2. Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater between 53rd and 54th Streets on Broadway hosted the Beatles’ debut performance in the U.S. in 1964. Their first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show attracted 73 million viewers, which further triggered the growth of Beatlemania and the broader British Invasion. The theater could only house 728 viewers, but there were over 50,000 ticket requests for the first performance. Richard Nixon’s daughters were in attendance, and the Beatles opened with “All My Loving.” Despite the broadcast’s success, some complained about the production value, including Paul McCartney who remarked later that Lennon’s microphone volume was too low.
The Beatles would return to the show a few more times that year, including twice more in February (although the February 23rd show was filmed weeks before airing). The Beatles performed there live for the last time on August 14, 1965, following three acts and performing songs such as “I Feel Fine” and “Yesterday.” Over the next few years, they would also film promotional clips of songs that would air exclusively on the show, but they would not perform live at the theater again.