The Beatles had first appeared on the ABC TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars on 13 January 1963. On this day, however, they made their final performance.
They mimed to recordings of three songs before a studio audience: ‘Eight Days A Week’, ‘Yes It Is’ and ‘Ticket To Ride’.
They were also interviewed by presenter Brian Matthew, and the show was broadcast between 5.50pm and 6.35pm on 3 April 1965. Filming took place at Alpha Television Studios in Aston, Birmingham.
Thank Your Lucky Stars was past its popularity peak by March 1965, and by the time it ended on 25 June 1966 it was no longer shown in all ITV regions.
Page last updated: 30 March 2015
I need to find a copy of this episode or at least a clip of the performances!
I’ve read somewhere that the recordings of these late shows are lost. Could it really be? Can’t find a trace anywehere though…
This is interesting in that they were able to make this appearance since the previous night is when John, George, and their wives/girlfriends were first given LSD by their dentist friend and were supposedly up all night feeling the effects of the trip.
The map shows the former ATV studios in Broad Street, central Birmingham, but these are not the Aston studios as Aston is a couple of miles to the north. I’m not actually sure where the ATV studios were in Aston however, perhaps somewhere near Aston Cross.
OK, just looked it up…apparently the original ATV Alpha studios was at the former Astoria Cinema in Aston Road North (near to Aston Cross), the place shown on the map didn’t open until the late 1960s and is itself about to be demolished.
Thanks Steve – much appreciated. I think I’ve got the correct map point now, but if I’m still wrong please let me know!
Thanks Joe, that looks like the correct location.
Already demolished, oh well, another Beatles location gone forever.
Is this the appearance where they were swarmed by the studio audience? I’ve seen still photos of them being chased them off the stage and Mal Evans wrangling rabid fans. Or did that happen more often than we might think?
There are some photos from the evening in this video including photos of them getting swarmed.
I was there on 28th March 1965 and no one swarmed the stage unless it was after most of us left. In fact there was no stage, the Beatles were standing floor level.