Video: 'About San Diego: When The Beatles Were In Town' (press conference coverage at 1:02)

(Saturday, August 28, 1965, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. PDT) –The Beatles arrived in San Diego today to resume their 1965 US tour, greeted by a crowd of fans and a ceremonial presentation of keys to the city.

An airline strike forced the group to make the two-hour trip from Los Angeles along the coastal highway in a rented 10-seat touring coach instead of flying. The stop marks their first appearance in San Diego, following a five-day break at actress Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Beverly Hills mansion.

Before the evening performance at Balboa Stadium, the four Britons faced reporters in a brief press conference. Four young women — chosen from among local fans — stepped forward to hand over the oversized keys, an idea championed by San Diego teen Susan Clark and approved by Mayor Frank Curran.

During the exchange with reporters, the Beatles fielded questions about a record-burning protest in Jakarta, Indonesia, where their music had been banned. Asked if they were morally degrading the world’s youth, Paul McCartney replied, “If they want Tchaikovsky, they can have it.”

The tone lightened as they professed their fondness for the television spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and John Lennon offered his own brand of political commentary: “We’re not disinterested in politics, it’s just politicians are disinteresting.”