The Day The Beatles Came To Dublin

Page 2

- The Press Conference -

After resting up at the Gresham Hotel, The Beatles were to hold a press conference at the Adelphi. One reporter in the crowd outside the Adelphi was Frank Hall, and he began interviewing the screaming, hysterical fans about their heroes, their ‘undying love’ and their favourite Beatle. The same story prevailed down the line until one girl seemed rather quieter than the rest. Asked what did she think of The Beatles, she replied in a very distinct Dublin accent "They’re all right".

'Puzzled' Frank, asks why had she had come to see them. The reply: "I’m not. I’m waiting to buy tickets for Helen Shapiro next week!

"Meanwhile The Beatles were to get their first taste of the near-hysteria that was to follow when The Beatles held their Press reception in the late-after-noon.

When some teenagers, mostly girls, spotted the four young men stepping from their chauffeur driven car, they rushed forward screaming. About 15 Gardai were present to hold back the ever-increasing crowds as they pressed against the Adelphi doors. It turned out to be a most haphazard affair, with The Beatles signing autographs and answering anybody that happened to ask a question.

Eventually, most of the non-presses were ejected and it became possible to have a word with these four young men from Liverpool, who looked like being able to retire before they are very much older.

One of them, George Harrison spent some of the afternoon seeking and finding a tribe of Irish cousins. Paul McCartney said: "Some one told me I could get an Irish McCartney Tartan. Did you ever hear the like?"

How much money do they earn? (and let it be said that they earn it in a hard craft). Paul McCartney says that he doesn’t know, but they have been paid up to £2,000 for a one-night stand before now. He doesn’t have a car because "Thanks to Mr. Marples I’ve been had-up three times for speeding.

"Ringo Starr said he liked "girls, drums and cars" as his hobbies. He found it difficult to write his name because of the two rings on his right hand - one the size of a small apple - but he agreeably went through the formula of once again telling what he knew about show business. Mind you, he is at a complete loss as to what makes The Beatles tick. But neither he nor his colleagues are too disturbed about the answer if the lucrative wave continues.

Alun Owen, whose play, "A Little Winter Love," was the highlight of the Dublin Theatre Festival, was with The Beatles in Dublin. He is writing a film script about them and says: "A great bunch of lads, Why not? We all come from the same area of Liverpool."

How long will their successes last? A final word from Paul McCartney: "It could end to-morrow - but I hope it won’t."

- Out Side The Adelphi -
- Scene One -

The crowds gathered again an hour before the 6.30pm show and again Gardai lined the street on both sides in the vicinity of the theatre to keep order. Motorists were warned not to park their vehicles in the locality and most business firms shuttered their windows hours before the show started. Several cars were damaged, however, when youths climbed on the roofs. Some plate-glass windows also were smashed.

After the fans had packed the Adelphi, things outside were very quiet while the first show got under-way. But by the time the first show was over, amazing scenes were to emerge.

It’s a pity some enterprising disc company didn’t arrange to make a ‘Live’ recording of the nights memorable beat show. An exciting, colourful package that would be extremely difficult to suppress for sheer entertainment value, it was an all-stops-out affair, with an audience to match the mood.

Liverpool’s attractive Vernon Girls contribute "Ain’t Gonna Kiss Ya", a somewhat faster but no less imaginative treatment of "Be My Baby’ than that of the Ronettes’ original. A deftly executed version of the plaintive "Passing Strangers" was succeeded by "Funny All Over’ and their current single at the time "Tomorrow Is Another Day", which lacks a sufficiently commercial sound.

The Brook Brothers opened with Neil Sedaka’s former hit "You Gotta Learn Your Rhythm And Blues." "Warpaint’ the number most associated with them, and the duo’s thoughtful interpretation of a country flavoured "Seven Daffodils" proved outstanding.

Peter Jay and The Jaywalkers, a seven-piece outfit, launched into "Do You Love Me?" to thunderous applause. Apart from there closing number, "Can Can 62", which spotlighted the group’s skilful drummer. They registered heavily with a slick medley of titles popularized by the Temperance Seven, Acquire Bilk, Russ Conway, The Shadows and other British notables.

The Kestrels have personality, poise and a compelling, pulsating style, especially evident during "There’s A Place" and the infectious "Green Green.

"If audience reaction is any criterion, the artists involved in this spectacular presentation are assured of greatly increased record sales and a wonderful reception whenever they choose to return to Dublin.

Frank Berry (Canada’s "Mad man of magic"), an unobtrusive yet invaluable compare, led the crowds in chanting "We want The Beatles!" until curtains parted to the strains of the Liverpudlians "I Saw Her Standing There", embellished by hand-clapping, cameras clicking and a couple of thousand voices singing along.A powerful delivery of "From Me To You" helped to build the tension, "All My Loving" provided a useful preview of their second LP.

After Ringo Starr’s feverish "Boys" the pace stacked for the sentimental "Till There Was You", from Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" - a rather unexpected, though a welcome choice. Their Gold Disc award winner, "She Loves You’; was virtually obscured by unrestrained cheering. (Come to think of it, who heard more than a dozen words from The Beatles?).Up to the final five minutes, the ushers managed to keep the huge audience under control, although, for a time many left their seats on the balcony to "Twist" in the aisles.

When the show was almost over and the Liverpool group was singing one of it more famous hits, "Twist And Shout," hundreds in the stalls rushed from their seats and ran to the stage.

The attendants were powerless and were crushed. An aggressive teenager snatched a torch from one of the ushers and threw it onto the stage. Papers and programmes were also thrown. Many more stood on their seats, clapping and stamping their feet. The din was deafening and seldom could the artists be heard at all.

At this stage, the curtain dropped altogether and the safety curtain was brought down also as a precaution.

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