ABSTRACT
The Beatles arrived at New York’s Kennedy Airport on February 7, 1964, officially sparking the British Invasion that would drastically reshape the face of rock music in the mid-1960s. From their very first steps off the plane, the band found themselves the subjects of intense public scrutiny. While much of their success stemmed from their recordings, it was also the group’s charm, wit, and absurdist, self-deprecating humor that endeared the Beatles to the American media. They were the first rock group to use the press conference as their own personal platform, both establishing and playfully mocking their distinctive personas. Historically, Paul was known as the “cute” one, John the “smart” one, George the “quiet” one, and Ringo the “funny” one.
