Sunday 11 August 1963 | ABC Theatre, Blackpool
The Beatles performed at the ABC Theatre in Blackpool on 11 August 1963. It was their third of five concerts at the venue between July and September 1963.
The group had performed at the Springfield Ballroom in Jersey the previous day. They arrived back in England at Manchester Airport, where they were greeted by Mal Evans — who formally began his employment with The Beatles on this day.
Mal Evans joins The Beatles
Mal Evans had been a familiar face to The Beatles long before 11 August 1963. He had worked as a bouncer at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where he had become friends with the group during their residency there. He was recruited as a road manager and personal assistant, working alongside Neil Aspinall, who had been with the group since their early Liverpool days.
Evans would remain a central part of The Beatles’ inner circle until the band’s dissolution in 1970. He was present at countless recording sessions, tours and events, and contributed to several Beatles recordings — most notably playing the alarm clock on ‘A Day In The Life’ and the anvil on ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’. He also co-wrote ‘You And Me (Babe)’ with Ringo Starr.
Evans was tragically shot and killed by Los Angeles police on 4 January 1976, aged 40, after brandishing an air rifle during a mental health crisis. His memoir, Living The Beatles Legend, was published posthumously in 2023.
The Beatles in 1963 — officially licensed merch
The Beatles Vintage With The Beatles T-Shirt (Black).
The Beatles at the ABC Theatre, Blackpool
The ABC Theatre on Church Street was one of Blackpool’s premier entertainment venues. The Beatles performed there five times in 1963, as part of a busy summer schedule that also included their 7 July appearance and further dates in August and September.
The summer of 1963 was the peak of pre-America Beatlemania. Please Please Me had spent 30 weeks at number one on the UK album chart, and the group were recording With The Beatles, which would be released in November 1963. Their manager Brian Epstein had carefully constructed a schedule — documented in the NEMS Enterprises engagement list signed by press officer Tony Barrow — that kept the group performing across Britain throughout the summer.
The line-up was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
The Beatles in 1963 — officially licensed merch
The Beatles With The Beatles Ladies T-Shirt (Black).
Key Facts
| Date | Sunday 11 August 1963 |
| Venue | ABC Theatre, Church Street, Blackpool |
| Appearance | 3rd of 5 concerts at this venue in 1963 |
| Line-up | John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr |
| Notable | Mal Evans formally began employment with The Beatles on this day |
The ABC Theatre, Church Street, Blackpool — where The Beatles performed five times in 1963.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times did The Beatles play the ABC Theatre, Blackpool?
The Beatles performed five times at the ABC Theatre in Blackpool between July and September 1963.
Who was Mal Evans?
Mal Evans was a road manager and personal assistant to The Beatles, who formally began his employment on 11 August 1963. He had previously worked as a bouncer at the Cavern Club. He remained with the group until 1970 and contributed to several recordings, including the alarm clock on 'A Day In The Life'. He died on 4 January 1976. His memoir, Living The Beatles Legend, was published posthumously in 2023.
Where had The Beatles been the day before the Blackpool show?
The Beatles had performed at the Springfield Ballroom in Jersey on 10 August 1963, the fourth night of their Channel Islands residency. They flew back to England, arriving at Manchester Airport before the Blackpool show.
What was The Beatles' schedule in summer 1963?
The Beatles' summer 1963 schedule was managed by Brian Epstein's NEMS Enterprises and documented in an engagement list signed by press officer Tony Barrow. It included dates across Britain from June to September, with residencies in Blackpool, Jersey, Weston-super-Mare and Llandudno.
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