On Sunday, Feb. 9, it will have been 50 years to the date that the Beatles stepped foot inside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York. It marked John, Paul, George and Ringo's first American TV appearance.

It seems impossible to recall a time when the Beatles weren't part of Americans' collective consciousness. Yet exactly 50 years ago, on Feb. 7, 1964, as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr boarded Pan Am Flight 101 in London for their first U.S.

The Beatles arrived in the United States 50 years ago and embarked on a history-making path of pop culture dominance. Check out coverage of "The Sixties: The British Invasion," a look at how the Fab Four's influence persists.

Panorama: The Beatles first live concert was performed on this exact spot 50 years ago in Washington.

By JOHN COVACH. As excitement builds over the 50 th anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in the US in February 1964, several myths about the band and the circumstances of the Fab Four's first American television, film, and live performances persist.

It was 50 years ago today (almost) that this mop-topped band began to play (in America). The Beatles made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," America's must-see weekly variety show, on Sunday, Feb. 9, 1964. And officially kicked off Beatlemania on this side of the pond ...