Liverpool • 8pm show

When the Beatles came marching home again – Liverpool

BEATLEMANIA is far from dead, but never was it more orderly. That is the view of the police and their 25-strong core of St. John Ambulance men who “covered” the return of Liverpool’s fabulous four to their native city for the first time in a year.

Some 40,000 applications had been made by post for the all-ticket double performance of the Beatles at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre on Sunday and it was a lucky 3,000 who answered critics who argue that the Beatles are on the wane.

First-aid workers described the show as a “picnic” with only 17 hysteria cases to deal with.

The ecstatic audience showered them with the usual barrage of jelly babies and many danced in the aisles.

It was one of those rare family reunions for the Beatles. Ringo and Paul’s parents were in the audience and George Harrison’s Mum and Dad were accompanied by their son’s girlfriend, Pattie Boyd.

But it was also a night of surprise for two fans and a shock for the Beatles.

Beatles’ land has passed the “death sentence” on Liverpool’s most famous cellar, The Cavern, which they have played 292 times. The City Council has decided to close it down in a month, unless the £3,000 bill is met to install a new drainage system in order.

Two 15-year-old girls who broke the news by handing in a “Save The Cavern!” letter at the stage door, intercepted Paul McCartney making a backstage telephone call.

Suddenly Susan Hall and Josephine McQuoid found themselves in for the show. They were whisked into the Beatles’ dressing-room where they chatted to the boys for ten minutes before two seats were found for them. Susan said afterwards: “We never believed we would ever meet the Beatles — what a kick that was.” Said Josephine: “They’re greater than ever.”

Said PAUL: “The City Council should regard The Cavern as a tourist attraction — not just an old warehouse. They come from all over the world to see it.”

RINGO: “It’s been the greatest club in this country for two or three years.”

GEORGE: “Until tonight we had not been approached about the club, but we cannot commit ourselves.”

JOHN: “Although we owe it nothing physically, we have a great allegiance to it.”

From Disc Weekly – December 11, 1965

So Quiet As They Return But Full Scream Ahead In Theatre

The Beatles came home to a quiet reception from their Liverpool fans last night.

There were no stage-door sieges or crowds outside the Empire Theatre, although some fans were allowed to wait in vain — after the Beatles had left. Liverpool City Police had 60 policemen and women, 70 specials and mounted officers on duty. During the two performances they blocked all roads leading to the stage door, and formed corridors to help ticket holders get into the theatre quickly.

A police spokesman said: “We had no trouble at all. Everyone was very sensible.” Only 17 cases of hysteria were dealt with by the 23-member St. John Ambulance Brigade team.

“The second house was a bit rougher,” said a spokesman, “but generally they all behaved themselves. It was a picnic compared with the Rolling Stones’ visit and previous Beatles shows.”

However, inside the theatre Beatlemania was in full scream as the M.B.E. group went through their half-hour act. Said Ringo of their reception: “You heard them, you saw them. That’s the answer to the knockers who say we are on the way out.”

When the Beatles appeared on stage the noise was deafening: a chorus of high-pitched, ecstatic acclaim, enough to pierce the eardrums. Row upon row of girls jumped up and down in their seats, waving scarves, programmes and pictures of the famous foursome. The Beatles’ programme included numbers from their new L.P. and single records, but the reception was such that almost everything about their performance was lost.

The Beatles were smuggled out of the theatre and driven to the homes of their relatives on Merseyside.

From Liverpool Echo – December 6, 1965