Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show

The Beatles performed twice on this day, as part of the continuing run at the Astoria Cinema in Finsbury Park, London. The season continued until 11 January 1964.

This was the fifth night of the show’s 16-date run. The first act on stage 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’.

Earlier in the day The Beatles were taken to the Café Royal restaurant on London’s Regent Street for a private luncheon hosted by publisher Dick James.