Fab Four Blog

The Beatles at Regal Cinema, Kirkgate, Wakefield, Yorkshire

The Beatles at the Granada Cinera, St. Peters St. in Bedford, Bedfordshire

The Beatles at the Shapiro package tour at Gaumont Cinema, Hallgate, Doncaster, Yorkshire

This was the Beatle's last lunchtime session at the Cavern Club, Liverpool

The Beatles headed an eight hour eight band "Rhythm and Blues Marathon" at the Cavern Club (where else?) in Liverpool.

The opening night of the Beatles' first nationwide tour, was at the Gaumont Cinema on New Victoria St. Bradford, Yorks.

They were the bottom of a six-act bill headed by 16 year old Londoner Helen Shapiro, who was voted Best British Female Singer in 1961 and 1962.

The Beatles' repertoire on the first night was "Chains", "Keep your hands off my baby", "A taste of honey", and "Please Please me". Two other, "Love me do" and "Beautiful Dreamer" were used during the remaining dates as prepared alternatives. :)

Another double engagement happened in the Midlands, the venues being 8 miles apart.

The Assembly Rooms, Corporation St, Tamworth, Staffs and Maney Hall (St. Peter's Church Hall), Maney Hill Rd. Maney, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire

Beatles at the Cavern Club again in Liverpool for lunch. Then at night in the Majestic Ballroom, in Birkenhead where the Beatles gave two entirely separate "house" performances at 8:00 and 11:00. At this time, this was unheard for a ballroom.

The only thing the Beatles did today was spend some time at the Cavern Club in Liverpool at the lunchtime hour.

Today the Beatles took a day off.......

The Beatles today at the Majestic Ballroom on Westgate Rd. in Northumberland.

A return visit to the Three Coins Club on Fountain St. in Manchester, Lancashire.

The club was part owned by radio disc jockey Jimmy Savile (first played by the Beatles soon after it opened in late 1961)

The Beatles appeared at the El Rio Club on Queen Victoria St, Macclesfield, Chesshire and King's Hall, on Glebe St. Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Twenty-one miles separated this double booking. At the El Rio Club, the Beatles were supported by locals, Wayne Fontana and the Jets, Fontana later finding fame with the Mindbenders.

Backstage at Stoke, Paul and John began writing "Misery", a song they intended donating to Helen Shapiro, whom the Beatles would meet a week later. On stage, they performed a song for the first and only time, a cover of "Walk right in", just breaking in Britain as a hit for the U.S. act the Rooftop singers, already a number one in their homeland.

A dance promoted by the local Baptist Church youth club was at the Co-operative Hall, Market St. Lancashire

Before setting off to North Wales for an engagement in Assembly Hall, on High St. Mold, Flintshire, the Beatles made a personal appearance at NEMS' central Liverpool record store, signing copies of their "Please Please Me" single and giving a brief acoustic performance from the foot of the staircase leading from the ground floor to the first floor (classical records, television, radio and recording equipment).

The Beatles drove north to Liverpool Wednesday morning and arrived just in time for the night-time Cavern Club engagement. The journey was quite eventful. Their van's windscreen had shattered into bits, in the freezing cold. The Assistant road manager at the time, Mal Evans - Neil Aspinall had remained in Liverpool. Not feeling well, he had no choice but to drive on without a screen while the Beatles conserved and remained warm by laying on top of one another in the back.

BBC Paris Studio in London. The Beatles appeared live on one BBC radio program and recorded sessions for two others. Then off to the Paris Studio on Regent Street to accompany the broadcast of their new single, "Please Please Me'. The Beatles chatted live on air. Other guests were Joan Regan, Jon Pertwee (the future Dr. Who) and Shane Fenton (future Alvin Stardust).

Next, the Beatles rehearsed at the Playhouse Theatre near Charing Cross for their first appearance on the pop radio program, "Saturday Club". The Beatles recorded five songs, "Some Other Guy", Love Me Do", Please Please Me", Keep Your Hands Off My Baby", and "Beautiful Dreamer". This program was broadcast on January 26th, on the 2nd half hour of the two-hour show.

