The Great Pop Prom was an annual fundraising event for the Printers’ Pension Corporation, promoted by the teen magazines Valentine, Marilyn and Roxy.

This 1963 edition, however, has gone down in history this was the first time that the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were on the same bill. They also performed together on 11 April 1965 at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London for a New Musical Express (NME) concert and on 2 other occasions.

Prior to the event the Rolling Stones and the Beatles did a photoshoot on the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps to the rear of the Hall. Paul McCartney later said; "Standing up on those steps behind the Albert Hall in our new gear, the smart trousers, the rolled collar. Up there with the Rolling Stones we were thinking, This is it - London! The Albert Hall! We felt like gods!"

The Rolling Stones, opening the show, performed from a small platform in the centre of the arena. Bass guitarist Bill Wyman remembers:

‘We opened the show, and The Beatles watched us. They told us years later that they were very nervous with the reception we got.’

Of course, the following years resulted in unprecedented success for both bands all around the world, but the lucky ticket holders on this September day in 1963 were treated to energetic performances from two bands on the brink of international superstardom.

Image is a reproduction of the programme from 1963.