The Beatles’ second show of 11 January 1963, following their lunchtime show at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, took place at the Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, near Dudley in Staffordshire.
The support act was The Cadillacs from Kidderminster.
The Beatles were due to perform again after the Dudley show, at the Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, Birmingham. However, due to blizzard-like weather conditions they were unable to make the 11-mile journey. The Birmingham concert was rescheduled for 15 February 1963.
The Plaza Ballroom was an influential venue in the West Midlands. It had previously been a cinema and converted to a dance hall in the late 1950s. The Beatles returned on one other occasion, 5 July 1963.
The venue’s music promoter, Ma Regan, became something of a local celebrity in the 1960s due to her astuteness in booking the leading acts of the day. She also managed a number of Birmingham groups and worked as a promoter at the Handsworth Plaza, the Ritz in King’s Heath and the Brum Kavern, Birmingham.
The Beatles also performed at the Plaza Old Hill the last Saturday in June 63 and the following Friday 5th July
Myself and my future wife were there and although we and a few others jived, it was the first time I had seen most of the people gather around the stage to see and listen to a group.