George Harrison and Byronic In-Between-ness

Abstract

Just before the end of the tumultuous Idyllwild Airport press conference held upon their arrival in the United States on February 7, 1964, the Beatles did a favor for the mob of reporters and photographers covering their much-anticipated first arrival in North America: each shouted h is first name—Paul, George, Ringo, John—over the din of shouted questions and popping flashbulbs. The boys were individually identified again two days later during their first performance on t he Ed Sullivan Show: a s t hey played “Till There Was You,” the camera moved left to right across the stage for a series of head shots in which each Beatle’s name was flashed beneath his televised portrait. This would be the last time anyone needed help matching the Beatles’ names with their faces. After those hectic first few days in New York everyone knew that the four Beatles were John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

You ought to stop lookin’ so scornful. It’s twistin’ your face.

—Ringo to George in A Hard Day’s Night

You’re tearing me apart!

—James Dean as Jim Stark in Rebel without a Cause