September 2024 - The Beatles Bookstore

Posted on 12/09/202412/09/2024 by Buzz — 2 Comments

YELLOW SUBMARINE AND MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR – A SIGNATURE POST

The Beatles personal involvement in Yellow Submarine was somewhat minimal. They did not even do their own voices in the animated feature until a cameo appearance at the end of the film. However, John Lennon did express frustration because he felt that some of the ideas that the Beatles had suggested for the film which were actually being used in the feature, were not being given the official acknowledgment that he felt was deserved.

As time passed and the Beatles fully came to the realization that this was becoming quite the unique groundbreaking and trailblazing animated film, they made a cameo appearance at the end of the feature! The film has received tremendous accolades over the years.

Years later Robert Zemeckis planned to do a darker version computer generated remake of the film but the project was abandoned when his studio closed shop:

Here is the story:

The Cursed History of The Beatles and Robert Zemeckis’ CGI ‘Yellow Submarine’ Movie (collider.com)

Possibly the most important contributor to the film “Yellow Submarine”, was Heinz Edelmann, whose character design set the tone for this marvelous fantasy feature. Below is a rare signature as Heinz rarely signed Yellow Submarine related items.

Heinz Edelmann was a Czechoslovakian/German illustrator and designer who passed away in 2009.

The voice of Paul:

Geoffrey William Hughes who passed away in 2012 was an English actor.

The voice of Fred: Lance Percival

John Lancelot Blades Percival who died in 2015, known as Lance Percival, was an English actor, comedian and singer.

The voices of Jeremy Hilary Boob, Lord Mayor, and Max: Dick Emery

Richard Gilbert Emery who passed away in 1983 was an English comedian and comic actor.

The voice of John: John Clive

John Clive who passed away in 2012, was an English actor and author.

Al Brodax

Instrumental in the creation of the Beatles Cartoon series, Al Brodax was also heavily involved in the creation of the film. Here is one of his signatures that I have:

Albert Philip Brodax who passed away in 2016, was an American film and television producer who in Beatles circles will always be remembered for his production of the Beatles cartoons and the highly successful Beatles animated film entitled “Yellow Submarine.”

Erich Wolf Segal who passed away in 2010 was an American author, screenwriter, and educator.

Erich Segal, a Yale University English professor and author who wrote the screenplay for the hit movie “Love Story”, was also involved as being one of the writers for the Yellow Submarine feature film. HIs involvement in the film according to several YS books was very stressful, but you will need to read the Bob Hieronimus “Yellow Submarine” books to find out why. This is one of Erich’s signatures in my collection:

While Mr. Segal was at Yale, the Yale Literary Magazine in their March 1968 issue did a feature cover story about the Beatles animated film. I acquired a copy of this magazine a few years ago and it can be very expensive to acquire now!

Considered the first Beatles failure, though in recent years there has been a reevaluation of the merits of the film.

Magical Mystery Tour

Nat Jackley as “The Rubber Man”:

Nat Jackley born as Nathaniel Tristram Jackley Hirsch passed away in 1988 was an English comic actor who starred in variety, film and pantomime from the 1920s to the mid-1980s.

Nat Jackley again:

Ivor Cutler: As well as being a comedic actor, Ivor was also a musician

Ivor Cutler born as Isadore Cutler, who passed away in 2006, was a Scottish poet, singer, musician, songwriter, artist and would also be considered a humorist.

The signature of Ivor Cutler:

Little Nicola –

Nikki Hale, courteously and kindly sent me these two signed photos. These two photos are respectfully dedicated to the memory of Nikki’s mom, Pamela Hale who passed away a few years ago.

Little Nicola Hale was only five years old when the magical Mystery Tour was filmed.

Vivian Stanshall, a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band:

Vivian Stanshall born as Victor Anthony Stanshall, passed away in 1995. He was an English singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet. He is best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Derek Royle as Jolly Jimmy:

Derek Stanley Royle who passed away in 1990 was a British actor.

Spencer Davis,

from the Spencer Davis group was on the Magical Mystery Tour:

Spencer Davis born as Spencer David Nelson Davies, who passed away in 2020, was a Welsh musician. He founded the Spencer Davis Group which had several hits.

