TEENAGER’S TURN …HERE WE GO: THE BEATLES – FIRST TIME ON THE RADIO

March 7- Wednesday — Manchester, Playhouse Theatre, Teenager’s Turn…Here We Go 

The Beatles appeared on Radio for the first time. They record their BBC radio début wearing new suits made especially for them by Brian Epstein’s personal tailor, in light of the fact the BBC had insisted for years that its newscasters wear formal dinner suits to read the news, not quite as mad as it sounds. It certainly has the desired effect; the show’s producers think The Beatles look very professional. On the show with newly-smartened up Beatles is the renowned Northern Dance Orchestra, under the direction of Bernard Herrmann. The ‘old world’ of entertainment face-to-face with the ‘new’; and not for the last time.

March 8 – Thursday — The Beatles first ‘appearance’ on the radio | Teenager’s Turn is broadcast to listeners ‘oop North on the BBC Light Programme from 5:00 p.m. – 5:29 p.m.

“I hate Teddy Boys. Always causing trouble, they are.”

“I bloody hate them, too, Sandra. And, look, I’m sorry about all this. So, let’s just talk about us and sod everybody else, okay? Hey, for a start, we’ve been invited to Sam Leach’s engagement party, a week Saturday. Knowing Sam, it’ll probably go on all night. So will that be okay with your mum and your dad?”

Sandra nodded. “I’ll just tell them that I’m staying over at Thelma’s. And if she and Jimmy end up going, she’ll tell her mam, she’s staying with me.” She looked up and smiled. “I’m okay, now, Spike. Honest.”

“Good. But there’s more. Right before the party, Sam’s going to put on a special show at Knotty Ash Village Hall with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, and The Beatles…and guess what¼we’re going to be there.”

The Beatles On The Radio Soon

“Oh, that’ll be fab,” she said, hugging his arm. “But look at the time, The Beatles will be on the radio soon.”

“Into the front-room. I’ll switch on the radiogram. It’s their first time on the Light Programme. People were saying in Hessy’s that The Beatles recorded all their songs yesterday, in Manchester. I tell you, I couldn’t be more excited if it was me on the radio.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s ‘Teenagers Turn…Here We Go’. And this week, on the show, along with Bernard Herrman and The Northern Dance Orchestra, we present Brad Newman, The Trad Lads, and The Beatles pop group. So teenagers, everywhere, it’s your turn, now. And so, here…we…go!”

Sandra and Spike sat, ears glued to the radio for the next half-hour. Sat patiently through the dance orchestra, the ballad singer, and the Trad-jazz band—everything so boring and old-fashioned. And then suddenly they heard The Beatles singing ‘Dream Baby’, ‘Memphis Tennessee’, and ‘Please Mister Postman’. And they imagined the lads in the radio studio and sang along with their every word. Dreaming sweet dreams. Pleading for long distance information to connect them to a number in Tennessee. Imploring Mister Postman to please, please, wait—wait for just one more minute—please, please.

Liverpool Resurgent

Then it was all over. And as all the cheering and clapping of the teenagers in the studio audience washed over them, the two young lovers sat staring into each other’s eyes. Smiling. Knowing. Happy together, because without even saying a single word they both knew something very important had just happened between them. Hearing The Beatles on the BBC, like that, somehow marked the start of a new future for them, too. ‘Liverpool Resurgent’, no less, and in their lifetimes. Sandra toyed with her hair, looked away. “Spike, if we were ever parted for a long time, would you write me a letter every day?”

“Course, I would, San. Only, I’m not the one always going on about getting away to London, am I? That’s you.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve got my reasons and the only reason I’m still here, Spike Jones, is because of you.”

“Well, in that case,” said Spike. “You better stay for tea and meet me mam. She’s dying to meet you.”

Sandra turned and bit her lip and pulled him to her and gently kissed him. And they stood, arms locked around one another, kissing, passionately, for ten minutes or more, before they slowly descended to the sofa and then to the living room carpet.

This is an excerpt from Tony Broadbent‘s excellent book, The One After 9:09. Get your copy now.