Monday 14 September 1964 | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| Date | Monday 14 September 1964 |
| Venue | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Audience | 12,603 |
| Ticket price | $5.90 |
| Promoters | KQV Radio; Tim Tormey and Pat DiCesare |
| Support acts | The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, Jackie DeShannon |
| Only Beatles show in Pittsburgh? | Yes |
| Line-up | John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr |
On Monday 14 September 1964, The Beatles performed at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — their only concert in the city. The show was presented by KQV Radio and promoted by Tim Tormey and Pat DiCesare, drawing an audience of 12,603. Tickets were priced at $5.90.
The support bill featured The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, and Jackie DeShannon — the standard line-up for most dates on The Beatles’ 1964 North American tour.
The poster and ticket
Arrival in Pittsburgh
The Beatles arrived at Greater Pittsburgh Airport in their Lockheed Electra aeroplane at 4.36pm that afternoon. They were met by a crowd of around 4,000 fans, some of whom had been waiting since 9am. 120 police officers were on duty at the airport, including 15 on horseback.
The group was escorted from the aircraft into a waiting limousine, which drew away flanked by motorcycle police. Parkway West was lined with teenage fans who had turned out to watch the motorcade pass. By the time The Beatles reached the Civic Arena, a further 5,000 people were waiting outside the venue.
The group gave a press conference, then ate a meal before taking the stage for the 8pm show.
The Beatles — US 1964
The Beatles US 1964 T-Shirt — official licensed tee from the year they conquered America.
The setlist
The Beatles performed the standard 12-song set which they retained for most of the 1964 North American tour:
- Twist And Shout
- You Can’t Do That
- All My Loving
- She Loves You
- Things We Said Today
- Roll Over Beethoven
- Can’t Buy Me Love
- If I Fell
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Boys
- A Hard Day’s Night
- Long Tall Sally
The Civic Arena
The Civic Arena in Pittsburgh was the world’s first major indoor sports stadium with a retractable roof — a landmark of mid-century American engineering. Opened in 1961, its distinctive stainless-steel dome made it one of the most recognisable arenas in the United States. The retractable section of the roof could open in approximately two minutes, and the building was capable of holding well over 10,000 people for concerts.
For The Beatles’ 1964 tour, it was exactly the kind of large-capacity indoor venue that the scale of their American popularity demanded. The 12,603-strong Pittsburgh audience was typical of the crowds they drew across the tour — vast by the standards of any previous touring act, and still intimate enough that the group could be seen clearly from most of the hall.
The Beatles — A Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles Hard Day’s Night Backpack — from the album that defined their 1964 world tour.
The 1964 North American tour
The 1964 North American tour ran from 19 August to 20 September 1964, covering 24 cities across the United States and Canada. It was The Beatles’ first full North American tour, following the February 1964 visit during which they had appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and introduced themselves to the American public for the first time.
By September 1964, the tour had already taken in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, and many more cities. Pittsburgh, on 14 September, came near the end of the run — just six days before the final show at the Paramount Theatre in New York on 20 September.
The setlist had been fixed early in the tour and remained almost unchanged throughout: 12 songs, performed at high speed, against a wall of audience noise that made it nearly impossible for the group to hear themselves. The Pittsburgh show was no exception — 12,603 fans, a fixed setlist, and The Beatles at the absolute peak of their early fame.
Key Facts
| Date | Monday 14 September 1964 |
| Venue | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Audience | 12,603 |
| Ticket price | $5.90 |
| Promoters | KQV Radio; Tim Tormey and Pat DiCesare |
| Arrival time at airport | 4.36pm (Greater Pittsburgh Airport, by Lockheed Electra) |
| Airport crowd | ~4,000 fans; 120 police officers (incl. 15 on horseback) |
| Crowd outside Civic Arena | ~5,000 |
| Support acts | The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, Jackie DeShannon |
| Songs performed | 12 |
| Days until end of tour | 6 (final show: Paramount Theatre, New York, 20 September 1964) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Did The Beatles ever play Pittsburgh?
Yes — once. The Beatles played a single concert in Pittsburgh on Monday 14 September 1964 at the Civic Arena. It was their only appearance in the city.
How much were tickets for The Beatles in Pittsburgh in 1964?
Tickets for The Beatles’ concert at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh on 14 September 1964 were priced at $5.90, which included federal tax and city tax.
What did The Beatles play in Pittsburgh in 1964?
The Beatles performed a 12-song set in Pittsburgh: Twist And Shout, You Can’t Do That, All My Loving, She Loves You, Things We Said Today, Roll Over Beethoven, Can’t Buy Me Love, If I Fell, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Boys, A Hard Day’s Night, and Long Tall Sally.
What was the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh?
The Civic Arena was the world’s first major indoor sports stadium with a retractable roof. Opened in 1961, its distinctive stainless-steel dome made it one of the most recognisable arenas in the United States. It was demolished in 2012 and replaced by PPG Paints Arena.
How many people saw The Beatles in Pittsburgh?
12,603 people attended The Beatles’ concert at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh on 14 September 1964.
Who promoted The Beatles’ Pittsburgh concert?
The concert was presented by KQV Radio and promoted by Tim Tormey and Pat DiCesare.
The Beatles — A Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles Hard Day’s Night Patch — from the album they were touring when Pittsburgh rocked.
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