My First Story on Medium

I Survived the Beatles Concert in 1964

Thanks to my dad who will be 100 on July 17, 2024

Photo by IJ Portwine on Unsplash

I was a freshman in high school when the Beatles came to Philadelphia in 1964. They had performed on The Ed Sullivan Show earlier that year, so I had a vague notion of who they were and why their concert was such a big deal, but I never imagined I would see them in person.

Audrey, the lady I babysat for, was from England and determined to attend the concert. As a special gift, she and her husband decided to take me, too. For a fourteen-year-old girl, this was a dream come true.

Getting tickets would be a feat. Audrey persuaded Marge, an older neighbor girl, to stand in line to fetch four tickets. In exchange for her effort (as I recall it took nearly 12 hours), Marge would get one of the tickets. Audrey, her husband Al, Marge, and I would attend the concert together.

We were all set to go when Al’s niece (who will remain unnamed) demanded to go with us. After much pleading, wheedling, and a call from Al’s sister, the niece got her way. Al relinquished his coveted ticket. Now it would be Audrey, her niece, Marge, and me going to the concert.

Audrey was miffed but everyone adjusted to the revised plan—everyone except my dad.