TODAY IN BEATLES HISTORY: FEBRUARY 21, 1964. The Beatles continued the conquering of America with their second Live Ed Sullivan Show appearance. This time it was live from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach. They spent the next 5 days doing some promotional appearances, including mugging for Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali), who was about to become the World Heavyweight Champ. They also had some time to relax and enjoy the Florida weather, boating and swimming. It was on Feb 21st, that I got my first up close encounter with the Beatles. It was during winter break and I was staying at a hotel two blocks away (by coincidence) and I watched them leave the hotel to go to the airport and back to London to begin filming A Hard Day’s Night. I got within a few feet and waved to them. They all waved back to me, too! I will always remember and cherish that moment as I ran down Collins Avenue next to their limousine.–Mark Lapidos
Photo by former Special Guest Harry Benson.
