On August 4, 1966, Alabama's Cullman Times Democrat newspaper wrote, "Jerry Sharp, a disc jockey at WKAC here, said his station had stopped playing Beatles records as had several other stations in the Tennessee valley region of Alabama. 'Until I know for sure I will never play another Beatles record, old or new,' Sharp said. 'There is a record distributor in town who also has stopped selling their records.' "

The next day (August 5, 1966), the Decatur Daily reported that "With the apparent blessing of Police Commissioner F.S. Hunt, 'ban-the-Beatle' advocates will stage a 'Beatle-burning' tonight at the Decatur Boat Harbor. The huge bonfire—to burn records by the mopped-hair singing group—will start at 8 p.m., according to Jerry Sharp an Athens radio station disc jockey, who organized it. Sharp, of radio station WKAC, says he has received over 265 calls in a two-hour period supporting his boycott of the Beatles' records—and only six requests to play them. 'My listeners are behind me 100 per cent,'" the DJ declared, illustrating a lack of knowledge about how percentage work. (Based on Sharp's stated numbers, his listeners were behind him 97.74%.)

City commissioner Hunt said, 'I wasn't aware of the movement until just now, but as far as I'm concerned, they can burn all the Beatle records they want.' Pack Self, chief of police and Buddy Evans, Limestone County sheriff have given the go-ahead with the Beatle burning, according to the Athens disc jockey."

The Decatur Daily updated the story on August 6, 1966: "Mostly the young and curious onlookers gathered last night at the Decatur Boat Harbor to witness the newest teenage fad, a 'Beatle burning.' But—in the lingo of the teenager set—it was a hard day's night for Beatle record burners. For one thing, Beatle records were scarce. Athens disc jockey Jerry Sharp had instigated the whole thing.... Sharp had brought along a large number of his own and some that had been donated by his listeners in Athens, but as the night wore on only a handful of young people came forward to add more records to the stack. One teenager who declined to be identified commented, 'I'm just here to watch. I wouldn't burn my Beatle records for anything.' Another teenager was heard to exclaim, 'But mother I don't want to burn my Beatle records.' To which the mother replied, 'Shut up and burn 'em.' Flames brightened the night and one man clapped his hands gleefully while the crown silently watched. When Sharp realized he wasn't going to get any more records he said, 'Well, guess that's all.' Bu this time most of the crowd had begun to drift toward their automobiles and Sharp kicked wet sand on the smoldering heap. If anything was proved at the Decatur Boat Harbor last night it was that the magic of the Beatles will draw a crowd anywhere."

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