Video: 'The Beatles Live At The Public Auditorium, Cleveland, USA (Tuesday 15th September 1964)'

(Tuesday, September 15, 1964, evening EDT; during The Beatles’ 1964 North American tour) — The Beatles’ highly anticipated performance at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland was briefly halted tonight as enthusiastic fans breached security lines, prompting police to intervene for the band’s safety.

This marked the 21st stop on The Beatles’ first full North American tour.

A line of over 100 police officers attempted to keep the excited crowd at bay. However, as The Beatles performed their hit “All My Loving,” the barrier was pushed back, and some fans managed to climb onto the stage.

Concerned for the safety of the performers, Inspector Michael Blackwell and Deputy Inspector Carl Bare decided to temporarily stop the concert.

Deputy Inspector Bare took to the stage and announced the show was over, asking the crowd to sit down.

Despite this, The Beatles continued playing until Blackwell gestured for them to stop. The band reluctantly left the stage to the sound of booing fans.

Backstage, John Lennon expressed his frustration to Art Schreiber of local radio station KYW, stating, “This has never happened to us before. We have never had a show stopped. These policemen are a bunch of amateurs.”

Meanwhile, the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, diplomatically supported the police decision, acknowledging the escalating crowd enthusiasm and potential danger.

After a 10-minute pause, Inspector Blackwell addressed the audience, promising the show would continue if they remained seated.

KYW morning hosts Specs Howard and Harry Martin assisted in calming the crowd, allowing the concert to resume.

The Beatles then completed their standard 12-song set, featuring classics such as “Twist And Shout,” “She Loves You,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.”

Following the performance, The Beatles exited through a rear door and were swiftly taken to Cleveland Hopkins Airport to fly to New Orleans, as police employed a decoy riot bus to distract fans.

Inspector Blackwell later remarked, “I don’t blame the children. They’re young and they can’t be expected to behave like adults. And I don’t blame The Beatles —- there is nothing wrong with their act. But if we hadn’t stopped it, there would have been serious injury. One little girl was knocked down in the charge, and there were 300 other youngsters about to trample her.”