Video: 'The Beatles Live At Granada Cinema, East Ham (9 November 1963)'

(Saturday, November 9, 1963, 6:45 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. GMT) — The Beatles performed tonight at the Granada Cinema in East Ham, London, on the eighth date of the rock music band’s 1963 Autumn Tour.

The scenes outside the venue were so chaotic that, when The Beatles requested food, the delivery person had to be accompanied by a police escort to make it through the crowds of fans.

Also present at the venue was Alun Owen, the screenwriter who had been shadowing The Beatles for the past three days. Owen was observing their lifestyle and characters, having been suggested by producer Walter Shenson to write a script for the group’s first, as-yet untitled, feature film.

Prior to the concert, the group’s recording producer George Martin gave The Beatles news from EMI that their forthcoming single, “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” was likely to have more than one million advance sales ahead of its release.