Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show

Two more performances of The Beatles’ Christmas Show at the Astoria Cinema in Finsbury Park, London, for day 11 of their 16-date residency.

Poster for The Beatles' Christmas Show, 1963-64Prior to their first show The Beatles went to the London offices of Paris Match magazine, where they were interviewed for an article to be published ahead of their Paris shows later in the month.

The first act on stage at the Christmas Show was the Barron Knights and Duke D’Mond. Next came short sets from Tommy Quickly and The Fourmost, and Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas closed the first half. Following the interval there was a return from the Barron Knights and Duke D’Mond, then Cilla Black, and Rolf Harris. The Beatles were the final act of each show, with a performance lasting just 25 minutes.

The group performed nine songs: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘This Boy’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ and ‘Twist And Shout’.

After the second performance The Beatles headed to the Talk Of The Town cabaret venue on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road, where they hoped to see Alma Cogan perform. Sadly they arrived too late and missed her stage show.

Last updated: 28 August 2013
Radio: The Public Ear
Radio: Saturday Club
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