Mersey Beat - The Albany, Maghull

'The Beatles' only appearance at the Albany Cinema, which was on Northway in Maghull, was a 'live' afternoon performance on the 15th of October 1961. John and Paul had not long returned to Liverpool after a trip to Paris and the event was a charity fundraiser for the local St John Ambulance Brigade. It was the biggest stage they had played on as 'The Beatles' and their first charity show.

This is believed to be the very first programme in which 'The Beatles' appear in print 

 

The show, which lasted 3 hours, was put on by Jim Gretty, a country and western guitarist who worked in Hessy's music store in Liverpool demonstrating on how to play the guitar. It was Jim who had sold Mimi Smith, John Lennon's first guitar in 1957 when they came into Hessy's together, John would later call him 'Grim Jetty'. Top of the bill, and host that day, was comedian Ken Dodd, and the compère was Arthur Scott. Also on the bill, in order of appearance were, 'The Dusty Road Ramblers', Les Arnold, Joe Cordova, Dunn and Markey, Bob McGrady, Lennie Rens, Shirley Gordon, Bert King, 'The Eltones', 'The Beatles', Dennis Horton and Gladys Ambrose, Jackie Owen and the Joe Royal Trio, Edna Bell, Jim Gretty and Denis Smerdon. 

Co-incidentally, the show was produced by a certain George Martin ( no, not The George Martin', but a local ambulance driver ).

'The Beatles' were the first act on following the interval. With NEMS selling tickets for the event Brian Epstein had been given 2 complimentary tickets but didn't attend. The Albany stage was reportedly huge and the front row audience was dominated by local authority figures, not 'The Beatles' sort of audience at all. The place was cold and only a third full and, unable to project themselves in a large auditorium, they died a death. Given the poor performance of 'The Beatles' that afternoon, Ken Dodd had even complained about their terrible act, it was a blessing that Brian Epstein was in Spain at the time. Later that evening they performed in smaller, more familiar surroundings at Hambleton Hall in Huyton.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2017/10/mersey-beat-st-johns-hall-bootle.html