History offers
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to truly
understand
how the past
impacts the now.

Follow our
daily timelime
of historical
events to
discover the
role The Beatles
played in changing
the modern world.

1862--Paper currency is introduced in the US by President Abraham Lincoln.

1943--George Harrison is born at 12 Arnold Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool, England (traditional date). He is the fourth (and youngest) child in the family. Barry Miles' book, "The Beatles: A Diary," claims that Harrison was actually born at 11:42 p.m. on the February 24. In December 1992, Harrison himself told Billboard magazine that he had recently discovered that he had been born on February 24, shortly before midnight. George's birth certificate bears the date of the February 25, which is the date that has been traditionally observed as his birthday.

1957--Buddy Holly and the Crickets record That'll Be the Day in Clovis, New Mexico. The single sells more than 1 million copies and tops Billboard's pop chart.

1961--The Beatles perform at Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool, and at Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool.

1962--The Beatles perform at the Casbah Coffee Club, West Derby, Liverpool.

1963--VeeJay Records, the small Chicago-based label, releases the first Beatles record in the US, Please Please Me, backed with Ask Me Why. In spite of being a smash in the UK, just about nobody notices it in America.

1963--With no tour performance scheduled for this night, The Beatles travel to Leigh, Lancashire, for a performance at the Casino Ballroom.

1964--The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios, London). Completion of Can't Buy Me Love, The Beatles' next single, and nine takes of the B-side, You Can't Do That. You Can’t Do That showcases John Lennon for the first time on lead guitar, where he displays a raucous, bluesy enthusiasm at odds with George Harrison’s more clinical lead work. After a break, The Beatles tape two takes of And I Love Her and three takes of I Should Have Known Better. The Beatles Anthology 1 includes Take 6 of You Can't Do That and Take 2 of And I Love Her from this recording session (Disc 2, Tracks 10-11).

1964--George Harrison attends a birthday party in his honor, but when he sees that the press has been invited, smashes the cake and walks out.

1964--Boxer, Cassius Clay, a 7 to 1 underdog, TKOs champion Sonny Liston in the 7th round to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

1965--The Beatles are in the Bahamas for the filming of "Help!" More shots of The Beatles on bicycles, then Ringo Starr and John Lennon are filmed at the nearby stadium of the Bahamas Softball Association. Later, Paul McCartney is filmed at some lime quarry caves.

1966--George and Pattie Harrison return from their Caribbean honeymoon.

1967--The Beatles' promotional films for Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane are broadcast for the first time on US television, on the ABC-TV program "Hollywood Palace." Additional showings are on March 11 ("Clay Cole's Diskotek" and "American Bandstand") and March 14 ("Where the Action Is").

1968--George Harrison celebrates his 25th birthday, in India, with the Maharishi and his disciples. The Maharishi gives him a plastic map of the world.

1969--On his 26th birthday, George Harrison goes into EMI Studios, London, and records three elaborate song demos: Old Brown Shoe, Something, and All Things Must Pass. All three demos were released on The Beatles Anthology 3 (Disc two, Tracks 10, 13, and 16).

1970--John Lennon cancels his participation in the planned Toronto Peace Festival after a dispute over admissions policy. John wanted the festival to be completely free to those attending.

1970--The London Arts Gallery is given a court summons for showing John Lennon lithographs that have been declared "indecent" by the authorities. Or, as the summons itself put it, for showing "an indecent exhibition contrary to the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839."

1971--The stage play, "Oh! Calcutta!" opens at the Belasco Theater in New York City.

1972--UK release of the Wings single Give Ireland Back to the Irish / Give Ireland Back to the Irish (instrumental) (Apple). 4 weeks on the charts; highest position #16.

1975--A happy looking John Lennon is photographed outside the Dakota wearing a large silver Elvis badge.

1985--George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono sue Paul McCartney for breach of contract, claiming that McCartney has been earning more royalties from Beatles records than the others.

1993--George Harrison celebrates his 50th birthday by attending a private party (with his wife, Olivia) at Town & Country Club in Kentish Town, London.


For more day-by-day history go to HistoryUnlimited.net