Beatles for sale! Extraordinary memorabilia from when the fab four played York goes up for auction
When The Beatles played York, the gig was a sell-out.
But not everyone who had a ticket made it to the show.
Some remarkable memorabilia from The Beatles’ performance at The Rialto on 27 November 1963 has just emerged.
It includes a ticket to the ‘second house’ at 8.45pm – which was never used.
The untorn ticket, complete with portion to be ‘given up’ to those manning the doors at the Fishergate venue, is one of three items which have gone up for sale on The Saleroom website.
The ticket had a face value of ten shillings and sixpence, or 53p in modern money. That would make it worth about £9.25 today.
Stuck inside a book
Also on sale along with the ticket is a programme for the event and a promo photograph of The Beatles.
The seller of the memorabilia, who is based in Newton-Le-Willows on Merseyside, says the ticket was stuck inside a book “and as a result there is some residue/marking to the rear”.
The opening price for the lot is £240.
When The Beatles played on 27 November 1963 at the Rialto – which is where Mecca Bingo stands today – it was their fourth show at the venue in a matter of months.
They first appeared there in February, supporting Helen Shapiro, although she had flu and singer Danny Williams took her place.
Beatlemania gripped York
In March they were back as Chris Montez’s support. John Lennon was ill and could not play so the group performed for the only time in their career as a trio.
According to George Harrison they penned their first hit single From Me To You travelling in the van from that gig to Shrewsbury.
On May 29 they came back again with Roy Orbison topping the bill. By this time The Beatles had hit the headlines and the concert quickly sold out.
They only topped the bill on their fourth and final appearance in November. Before the concert they had a meal at the York Motel on Tadcaster Road.
Beatlemania gripped the city, with 1,400 in the Rialto and hundreds more chanting “We want Paul, George, John, Ringo” outside.
But one person didn’t make it to the show – the person who’s ticket is now up for sale, 56 years later.