The last session took place at the Paris Studio in London, where before an audience, The Beatles recorded another contribution to the Light Program Show "The Talent Spot", for broadcast on January 29th. Among the other guests on the show was a young guitarist Rog Whittaker, destined to become Roger Whittaker.

The Beatles' 3rd appearance on "The Friday Spectacular" at the EMI House in London. Broadcast by Radio Luxembourg, chatting to series Hosts, Shaw Taylor and Muriel Young. The show was recorded before a live audience of 100 teenagers listening to 'Please Please Me' and 'Ask Me Why'. Tony Barrow referred to this appearance in the sleevenote for the Beatle's soon to be recorded debut album, 'Please Please Me'.

The Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Beatles appeared at the Town Hall Ballroom, Pauls Moss, Dodington, Whitchurch, Shropshire

Beatles - Appearing at the Floral Hall Ballroom in Morecambe

Every ticket for the Majestic dance was sold in advance, much to the disappointment of an extra 500 fans outside the venue. The Cavern Club, Liverpool at lunchtime and the Majestic Ballroom, in Birkenhead in the evening.

A Manchester booking for the Beatles, appearing live on the Granada Television Show "People & Places" and then recording a BBC radio appearance for "Here we go". This all happened at Studio 4, Granada TV Center, & Playhouse Theatre in Manchester.

Their schedule was first a rehearsal in Studio 4 at the Center

Rehearsal at the Playhouse Theatre for the BBC

Then back to Granada for a live transmission of "People & Places", miming to "Ask me why" and "Please Please Me"

Finally, recording of "Here we Go" at the Playhouse, for broadcast on the BBC Light Program.

The Beatles sang 4 numbers: Chains, Please Please Me, Three Cool Cats, and Ask me why.

The Beatles had an engagement in Ellesmere Port, the industrial town about 19 miles south of Liverpool, at the Civic Hall on Whitby Rd. Ellesmere Port in Wirral, Cheshire.

A crowd of about 700 fans packed the hall for this Wolverham Welfare Association Dance.

Alpha Television Studios, Aston Rd. North, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire

This was the Beatles' most important television appearance to date, a taping for the very popular "Thank your lucky stars". Most of Britain's teenage population viewed this weekly program, in which top acts of the day mimed to their latest record releases. For most viewers, it was their first sight of the Beatles.

"Thank your lucky stars" was made by ABC Television, the ITV franchise supplying weekend programming for the Midlands and the north. This day's taping took place at Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham, jointly owned by ABC and ATV. At the bottom of the 7 act bill, the Beatles performed "Please Please Me", closing the first half of the program during the 5:50 and 6:30 pm broadcast on January 19.

The Beatles date tonight was in the Invicta Ballroom, High St. Chatham, Kent

Lunchtime it was at the Cavern Club, of course in Liverpool. Then the Beatles made the hazardous afternoon journey south from Liverpool to Old Hill, blizzards made them unable to drive the 11 miles to King's Hearth at the Ritz Ballroom on York Rd. for the 2nd part of a double booking in the Midlands. It was the coldest night in the area for 7 years. The King's Hearth date was re-arranged for mid-February. Birmingham, Warwickshire was postponed.

The Beatles' first home-town engagement in nearly a month, heading a five-act bill. The evening was a resounding success, with a record-breaking attendance crowding into the large Grafton Rooms.One enterprising local stole 100 tickets a few days beforehand only to find that they were numbered and declared invalid.

Scottish Television, Theatre Royal, Hope Street

Glasgow, Lanarkshire

The Beatles remained north of the border after the Aberdeen date and travelled down to the Scottish Television studios in Glasgow for an appearance on the children's magazine program Roundup, presented by Paul Young and Morag Hood and broadcast (locally only) live from 5:00 to 5:55 pm. The Beatles' contribution was to mime to their forthcoming single, "Please Please Me".

The last night of the tour ended at the Beach Ballroom, Sea Beach, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire