![The Beatles caught off guard]( "The Beatles caught off guard")
The Beatles caught off guard
Beatles in Blackpool - pictures never seen before
A MAGICAL Mystery Tour of photographs of The Beatles in Blackpool can be seen for the first time as part of a new exhibition in the resort.
The photographs were taken by an unknown photographer when The Beatles were recording an appearance at the ABC Theatre for television are part of the Showtown Exhibition. They are now on display in the Olympia Balcony of the Winter Gardens as part of the Shazam! festival of circus, magic and new variety.
"We don't know who took them and the owner of the material wants to remain anonymous," said Prof Vanessa Toulmin, director of the National Fairground Archive and curator of Admission All Classes, who has compiled the Showtown Exhibition.
"Basically they were purchased from someone in Blackpool many years ago, but we have no details of the photographer at all. It's a mystery – I did check with various sources but alas in vain.
"Now I'm hoping the photographs – which have never been on public display before will jog someone's memory."
Liverpool's Fab Four had strong links with Blackpool and played more than half a dozen gigs here at such venues as the Queen's Theatre and ABC.
During their Blackpool Night Out gig in August 1965, at the ABC, they played the song Yesterday for the first time on British TV.
The gig – which also features such favourites as I Feel Fine, Help! and I'm Down – featured on the Beatles' Anthology album and is an ever-popular download on web site YouTube.
The unseen Beatles pictures are part of a free exhibition which centres around 100 of the most iconic posters from Blackpool shows over the years.
The Showtown archive show posters feature many of the legions of international stars that have performed in Blackpool theatres – including Marlene Dietrich, The Stone Roses, Judy Garland, Bob Hope and Sammy Davis Jnr.
The exhibition runs throughout the Showzam! Festival, until February 24 and will be open from 11am to 4pm weekdays and 11am to 6pm at weekends.
Divided into five main sections, the 100 historical posters feature international stars, summer season shows, music and dance covering rock & roll, pop music and dance bands, comedians and shows that originated on television, radio and film.
The full article contains 374 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.Last Updated: 11 February 2008 7:11 AM
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/First-sight-of-new-Beatles.3762239.jp
