The BeaTLES
The Beatles had their first tour in the United States in 1964 after appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show." This photo is from their 2 show stint at the Sahara in Las Vegas that year. ​​
A single concert had been planned in the 700-seat Congo Room at the Sahara, but promoters — surprised by the overwhelming interest in the Fab Four — quickly booked the convention center and added a second show. Nearly 17,000 fans packed the two sold-out performances. With a population of less than 200,000, Las Vegas was by far the smallest of the 23 U.S. cities in which John, Paul, George and Ringo performed that year. The police presence was heavy, flanking the thousands of fans doing anything to get closer to the band.
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Shows were at 4 and 9 p.m. Tickets cost $2, $3, $4 and $5. The band received a $25,000 appearance fee plus 60% of the ticket sales. The Beatles eagerly greeted piano showman Liberace backstage before that evening’s performance. He then attended their concert.​​​
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