Context

This introduction was spoken by Ed Sullivan on his show, The Ed Sullivan Show, on February 9, 1964.

Getting 74 million views on TV in 1964 is like getting 2.8 billion viewers on YouTube fifty years later. An impossible feat, but The Beatles did it when they debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

It wasn't even their first American TV appearance, but it's the one they'd be most remembered for, after bringing the house down with "She Loves You," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," and three other songs. 

It all started with a simple introduction of little fanfare: "Ladies and gentleman, The Beatles!"

Where you've heard it

If you haven't heard of The Beatles (seriously?), well, now you have…in much the same way millions of Americans did in 1964.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Introducing one of the most famous rock bands in the world and doing it with almost no hype whatsoever: that's a feat that will never be reproduced. So...don't try it.