This was The Beatles’ sixth show at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey.
The Tower Ballroom shows were promoted by Sam Leach, for whom The Beatles played a number of events in the early 1960s. This was billed as the Boxing Night Big Beat Ball, and featured The Beatles, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, and Tony Osborne and his band.
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, 8 and 15 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.
Also on this day...
- 1967: Magical Mystery Tour is premièred on BBC 1
- 1965: Paul McCartney has a moped accident in Liverpool
- 1965: George Harrison pays a surprise visit to his family
- 1964: Live: Another Beatles Christmas Show
- 1963: Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show
- 1963: US single release: I Want To Hold Your Hand
- 1962: The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.