50 years ago today, The Beatles debut on The Ed Sullivan Show launched Beatlemania and the British Invasion in North America.
The Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 is one of the most watched television events ever — with 74 million people tuning in to see the group perform five songs during the variety hour.
The band’s first live US appearance is considered by many historians and critics as one of the most important moments in music and television.
That Sunday night, the group performed “All My Loving”, “Till There Was You”, “She Loves You”, “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”
The Sullivan appearance was actually the sixth time The Beatles had been featured on American television.
In September of 1963, Dick Clark played “She Loves You” on his Rate-A-Record segment on American Bandstand.
On November 18, 1963, the band were featured in an NBC News story that aired on the Huntley-Brinkley Report.
CBS News ran a story on The Beatles on the morning of November 22, 1963, the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas; a repeat broadcast on the evening’s newscast was cancelled while the nation focused on the Kennedy event. Walter Cronkite eventually repeated the feature again the CBS Evening News on December 10, 1963, reportedly resulting in a rush-release of the single, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” on December 26.
On January 3, 1964, Jack Paar featured footage of the band recorded in concert in the UK.
Below is a chronological look at the Beatles’ appearances on US TV leading up to, and including, footage from the Ed Sullivan debut in February of 1964 (excluding American Bandstand).
See also:
VIDEO: Lauryn Hill closes out Beatles Week on Letterman
PREVIEW: The Beatles reunite for Grammy special
VIDEO: The Flaming Lips get psychedelic for Beatles Week on Letterman
VIDEO: Lenny Kravitz rocks Beatles classic on Letterman
Beatles to be honored at New York’s JFK Airport
VIDEO: Sting rocks second night of Beatles week on Letterman
VIDEO: Broken Bells kick off Beatles week on Letterman
VIDEO: Paul McCartney rocks Super Bowl 39
Ringo Starr announces All-Starr Band summer tour
The Beatles receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Beatles: Ringo Starr recalls their 1964 Ed Sullivan debut
Rare Beatles album sells for $175,000
Beatles: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to perform at the Grammys
Eurythmics to reunite for Beatles Grammy special
Mercury crater named in honor of John Lennon
The Beatles release 1963 rarities collection
The Beatles to receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award
The Beatles mark 50 years of U.S. Beatlemania with new box set
The Beatles: The Fifth Beatle biopic to start filming next year
Beatles and U2 featured on Songs For The Philippines benefit album
The Beatles debut in US Top 10 with second live BBC package
VIDEO: The Beatles premiere Buddy Holly classic from new BBC release
The Beatles: TV special to mark 50th anniversary of Ed Sullivan debut
The Beatles: Part 2 of The White Album’s 45th anniversary on In The Studio
The Beatles: White Album 45th anniversary featured on In The Studio
VIDEO: Paul McCartney reunites Nirvana in Seattle
The Beatles to release Help! on Blu-ray
Jack White topples The Beatles as best-selling vinyl of 2012
VIDEO: Joe Walsh joins Paul McCartney on SNL
VIDEO: Paul McCartney and Nirvana rock SNL
Nirvana members debut new song with Paul McCartney at Sandy concert
VIDEO: The Beatles – Lost ‘Here Comes The Sun’ solo found
VIDEO: Cee Lo Green changes lyrics to John Lennon’s Imagine
Christmas Rock: John Lennon
John Lennon: home studio equipment up for auction
Yoko Ono: security breach at NYC Dakota building
John Lennon's private letters to be published in 2012
The Beatles: John Lennon’s Abbey Road suit sells for 46K at auction
Yoko Ono donates gold John Lennon coin to Alder Hey Imagine Appeal for auction
