The Beatles arrive in Chicago to begin North American tour 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 11 1966)


Video: 'The Beatles, John Lennon and the More Popular Than Jesus Controversy (1966)' (Aug. 11, 1966, Chicago arrival at 9:34-9:54)

(Thursday, August 11, 1966, 4:55 p.m. CDT) — The Beatles flew into O’Hare Airport in Chicago this this afternoon on a flight from Boston (where they changed planes after flying in from London) to begin their next American tour the following day.

The Beatles were driven directly from the airport to their hotel, where two separate press conferences would be held to clarify John Lennon’s “more popular than Jesus” remarks.