Video: 'Ringo finds St. Christopher's Medal'

(Friday, August 28, 1964, 4:00 p.m. EDT; during The Beatles’ 1964 North American tour) — Just 24.5 hours after a fan grabbed Ringo Starr’s St. Christopher medal and tore it away as he entered New York City’s Delmonico Hotel, The Beatles’ drummer got it back today with the help of local DJs.

Radio station WABC saw an opportunity to outshine their competition and quickly took action.

Broadcasting from The Beatles’ suite, they made a public plea for the medal’s return, offering a kiss from Ringo as a reward. The appeal worked swiftly: a 16-year-old girl, Angie McGowan, stepped forward.

WABC hyped the story all morning while The Beatles caught up on sleep. By 4:00 p.m., they were back in their suite for the reunion, aired live on the station. Amid the screams and tears of envious fans outside, Angie and three friends met Ringo and received kisses.

Ringo confirmed the medal, a 21st birthday gift from his aunt, was indeed his and signed autographs for the girls.

Fellow Beatle Paul McCartney soon joined in the fray, prompting another wave of fan frenzy. The excitement peaked when Paul also kissed Angie.

After some self-promotion — “As a guest of our city, as WABC New York number one, we had to find it for him” — DJs “Cousin Brucie” Morrow and Scott Muni stepped aside, allowing other journalists a chance to interview and photograph the Beatles duo.