Time capsule: When Beatlemania hit Vancouver

This week 55 years agothe Beatles played their first show in Canada and it was in Vancouverat Empire Stadium.

"We have front row tickets ... we figurethe hospitals can hold us [if there's a stampede]," one fan said of the Vancouver concert, which happened on August 22, 1964.

The CBC's Ross Mortimer was out on the streets all those years ago talking to Vancouver police.

"We're concernedabout youngsters and their safety ... the youngsters are in a hysterical state, completely without control," said one police officer.

The Beatles were staying at the Hotel Georgia in downtown Vancouver, where a crowd of thousands had amassed across the street to welcome them. Many waited several hours to catch a glimpse of the band.

They chanted loudly: "We want the Beatles!"

Two American women who had seen the group play in Seattlemade the trek to Vancouver andsneaked into theband's hotel room before they arrived, where CBC interviewed them.

"They're so wonderful," one of the women said.

CBC reported that a man impersonated Ringo Starr in a car outside the hotel, causinga frenzy.Mortimer saidit was a"stuntperpetrated by a local rock station."

The Beatles make their Canadian debut in Vancouver 55 years ago

5 years ago

Duration 2:08

A crowd had gathered outside the Hotel Georgia in Downtown Vancouver. The band played their first Canadian concert at the Empire Stadium.

"It was a dangerous situation for all the warning that we received about the Beatles, it was always 'watch the children' and make sure they don't get out of hand. Isn't it interesting that it's the adults that got out of hand first," he said.

Over 20,000 fans crowded the stadium to watch the historic performance. The Beatles continued their Canadian tour in Toronto on Sept. 7 and Montreal on Sept. 8.

The Beatles conquer North America

60 years ago

Duration 3:03

People can't stop talking -- and screaming -- about the Fab Four.