This was the chaotic scene when pop star PJ Proby visited Oxford.

Girls turned up in their hundreds to welcome their American hero to the New Theatre.

The picture above shows the crowd outside the theatre in George Street in 1965 as they waited to take their seats.

Proby – real name James Marcus Smith – had a colourful career in the 1960s.

The star, inset, became notorious for splitting his trousers at the knee during his performances, sending his fans into a frenzy but causing consternation among theatre proprietors.

The hysteria led to him being banned from at least one venue. However, it was good, clean fun when the singer appeared in two shows on one night in Oxford.

Oxford Mail diarist Anthony Wood, who attended the first, wrote: “The screams began when the compere walked on from the wings carrying a pair of size nine white shoes with silver buckles. Then came the build-up (‘the man you’ve all been waiting for’), accompanied by more screams and an 11-piece band.

“Eventually in white satin, shirt and trousers, his long black hair tied with a white Tom Jones bow and his feet in those shoes, the man himself stood on the stage.

“He worked his pelvis as hard as his voice during a 35-minute act.”

Afterwards, the Mail writer was invited backstage to meet PJ.

He found the star lying on a couch with a small glass of port, with sweat streaming down his face.

More than 500 teenagers flocked to the stage door hoping to catch a glimpse of their idol. However, PJ stayed put, preferring to rest before unleashing himself before another swarm of screaming girls at the second performance an hour later.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in the picture above, or remember the shows?

Let me know.