The Beatles live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey

This was The Beatles’ fourth show at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey.

This was an “Operation Big Beat” event, which featured a range of top beat groups performing. They were promoted by Sam Leach, for whom The Beatles played a number of events in the early 1960s.

This particular event featured seven acts, including American singer Davy Jones, with whom The Beatles had played at the Tower Ballroom on 1 December. They had also shared a bill with him earlier on this day at the Cavern Club.

On this day The Beatles backed Jones at the Cavern and the Tower Ballroom, in addition to playing their own sets. Also on the bill at the ballroom was Danny Williams, currently near the top of the singles chart with Moon River.

Tower Ballroom was on the New Brighton promenade, and was capable of holding up to 5,000 people. The New Brighton Tower opened in 1900, and at 567ft was taller than Blackpool Tower. A 1,000 tonne lattice-steel observation tower overlooking the Wirral Peninsula, it was the tallest building in Britain when it was completed.

It was short-lived, however. Following closure during World War One, its structure began to decay and the tower was dismantled between 1919 and 1921.

The ballroom underneath fared better, however, and was used for nearly 50 years. However, the building was destroyed by fire in 1969. The area was later redeveloped as River View Park.

The Beatles played at the Tower Ballroom on 27 occasions. The other dates were 10 and 24 November; 1, 15 and 26 December 1961; 12, 19 and 26 January; 15, 16 and 23 February; 2 March; 6 April; 21 and 29 June; 13, 21 and 27 July; 17 August; 14 and 21 September; 12 October; 23 November; 1 and 7 December 1962; and 14 June 1963.