The British Invasion: Beatle-Mania

In 1964, the Beatles achieved an unprecedented level of success both in their home country of Britain and in the United States.  They amassed crowds of adoring fans that followed them wherever they went, a phenomenon often referred to as “Beatlemania.”

 By April 4, 1964, the group held the first five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 list of popular songs, with "Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me" crowding the top of the charts.  No other act in history has achieved such a feat.   

Watch this trailer for A Hard Day's Night.  This comedy film depicts a fictionalized day in the life of the Beatles.  Although the film was released in 1964, you will be watching the trailer from the 2000 re-release.  Discuss as a class:

1) a) How do crowds and audiences react to the Beatles?

b) How are the adults depicted in the film?  Are they portrayed differently than the Beatles?

c) In what ways do you think the Beatles portrayed an image that a younger generation could identify with?

2)  Examine this picture of  the Beatles circa 1961 and the Beatles in 1964.  These are also available in Handout 1: Images of The Beatles.  Explain that prior to the filming of A Hard Day’s Night, the Beatles went through a long period of refining their image, working alongside their manager Brian Epstein to achieve their approachable aesthetic.  Students work in small groups to answer the following questions:

 a) How would you describe the clothes and mood in the first picture from 1961?

b) How would you describe the clothes and mood in the second picture from 1964?

c)What kind of image do you think the band is trying to present in each of the pictures?

d) How does the photograph from 1964 portray a higher sense of friendliness?

Discuss answers.

3) Examine the image of the Daily Mirror - February 8, 1964.  The image is also available in Handout 1: Images of The Beatles.  Explain to the students that this is the cover story from the Daily Mirror, a British-based publication, the day after the Beatles’ arrival in America.  As a class, discuss the following:​

 a) What key information can you discern from the text and images in this source?

b) Do you think the arrival of the Beatles in America was worthy of headline news? Why or why not?

c) How might this type of media coverage help build a larger fan base for the Beatles?

4)  Examine Handout 2: Beatlemania Timeline.  Underline any historical events that take place in America and they should place a star (*) next to any event that is related to the Beatles’ career.

 a) Are there any events on the timeline that you recognize?  If so, what?

b) The Beatles arrived in America in February 1964.  What was the most recent event that had transpired in the U.S.? 

c) What do you think was the general feeling in America at the time when the Beatles arrived?

4. Play video of the Beatles performing “She Loves You” on February 11, 1964.  This is from the Beatles’ first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum.  Two days prior, they had appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and 73 million people (or 45% of American households with televisions) tuned in to watch.  After viewing, discuss the following in groups:

• What do you notice about the Beatles' performance?  How do they interact with each other on stage?

• How does this live footage compare with the trailer for A Hard Day’s Night?

• Describe some of the reactions in the audience. 

Discuss.

5. Distribute Handout 3: Brian Epstein and the Beatles.  The students will watch a video interview conducted with Brian Epstein as Beatlemania reached its peak.  Explain to the students that a rising tide of youth culture and the obsession with the Beatles was not welcomed by all.  Students should indicate on their handouts the perspectives of both the interviewer and Epstein.  Discuss in your groups the following:       

• Is Beatlemania evidence of mass hysteria?  What does Brian Epstein think about the word “hysteria”?  What does the interviewer think?

• How does the interviewer see Epstein’s role as the band’s manager? To what does the interviewer attribute the band’s popularity?

• How would you define the “commercial machine”?

1. Pass out Handout 4: Four Corners of Beatlemania.

2. In their seats, have the students complete the handout.  They must choose one factor which they believe is the most important reason for the rise of Beatlemania in America.  While they are completing the handout, the teacher will label four corners of the classroom, or four areas, with the following words: Talent, Personality, Media Coverage, and Historical Context.

3. After they have completed the handout, ask the students to get up and move to their chosen corner of the room.  Have the students in their groups discuss their reasoning for their choice.  They must come up with one reason, as a group, to share with the class.

Lets read Handout 5: Building the Beatle Image, published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1964.  Discuss the following in small groups then as a class:

    1) What are the five elements Packard describes as necessary for creating Beatlemania?    2) What elements might you add to Packard’s list?  What elements do you disagree with, if any?

Individual writing assignment:

Write one-two paragraphs explaining the following:

Have you ever been “obsessed” with an artist, an athlete, or an actor?  Why do you think people create strong attachments to celebrities?