Beatles A Day in the Life Blog posts of '1963' 'May'

Playhouse Theatre, London

Two separate sessions for BBC Radio. The first session was for Saturday Club, a special occasion in that it was the Beatles first top of the bill appearance on this program. It began with a rehearsal from 2:30, the actual recording taking place between 5:30 and 6:30 pm. The tape was then inserted into the next edition of the series, broadcast on the Light Programme between 10:00 and 12:00 noon on May 25th.

In addition to some witty conversation with host Brian Matthew, the Beatles performed six songs, "I saw her standing there", "Do you want to know a secret", "Boys", "Long tall Sally", "From me to you", "Money (That's what I want)". The last three numbers fell within the last half hour of the program, simultaneously broadcast by the BBC's General Oversees Service.

After a 45 minute break for dinner, the Beatles returned to the Playhouse to rehearse and record a new show for the Light Programme, "Steppin Out", broadcast on 'Bank Holiday', Monday, June 3rd. Before playing their first couple of numbers. Diz Disley, host of the show, introduced the Beatles - "We have four young fella's who, since they emerged from the trackless interior of Merseyside a mere matter of months ago, have been playing 'em in the aisles all over the Isles - from Land's End to John O'Groats - so mind your backs, wacks, for it's the earth-shaking sounds of The Beatles!". This was typical "hip" radio speak for pop radio and TV programs for the day.

Before a very enthusiastic audience, the Beatles performed six songs, "Please please me", "I saw her standing there", "Roll over Beethoven", "Twist and Shout", "Thank You Girl", and "From me to you". "Twist and Shout" was edited out of the broadcast tape, however.

The Beatles at Gaumont Cinema, Commercial Rd. Southampton, Hampshire

After this date, the Orbison tour took a one-day break, resuming on the 22nd.

The Beatles - Gaumont Cinema, Hanley

Adelphi Cinema, Bath Rd. Slough, Buckinghamshire

The opening night of the Beatle's 3rd nationwide package tour in as many months. Although Roy Orbinson, whom the Beatles much admired, initially began as bill-topper, the Beatles very quickly - by audience demand - assumed this position.

Their repertoire on this tour comprised "Some Other Guy", "Do You Want To Know A Secret", "Love Me Do", "From Me To You", "Please Please Me", "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Twist And Shout".

Grosvenor Rooms, Prince of Wales Rd. Norwich, Norfolk

A £250 booking, arranged in mid-April through London promoter Barry Clayman.

Television Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London

The Beatle's 2nd appearance on national BBC TV was in the children's series 'Pops And Lenny', broadcast live, in front of an enthusiastic audience, from the Television Theatre in West London. The title said it all, the show mixed pop music with glove-puppet fun in the shape of Lenny the Lion ("Oh don't embawass me"), as manipulated by cohort Terry Hall.

The Beatle's arrived at Television Theatre in time for a 1:30 pm rehearsal and performed two songs in the 5:00-5:30 broadcast, "From Me To You' and a shortened (1 min 5 secs) version of "Please Please Me". They also joined resident musicians the Bert Hayes Octet and the other members of the cast - Terry Hall, the Raindrops, Patsy Ann Noble, and, of course, Lenny the Lion - for the finale, a one-minute version of "After You've Gone", the Creamer/Layton standard written in 1929 and since performed by scores of artists.

Royalty Theatre, City Road, Chester, Cheshire

The Beatle's repertoire on this night comprised "Some Other Guy", "Thank You Girl", "Do You Want To Know A Secret", "Please Please Me", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "I Saw Her Standing There", and "From Me To You".

The Beatles - Rink Ballroom, Park Lane, Sunderland, Durham

The Beatles took another day off (right after their Holiday)

Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham

A return visit to Aston for the Beatles first bill-topping appearance on the ABC Television show "Thank Your Lucky Stars", taped this afternoon for transmission six days later, Saturday May 18th, between 5:55 and 6:35 pm.

For the first time, the Beatles mimed to more than one song in a TYLS broadcast: "From Me To You", and also LP track "I Saw Her Standing There".