The Fab Four Were Funny

It Was the Beatles’ Wit That Set Them Apart and Won Over America 50 Years Ago

This year brings an unavoidable wave of Beatles tributes, with TV specials, media coverage, a new CD boxed set, and celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the band’s arrival in America. But amidst yet another look back at the start of American Beatlemania, we’re neglecting (as we often do) an integral part of the group’s appeal and a major reason for their initial popularity: their humor.

The Beatles’ sense of humor was on display at their very first press conference on American soil, at John F. Kennedy International Airport on February …