BEATLES Day By Day – 12/7/63
Saturday, 7 December, 1963
The Beatles returned from a few days off to what was probably one of the busiest days of their career to date.
At home in Liverpool for the first time in four months they would record two TV shows, record a radio interview and play two shows – all in one day.
The day’s activities kicked off at the Empire Theater with a specially recorded edition of the popular BBC TV show Juke Box Jury in which celebrity guests listened to new pop releases and determined if they would be a “Hit” or a “Miss.” On this occasion all four panelists would be Beatles. The show was recorded in front of 2500 screaming members of the Northern Area Beatles Fan Club, and broadcast (screams and all) later that evening.
30 minutes after the taping of Jule Box Jury had wrapped, The Beatles once again took to the stage of the Empire, in front of the same (still screaming) fans for a 45 minute show. 30 minutes of the show would be broadcast by the BBC as It’s The Beatles later that same evening.
Apparently the screaming was so loud that the BBC cameramen and sound recordists couldn’t hear the directors instructions and the end result was deemed to be somewhat of a technical embarrassment by the BBC management.
After the show The Beatles still had one other task to do for the BBC. They recorded a short interview segment for later transmission on the Christmas Day radio show Top Pops of 1963.
With all their BBC obligations fulfilled The Beatles received a police escort down especially closed off streets as they transferred to the near by Odeon Cinema, where they gave two evening performances as part of their continuing tour.
