Video: 'The Beatles At The Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London - Meet and Greet + Concert - 14 December 1963'

(Saturday December 14, 1963, 4:00 p.m. GMT) — The Beatles gave a special concert this afternoon for members of their Southern Area Fan Club at the Wimbledon Palais in London.

The Palais management, fearing damage to the stage from the fans, built a platform for the group to stand on, and a steel cage to keep the crowds back.

The decision was a partial success: as John Lennon noted, in reference to the crush against the cage, “If they press any harder they’ll come through as chips.”

Afterwards, The Beatles stood behind the venue’s bar and shook hands with all 3,000 fans present, most of whom managed to contain their excitement. A few girls fainted, and The Beatles eventually had to stop giving out autographs when the line grew too long.

Also on or about this date, The Beatles were interviewed for French broadcaster RTF.

Video: 'The Beatles RTF Television Interview In Soho - 14 December 1963'

Filmed in London’s Soho district, close to Meard Street where a film production company called Reflex Films was located, the interview was designed to promote the sale of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” during the Beatles’ three-week stint at the Olympia in Paris next month.