November 4, 1963: The Beatles at the Royal Variety Show

November 4, 1963: The Beatles appear at the annual Royal Variety Show at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Among the attendees is Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Among the other acts performing were actress Marlene Dietrich, doing her cabaret singing act; American songwriter Burt Bacharach; comedian Charlie Drake; Wifred Brambell (who would play Paul McCartney's grandfather in A Hard Day's Night) and Harry Corbett, as the sketch comedy duo Steptoe & Son, the basis for the U.S. TV show Sanford and Son; magician Harry Secombe; Joe Loss and his orchestra; singer Dickie Henderson; and singer Tommy Steele. 

Then the biggest musical act in Europe -- but not yet the world -- The Beatles played "From Me to You," "She Loves You" and "Till There Was You." They courted trouble when John Lennon told someone that said he would ask, prior to their closing number, a cover of The Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout," for the people in the cheaper seats to clap their hands, and for everyone else (who would be richer), to "rattle your fucking jewelry." In other words, he was going to use a profanity not just on live national television, but in front of the mother of the Queen of England.

After "Till There Was You," John told the crowd, "For our last number, I'd like to ask your help. Will the people in the cheaper seats, clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you'd just rattle your jewelry." The audience laughed, and the Queen Mother smiled. John gave the TV camera a cheeky smile and a thumbs-up gesture.

I'm guessing either Paul McCartney or manager Brian Epstein talked him out of it. Whatever caused him to not use the profanity, the result was that the teenagers screamed, the Queen Mum enjoyed herself, and there was no televised scandal.

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November 4, 1963 was a Monday. On the same day, with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy away, President John F. Kennedy let a photographer into the Oval Office, and a picture is taken of him playing with his children Caroline and John Jr. I have a separate entry for that event.

Baseball was out of season. Football was in midweek: There would be no Monday Night Football for another 7 years. The NBA and NHL seasons were underway, but no games were scheduled for either league on this day.