Hats off to The Beatles

To the National Portrait Gallery with my youngest daughter, Adele. today to see the exhibition of photographs taken by Paul McCartney when The Beatles first hit the big time in 1963/64. The photos of George and Ringo messing about in hats were taken behind the scenes at their Christmas show at the Finsbury Park Astoria. The other photo - Paul photographing the press photographers - was taken in Paris in January 1964. They had gone straight there after finishing their 14 night Christmas show. I like the watched becoming the watcher and the upraised, gloved hand draws the eye. After three days in Paris the group and their entourage flew to the US for the first time where they made their groundbreaking appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show watched by 73 million Americans. They then went down to Miami where Paul switched to colour film. Interestingly, it was Ringo who had a scene in the film, A Hard Day's Night, out in the streets taking photos and a number of Paul's pictures of Ringo show him with a camera. So Paul wasn't the only one chronicalling those times. A great show that brought back many memories from my early teenage years. And good to be able to visit the NPG again after its major refurbishment.