Last month I posted an article in which both the Associated Press and the UK’s British Movietone had obtained over 500,000 digitally restored newsreel footage videos. The massive amount of clips is from all categories of history, dating from 1895 to the present.
Well, both outlets have now gradually begun uploading the treasure trove to their respective YouTube channels. (links below)
Among the archival material is footage of The Beatles – primary from the early days in their hometown of Liverpool, England.
Having now visited both channels, I found one of their previously promoted new clips – hundreds of fans of The Beatles conducting a massive protest outside The Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1973. It was aimed at then-British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, whose government had ordered the building whose cellar housed the famous ‘home’ of The Beatles be closed in order to construct a new ventilation shaft for the underground train.
That video in a minute. But first, a brief history of The Cavern –
Originally opening as a jazz club in January, 1957 at 10 Mathew St., Liverpool, it soon switched to the new sound of British pop and rock’n’roll.
It eventually became the iconic home of The Fab Four, as well as other fellow Liverpool ‘beat groups’ like The Swingin’ Blue Jeans, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas and Gerry & The Pacemakers – all of whom went on to achieve success as part of The British Invasion.
The entrance to the original Cavern Club
As mentioned, it was ordered closed and torn down on March, 1973.
Demolition of the structure began on June 5, 1973, but only the street level of the building was destroyed, with the actual Cavern Club being filled with the rubble.
Oddly, the intended underground air shaft was never built, but the property remained as a parking lot constructed after the demolition.
However, in 1983, using many of the original bricks – and according to the original design – a new Cavern Club was constructed, again at 10 Mathew St.
It reopened in April of 1984, and, although suffering through three bankruptcies, it’s still running today.
The new Cavern Club opened in 1984
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CAVERN CLUB PROTEST
Liverpool, UK
1973
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I also found some other Beatles/Cavern Club videos of interest – although these are NOT part of the new stash being uploaded.
THE BEATLE AT THE CAVERN CLUB
(with Original Drummer Pete Best)
Liverpool, UK
1962
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An audio interview from 1964, with both the former original Cavern Club doorman, Paddy Delaney, (who was also the last to leave the club prior to its demolition) as well as the parents of George Harrison.
INTERVIEW with PADDY DELANEY / GEORGE’S PARENTS
(Original Cavern Club Doorman)
Liverpool, UK
1964
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0o1p13eLlg
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DEMOLITION of THE CAVERN
Liverpool, UK
June 5, 1973
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Link: Cavern Club History
BEATLES SITES
Liverpool, UK
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Link: AP Archive
Link: British Movietone
