Video: 'The Beatles Off To America (Leaving London For New York) - British Pathe - 7 February 1964'
(Friday, February 7, 1964, approximately 11:30 a.m. GMT) — 4,000 cheering fans saw The Beatles off this afternoon at London Airport for the rock music band’s first-ever visit to the United States.
Video: 'The Beatles Leave London For New York - ITN News - 7 February 1964'
A Pathé newsreel, Beatles off to America, documented the departure, which looked like most other airport scenes apart from the presence of Cynthia Lennon, there to accompany her husband for the entire trip.
Video: 'The Beatles Leave London For New York - Associated Press - 7 February 1964'
John Lennon wore his leather cap and Ringo Starr a scarf as the boys wave farewell to weeping fans at the parapet atop the terminal.
In addition to The Beatles, Cynthia, and Brian Epstein, photographer Harry Benson and journalists George Harrison (Liverpool Echo) and Maureen Cleave sat in first class, along with American record producer Phil Spector.
Video: 'The Beatles Leave London For New York - Pop Movies - 7 February 1964'
Relegated to coach were roadies Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall, photographers Dezo Hoffmann and Robert Freeman, and journalist Michael Braun, still working on his firsthand account of The Beatles’ Progress for a trade paperback.
