Beatle tells of time he entered talent contest
Recent news announced that Sir Billy Butlin’s former beachside home near Filey was for sale. Billy Butlin set up a holiday camp at Filey in 1945, his camps famous for their Redcoats and great variety of entertainment, cabaret and talent competitions.
Moving on, it’s 1964 and The Beatles are performing at the Futurist in Scarborough. The Futurist Theatre was at South Bay in the space now seasonally occupied by a huge observation wheel. In the dressing room, waiting to go on stage, The Beatles were twiddling thumbs. A day in the life!
The police had smuggled the band into the Futurist through the stage door.
The crowds were waiting, desperate for a glimpse of The Beatles. Some had queued more than 30 hours to make sure of getting a ticket. As usual, no-one would be able to hear the band’s performance clearly because of a screaming audience. Several girls would pass out and need first aid.
Police would be in the theatre, preventing a surging crowd from getting on stage. “Get back!” The nation was struck with Beatlemania.
George: “It will be great to get back on stage. Love this touring. Here, there and everywhere! The long and winding road!”
Ringo: “Yeah! Always something different yesterday! One of the staff told me that our film A Hard Day’s Night will be on at the Odeon in Scarborough.”
The Odeon has since been transformed into the Stephen
Joseph Theatre, courtesy of Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
John: “Hey Paul! Have you been to Scarborough before?”
Paul: “Yeah! We’ve played here before, at this Futurist
Theatre, last year, just before Christmas. There’s a place nearby, Filey, not far away. I went when I was about 16. There was a holiday camp. It was fun.”
John: “Tell us about it. Please, please me! I’m bored, sorry, interested.”
Paul McCartney tells his tale. “From me to you! It was a wet weekend, though there was plenty to do. I’d taken my guitar and entered a talent competition. Do you want to know a secret? I was a bit scared!
"I was introduced: ‘Paul McCartney from Liverpool’! It was great to perform to people. I sang Long Tall Sally, the Little Richard song, and got a big clap. I was playing rock and roll years ago.
"The Redcoat in charge said some nice things, and suggested with a bit more practice he could see me getting better. And just as I was leaving the hall, he gave me a reminder, “Don’t forget the Knobbly Knees competition tomorrow!”
George: “Did you enter?” Paul: “Not telling you! John would write a song about it!” Ringo laughed, “I feel fine!”, and the boredom changed to buzzing and jokes, and the boys were just in the right mood when there was a knock on the door.
Time to go on stage Beatles! Come together! It’s gonna be great! And on they went, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The Beatles in Scarborough!
John: “With a little help from my friends. Let’s go!"
And if you’ve got this far, how many Beatles song titles did you see hidden in this tale? I think there are 15. Answers are on page 25.
Photo shows a poster for The Beatles' December 11 1963 concerts. They also played here, twice, on August 9 1964.