The Beatles at Hollywood Bowl 1965

Here is an original story about the night four friends went to see The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965. The story was written the day after the concert. I found it in an unfinished Beatles scrapbook that is stored in a cabinet, out of sight and out of mind.

There are also two articles from the LA Times newspaper or Herald-Examiner. One article by Harry Tessel and Howard Adelstein opened with this. "The mop-topped Beatles combed 17,600 shrieking fans for $1285 a minute at Hollywood Bowl last night--and will get another $45,000 there tonight." Also the same article noted. "The sell-out audience had paid from $3 to $7 a seat, and many refused to leave after the brief performance, in disbelief of the announcement: "The Beatles have left. Please go home." It is disappointing to find out that I saw them for only 35 minutes, according to the articles.

This is a bit of Beatles history from a teenager in Southern California who was at the Beatles Hollywood Bowl Concert. Read first hand impressions of the most exciting act of the sixties decade. The story is unedited and still in its original 1966 form.

Included are newspaper clips and pictures from the Beatles scrapbook started in my last year in high school, 1966.

August 30, 1965 by Sherry Lutz

Sue and Linda were here at about 4:30 with Mrs. Willoughby driving. Sue had a blue tartan clothe A-line dress with wide white lace around the neckline and sleeves. Linda had on a pink mohair dress, Carol [my sister] a white dress with an embroidered sweater, and I wore a gray print with white cuffs and collar and buttons half-way down the front.

There was a lot of traffic on the freeway, and it took us an hour to get to the Hollywood Bowl. On the freeway we watched the people driving. There was some weird ones so we had something to exclaim over.

None of us actually believed we were going to see the Beatles for real. Ever since May 8 when we mailed our money order special delivery for the tickets at 12:06 at night right at the post office on Santa Fe we have been waiting for this day. Our first disappointment come when we did not get $7 seats like we sent in for, but $6 seats.They do not have enough first class seats for all the $7 orders so they gave you the next available by postmark and gave you a refund. After a while, though, the disappointment wore off, just a little, because many people we knew were getting $5 and $4 seats.

They were not letting anyone in when we got there so we got in line to wait. Many of the girls had on mod school dresses. Lots had hats on. There wasn't too many bell bottoms and long dresses like one excepted. There weren't too many boys either, mostly girls. People were selling Beatle buttons, posters, newspapers and glossy photos.

Sue wanted to put on some makeup so I went with her while Linda and Carol stood in line. We walked a couple of blocks to a gas station. A house we passed had pictures and signs saying "I love you Ringo". We met four girls at the station and they did not like the Rolling Stones! One girl liked Paul the best, another liked George. Sue said she liked Brian Jones and all we got was groans. One girl said she doesn't like the Rolling Stones but she likes Brian Jones. That makes a lot of sense!

Will got blisters on the way up the hill, so I told her to take off her shoes so she'd stop complaining. Linda and Carol were not at the entrance when we got there; they had already gone in. We had to show our tickets or they wouldn't even let us up the hill to the Bowl. At the gates we bought two programs each. I bought an extra one for Eileen and Sue bought one for a friend in Pennsylvania. We looked for Linda and Carol, couldn't find them and decided to go up, because they were probably at our seats.

The programs are great, better than any of the other ones we have. The Beatles have the best, because they are the best. The whole thing is pictures.

Our seats were really far away, but after they came on we forgot about that; it really was worth the $6.

We just sat there for over an hour and a half waiting for the show to begin. Oh, it was a long time. There were three girls behind us who had been there last year too. Policemen were all over on the hills, so kids wouldn't be making trouble who did not have tickets. A helicopter flew around with a lighted sign that said "Boss radio KHJ welcomes the Beatles to Boss Angeles", or something like that, right over a KRLA presentation.

Finally, it began. First King Curtis (who's he), then some corny dancers, Cannibal and the Head Hunters and Brenda Hollaway.

Twist and Shout

Then all the KRLA DJs came out with British flags and introduced the Beatles. All of a sudden they were out there playing Twist and Shout! Almost everyone was screaming. I spent the whole thing on the edge of the bench. They wore black pants and beige Hitler-like jackets with black buttons. John had a corduroy hat on. George's and Ringo's hair looked too long. After their first song they took the lowest bow, like they were enjoying every minute. I wish I could remember all that they said but I can't.

Paul sang She's A Woman then they did I Feel Fine. Before Dizzy Miss Lizzy John said something like it was from one of their albums. I'm sure everyone there knew that anyway.

They were great when they played Ticket to Ride. Ringo just drums away. He is so good! He smiled a lot.

George came up then and said something and then sang Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby. Paul sort of waltzed back to an amplifier and turned a button or something. After the song a guy came out and did something too. (Can't even work his own equipment.)

Paul asked us to join in on the next song Can't Buy Me Love. Everyone just screamed. Sue and I sang. A girl behind me was really screaming Paul! Paul!

Beatles Sing Can't Buy Me Love

Last Song Was I'm Down

In Baby's In Black Paul and John were singing and in one part Paul turned and they pointed the necks of their guitars at each other.

