The Beatles perform four songs for Swedish TV’s ‘Drop In’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 30 1963)


Video: 'The Beatles Live At 'Drop In' , Stockholm, Sweden (30th October 1963) (Full Show)'

(Wednesday, October 30, 1963, 7:00 p.m. Central European Time) — Despite having completed their concert tour of Sweden the night before, The Beatles returned to Stockholm to record an appearance tonight on the Sveriges Television music show Drop In at SVT Studios for broadcast on Nov. 3, 1963.

The recording took place in front of a studio audience at the Arenateatern (arena theatre), a small theatre in Stockholm’s Gröna Lund amusement park.

The Beatles arrived for camera rehearsals in the afternoon, before taking lunch at a restaurant in nearby Solliden. John Lennon and Paul McCartney are said to have played a piano in the restaurant.


Video: 'The Beatles Backstage at Drop In - Color Home Movie - 30 October 1963'

The Beatles had intended to perform “She Loves You” and “Twist And Shout” on Drop In, but Swedish journalist Klas Burling persuaded them to keep the audience happy and play one more song. They launched into “I Saw Her Standing There,” after which co-host Kersti Adams-Ray attempted to start up the show’s theme tune.

The Beatles weren’t finished, however. Burling managed to talk them into playing one more song to round off the show. They played “Long Tall Sally,” after which they joined in with handclaps for the Drop In closing theme. Afterwards The Beatles were driven in a green police car to Stockholm’s Continental Hotel.

Home movie footage of the boys fooling around backstage at their Drop In appearance surfaced in 1995.