The untold story of how they did it

The Beatles were viral before it was viral.

After playing on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in front of an incredible 45% of American households in February 1964, the band embarked on a chaotic tour of North America in August. The highlight of the tour was a legendary show on August 23 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, 60 years ago today.

“It's hard to understand what it was like before the internet, but there was something called word of mouth,” says Beatles historian Martin Lewis, who will mark the anniversary with a discussion at the Philosophical Research Society on Friday. “The Beatles became successful because friends told friends. They said, 'Have you heard that? It's incredible.'”