The Pillow Fight
Photographer: Harry Benson
Date: February 10, 1964
Location: Plaza Hotel, New York City, USA
Harry Benson photographed The Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr — having a pillow fight in their suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on February 10, 1964, the day after their groundbreaking debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which attracted an estimated 73 million viewers and launched the British Invasion of American popular music. Benson had been hired by the Daily Express to cover the Beatles' U.S. tour. He convinced the band, who were exhausted and wanted to go to sleep, to do 'one more thing' — then produced pillow cases for the fight. The resulting photographs captured the infectious energy and playfulness of the group at a historic moment. The image has become one of the most beloved photographs of the Beatles.
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