Phi Kappa Psi Historian Notes

Aug.29, 2014

When
Phi Psis
Encountered
The
Beatles!
Phil
Davidson

(or was it
vice versa?)
Note the Songs of Phi Kappa Psi album

(1963 photo)

(from the Fall 1965 Shield of Phi Kappa Psi)

Phil Davidson was one of the 284 Brothers registered for the 1964 Grand Arch Council at the
Brown Palace Hotel in Denver that Aug. 26-29. Initiated at Arizona Alpha in 1959, he had just
joined the Phi Kappa Psi headquarters staff. A former Historian of Phi Kappa Psi, he recalls this
special memory that took place at that event, written recently at the request of the current Phi
Kappa Psi Historian.

~~~
August 26, 1964, and the Beatles land in Denver! Of course the Phi Psis had already
arrived for their 52nd Grand Arch Council in the Mile High city from Aug. 25-29!
Following are my recollections of what happened the day our famous British friends arrived,
which was also my first GAC.
Early the day of the Beatles' arrival, "Dud"
gave me an assignment. (Editors note: Ralph

Being a new consultant (then identified as a

field secretary), I assured "Dud" that I would
work to make that happen.

D. Dud Daniel then was the Phi Kappa Psi

Executive Secretary, a position today known as
Executive Director.)

Shortly after 8 a.m. the crowds had started

gathering, filling the street between the two
buildings of our host hotel, the Brown
Palace. Seeing how many had congregated
several hours prior to the Beatles
anticipated arrival in the early afternoon, I
introduced myself to one of the Denver
policeman already on the scene.

"Phil, as you know, the Beatles are to land

shortly before the Fraternity's bus trip taking
us to the Air Force Academy, the Garden of
the Gods, and dinner at the Flying "W"
ranch.
I want you to make certain that all attending
the GAC will be able to board the buses
safely."

When I told him that I was responsible for

safely boarding five busloads of individuals 1

- some were octogenarians -- about the time

of the Beatles arrival, the friendly policeman
said, "Come with me. I want you to tell this
to my Sergeant." I did, and both assured
me they would work closely with me to
ensure the safety of our members.

elevator to take them to their eighth floor

suite -- where Phi Kappa Psi also had two
suites. Minutes later many of the crowd
rushed the hotel's main doors, and two
policemen said to me, "Grab and lock our
arms so we can hold this crowd back."

As time passed, the crowds grew larger

and I was introduced to the police lieutenant
who, like his subordinates, was most
friendly. Prior to noon, there were so many
people in the streets that traffic became
restricted to only police and emergency
vehicles. Periodically, I exited the crowd and
went into the hotel to provide updates to
"Dud."

I did, of course, and some brothers from our

Ohio Eta chapter (University of Toledo)
rushed down from their rooms to help us
hold off the crowds. While we were mostly
successful in holding back the crowds, we
had to help some trampled fans up from the
ground. As I mentioned earlier, some of the
crowd's younger participants had no
business being there, and their injuries
proved it.

Some press members had rented a room in

the Brown Palace with a good view of the
crowd. Unfortunately, they did their best to
help excite the crowd of young fans (some
definitely far too young) by placing dark
wigs on broom sticks and waving them back
and forth to rouse the crowd. Many
wondered how the Beatles could have
gotten past them but feared this was the
case. (It wasn't the case, and I feel that the
press shouldn't have done this.)

Soon it was time for Phi Kappa Psis buses

to be loaded. With the help of many,
(including some police) all of the GAC
attendees were able to board the buses
without incident!
The planned tours and dinner were both
well received and fun. What a fine way to
end a challenging day!
Footnote: As the Beatles walked to their
plane, they were pictured, in a photo that
appeared in the Denver paper, carrying a
copy of Songs of Phi Kappa Psi, the album
just released during the GAC. California
Delta (University of Southern California) and
Epsilon (UCLA) both claimed the honor of
having given the album to the Fab Four.
(That photo appears on the previous page.)

Later I was introduced to a Denver police

captain who worked very closely with me.
Yes, I was very appreciative of the
cooperation that the Denver police extended
Phi Kappa Psi during this challenging time!
The captain kept me informed as to when
the Beatles had landed at Stapleton Airport
north of town and when their limo was en
route.

~~~

Both the captain and I were wondering how

the Beatles limo's driver would navigate this
still growing crowd.

Historians note: At least one Phi Psi is

known to have met the Beatles at Denver,
and long enough for a brief interchange.
Heres the story told by Indiana Betas Kent
Christopher Owen, now Phi Kappa Psi
Mystagogue Emeritus, about his meeting
the Beatles at the 1964 GAC. His phone
interview with the Phi Kappa Psi Historian
took place Aug. 25, 2011.

When we saw a limo approaching the

entrance, we both looked Heavenward for
assistance. We and the crowd learned that
the black limo was a decoy. As you would
imagine, the crowd was angry but still
screaming.

As Brother Owen recalled, he had been in

attendance at the Grand Arch Council at the
Brown Palace Hotel but due to a bout of
food poisoning, was not at the business

In fact, the Beatles were driven in a

separate limo that parked near the hotel's
kitchen. The Beatles used the kitchen
2

session when the Creed was discussed and

adopted.

A light conversation started with the Beatles

during the ride down and continued briefly
after the elevator doors opened on the main
floor.

Given his illness, Kent left the GAC early

and returned home.

Kent recalls being asked by one of the

Beatles what had brought him to Denver,
which he then explained. He recalls his
elevator mates being "modest and spirited
young men."

As he entered the Brown Palace hotel

elevator on his way to the Denver airport, he
found it occupied by four other college-age
men whom he recognized as a touring
musical group.

The Brown Place Hotel building is shown (with

exterior renovations underway when the photo was
taken in July 2014). Most delegates were housed in
the newer hotel addition just behind it, on the left
side.

The elevated walkway connects the older hotel

building (right) where the Beatles stayed in Suite
840, with the newer building (left) where GAC
delegates stayed. The photo was taken on a
cloudy day.
(Photos by Mike McCoy)

Phil Davidson
Phil has served as our National Secretary (SWAG 1974-1976) as well as on our Headquarters staff and in
a number of appointed officer positions in the fraternity, including that of National Historian. He was
initiated at Arizona Alpha (University of Arizona) in 1959 and was graduated with a bachelors degree
from that school in 1963. He was employed by Phi Kappa Psi as a Field Secretary from 1964-1966, as
Assistant to the Executive Director from 1966-1967, and as Financial Coordinator from 1967-1968. After
his departure from Phi Kappa Psi Headquarters, he worked for Western Electric, AT & T, and Lucent
Technologies, all in the Bell System, for just over three decades (1968-1999). His appointed offices
include Chapter Advisor, Area Alumni Consultant, President of the Arizona Beta House Corporation, and
officer of the Arizona Alpha House Corporation. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Coppell, Tex.

For the closing banquet of the Denver Grand Arch Council, Charles H. Simmons Alabama Alpha
1964, and Fred D. Ehlers, Oregon Alpha 1964, wrote and sang The Battle of Denver saluting
Phi Kappa Psis encounters with the Beatles. This was published in the Fall 1964 Shield of Phi
Kappa Psi.

A publication of the Archives of Phi Kappa Psi

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Revised Sept. 15, 2014