Following their appearance on the BBC television show Juke Box Jury, The Beatles recorded a special concert appearance for the corporation at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.
The performance took place in front of 2,500 members of The Beatles’ Northern Area Fan Club, between 3.45 and 4.30pm. It was filmed in its entirety by the BBC, and 30 minutes were broadcast that evening from 8.10pm to 8.40pm during a special programme entitled It’s The Beatles.
The group played a short version of ‘From Me To You’, followed by ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Boys’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘This Boy’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’, ‘Twist And Shout’, and another version of ‘From Me To You’.
Technical problems and lack of rehearsal times meant the sound balance for the concert recording was sub-standard. Both The Beatles and senior figures at the BBC later expressed concern at the often embarrassing nature of the footage, which included the absence of Ringo Starr’s vocals during ‘Boys’ and the director focusing on the wrong members of the group during key moments.
After the concert the BBC also recorded a two-minute interview with the group to use on the radio show Top Pops Of 1963, broadcast on the Light Programme service at 6pm on Christmas Day.
The Beatles then made the short journey to the nearby Odeon Cinema on London Road where they gave two evening concerts. The police closed Pudsey Street to the public to allow the group to reach the venue unhindered.
Also on this day...
- 2023: Paul McCartney live: Allianz Parque, São Paulo
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: SkyDome, Toronto
- 1979: Wings live: Wembley Arena, London
- 1969: Television: John Lennon and Yoko Ono on The Question Why
- 1969: George Harrison live: Fairfield Hall, Croydon with Delaney & Bonnie
- 1967: The Apple Boutique opens
- 1965: The Beatles live: ABC Cinema, Manchester
- 1964: George Harrison’s Mornyork Ltd becomes Harrisongs Ltd
- 1963: The Beatles live: Odeon Cinema, Liverpool
- 1963: Television: Juke Box Jury
- 1962: The Beatles live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1957: The Quarrymen live: Wilson Hall, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I can’t find any mention of the time The Beatles performed at the BBC Television Theatre (formerly the Shepherds Bush Empire) on Sheperds Bush Freen, some time after Please Please Me was released in ‘63. My BFF and I were there. After the recording, we went to the Commissionaire at the stage door and asked him to tell George that Roisin Bailey’s daughter, Melissa, was here. I was ushered in and stayed chatting till the band left. George was a friend of my mother’s, introduced me to the rest of the band and they all signed the album, John several times.
hi melissa,
great story
must be a sweet memory for you all these years later.
I am assuming that the beatles signed the back of With the Beatles.
Were you a fan club member and invited to the show?
I am 60′ ish and never did get to see them but I did get to see each of the four of them separately here in the U.S. Cheers
How could they have recorded a message for Top Of The Pops when it hadn’t started yet?
Good catch. It was actually called Top Pops Of 1963, according to the BBC website.