bobsummers
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
See interesting info below, might see you there?
Show to mark 50th anniversary of The Beatles at The Ritz in Kings Heath on Friday 15th from 12.30pm
The Ritz and The Beatles in 1963. Right: the venue is now a Cash Converters.
It was a time when Beatlemania was just dawning – and the four, who were already fab, played a small Birmingham ballroom.
The concert at The Ritz, in Kings Heath, had been booked before the group had really taken off – but, by the time of the show, single Please Please Me had just been released.
That meant hordes of girls were lying in wait at the small venue and when they arrived, the band was forced to climb over a fence at the back to get in.
In fact, legend has it, that the Fab Four were only three when the numbers were counted on their arrival.
George Harrison, it seemed, was in the process on being hauled out of a cab by a mob of screaming girls, after he arrived late. Luckily he was rescued and the band were ready to go on for the delayed show.
Now, to mark the 50th anniversary of the concert, on February 15, 1963, a show is being planned with local musicians playing their favourite Beatles songs.
Unfortunately, The Ritz Ballroom in York Road is long gone and is now a Cash Converters, so the event will take place in Fletcher’s Bar, opposite the original venue.
But the original concert is well remembered in the area by those who witnessed the dawning of Beatlemania.
The gig had originally been booked for Janaury 11 but heavy snow stopped the band making the 11-mile journey from The Plaza in Old Hill, near Dudley, where they had performed earlier that day.
Please Please Me was released the same day and, 24 hours later, they appeared with the song on TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. That meant The Beatles were hot property by the time they finally honoured their date at The Ritz.
Owner Joe Regan made them tea and sandwiches before he realised George was missing – and went to rescue him from the fans. The Ritz was one of four Midland venues run by Irish couple Joe and his wife Mary.
After eating their sandwiches the band began to practise – which didn’t go down well with Joe. According to accounts at the time he is said to have shouted: “Tell them to turn that racket down”.
But Joe was a good negotiator – he persuaded their manager Brian Epstein to allow them to perform for their previously agreed fee, even though they had stormed the charts in the intervening period.
After the gig, Paul and George wrote a personal message to one adoring fan in her autograph book, “To Janet, love from the Beatles”, and signed their names with three kisses. Forty three years later the autographs were auctioned at Christie’s.
Bob Prew and Ken Whittaker, who campaign to recognise the musical heritage of Kings Heath, said: “We want as many as people as possible to come along on February 15 to celebrate a key event in Kings Heath’s musical history.
On September 14 will also be organising a similar event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones playing the Ritz.
“We will also be creating new plaques on our Walk of Stars for Fuzzbox’s Jo Dunne and The Move guitarist Trevor Burton following on from the first last year for Kings Heath-born Toyah Willcox.
“All the money raised from the Beatles event will go towards establishing the Walk of Fame as a registered charity.”
The Ritz has already been recognised by Birmingham Civic Society with a musical heritage plate, unveiled in June to recognise how large a part the venue played in the city’s pop heritage.
Many of the major artists of the 1960s played there at the start of their careers including Robert Plant on April 24, 1966, The Kinks on June 11, 1966, and Pink Floyd on December 16, 1967.
The ballroom closed in the early 1970s when the Regans converted it into a bingo hall. Joe died in 2004 and his wife in 2008, and the vacant building became a Cash Converters.
Tickets only cost £2.50 and can either be purchased on the door or in advance from the Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road. Space is limited so booking is advisable.
.
Musicians interested can email [email protected]
Show to mark 50th anniversary of The Beatles at The Ritz in Kings Heath on Friday 15th from 12.30pm
The Ritz and The Beatles in 1963. Right: the venue is now a Cash Converters.
It was a time when Beatlemania was just dawning – and the four, who were already fab, played a small Birmingham ballroom.
The concert at The Ritz, in Kings Heath, had been booked before the group had really taken off – but, by the time of the show, single Please Please Me had just been released.
That meant hordes of girls were lying in wait at the small venue and when they arrived, the band was forced to climb over a fence at the back to get in.
In fact, legend has it, that the Fab Four were only three when the numbers were counted on their arrival.
George Harrison, it seemed, was in the process on being hauled out of a cab by a mob of screaming girls, after he arrived late. Luckily he was rescued and the band were ready to go on for the delayed show.
Now, to mark the 50th anniversary of the concert, on February 15, 1963, a show is being planned with local musicians playing their favourite Beatles songs.
Unfortunately, The Ritz Ballroom in York Road is long gone and is now a Cash Converters, so the event will take place in Fletcher’s Bar, opposite the original venue.
But the original concert is well remembered in the area by those who witnessed the dawning of Beatlemania.
The gig had originally been booked for Janaury 11 but heavy snow stopped the band making the 11-mile journey from The Plaza in Old Hill, near Dudley, where they had performed earlier that day.
Please Please Me was released the same day and, 24 hours later, they appeared with the song on TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. That meant The Beatles were hot property by the time they finally honoured their date at The Ritz.
Owner Joe Regan made them tea and sandwiches before he realised George was missing – and went to rescue him from the fans. The Ritz was one of four Midland venues run by Irish couple Joe and his wife Mary.
After eating their sandwiches the band began to practise – which didn’t go down well with Joe. According to accounts at the time he is said to have shouted: “Tell them to turn that racket down”.
But Joe was a good negotiator – he persuaded their manager Brian Epstein to allow them to perform for their previously agreed fee, even though they had stormed the charts in the intervening period.
After the gig, Paul and George wrote a personal message to one adoring fan in her autograph book, “To Janet, love from the Beatles”, and signed their names with three kisses. Forty three years later the autographs were auctioned at Christie’s.
Bob Prew and Ken Whittaker, who campaign to recognise the musical heritage of Kings Heath, said: “We want as many as people as possible to come along on February 15 to celebrate a key event in Kings Heath’s musical history.
On September 14 will also be organising a similar event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones playing the Ritz.
“We will also be creating new plaques on our Walk of Stars for Fuzzbox’s Jo Dunne and The Move guitarist Trevor Burton following on from the first last year for Kings Heath-born Toyah Willcox.
“All the money raised from the Beatles event will go towards establishing the Walk of Fame as a registered charity.”
The Ritz has already been recognised by Birmingham Civic Society with a musical heritage plate, unveiled in June to recognise how large a part the venue played in the city’s pop heritage.
Many of the major artists of the 1960s played there at the start of their careers including Robert Plant on April 24, 1966, The Kinks on June 11, 1966, and Pink Floyd on December 16, 1967.
The ballroom closed in the early 1970s when the Regans converted it into a bingo hall. Joe died in 2004 and his wife in 2008, and the vacant building became a Cash Converters.
Tickets only cost £2.50 and can either be purchased on the door or in advance from the Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road. Space is limited so booking is advisable.
.
Musicians interested can email [email protected]
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