The Columbus Day Riot happened on October 12, 1944 when tens of thousands of teenage girls swarmed the Manhattan venue Frank Sinatra was set to play and caused a ruckus – but created a milestone in popular music.
The utter passion and hysteria surrounding the thin 25-year-old crooner whose popularity demanded that he play multiple shows a night, established Sinatra as the first bonafide pop superstar who would one day be followed by Elvis, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson.
Time magazine noted the phenomenon when they witnessed the unparalleled fandom when Sinatra opened the Paramount on New Years Eve, 1942.
“In various manifestations, this sort of thing has been going on all over America the last few months,” the magazine said. “Not since the days of Rudolph Valentino has American womanhood made such unabashed public love to an entertainer. It started with Frank Sinatra’s first solo appearance at the Paramount theater last December, flowered when he moved on to Manhattan’s Riobamba club. The press noted his impact on every woman present, recorded the phenomenon loudly and long.”
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