WSLer
September 27, 2002, 3:28am
1
Was the studio audience able to hear any of The Beatles performances on the Ed Sullivan show or were they drowned out by the girls screams. watching clips form the show, it seems like the latter was true, that the screams overpowered the Fab Four.
If that indeed was the case, how could those watching on TV hear The Beatles? Wouldn’t the screaming have been just as loud on tv as it was in the studio?
Haven’t you ever seen any footage of it? Couldn’t you hear it? I’ve always been able to clearly hear them in the footage (Beatles Anthology and Beatles First U.S. Visit)
typhoon
September 27, 2002, 4:56am
3
Broadcasts are mixed from the soundboard…basically, the feeds from the band’s instruments, mixed with some crowd noise.
While we’re on the subject, did he introduce them with the phrase “America, judge for yourself”? Or was that someone else?
BobT
October 1, 2002, 7:44am
5
I’m pretty sure Sullivan’s introduction was something like “Here they are… The BEATLES!”
I’ve watched the tape of the whole broadcast and the audio isn’t bad. I think the CBS people turned up the crowd noise.
Also appearing on that show were Frank Gorshin and the Broadway cast of “Oliver” which included future Monkee Davy Jones.
Apparently, it was both. From WGRF’s 50 Defining Moments in Classic Rock :
The #1 moment in 97Rock’s 50 defining moments in classic rock…
“Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles!”
When Ed Sullivan uttered those five words on a winters night in February of 1964, America began a love affair with four youngsters from Liverpool, England, that contiunes to this day.
[…snip…]
Sullivan knew this was something special.
Ed Sullivan was having one of the most difficult weeks in the history of his program. For the man who had presented entire marching contingents from the Soviet Union in full costume, followed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the same stage moments later, hosting this four-man group was a nightmare. Sullivan was a great exploiter but an even greater cynic. He thought he had seen just about everything the week he introduced Elvis on his show, but it was nothing compared to The Beatles.
The press didn’t let them alone, rehearsals were disrupted, Sullivan received 50,000 requests for tickets for a theater that seated 728.Just before the show Brian Epstien searched out Sullivan backstage and in his finest “West End” accent informed him,“I would like to know the exact wording of your introduction”…to which Sullivan replied, “I would like you to get lost.” Considering the au-suspiciousness of the event, the actual intro was superb. With the deadpan delivery of a mortician, interupted by periodic screams of the audience at just the mention of The Beatles name, Sullivan first read a congratulatory telegram sent to them from Elvis Presley, The Beatles who were in their places behind the curtain were thrilled. Sullivan intoned, “America, judge for yourself.”
I saw it, and we could hear them performing, but the screaming was definitely there…loud and clear. It was very cool. I’m glad I saw it, because it truly is a piece of rock ‘n’ roll history.