The Beatles perform for ABC’s ‘Big Night Out’ television show in London 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1964)


Video: 'The beatles - At Television's "Big Night Out" 1964'

(Sunday, February 23, 1964, evening-10:30 p.m. GMT) — Despite having returned to England just the day before from their first trip to the U.S., The Beatles continued work tonight with an appearance on the ABC Television show Big Night Out before a studio audience in London.

They arrived at Teddington Studios in the morning for rehearsals. The Beatles took part in comedy sketches with hosts Mike and Bernie Winters, and mimed to six songs: “All My Loving,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “Till There Was You,” “Please Mister Postman,” “Money (That’s What I Want),” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”


Video: 'The Beatles Arriving For Big Night Out By Boat Along The Thames - ITN News - 23 February 1964'

One of the comedy routines, a skit on The Beatles’ return from the US, involved the group sailing down the River Thames, being driven this morning to the studio and arriving through a door marked “Customs.”

The river cruise section was also filmed by an ITN news crew, and George Harrison provided a commentary for the early evening bulletin which parodied the annual Oxford v Cambridge boat race.

This edition of Big Night Out was first broadcast on most of the ITV network on Feb. 29, 1964 from 6:35-7:25 p.m. All The Beatles’ songs except for “Money” were included.