Victor Spinetti had the best dialog in MMT! LOL….

Victor’s biographical information appears on several other posts on this blog.

Neil Innes

The late great Neil Innes signed this Rutles promo. He was also in MMT as a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Neil James Innes who passed away in 2019 was an English writer, comedian and musician. The songwriter in the Rutles, member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and a contributor to the Monty Python shenanigans!

What are your thoughts on Yellow Submarine and mAgical Mystery Tour? Did The Beatles deserve the criticism they got? Let me know in the comments.

BUZZ

Biography

Biographical books about The Beatles or those associated with them

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Posted on 11/09/202411/09/2024 by Buzz — 5 Comments

HELP! EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU…A LITTLE “HELP” COULD BE ON THE WAY!!!

This is part of one of the strangest items in my Beatles collection from the film Help! but strangely enough, one of the most appealing items to me. Several years ago on Ebay, I came across a Beatles collector located in NJ (New Jersey) who had a couple of scrapbooks for sale that featured the autographs/signatures of supporting actors and actresses from several of the Beatles movies. Some of these supporting actors like Eleanor Bron and Victor Spinetti played significant roles in the film. Many of the other actors/actresses only played small parts or simply were walk-ons.

Help! Film

However at the price that the collector was selling the scrapbooks at, I could not resist adding it to the collection. The theme of this post will be some of the signatures contained from the Beatles “Help!” film from the scrapbook. To me the item is special because it collects a good portion of the team of actors that contributed to the movie’s success. Gathering the signatures together to place them in a single document must have been a very difficult task. That is why it holds a special place for me in the collection!

Please note: Those who reside in the UK will have a much greater knowledge than me of the actors/actresses that are mentioned in the scrapbook that I was able to acquire. If you have additional information about them that you would like to share and that you would feel to be interesting to others, please share in the Comments section-Thank you!

Eleanor Bron as Ahme:

Eleanor Bron is an English stage, film and television actress, and an author!

Leo McKern as Clang:

Reginald “Leo” McKern, who passed away in 2002 was an Australian actor who appeared in numerous British, Australian and American television programs and films and performed on the stage many times during his career.

Victor Spinetti as Foot-

Victor was a Welsh born actor who passed away n 2012 and has the distinction of appearing in three of the Beatles movies:

John Bluthal as Bhuta:

Another actor other than Victor Spinetti who appeared in both “Help” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” John passed away in 2018.

Patrick Cargill as the Superintendent:

Patrick had roles in both “Help” and the Ringo Starr/Peter Sellers “Magic Christian film

Patrick Cargill who passed away in 1996 was a well-known British actor who appeared in quite a few hit television shows in the UK.

Roy Kinnear as Algernon.

He was also to play a supporting role in the “How I Won the War” film featuring Michael Crawford and John Lennon:

Roy Mitchell Kinnear who passed away in 1988 was an English character actor and comedian!

Warren Mitchell as Abdul:

Warren Mitchell aka Warren Misell; passed away in 2015 was a British actor well-known for his many UK TV appearances.

Alfie Bass as the Doorman:

Alfie Bass born as Abraham Basalinsky, passed away in 1987 was an English actor.

Peter Copley as the jeweler:

Peter Copley was an English television, film and stage actor who passed away in 2008.

When the Beatles are about to enter their apartment in Help!, they encounter a couple of ladies who are their apparent neighbors. Here is the signature of Gretchen Franklin: In that Beatles apartment, the great video of them performing “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” was staged. ( the actual filming of the scene probably occurred at the movie studio)

Gretchen Franklin

She was an English actress and dancer with a career in show business spanning over 70 years. She passed away in 2005.

Dandy Nichols as the other neighbor:

Dandy Nichols born as Daisy Sander; passed away in 1986. She was an English actress.

Wendy Richard, one of the actresses who was a part of the fabulous UK cast of the show “Are You Being Served”, was also supposed to be in Help but the scene she was in was cut from the film:

A Missing Scene from Help! – YouTube

Wendy Richard

born as Wendy Emerton; passed away in 2009. She was an English actress.

Thomas Baptiste, one of the policeman near the end of the film:

Thomas Baptiste was a Guyanese-born British actor and opera singer who passed away in 2018.

