Today in 1964, Beatlemania swept the US as The Beatles made their debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Synopsis
I Wanna Hold Your Hand follows a group of teenagers as they embark on a wild adventure to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Along the way, they encounter numerous obstacles and mishaps, but their determination and passion for the iconic band drive them forward, leading to a series of comedic and heartfelt moments.
Why Today?
On February 9th, 1964, The Beatles played their first live appearances on U.S. soil, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show to an estimated 73 million viewers. Demand was extremely high for this debut, with CBS receiving over 50,000 ticket requests for a chance to be in audience.
This is the central plot device in I Wanna Hold Your Hand, which marks Robert Zemeckis' feature-length directing debut. This film is a comedic portrayal of the Beatlemania craze that surrounded the Beatles debut, featuring a group of teenagers trying to attend the live performance.