'The epicentre of Beatlemania': The Beatles played their final show in Toronto 50 years ago today

On Aug. 17, 1966, the Beatles rocked and bopped in Toronto. Though nobody in the crowd knew it at the time, it would be their last chance to see the superstar band: 12 days later, the Beatlesannounced they would no longer be touring together.

Fiftyyears later, the memories remain fresh.

MicheleFinney was at that final Toronto show."In your life, there are certain times when you never forget the day, you never forget what you wore, you never forget how you felt at the time," she told CBC News."That was one of those days."

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"Toronto was the epicentre ofBeatlemania," saysJane French, amuseum curator with the city of Toronto who is helping organize celebrations marking the anniversary, including an exhibit called When the Beatles Rocked Toronto, on nowat the gallery in St. Lawrence Market.

"Alot of it can come down to one man," she says. In the case of Toronto's love affair with the Beatles, French goes on, it was"Paul White, a young British journalist who came to Toronto in the late '50s."

'It was a1st for all of us'

When White arrived in Toronto hecouldn't get a job at a newspaper, French told CBC News,but he did land a gig with Capitol Records on Queen Street East, where he was asked to write sizzle sheets that were distributed to more than 800 radio stations in Canada.

"They were like weekly press releases promoting mostly imported music from Europe."

Frenchcredits White's promotion ofone song in particular She Loves You for helpinglaunchBeatlemaniaacross North America.

"It took off in Canada six months before the [United]States, largely due to Paul White and his ear for something in the Beatles that was new and fresh and relevant to a younger audience."

"It was a first for all of us," Finneysays. "This freedom, this vibrance, this expression of our enthusiasm about music and they were the Beatles. You know, it didn't get any better than that."

Leaving an impression

The Beatles played their first concert in Toronto in September 1964. Finney was 14, and the host of a children's television show on CBC called Razzle Dazzle. The teenager landed an interview with the band, andcalleditthe biggest one of her life.

"They're absolutely marvellous," she said afterwards in 1964, adding that Torontonians showed "a lot of enthusiasm."

Finneycredits her experiencein front of the camera withallowing her to stay calmtogether during the interview. Deep down, she says, she was screaming and yelling "as crazy as all the other girls in there."

Anddespite all their success, she said the foursometreated her like a peer.

The former TV hostadmits she didn't realize how great an impact theBeatles would have.

"I don't think any of us had any idea that this music would become such a statement in our lives and change so many things about our musical desires in the future," she says.

"I mean, how many guys picked up guitars because of the Beatles?"