Blake Pontchartrain: The day Beatlemania hit New Orleans
Beatlemania hit New Orleans just before 3 a.m. on Sept. 16, 1964, when the plane carrying the Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — touched down at New Orleans International Airport in Kenner (now Armstrong International Airport).
The Fab Four arrived from Cleveland, one of 24 stops on their 32-day North American tour. Among their opening acts was New Orleans music great Clarence “Frogman” Henry.
Local hotels such as the Roosevelt and Monteleone opted not to host the band, fearing throngs of fans would descend on the hotel. Instead, a suite was reserved at the Congress Inn, a motel on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East. It has since been demolished.
According to author Steven Y. Landry’s book “Beatles Day in New Orleans,” once the band arrived at the motel, Ringo Starr expressed interest in going to the French Quarter, but his handlers rejected that.
Source: THE TIMES-PICAYUNE /nola.com
