This Day in NYC History, February 9

This day in New York history, February 9. Beatles’s first American debut, Brits reconquer New York, Coldest day in New York, Normandie sinks.
This Day in NYC History, February 9
Updated:
[youtube]xoZ18rO1Rj0[/youtube] Beatles - 1st Presentation with Ed Sullivan show

On February 9 ...


1964:
BEATLE'S DEBUT AMERICAN PERFORMANCE—Two days after the Beatles set foot in the United States for the very first time, landing at JFK Airport, they appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” Sullivan’s show was produced in New York City at CBS TV Studio 50, with a seating capacity of 700. Fifty thousand people requested seats for the performance. On Feb. 9, a national record-breaking viewership tuned in: 73.7 million and watched Paul, John, Ringo, and George in their debut American performance.

1674:
BRITS RECONQUER NEW YORK—The British took over the colony of New York from the Netherlands. New York changed hands and names a few times before the English took it for good in 1674. The Dutch held the settlement of New Netherlands from 1606 to 1664 when the English conquered the land and called it New York. The Dutch reclaimed the colony in 1673, naming it New Orange—but victory was short-lived. The English fought and won New York back in 1674.

1934:
COLDEST DAY IN NYC TO DATE—Temperatures reached a record low of minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

1942: NORMANDIE SINKS—Elegant Art Deco ocean liner, the Normandie, burned and sank in the New York Harbor as it was converted into an Allied transport ship. The Normandie was hailed one of the most elegant ocean liners of its time. It was the largest ship constructed to date. The Normandie became the property of the U.S. Navy in 1941. As she was being converted into a troopship, she burned and sank in New York Harbor on Feb. 9, 1942. All aboard abandoned the ship when it caught fire and before it sank, none died in the incident.