Beatlemania hits America, 1964 - in pictures

Two fans try out their Beatles wigs in anticipation of the British group's arrival in New York, 6 February 1964 Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

The Beatles – left to right, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison – arrive at New York's Kennedy airport, 7 February 1964 Photograph: AP

Television host Ed Sullivan receives some guitar lessons from Paul McCartney in between rehearsals at CBS television studios in Manhattan, 8 February 1964 Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

A monitor shows the Beatles as they rehearse for their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, 9 February 1964 Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Ed Sullivan with the Beatles in between rehearsals at CBS television studios in Manhattan Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

A screaming fan watches the band perform on stage at Carnegie Hall, New York, 1964 Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Andy Warhol, right, waits among the photographers at a Beatles press conference in New York, October, 1964 Photograph: Tony Ray Jones/Getty Images/SSPL

Police try to hold back thousands of enthusiastic fans in New York as they wait to catch a glimpse of their idols, February 1964 Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) poses in mock victory over The Beatles, February 1964. He beat Sonny Liston to become world champion later that month Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

Anti-Beatles protesters hold placards in New York, 1964 Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Alan Livingston (centre), president of Capitol Records, and the Beatles display gold records presented to the quartet on 10 February 1964. Two discs by the Beatles - 45RPM single of I Want to Hold Your Hand and 33-1/3 RPM album, Meet the Beatles, sold one million copies each Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

The Beatles' February visit caused such a stir, the band returned to America for a month-long tour in August. A crowd of about 10,000 turned out to greet the band ahead of their Cow Palace show in San Mateo, California, 19 August 1964 Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

A line of police officers prevent fans from getting too close during a concert at Convention Hall, Las Vegas, 20 August 1964 Photograph: Express/Getty Images

Beatles fans are attended to by a paramedic, having been overcome during the group's US tour, August 1964 Photograph: William Lovelace/Getty Images

A fan in the crowd watches them perform at the Seattle Centre Coliseum, 24 August 1964 Photograph: William Lovelace/Getty Images

The Beatles, seen from behind the stage, play live in Las Vegas, August 1964 Photograph: Harry Benson/Getty Images

A young fan is overcome with emotion and cries uncontrollably as her heroes leave America for the UK Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images