You can meet the Beatles on Thursday -- for free.
To celebrate the 54th anniversary of the Fab Four’s sole Portland concert date, the Oregon Historical Society is making its exhibit “Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Beatles!” free of charge for one day. The acclaimed touring exhibition is on display at the museum until November.
On August 22, 1965, the Beatles performed two shows at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum. This was the very height of Beatlemania, when fans camped outside hotels where the Liverpool musicians were staying and screamed and cried throughout their live performances.
The front page of The Oregonian on August 23, 1965. (The Oregonian)
For what it’s worth, one of the Beatles said of the Portland concerts: “This is the most orderly crowd we’ve seen on either of our U.S. tours.” (Who said it -- John, Paul, George or Ringo? We don’t know. It appears The Oregonian reporter who took down the comment couldn’t tell the “mop-tops” apart.)
Of course, Beatlemania has never really gone away, as the worldwide popularity of “Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Beatles!” has proven. The exhibit at the historical society includes a variety of one-of-a-kind items, including set lists used by the Fab Four in concert, handwritten lyrics, stage outfits worn by the Beatles, the Memorial Coliseum concert contract (which includes the stipulation that the band would not play before segregated audiences) and a collection of 1960s Beatles merchandise.
The museum will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-- Douglas Perry
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