Mersey Beat - The Locarno

The Locarno, now The Olympia, was a well-known ballroom in the city, standing side by side with The Grafton in West Derby Road. It was built in 1905 and opened by Moss Empires as an indoor circus and variety theatre. The auditorium is one of the largest in Liverpool and it was able to accommodate 3,750 people in the stalls and three balconies, and had a stage 15 metres wide and 12 metres deep. In 1925 the theatre was bought by Savoy Cinemas and converted to a cinema, subsequently leased to ABC during World War Two it was used as a naval depot.

Sold to Mecca in 1948 it was converted into a ballroom and was renamed The Locarno. Here there was a dance held each Monday night at which local bands appeared, with an entrance fee of 2/6d, (12.5p), it was well frequented in the 1960s as there weren't many other places open on a Monday evening.

'Rory Storm & The Hurricanes' played there as early as the 6th of August 1959 and the only time 'The Beatles' played here was on the 14th of February, 1963 at a special Valentine's dance when they performed 'Chains', 'Keep Your Hands Off My Baby','A Taste Of Honey' and 'Please Please Me'. This was when they were the support act for Helen Shapiro on tour, although half way through the tour they had a break to do their own thing and this was one of those nights. They eventually became so well known, and not wanting to embarrass the star of the show, Helen Shapiro who they really liked, they left the tour to be replaced by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan.

It is also possible that 'The Quarrymen' performed at this venue at one of the regular skiffle contests held there in the late 1950s.
In 'Gerry & The Pacemakers' classic film, ‘Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey’, the climactic music contest shown was filmed here at the Locarno Ballroom.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2017/11/mersey-beat-mardi-gras.html