Aintree Institute
Encyclopedia
The Aintree Institute was a live music venue in Aintree
, Liverpool
. From the late 1950s, the venue was associated with Liverpool's growing Merseybeat
scene.
. In an initial meeting in 1892, Hartley offered £1,000 (approximately £60,000 in 2005) towards a project that would see "all the Churches, from the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England down to the very smallest mission room ... enter into a Christlike compact to fight against evil in every form." After the institute's establishment, the hall was used by the Aintree Photographic Society as a club house and exhibition venue.
During the Second World War, black people were prohibited from entering
the hall. This was the result of a shooting and stabbing incident involving drunken black GIs.
In the early 1960s, promoter Bill Kelly (also of Lathom Hall
) hosted concerts at the Institute billed as "sensational jive dances". The Beatles
headlined a number of these evenings, billed as "The Dynamic Beatles" or the "Great Boppin' Beatles". The Beatles performed a total of 31 shows at the venue between 7 January 1961 and 27 January 1962. While at the club, it was common for some concertgoers to throw chairs at each other and at the band. The Beatles' final concert at the venue paid £15 (approximately £230 in 2005), but Brian Epstein
was furious when Kelly paid the group in loose change. Epstein felt this was an insult to the band, and never booked the band with Kelly again.
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. From the late 1950s, the venue was associated with Liverpool's growing Merseybeat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
scene.
History
The institute was founded in the 1890s by Sir William Pickles HartleySir William Pickles Hartley
Sir William Pickles Hartley , jam manufacturer and philanthropist, founded the Hartley's jam company. He was born in Colne, Lancashire and attended a local British and Foreign School Society school.-Biography:...
. In an initial meeting in 1892, Hartley offered £1,000 (approximately £60,000 in 2005) towards a project that would see "all the Churches, from the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England down to the very smallest mission room ... enter into a Christlike compact to fight against evil in every form." After the institute's establishment, the hall was used by the Aintree Photographic Society as a club house and exhibition venue.
During the Second World War, black people were prohibited from entering
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
the hall. This was the result of a shooting and stabbing incident involving drunken black GIs.
In the early 1960s, promoter Bill Kelly (also of Lathom Hall
Lathom Hall
Lathom Hall is a former cinema and music venue in Seaforth, Liverpool. Built in 1884, the venue became synonymous with Merseybeat in the 1960s.- Music venue :...
) hosted concerts at the Institute billed as "sensational jive dances". The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
headlined a number of these evenings, billed as "The Dynamic Beatles" or the "Great Boppin' Beatles". The Beatles performed a total of 31 shows at the venue between 7 January 1961 and 27 January 1962. While at the club, it was common for some concertgoers to throw chairs at each other and at the band. The Beatles' final concert at the venue paid £15 (approximately £230 in 2005), but Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
was furious when Kelly paid the group in loose change. Epstein felt this was an insult to the band, and never booked the band with Kelly again.