A Day in the Life Blog

The Beatles had another day off today.

The Beatles enjoyed today off.

BBC Paris Studio, London

In the summer the Beatles had enjoyed their own 15-part BBC radio series. This day's recording was for perhaps an even greater honor: their own two hour special, to be broadcast in the Light Programme on Boxing Day "bank holiday", Thursday, December 26th, between 10:00 and 12:00 noon.

The program was conceived under the working title Beatletime, but this was altered From Us To You before the recording. Since every 1960's pop programme had to have a signature tune, the Beatle's first task at this 7:00-10:30 pm session (inclusive of rehearsal time) was to tape a new slightly amended version of their former number one hit "From Me To You", turning it into "From Us To You", with other lyrics altered where appropriate. a 55 second version opened the show, another closed it two hours later.

In between, listeners heard the Beatles perform, "She Loves You", "All My Loving", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Till There Was You", "Boys", "Mondy (That's What I Want)", "I Saw Her Standing There", and "I Want To Hold Your Hand". The show was hosted by Australian singer/entertainer Rolf Harris, also set to appear with the Beatles in their forthcoming Christmas stage production, and the Beatles forthcoming Christmas stage production, and the Beatles joined Rolf for a humorous, Beatleised version of his 1960 chart hit "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport", Rolf's new lyrics referring to the Beatles long hair and their Christian names.

From Us To You was the first of five BBC radio "bank holiday" specials over the next 18 months to feature the Beatles, four going under this title. Typically, though, they were never the only act on the show. On this occasion, the program also featured sessions by Susan Maughan, Jeanie Lambe, Kenny Lynch, Joe Brown and the Bruvvers, the Kenny Salmon Seven, Alan Elsdon's Jazzband with Mick Emery, and Rolf Harris.

Note: not wishing to be outdone, the British service of Radio Luxenbourg launched "It's the Beatles" on December 23rd, a 15 part series of 15 minute programs broadcast each Monday evening from 9:00 to 9:15 until March 30th, presented by Peter Carver. But the group did not specifically contribute any interviews or music material, the series merely airing their disc releases.

Playhouse Theatre, London

Another top billed appearance on the BBC radio show Saturday Club, rehearsed and recorded from 3:00 to 6:30 pm and broadcast in the Christmas edition, transmitted in the Light Programme between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on December 21st.

The Beatles performed six songs, "All my loving", This Boy", "I Want to hold your hand", "Till there was you", "Roll Over Beethoven" and "She Loves you", and also sang "All I want for Christmas is a bottle" (a pastiche of Dora Bryan's contemporary chart hit "All I Want For Christmas Is a Beatle", performed in session in this very programme by Susan Maughan) and a wacky medley, the "Christmas Mudley", comprising "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me To You", "I Want to hold your Hand", "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer", all crammed into 29 seconds.

The second half-hour section of this programme, 10:31 to 10:59, was broadcast simultaneously by the BBC's General Oversees Service, including the Beatles, "All My loving", and "This Boy".

Today, the Beatles took a break.

Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham

Following its success with the June 29th all-Liverpool edition of Lucky Stars (Summer Spin), ABC' Television this day shot a second such programme for the main series Thank Your Lucky Stars. All of the acts were Merseysiders, and Cavern Club compere Bob Wooler appeared as part of the reular "Spin-A-Disc" record review section. Taped in Aston during the afternoon, it was transmitted on Saturday, December 21st, from 5:50 to 6:35 pm.

Making their English TYLS appearance of the year (counting the two Summer Spot editions), the Beatles mimed to four songs, the most they had performed on this show to date, "I want to hold your hand", "All my loving", "Twist and Shout", and "She loves you". They were also presented, on camera, with two more gold discs to add to their quickly growing collection.

This edition was selected as ITV's official entry in the next annual International Contest For Television Light Entertainment Programmes, held in Montreux, Switzerland, in April 1964, but it did not win.

Wimbledon Palais, High St. Merton

Wimbledon, London

The Beatles Southern Area Fan Club's equivalent to the Liverpool festivities the previous Saturday. In addition to their mid-afternoon live performance, the Beatles lined up behind the Palias' bar and shook hands with all 3,000 ecstatic fans who filed slowly past them, often in less than orderly fasion. Television and cinema news cameras filmed here and there throughout the event.

The management of the Palais, fearing their precious stage might be damaged by an onslaught of rampaging Beatlemaniacs, created a makeshift platform for the Beatles and erected a steel cage around it to keep the hordes at bay. Though safe, the Beatles were not best pleased with this arrangement, although seeing the fans crushed up against the wire prompted John to crack "If they press nay harder, they'll come through as chips".

Gaumont Cinema, Southampton

The final date on the long "Autumn Tour" which had started in Cheltenham on November 1st.

The Beatles performing at the Odeon Cinema, Nottingham

The Beatles performing a the Futurist Theatre, Foreshore Rd. South Bay, Scarborough, Yorkshire