Fans’ recollections of the Beatles performing at the Gaumont Theatre in Bradford

Readers have been motivated to get in touch with their memories as a result of our recent piece that looked back at the Beatles in Bradford. The Fab Four performed at the Gaumont sixty years ago this month.

The first time the Beatles visited Bradford was on Saturday, February 2, 1963, when they arrived to the Gaumont for the first time as part of their first tour package in the United Kingdom. In the past, pop groups would perform twice a night at regional locations all throughout the United Kingdom, accompanied by a lineup of other acts throughout their tour. Helen Shapiro, who was only sixteen years old at the time, was the main attraction at the Gaumont that February evening. On the bill, the Beatles were at the very bottom.

A return performance by the Beatles was held at the Gaumont in December of the same year. They are rapidly maturing into pop megastars at this point in time.

Although Richard Fox was a fan of the Beatles, he was unable to attend their performance at the Gaumont. The following is what he remembers: “When I turned thirteen years old in December of 1963, I was given a record player as a birthday present, along with a copy of She Loves You and the Beatles Hits EP.”

Ever since that time, I have been a devoted fan of the Beatles, and I continue to be one to this day. I own almost everything that they have ever recorded for commercial distribution.

When it was revealed that the group was going to be the headlining act at the Gaumont later in the month, it was completely out of the question that my parents would give me permission to wait outside the theatre for the entire night in order to purchase a ticket. In addition, the majority of the audience members at the time appeared to be females who attended the event in order to scream at such a volume that it was impossible to hear the band.

When you look at the images that were included in the special edition of the T&A, you will notice that this is an accurate statement.A year later, when the Beatles performed at the Gaumont, I still have a copy of the paper, as well as another edition I purchased at the time.