50 years ago today a often overlooked and forgotten Beatles event occurred: The Daily Mirror Golden Ball. The most information I can find on this event was from a Christie's auction for a set of Beatles autographs that were from February 18, 1965 at the Golden Ball. I can't find what songs the Beatles performed, although it must have been something from their Christmas show that had ended a month previously. The only oddity that I find is that other information states that the Beatles were in recording sessions on this date. However, the newspaper and this fan have proof otherwise.
This autographed guest list is extremely interesting as it appears to
document a previously unknown performance by The Beatles in February,
1965. Further research with the Daily Mirror archive has revealed that the Golden Ball
was organised by the newspaper to celebrate reaching record sales of
five million copies per day. The ball was held on Thursday 18th
February, 1965 at the Royal Albert Hall, London and tickets went on sale
for 25 shillings.
The vendor worked for the Daily Mirror in the Publicity
Department at the time, and recalls that the Beatles arrived at the
Royal Albert Hall to perform a couple of songs on stage with various
other artists, and were invited by the Directors of the paper to have a
drink in a private room following their performance, which is when she
acquired their autographs.
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| all photo by Mirrorpix |
The Beatles work on some of the new songs that would end up on the HELP soundtrack on this day...they also got dressed and went to the Albert Hall to see Sandie Shaw and Harry Seacombe perform. The Beatles didn't play...but they waved to their fans from the Grand Tier Box 12.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, then the fan's memories were incorrect.
DeleteWow, never even knew about this!
ReplyDeleteI believe the Help sessions were day sessions, leaving them available to attend the ball.
My mum and dad are in the background in the first photograph. They'd won a Daily Mirror competition to go to the Golden Ball and were in the next box down to The Beatles. Alas they said there was too much security and people around the Fab Four to get their autographs, but is a very special memory, they were so excited that back in the Strand Hotel that night I was conceived! My dad died of cancer over 10 years back and now my mum has terminal cancer, neither had seen this photo before and I only found it by chance the other day. Mum was so happy when I showed it her. I would like to know if there would be any other photos in the series, who the photographer was and what would be the chance of me getting a copy for mum (her face is a bit blurred in this one too)
ReplyDeleteMy mum went to the Golden Ball
ReplyDeleteMy late Mother attended the Golden Ball, at The Royal Albert Hall, as she won two tickets; and she was in the box right next to The Beatles, she leant around the corner and chatted to them, Paul gave her his autograph and was the nicest of the four according to my Mum. She also got me Sandie Shaw's, Harry Secombe's, Kathy Kirby and Bruce Forsythe's. It is absolutelytrue and it was very glittering affair, everybody was really dressed to the nines.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing
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