The building in Duke Street, St Helens opened in 1912 as the Oxford Cinema, it closed as a cinema in 1956 and re-opened the same year as the Plaza Ballroom. Following its opening in 1956, the ballroom first starting entertaining local bands in 1958 and by 1959 it was exclusively used for groups to perform. The ballroom was open four nights a week on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and played host to many of the top Merseyside groups.
'The Beatles' performed at The Plaza Ballroom for the first time on the 25th of June 1962 together with 'The Big 3' which was the first booking Brian Epstein had arranged with Harry Bostock of Whetstone Entertainments who had two more ballrooms, Orrell Park in Liverpool and the Riverpark in Chester. The show was billed as 'The 'Big Beat Bargain Night' starring the North's No. 1 Rock Combo 'The Beatles', just back from their Sensational German Tour Now Recording Exclusively for Parlophone. They're Terrific - You must see them. First ever appearance in St. Helens'
This had followed a lunch time session at The Cavern and on this occasion Pete Best was still the drummer and the group were paid £25. They returned for three more bookings on July 2nd, 9th and 16th before their final booking there, with Ringo on drums, on March 4th 1963, their first £100 booking. As an indication of how far they had come in less than a year, they had been paid just £25 for their first show at the venue.
 |
Vince Reno & The Sabres play the St Helens Plaza |
No comments:
Post a Comment