In 1963 Morten Gronermann founded a Beat Club that primarily arranged concerts and dances at the Ryttergården in Klampenborg near Copenhagen. However, after meeting Jens Bendtsen, Gronemann wanted to try something new. Bendtsen and his friends were enthusiastic about The Beatles, so it was decided to establish a dedicated Beatles fanclub.
Program from the Beatclub at Ryttergården
BeatlesClub info
'The Beatles Fan Club Of Copenhagen' was officially founded on February 1st, 1964 by Jens Bendtsen (president) and Morten Gronemann (chairman), with address in Küchlersgade in Copenhagen. Yearly subscription fee was 4 Danish kroner. The Club quickly gained subdivisions in Slagelse 'The Beatles Fan Club of Sjælland (Zealand)' with Fritz Ørnbo as chairman, and in Esbjerg 'Esbjerg Beatles Fan Club' with Jørgen Kristiansen as chairman.
The Copenhagen Club started out with around 250 members, and quickly grew to around 1000 members in total, subdivisions included. First magazine was published in March 1964. In April the club grew to around 1600 members in total. According to the daily newspaper BT, on April 28, the total number of registered club members in Denmark was 2519.
In May more subdivisions were established. In Odense with Grethe Johansen as chairman, in Struer with Bruno Nordengård as chairman and in Aalborg with Hans Jørgen Andersen as Chairman. Another fan club was founded in Aarhus with no association with the Copenhagen Club (see other section).
It was possible to get a 10 percent discount on Beatles records if ordered via the club. The club also sold foreign magazines and Beatles souvenirs.
The first club meeting and dance was held on March 25th, 1964 in Vanløse Kulturgård, where The Typhoones entertained from 8pm to 1am, and next Peter Belli and The Brittles from 1am to 4am. 252 fans attended.
President Jens Bendtsen and Chairman Morten Gronemann both attended The Beatles concert in K.B. Hallen. Here they are pictured with Anne Grehte Hartvig Hansen, who took over the Copenhagen club i 1965.
From left Anne Grethe Hartvig Hansen, Jens Bendtsen and Morten Gronemann
In the summer an information center was established, so you could either phone or write to the club, if you had any Beatles qestions.
The club was mentioned on the back of 1 Danish single (R5200), and 3 Danish EPs (GEOS222, GEP8920 and GEOS225).
Back of R5200
In the August magazine, four additional magazines were announced, however they were never issued, and all club activity allegedly stopped in September 1964.