<P> After a press conference , where they first met disc jockey Murray the K , the Beatles were put into limousines -- one per Beatle -- and driven to New York City . On the way , McCartney turned on a radio and listened to a running commentary : `` They have just left the airport and are coming to New York City ... '' After reaching the Plaza Hotel , the Beatles were besieged by fans and reporters . Harrison had a fever of 102 ° F ( 39 ° C ) the next day and was ordered to stay in bed , so Neil Aspinall , the band 's personal assistant , replaced Harrison on guitar during the Beatles ' first rehearsal for The Ed Sullivan Show . On 9 February 1964 , the Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance . 73 million viewers -- about two - fifths of the total American population -- watched the group perform on The Ed Sullivan Show at 8 P.M. According to the Nielsen ratings audience measurement system , the show had the largest number of viewers that had been recorded for a U.S. television program . </P>
<P> After a press conference , where they first met disc jockey Murray the K , the Beatles were put into limousines -- one per Beatle -- and driven to New York City . On the way , McCartney turned on a radio and listened to a running commentary : `` They have just left the airport and are coming to New York City ... '' After reaching the Plaza Hotel , the Beatles were besieged by fans and reporters . Harrison had a fever of 102 ° F ( 39 ° C ) the next day and was ordered to stay in bed , so Neil Aspinall , the band 's personal assistant , replaced Harrison on guitar during the Beatles ' first rehearsal for The Ed Sullivan Show . On 9 February 1964 , the Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance . 73 million viewers -- about two - fifths of the total American population -- watched the group perform on The Ed Sullivan Show at 8 P.M. According to the Nielsen ratings audience measurement system , the show had the largest number of viewers that had been recorded for a U.S. television program . </P>
where did the beatles first perform in the united states
where did the beatles first perform in the united states
on The Ed Sullivan Show
on The Ed Sullivan Show