Lot 65 – The Beatles 1963 Cancelled Dunstable Performance Contract With Brian Epstein Signed Letters & Correspondence (UK)

Description

A truly fascinating cache of material relating to the cancelled Beatles concert that was due to have taken place at the California Ballroom, Dunstable, England on 9th February 1963. It concerns a dispute that occurred between Brian Epstein and a promoter named Mr. E. W. Green who made the initial booking through the Roy Tempest Organisation. This agency had entered into an agreement with Brian Epstein in which it would try to find bookings for NEMS acts.
The collection consists of the following material:
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 18th March 1963. The letter refers to the possibility of changing the date of The Beatles performance at the California Ballroom, a possible reduction in the fees of the two groups and also a question relating to the availability of Gerry And The Pacemakers.
A one page letter on NEMS Enterprises Ltd. Liverpool letterhead paper dated 21st March 1963 which was sent to E. W. Green that details the availability of both Gerry And The Pacemakers and The Beatles and also the fee charged for each group. The letter has been signed by a NEMS staff member on behalf of Brian Epstein.
A one page letter from E. W. Green in response to the letter listed above to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 25th March 1963. The letter indicates Mr. Green’s surprise at the fees now being charged to book The Beatles and Gerry And The Pacemakers in view of the fact his initial booking fee for The Beatles was only £60.00. The letter also suggests that there might be a possibility that the Roy Tempest Organisation might not do business with the NEMS organisation again.
A one page letter on NEMS Enterprises Ltd. Liverpool letterhead paper dated 26th March in which Brian Epstein responds directly and somewhat angrily to the letter he received from E. W. Green on 25th March. Brian outlines the current situation with regards to bookings for both The Beatles and Gerry And The Pacemakers at the rates quoted. He argues that he is not ‘Cashing in’ on the group’s success and that he can easily get £250 per booking for The Beatles on a weekday and more on a weekend. The letter has been signed by Brian Epstein in blue ink.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 27th March 1963 in which Mr. Green replies to Brian Epstein letter on the 26th Match 1963. He goes on to accept the new fees and requests contracts to book both The Beatles and Gerry and The Pacemakers and also possibly one other group.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 3rd April 1963 in which Mr. Green again makes a request to book The Beatles on 6th July 1963 and 28th July 1963.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 5th April 1963 in which Mr. Green threatens to report Brian Epstein to the various associations and journals in the music industry unless he gets a reply to his letter.
A one page letter on NEMS Enterprises Ltd. Liverpool letterhead paper dated 6th April 1963 in which the NEMS employee O. Johnson replies to Mr. Green in Brian Epstein’s absence. The letter states that due to the ill feeling that now exists between the parties that Brian Epstein would prefer not to allow Mr. Green to book either The Beatles or Gerry And The Pacemakers. The letter has been signed by O. Johnson in blue ballpoint pen.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 8th April 1963 in which Mr. Green refuses to accept Brian Epstein’s decision arguing that they already have a signed contract booking The Beatles. Mr. Green goes on to request the return of the contract and states that he intends to take further action on the matter.
A two page draft letter on E. W. Green letterhead paper to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 19th April 1963 in which Mr. Green expresses his regret at not being able to book The Beatles or Gerry And The Pacemakers. He then goes into further detail outlining the previous booking he had made with regards to Gerry And The Pacemakers performing and he also mentions that he has incurred financial loss due to the cancellation of The Beatles performance. Finally he expresses his dissatisfaction in strongest terms about the way Brian Epstein has conducted the matter.
The final draft of the above two page letter that was sent by E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 19th April 1963.
A two page letter on NEMS Enterprises Ltd. Liverpool letterhead paper that is dated 30th April 1963 in which Brian Epstein expresses his regret at the bookings for The Beatles and Gerry And The Pacemakers falling through and also mentions his regret at the misunderstanding regarding the initial booking with the Roy Tempest Organisation. Brian states that The Beatles had already been booked on the Helen Shapiro UK tour. He maintains that the contract with Gerry And The Pacemakers does not have any relevance in relation to other bookings. The letter has been signed by a NEMS staff member on behalf of Brian Epstein.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 23rd May 1963 in which Mr Green accepts that he cannot book Gerry and The Pacemakers but goes on to request the return of The Beatles contract to prevent any further misunderstanding. Finally Mr. Green states that he has some availability in September and October and he requests the possibility of a meeting with Brian Epstein.
A one page letter from E. W. Green to Brian Epstein at NEMS dated 10th June 1963 in which Mr. Green claims that he has still not yet received The Beatles contract back.
A one page letter on NEMS Enterprises Ltd. Liverpool letterhead paper dated 13th June 1963 in which Brian Epstein states that he has enclosed the cancelled Beatles contract. The letter has been signed by Brian in black ink.
The original cancelled Roy Tempest Organisation performance contract which was drawn up on 14th November 1962 between E. W. Green and the R. T. Entertainments for the Beatles to appear at the California Ballroom, Dunstable, England 9th February 1963 at 8.00pm. The contract has been signed by Roy Tempest in blue ink.
The cancelled contract measures 20cm x 33cm (8 inches x 13 inches). There is wear and tear in places and some writing at the bottom. The condition is good.
Each E. W. Green letter measures 20.25cm x 25.25cm (8 inches x 10 inches). The condition is very good.
Each NEMS letter measures 17.5cm x 22.5cm (6.9 inches x 8.8 inches). The condition is very good plus.
Some of the letters have white tape along the top edge on the reverse.
Provenance: accompanied by a detailed letter from the son of the owner of the California Ballroom that reads ‘I am Cedric Green the son of Edwin Walter Green who was founder and owner of the California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, which opened as a dance hall in 1960 and became one of the well-known venues throughout 1960’s and early 70’s.
It is well documented that most prominent UK and American bands, groups and artists played at this venue, bands such as Ike and Tina Turner, Walker brothers, PJ Proby, Kinks and the Rolling Stones.
In 1962 a contract was secured through Roy Tempest Entertainments, a well-established and respected agent, that contracted the Beatles to appear on 9-02-63, at the California Ballroom for the princely sum of £60. Within the contract was a clause that the Beatles must not appear within a 25-mile radius of the Dunstable venue on that date.
Sometime prior to the performance my father became aware that the Beatles were due to appear at the Odeon theatre in Luton on that day, which was in breach of contract, it later transpired that this was part of the Odeon tour throughout the UK secured by Brian Epstein.
The attached correspondence is from Nems Enterprises, Brian Epstein’s office in Liverpool, some signed by Brian Epstein and some by my father Edwin Walter Green.
This arrangement was never publicised although my father did intimate to Brian Epstein that he would make it known to the media unless he received a satisfactory outcome to the situation, this is documented in the correspondence. Confirmation of this is within the correspondence.
I have held this contract since my father died in 1964’.
RESERVE £8,000.00