Thursday, December 24, 1964
Another Beatles Christmas Show • Night 1 • 7:30pm
Concert • By The Beatles • Part of the Another Beatles Christmas Shows
Last updated on October 21, 2025
Thursday, December 24, 1964
Concert • By The Beatles • Part of the Another Beatles Christmas Shows
Last updated on October 21, 2025
Location: Hammersmith Odeon • London • UK
Previous concert Nov 10, 1964 • UK • Bristol
Rehearsal Dec 22, 1964 • Another Beatles Christmas Show • Rehearsals • Day 2
Rehearsal Dec 23, 1964 • Another Beatles Christmas Show • Rehearsals • Day 3
Concert Dec 24, 1964 • Another Beatles Christmas Show • Night 1
Radio show Dec 26, 1964 • Saturday Club
Concert Dec 26, 1964 • Another Beatles Christmas Show • Night 2
This was the opening night of “Another Beatles Christmas Show,” which ran from December 24, 1964, to January 16, 1965. Rather than a traditional concert, the production took the form of a holiday-season variety show, blending short comedy sketches (with the Beatles acting in humorous vignettes), with performances by other artists from Brian Epstein’s management roster. Each performance concluded with a short live set by The Beatles.
On this first evening, the show was performed only once, whereas most subsequent nights featured two consecutive performances.
There was no performance on Christmas Day. Paul spent the day with his girlfriend Jane Asher at her family home, and the next show took place on December 26.
I was there!… the only time I saw the Beatles live; indeed the only “pop concert” I (born in 1946) have ever been to. What a memorable show it was! And yes – girls really did throw their knickers onto the stage as they (not the girls, the Beatles) sang. Remarkably, the trip was organised by our local (Grazeley, just south of Reading, Berks) vicar, What a remarkable evening out it was….
Rob H – Comment on The Paul McCartney Project (see below)
I was there 24th December 1964, this year I was upstairs in the gallery and could actually hear them .in comparison the previous year I was at their Finsbury Park Christmas show in the stalls , it was manic, I’ve never seen so many girls being carried out but St Johns ambulance people after banging their heads on the seats and fainting it was total hysteria . 13 of us went and took up a row of seats, all of us were about 17 at the time , you could feel the excitement building from when the show started , finally when the Beatles were announced the place went bananas , they were in a cardboard cut out of a helicopter that came down from above , then went up and down a few times before they emerged, my mate next to me actually screamed!!! Great night , great band, just so pleased I saw them live
Gerald Culpin – Comment on The Paul McCartney Project (see below)
I was there. At 9 years old my Dad got tickets for the 24th Dec. It was my first of many live music events which I still enjoy at 68. The Beatles were brilliant. They were so good live. Yep the girls screamed so much, ha ha. I reminded my two sistered about this just recently, who told me they never knew I went and how comes Dad took me their baby brother and not them?? That did make us all laugh! Didn’t tell the Yardbirds were all also on the bill as they were both massive fans in those days….
Howard Ambrose – Comment on The Paul McCartney Project (see below)
GIRLS SCREAM AND FAINT IN BEATLE-MANIA
COMPETING ‘POP’ GROUPS
Few parents will have stamina enough for “Another Beatles Christmas Show” at Hammersmith Odeon, where competing “pop” groups stage a decibel decathlon. Wise ones will restrict their role in the family outing to that of chauffeur.
Their enraptured teenage daughters will not miss them. Ear-splitting sound, electronically amplified, blasts away for over two hours but if audience participation is the criterion, no show can give more.
Girls begin screaming before the curtain rises, reaching crescendos at every mention of the Beatles. Apart from a brief sketch, the fabulous four appear only for a 25-minute stand to end the show.
NEARLY INAUDIBLE – Hundreds dance
Ironically, despite the aggressive pulsations throbbing through the huge theatre the Beatles are all but inaudible. Screaming reaches fortissimo as Beatle silhouettes appear on the darkened stage.
For the next 25 minutes hundreds of girls are dancing half out of their seats while screams vibrate and shiver relentlessly. It is all a little frightening.
Nobody cares, of course, but one result is that the Beatles’ act has far less content than any other. They do not have to woo an audience and they merely jerk like puppets through their stint.
Musically, a largely unknown group, the Yardbirds from Richmond, are much the most rewarding. They use their “superhuman” medium to project a fantastic explosion of high-speed sound but every note is perfectly articulated and every chord clean.
For the rest, Sounds Incorporated make “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” not so much a carol, more a cannonade. Freddie and the Dreamers supply simple humour and Ray Fell is a useful relief from electronics.
The show ends with the audience screaming and the first aid man at the ready. “Marvellous, I fainted three times,” said one contented customer as we emerged.
From The Daily Telegraph – December 28, 1964
Fans try stage invasion
Screaming teenage girl fans unsuccessfully attempted to invade the stage during the opening performance of the Beatles’ Christmas show at Hammersmith Odeon on Thursday night.
The Beatles, in Brian Epstein’s “Another Beatles Christmas Show,” were given a tumultuous reception by a packed audience of 3,500, mainly teenagers. There was a particularly warm welcome for drummer Ringo Starr back in action after his tonsils operation who sang the Carl Perkins’ number “Honey Don’t.”
Volley of jelly babies
The Beatles, top of the hit parade on both sides of the Atlantic with their million-selling single “I Feel Fine,” played a dozen of their hit numbers, most of which were unheard by the audience due to the continuous piercing screams of fans.
