argyll Street and Marlborough Street, bringing traffic to a standstill. Photographers captured riotous scenes of mayhem, with policemen struggling to hold back the crowds. TV cameras also recorded the unprecedented scenes, which were transmitted the previous night on the ITV national news.
Fleet Street, home of the UK’s national press, had now claimed The Beatles as their own and would relentlessly pursue the four forevermore, whether in their private or professional lives. Things simply would never be the same for them: they were now deemed ‘public property’.
However, in typical London journalistic fashion, this was not the real or accurate story. In reality, scenes like this had been happening in the provinces, but the London national press had always been reluctant to find stories outside the capital. All that had really happened was that Beatlemania had come to London and Fleet Street had belatedly reported it. Subsequent claims by Fleet Street journalists that they had invented Beatlemania were clearly inaccurate and erroneous.
Artwork © Shannon
BEATLEMANIA (Room 124)
14th October 1963 saw the official birth of Beatlemania, when Britain’s daily newspapers heavily reported scenes of mass hysteria the night before, inside and outside the London Palladium. The streets around the Palladium were packed with screaming, crying and hysterical fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their heroes. Fans completely blocked Argyll Street and Marlborough Street, bringing traffic to a standstill. Photographers captured riotous scenes of mayhem, with policemen struggling to hold back the crowds. TV cameras also recorded the unprecedented scenes, which were transmitted the previous night on the ITV national news.
Fleet Street, home of the UK’s national press, had now claimed The Beatles as their own and would relentlessly pursue the four forevermore, whether in their private or professional lives. Things simply would never be the same for them: they were now deemed ‘public property’.
However, in typical London journalistic fashion, this was not the real or accurate story. In reality, scenes like this had been happening in the provinces, but the London national press had always been reluctant to find stories outside the capital. All that had really happened was that Beatlemania had come to London and Fleet Street had belatedly reported it. Subsequent claims by Fleet Street journalists that they had invented Beatlemania were clearly inaccurate and erroneous.
Artwork © Shannon