Press conference in Liverpool

THREAT TO CLOSE THE CAVERN: LITTLE WE CAN DO, SAY BEATLES
Make It An Attraction For Tourists—Paul
LETTER FROM GIRLS

Two teenage girls last night presented The Beatles with a letter asking them to help save the Cavern from closure.

The famous beat centre based in Liverpool warehouse cellar is threatened with shut-down by the City Council because owner Mr. Ray McFall cannot afford a £3,000 drainage system the Council says must be installed.

Before The Beatles, who started their climb to stardom at the Cavern, went on stage at the city’s Empire Theatre yesterday, 15-years-old Josephine McQuaid, of College Road, Crosby, and Susan Hall, of nearby Myers Road West, were allowed to see them.

After receiving the letter The Beatles held an impromptu Press conference backstage and said they were all sorry to hear of the threat to close the Cavern but there was little they could do.

Paul McCartney said: “If the city council looked upon it as a tourist attraction instead of just an old warehouse, I’m sure that something could be done about it.” It could be developed by the council into something like a coffee bar, which would be a great attraction to visitors, he thought.

Said Ringo Starr: “I think the ball is in Ray McFall’s court. In a way, I’ll be sorry if the Cavern goes, because for two years or more it was the greatest club in the whole of Britain.”

John Lennon added: “We don’t feel we owe the Cavern anything physical. All we owe it is allegiance.”

And George Harrison observed: “We don’t want to commit ourselves too much.”

The Beatles to-day continue their British tour. This year they will be spending their first Christmas at home for five years.

From Liverpool Echo – December 6, 1965

We cannot save Cavern say Beatles

The Beatles were asked last night to help to save the famous Cavern, where they started and which is threatened with closure.

Before the group went on stage at the Empire Theatre two fifteen-year-old Crosby girls — Josephine McQuaid, of College Road, and Susan Hall, of Myers Road West — were allowed into the stage door entrance to hand the Beatles a letter asking them to help to prevent the Cavern from closing.

But after their performance the Beatles held an impromptu Press conference backstage at which they all said that they were sorry to hear of the threat to close the Cavern but there was little they could do.

The Cavern, a club which sprang up in the basement of a disused warehouse in the city and which became the home of beat, is threatened with closure by the City Council because the present owner, Mr Ray McFall, has been told by the council that he must install a new drainage system.

Mr McFall has stated that he cannot afford the £3,000 needed for the drainage.

Paul McCartney said: “If the city council looked upon it as a tourist attraction instead of just an old warehouse I’m sure that something could be done about it.”

“The city council could develop it perhaps into something like a coffee bar, which would be of great attraction to visitors. Youngsters come from as far as America to visit the Cavern.”

Said Ringo Starr: “I think the ball is in Ray McFall’s court. In a way, I’ll be sorry if the Cavern goes because for two years or more it was the greatest club in the whole of Britain.”

John Lennon said: “We don’t feel we owe the Cavern anything physical. All we owe it is allegiance.”

And George Harrison observed: “We don’t want to commit ourselves too much.”

The Beatles stayed in Liverpool last night and today continue their British tour. This year they’ll be spending their first Christmas at home for five years. “We couldn’t go on as we were,” said Ringo, “we’d have cracked up.”

From Liverpool Daily Post – December 6, 1965

We can’t save The Cavern, say the Beatles

The Beatles returned to their native Liverpool last night with news that there was nothing they could do to save The Cavern—the club where they first found fame.

Before they went on the stage at the Empire Theatre for a half-hour performance, 15-year-old Josephine McQuaid and Susan Hall, both of Crosby, were allowed into the stage door entrance to hand them a letter asking them to help to prevent The Cavern from closing.

After their performance the Beatles held an impromptu press conference backstage.

The Cavern, a club which sprang up in the basement of a disused warehouse in the city and which became the home of beat, is threatened with closure by the city council because the owner, Mr. Ray McFall, has been told by the council that he must install a new drainage system.

Mr. McFall has said that he cannot afford the £3,000 needed for the drainage.

A suggestion came from Paul McCartney, who said he thought that the city council could do something about it. “I don’t think The Cavern should close,” he said.

“If the city council looked upon it as a tourist attraction instead of just an old warehouse I’m sure that something could be done about it.

“It is more important to many people than the likes of Speke Hall”—a place of historic interest on the outskirts of Liverpool.

Ringo Starr said they would be sorry to see The Cavern close because it was the greatest club in the whole of Britain for two years or more. John Lennon said the Beatles did not owe The Cavern anything physical, but they did owe it allegiance. They had not been asked to give any money.

George Harrison said he was sorry that The Cavern was threatened with closure but there was nothing that they could do about it.

It was the first visit of the Beatles to Liverpool for a public performance for 12 months and they played to packed houses at both performances. Extra police were on duty controlling the crowds as they queued for the 2,500 seats.

A doctor and 25 officers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were at the theatre and an ambulance was parked outside as a casualty station. But they dealt with only one minor case of hysteria at the first house.

From Western Daily Press – December 6, 1965

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