Video: 'The Beatles Arriving For The Ed Sullivan Show - CBS News (Raw Footage) - 9 February 1964'

(Sunday, February 9, 1964, approximately 7:00 p.m. EST) — About one hour before their live debut on The Ed Sullivan weekly television variety series, The Beatles were interviewed on camera by the Associated Press tonight at Studio 50 in New York City and asked to name their favorite song.

Video: 'The Beatles Arriving For The Ed Sullivan Show - Associated Press - 9 February 1964'

Paul McCartney defines “Beatles” thusly: “Well, you’ve seen those little crawly things, haven’t ya? Well, we’re big crawly things.”

Asked to name a favorite song, George Harrison plucks “White Christmas” out of thin air. John Lennon tries to top this with “God Rule the Wenceslas Kingdom,” but the reporter is intrigued by George’s response: “That’s not rock-and-roll!” George demurs, and the boys croon a bit of it to demonstrate, with John holding out his cap to solicit donations.