One time John went up to the pool and pointed to it, looked at Paul and George and then at us. I wonder if he wanted someone to jump in. Then he made a jumping motion like he was going to leap in.

Ringo got to sing I Want to Be Your Man. I don't see how he can sing and play the drums at the same time. When he was finished George, John and Paul raised their hands to him. He was on a platform and Ringo took a bow.

During A Hard's Day Night and Help! Sue and I sang along we were in sort of an ecstasy. George would wave once in a while when a rest in his lead part would allow it, and everyone would scream louder.

Towards the end on Help! kids started running down the aisles and some were waving their arms. The guards and policemen started running around blocking girls. One jumped in the pool, but all she accomplished was a good soaking.

John put down his guitar and fixed the mike in front of the organ, and they started I'm Down. Everyone knew that was the last song, because Dave Hull gave us the information on the radio. John played with his elbow on the organ, then all of a sudden they were leaving. A guy ran on stage and shook their hands, we don't know who it was. Then they were gone. Sue was yelling "They're gone!" I think I was saying something of the same.

After the Beatles Left

Girls were jumping in the pool, heck if I know why, they were gone. They probably wanted to touch their equipment. A man came on the loudspeaker and said the Beatles were gone and on the freeway just a minute after they left.

Recommended

The Hand of Truth

We stayed around for awhile because it was only 10:00 and Sue's mom wouldn't be there till 11:00. We saw the guy with the long blond hair, who we had taken the picture of at the Rolling Stone's concert. (He looks like Ringo.) He was signing autographs and we showed him the picture (Linda had it) and he remembered it and smiled. We also saw the guy who gave me his seat at the Dave Clark Five Concert.

People were still trying to sell things, half price now on most. One guy was selling pillows and he told us to go away because we were bugging him. He thought we were bugging him? That's a larf.

On the way home we heard Yesterday, the Beatles new song. Paul sings and there's no guitars or drums but a string quartet. It's one of the most beautiful songs they have ever done.

I do not think we will ever forget this night for as long as we live.

The Beatles Left a Mark on History

All three of my children have discovered the Beatlmania on their own. They love so many of their songs.

A young person's room is decorated with a Beatles poster, 2013.

Eight Days A Week - Ron Howard Doc

Scrapbook Pictures of 1965 Beatles

I hope this written piece is not held against me in way, shape or form. The article saved from the LA Times by Charles Champlin is interesting and I included it here. He mentioned now the Beatles met Elvis Presley. The Beatles were barely 21 then and I imagine they were thrilled.

The two lower pictures are of the Beatles press interview. The bottom photo includes Brian Epstein and behind George is Bob Eubanks a DJ at KRLA, at that time, and host of some earlier teen music shows. I went to a teen show filming and he was host and that night Paul Peterson and Clint Eastwood were lip syncing to each of their latest single releases.

Paul was a bigger name. He was on The Donna Reed show. Clint may have been the cowhand on Rawhide or maybe later. All I remember is a tall blond guy. I was about 14.

Bob Eubanks, Rose Parade fans will be familiar with. He still does the parade every year for channel 2 in LA. The station let Stephanie Edwards go a couple of years ago, but kept the old Bob Eubanks. Must still have pull.

P.S. For the 2010 Parade Stephanie Edwards is back. Hurray.

Newspaper Clipping from the LA Times - found in my scrapbook box

They did not make their Western, but Bob Dylan did.

These Pages Torn From Look, Life or Post - Remember the big format magazines?

Do You Have a Beatles Recording in the House?

Spotlight on a Music Critic - He Spent Several Days with John Lennon

In October 2009 I read a most interesting article in the LA Times. A review is below.

Beatles Fun Facts

I will add to this Fact List about the Beatles as I find them. The first fact is what prompt this list. You can click the link to read the whole stories.

1

A quick news item in the LA times by Randy Lewis, the last week of Aug. 2011, gave me this Fun Fact. Buddie Holly was a favorite of the young Beatles. They named themselves with Holly's band, the Crickets, in mind.

The Crickets and The Beatles wikipedia

2

John, Paul, George and Pete Best backed Tony Sheridan on his 1961 hit "My Bonnie." Their name on that recording was the Beat Brothers. These recording sessions included John singing the lead for "Ain't She Sweet".

Source:LA Times, February 18, 2013

3

The Beatles made "Hey, Jude" a longer song because of the current hit of the time called "MacArthur Park" sung by Richard Harris and penned by Jimmy Webb.

LA Times, June 14, 2013

Paul McCartney fans! I was shocked to see Paul on the concert aired on TV for the Beatles 50th in the U. S. He had his nose altered? Why would he have the tip of his nose trimmed along each side? I was incredulous. I know it is his nose but money can make you do bad things. He had a perfect nose and as a lifelong fan I think he made a mistake.

October, 2014. My daughter was fortunate to see two music icons this summer, Paul and Elton John. She came back from the Paul concert with the most excitement. She enjoyed it immensely. The crowd was more diverse age-wise and brought a better vibe with them.

© 2009 Sherry Venegas