Although The Beatles’ popularity had been growing steadily and to increasingly frantic heights throughout 1963, their appearance at the London Palladium on Sunday October 13, 1963 catapulted them into the attentions of the mainstream media, who coined the term "Beatlemania" to describe the scenes of screaming fans.

The Beatles' first booking with one of the leading ITV companies, Associated TeleVisioN, headed by LEw Grade, For so long a powerful figure in British show business. And What a debut - on the top-rated entertainment proGram of them all, Val ParNell'S "Sunday Night AT The London Palladium", fully networked live from the prestigious theatre IN the heart of London and seen by 15 million viewers at peak -time, 8:25 to 9:25 pm.  An appearance on THIS FAMOUS SHOW - especially as bill-toppers, as were the Beatles this night- was a mAJoR event and, for so many artists, the pinnacle of a career, even if, today, one almost wonders what the fuss was about.

All the same, it was certainly a remarkable appearance. The London Palladium, so-called "home of the stars", had never before witnessed the screaming fans who made themselves very audible not only inside but outside the theatre too, blocking Argyll Street and delighting photographers with ready-made front-page picture-stories for the next morning.

IT WAS THIS VERY NIGHT - AT THIS PRESTIGIOUS VENUE - The word "Beatlemania" was coined by Fleet Street writers to describe the scenes, and it remains in use today, and probably will forEver more.

THE BEATLES PERFORMING ON THE LIVE TELECAST OF
"SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM"
OCTOBER 13, 1963

THE YOUTH ELEMENT IN THE THEATRE WAS TEASED RIGHT FROM THE START WHEN, AGAINST TRADITION, THE BEATLES, THOUGH TOP-OF THE-BILL, APPEARED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW - ALBEIT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. COMPERE BRUCE FORSYTH THEN ANNOUNCED, "IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM AGAIN THEY'LL BE BACK IN 42 MINUTES...."

When they came back, to close the hour-long show, Forsyth rose above the screams to count down "5-4.3-2-1"  before the Beatles struck up "From Me To You". Thereafter they went into their by now well-oiled stage routine (even still, they had had a private rehearsal the previous evening).

Paul tried to introduce the next number "I'll Get You", John sent him up. Then John, Paul and George all spoke the next announcement together, stopping together and Re-starting together, until George carried it off alone, introducing "She Loves You". Then Paul tried to announce the closing number, John shouted at the screamers to "Shut up!".  the adults among the audience applauded, Paul asked people To clap their hands and stamp their feet, John went into his spastic imitations, and the group finally launched into "Twist And Shout".

The show ended, as ever, with the bill toppers joining the other acts (Brook Benton, Des O'Connor, host Brice Forsyth) on the revolving stage, waving at the audience and cameras while the resident Jack Parnell Orchestra played the theme tune 'Startime'.

The Beatles were clearly becoming a phenomenon - this TV appearance was actual covered by the late-evening ITN News, which had cameras in the group’s Palladium dressing room. The following day, meanwhile, newspaper reporters wrote breathless front-page stories about the screaming fans. The group’s status as a new phenomenon was confirmed, with "Beatlemania" dominating the airwaves and press for years to come.

PROUDLY OFFERED HERE IS AN 8" X 10" DEZO HOFFMAN QUADRANT STYLE PUBLICITY MERCHANDISING BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPHED ON THE REVERSE SIDE BY THE BEATLES. THIS STUNNING AND RATHER LARGE SET OF SIGNATURES WERE OBTAINED BY A POLICE OFFICER at The London Palladium, London, England on October 12, 1963 during The Beatles' rehearsals for their debut appearance THE FOLLOWING EVENING on Val Parnell's live television program "Sunday Night At The London Palladium" on October 13, 1963.

THE BEATLES HAVE SIGNED in blue ballpoint pen AND Each signature is EXTREMELY clear, SHARP, well spaced, bold and Vibrantly BRILLIANT. this set is a MOST EXCELLENT EXAMPLE FROM THIS PERIOD. THERE ARE NO RIPS OR TEARS TO THE PHOTOGRAPH, JUST THE USUAL HANDLING WEAR DUE TO AGE. THE SIGNATURES ARE NEAR MINT AND UNAFFECTED.

ACCOMPANIED BY LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM PAUL WANE OF TRACKS U.K. LTD., RENOWNED BEATLES AUTOGRAPH EXPERT AND SPECIALIST.

ALSO INCLUDES LETTER OF PROVENANCE FROM THE DAUGHTER OF THE ORIGINAL RECIPIENT OF THE AUTOGRAPHS, DETAILING THE SOURCE AND HISTORY OF THE ACQUISITION.
 

THE IMAGES ON THE QUADRANT PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY FAMED BEATLES PHOTOGRAPHER DEZO HOFFMAN DURING THE legendary PHOTO SESSION AT HIS WARDOUR STREET, LONDON STUDIO ON JUNE 20, 1963. FROM THIS SESSION, SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC AND RECOGNIZABLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BEATLES EMERGED: