The Beatles have been named the top icons of the twentieth century by Variety Magazine, with jazz legend Louis Armstrong and TV darling Lucille Ball coming in second and third, respectively.

The Liverpool band landed first place for being “the sole group who has most shaped the face of modern-day showbusiness.”

Variety ranked the top 100 entertainment icons of the last 100 years using a shortlist created by industry insiders and voted upon by readers. The poll was conducted to commemorate Variety’s 100th anniversary.

Icons were selected for their commercial and creative impact, number of imitators, enduring appeal and whether they appeared on T-shirts. The magazine did not reveal the number of votes cast.

While the list represented every aspect of showbusiness with directors, screenwriters, animals, and even cartoon characters, the top 10 was ultimately dominated by Hollywood and music stars.

Top Ten:
1. The Beatles
2. Louis Armstrong
3. Lucille Ball
4. Humphrey Bogart
5. Marlon Brando
6. Charlie Chaplin
7. James Dean
8. Marilyn Monroe
9. Mickey Mouse
10.Elvis Presley






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