As they moved into their final number with Paul McCartney singing “Long Tall Sally,” scores of girls fought with officials as they unsuccessfully tried to get on to the stage. Jelly babies, other sweets, toy dolls and other objects flew through the auditorium as the performance came to a close.
From Liverpool Daily Post – December 28, 1964
This was the 4th concert played at Hammersmith Odeon.
A total of 51 concerts have been played there • 1964 • Dec 21 • Dec 22 • Dec 23 • Dec 24 7:30pm• Dec 26 6:15pm • Dec 26 8:45pm • Dec 28 6:15pm • Dec 28 8:45pm • Dec 29 6:15pm • Dec 29 8:45pm • Dec 30 6:15pm • Dec 30 8:45pm • Dec 31 6:15pm • Dec 31 8:45pm • 1965 • Jan 1 6:15pm • Jan 1 8:45pm • Jan 2 6:15pm • Jan 2 8:45pm • Jan 4 6:15pm • Jan 4 8:45pm • Jan 5 6:15pm • Jan 5 8:45pm • Jan 6 6:15pm • Jan 6 8:45pm • Jan 7 6:15pm • Jan 7 8:45pm • Jan 8 6:15pm • Jan 8 8:45pm • Jan 9 6:15pm • Jan 9 8:45pm • Jan 11 6:15pm • Jan 11 8:45pm • Jan 12 6:15pm • Jan 12 8:45pm • Jan 13 6:15pm • Jan 13 8:45pm • Jan 14 6:15pm • Jan 14 8:45pm • Jan 15 6:15pm • Jan 15 8:45pm • Jan 16 6:15pm • Jan 16 8:45pm • Dec 10 6:45pm show • Dec 10 9pm show • 1973 • May 25 • May 26 • May 27 • 1975 • Sep 17 • Sep 18 • 1979 • Sep 14 • Dec 29
Written by Phil Medley, Bert Russell
Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
Written by Carl Perkins
Written by Carl Perkins
Written by Chuck Berry
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Rob H • Jun 21, 2022 • 3 years ago
I was there!... the only time I saw the Beatles live; indeed the only "pop concert" I (born in 1946) have ever been to. What a memorable show it was! And yes - girls really did throw their knickers onto the stage as they (not the girls, the Beatles) sang.
Remarkably, the trip was organised by our local (Grazeley, just south of Reading, Berks) vicar, What a remarkable evening out it was....
The PaulMcCartney Project • Jun 23, 2022 • 3 years ago
WOW, thanks Rob, sharing your memories !
Va T • Jun 28, 2022 • 3 years ago
I also went to the 1964 concert with my sister Sue and a friend. Our parents took us with another couple but the parents sat separately. I was eleven and my sister was nearly thirteen and I can only imagine how so lucky we were to see the best band in the world at that young age.
JANEAN COMPTON • Nov 21, 2022 • 3 years ago
Its funny, I landed up with 2 tickets framed from this concert on the 29th of December 1964 which my dad had framed, also with a copy of the Merseyside's Own Entertainment Mersey Beat beside it... and My Bonnie 45 rpm.... very nostalgic to think my dad at that time was 26 years old. Very cool, his daughter ....
Gerald Culpin • Mar 03, 2023 • 2 years ago
I was there 24th December 1964, this year I was upstairs in the gallery and could actually hear them .in comparison the previous year I was at their Finsbury Park Christmas show in the stalls , it was manic 🤣, I’ve never seen so many girls being carried out but St Johns ambulance people after banging their heads on the seats and fainting it was total hysteria . 13 of us went and took up a row of seats, all of us were about 17 at the time , you could feel the excitement building from when the show started , finally when the Beatles were announced the place went bananas , they were in a cardboard cut out of a helicopter that came down from above , then went up and down a few times before they emerged, my mate next to me actually screamed 🤣🤣🤣, great night , great band, just so pleased I saw them live
The PaulMcCartney Project • Mar 06, 2023 • 2 years ago
WOW - what a night this must have been! Thank you so much for sharing Gerald !
Gordon Boocock • Apr 15, 2023 • 2 years ago
This was one of the highlights of my life. We went to the January 13th 1965 (2nd show), upper circle, and I still have the 2 programmes and ticket stubs which are framed and hanging in the hall to this day. I realised how significant an occasion it was and scribbled the initials of each song title, as it was played, on the back of one programme, for future reference. I think it must have been a totally overwhelming experience as I actually remember very little about it ! I seem to recall that, as the screaming was so loud, the song lyrics were projected onto the stage backdrop (?). Maybe someone could confirm this? I also remember seeing Brian Epstein standing in the aisle, watching the show. One other highlight, later in my life, was driving one of Paul’s cars to his home - couldn’t believe it😱.
The PaulMcCartney Project • Apr 16, 2023 • 2 years ago
Thanks Gordon to share those memories - awesome ! Could you tell more about driving one of Paul’s cars to his home ? Thanks
Howard Ambrose • Jun 16, 2024 • 1 year ago
I was there. At 9 years old my Dad got tickets for the 24th Dec. It was my first of many live music events which I still enjoy at 68. The Beatles were brilliant. They were so good live. Yep the girls screamed so much, ha ha. I reminded my two sistered about this just recently, who told me they never knew I went and how comes Dad took me their baby brother and not them?? That did make us all laugh! Didn't tell the Yardbirds were all also on the bill as they were both massive fans in those days....
