On this day in 1964, the Beatles played two shows at Detroit's Olympia Stadium, just about midway through their Summer Tour of America. Most of the dates on this tour were in northern cities...but their one foray into the south was to be 5 days later in Jacksonville FL. Word had gotten back to the band that seating at the Gator Bowl might be segregated...and, on this day, they issued a release stating that if there was any evidence of segregated seating when they arrived, they wouldn't go on stage. The show went on. The power of the burgeoning cultural revolution...and a sold out stadium at $6.50 a pop.
On this Music Friday, we share rare footage of the Beatles in concert in the Motor City. It's rough and far from complete...but it is a capsule in time.
60 years ago tonight.
Very cool, indeed. They were both "of their time" and "ahead of it".
Posted by: Lee T | September 10, 2024 at 12:18