Footage from The Beatles’ first appearance on the British television show “Top of the Pops” in 1964 has been recovered after being lost for sixty years, a find described by fans as the “holy grail” of Beatlemania.
Film is Fabulous!, a film preservation group, announced on social media that it has unearthed a complete 35mm film of the band's March 19, 1964, performance at the BBC’s Television Theatre in London. The group performed “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “You Can’t Do That,” songs that were set to be released as a single the following day.
The recovered film includes four grainy takes of “Can’t Buy Me Love” and two takes of “You Can’t Do That,” along with banter and bloopers. The footage was reportedly given to the group by the family of a former industry professional. The BBC had routinely wiped and reused tapes at the time, leaving only fragments and negatives to survive for decades.
During breaks in filming, members of The Beatles, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, were observed joking and dancing. In one instance, Lennon made a funny face when a camera moved in for a close-up during a take of “You Can’t Do That.”
“Top of the Pops” was a prominent music program in the United Kingdom, known for its live performances, though bands often mimed their hit songs.
The original 35mm film will undergo restoration before being returned to the BBC archives, according to Film is Fabulous!. Discussions are ongoing regarding when and how the content will be made available to the public.
This discovery comes shortly before Global Beatles Day on June 25, an occasion when Apple Corps is scheduled to release a colorized version of the band's "All You Need Is Love" BBC broadcast online for the first time.