time capsule / aug. 13, 1966

THE BEATLES, on their final U.S. tour, are under media fire over John Lennon's remark ''We're more popular than Jesus.'' In 1980, Lennon will be fatally shot by a zealous fan. THE BRITISH are invading Hollywood, too. Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music) is the top box office draw; Sean Connery (Thunderball) is second. Thirty-two years later Connery plays the villain in the Avengers movie. Rowan and Martin host The Dean Martin Summer Show, opposite The Avengers on Thursdays. In fall 1968, The Avengers will move to Mondays, opposite ROWAN AND MARTIN's Laugh-In, which will kill The Avengers in the ratings. AND IN THE REAL WORLD, South Vietnamese premier Nguyen Cao Ky announces that ''in two or three years, or even before, the Communists will accept defeat.'' Nine years later, Saigon will fall to North Vietnam.