The Beatles in Wakefield: What really happened when The Beatles visited a Wakefield cinema in 1963
As the first cast photos for The Beatles’ upcoming individual biopics are released, we looked back at the band’s suprising show in Wakefield – which happened months before they found global stardom.
‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’ is a series of four upcoming biographical films set to be released in 2028.
The four films follow each band member and their lives and careers throughout their time in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band.
The Beatles appeared as the supporting act on singer Helen Shapiro’s first UK tour – which stopped in Wakefield on February 7, 1963, with a performance at the landmark ABC Cinema, on Kirkgate.
This was the first English tour for The Beatles, which lasted from February 2 until March 3, 1963, months before the Liverpool band found global stardom.
The Beatles were fourth on an eleven-act bill headed by 16-year-old singer, Helen Shapiro, alongside other acts like Red Price Band, The Kestrels, The Honeys (UK), Dave Allen, Kenny Lynch and Danny Williams.
Helen was only 14 when she recorded the hit single, ‘Walkin’ Back To Happiness’ in 1961, launching her into the public eye and making her England’s top selling female artist in the early 1960s.
While the band had ‘Love Me Do’ on the charts at the time, they were mostly unknown.
Arthur Howes, one of Britain’s leading concert promoters, offered the Beatles £30 a night to be a part of the Helen Shapiro tour.
The iconic Wakefield cinema was the fourth stop on a 14 location tour following shows in Bradford, Doncaster and Bedford.
The Beatles’ typical set list for the shows began with ‘Chains’, (sung by George Harrison), ‘Keep Your Hands Off My Baby’, (John Lennon), ‘A Taste of Honey’ (Paul McCartney) and ‘Please Please Me’. (John Lennon/Paul McCartney).
Since then, band members John Lennon and Paul McCartney have said that they wrote the song ‘Misery’ for her (Shapiro), but her producer, Norrie Paramor, turned it down.
The song instead ended up on the band’s 1963 debut album ‘Please Please Me’.
In 1995, during an episode of ‘This Is Your Life’, which looked back on her career, Helen said: "It was actually turned down on my behalf before I ever heard it, actually.
"I never got to hear it or give an opinion.
"It's a shame, really."
Wakefield’s ABC Cinema was a staple within the district, and was a hotspot for locals for decades.
It first opened as the Regal in December 1935 and was renamed the ABC in 1962, a year before the performance.
Sadly, the cinema has since been demolished to make way for a green space.
‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’ will see each film release simultaneously in cinemas on April 7, 2028.