From the Shadow of JFK: The Rise of Beatlemania in America
(Room JW Grand Ballroom 3/4)
05 Jul 18
3:00 PM
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4:15 PM
Many authors have cited John F. Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, as a catalyst for the Beatles' sudden popularity in 1964. Their logic: Kennedy's assassination made America sad, then the Beatles made America happy again. But this commonly accepted answer is overly simplistic. America has suffered numerous tragedies and rebounded each time, but the popularity and staying power of the Beatles remains unmatched. The real answer is that Kennedy inadvertently primed the nation for the Beatles' arrival and success. This 60-minute multimedia program explains how and why.