The Beatles, Miami Beach, FL 1964

The Beatles were coming to Miami to the Deauville Hotel to perform live on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was February 13, 1964. I had turned sixteen two days before. My stepfather was in the hotel business and arranged for me to be in the lobby for their arrival. Little did he know I thought the Beatles were too “goodie-goodie.” I was a Rolling Stones fan. I didn’t want to disappoint him since he thought this would be momentous for me. Besides, I decided it might be worthwhile as I’d never seen the lobby carpet. We had just moved to Miami and in the tour of hotels, I was mesmerized by the wild designs in the rugs. I wanted to photograph them all. When the Beatles came through the lobby door, I remember lots of light flashes, but all I could see was their feet. There, on a wondrous carpet background, a river of light and dark swirls, were the most amazing shoes I’d ever seen. I took one shot. John Lennon said, “Don’t you want our faces?” I looked at him, smiled and shook my head “no.” He winked. I think he understood I got just what I wanted. - Lynn Goldsmith