Zienia Merton as a High Priestess in the film-apparently went uncredited in the movie:

Zienia Merton who passed away in 2018 was a British actress born in Burma.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Buzz

Art & Craft

Original art and craft related to Liverpool and the Beatles

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Posted on 10/09/202410/09/2024 by liddypool — 2 Comments

Inside Number Three – The Video Presentation

The Video Presentation is now fully complete and is available as the centre-piece of The Inside No 3 Experience / Presentation Evening. This event is to educate and bring to the audience that period of artistic revolution that came from within that famous white door at Number 3 Savile Row.

Apple

Using the book as the template, we show to full effect the sense of mission ideals that The Beatles had in vision for the whole organisation that was to be Apple. We all know the outcome, but what is not known is how that so nearly came about. Well you can wonder no more for it is now laid out for everyone in a bright colour and beautiful happening that reflected those marvellous aims.

These are standard presentation photographs that extol and support the link between the book Inside No 3 and the DVD Disc to which we use on the presentation. The second photograph is a rear view of the DVD Presentation package. !!

Abbey Road

This is one of the photographs taken on the day of the shoot which was ultimately rejected. I have all of the photographs used and they make a stunning collage.

This is a shot from 1968 and is from Hey Jude – Terrific!!

Mary Hopkin

This is a portrait of the beautiful Welsh singer Mary Hopkin who as many know was a very successful Apple artist. She had a voice of an angel and sang as clear as a bell. She is still in the music business, only doing projects that really appeal to her. Long may she continue to do so.

Badfinger

The final photo plate is of Apple Records most successful bands Badfinger. They were a most impressive band to hear and to see, and their sheer talent has been long hidden away, and even today when one sees old film of them it still has the power to impress shock and deliver mis-belief at their sheers talent !!

Bookings have already been received and completed and a review is available via links to The Beatles bookstore website.

FELIXSTOWE BEATLES WEEKEND

We will be a central core to the fabulous Felixstowe Beatles Weekend at The famous Spa Pavilion on Saturday / Sunday 21^st /22^nd June 2025.

So book that weekend and make it a most enjoyable one as well. The Quarrymen will be appearing , alongside ex Capital Radio DJ/ Host Nicky Horne, with his very special and unique show as well as Inside No3 with the brilliant Apple Presentation!!

There is more to be added, and the Special website will be active shortly- so stay tuned, you won’t want to miss this totally awesome weekend, It will be a Beatles Fans Dream !!

Nigel Pearce

Get Nigel’s Fascinating Book on Apple Records

Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records

Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.

For prices and dates please contact Nigel again via the website

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Posted on 09/09/202409/09/2024 by Buzz — 5 Comments

MALAPROPISM -“A HARD DAY’S NIGHT” – THANKS RINGO!!!

John Lennon gave Ringo credit for contributing the title A Hard Day’s Night for the Beatles first movie even though some fans have found a reference to the phrase in John’s first book. In either case, one can imagine Ringo saying something like that very casually, as an off-the-cuff response in a conversation with someone. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you one of my favorite items from my Beatles-related autograph collection.

Autographs from A Hard Day’s Night

This set of autographs is from the Beatles film “A Hard Day’s Night.” A few years ago I purchased this wonderful collection of photos in a scrapbook accumulated by a New Jersey Beatles collector of many of the signatures of the supporting actors and actresses appearing in the Beatles first film which many consider to be a cinematic landmark.

Autographs from Help!, Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine

What made this collection of signatures so special to me is acquiring the collection of cast autographs in a single setting and at what I considered to be a bargain price. In a couple of additional posts, I will show you the signatures from the movies “Help”, “Magical Mystery Tour and a few from “Yellow Submarine” which includes some of the actors who did a few of the Beatles voices. These signatures were also acquired in the same purchase from the NJ collector mentioned above. Hope you enjoy this journey down memory lane.

A Hard Day's Night Film Poster — A Hard Day’s Night Film Poster

Richard Lester

Richard Lester Liebman is a retired American film director who directed the first two Beatles films and also directed the anti-war film that John Lennon starred in with Michael Crawford called “How I Won The War.”

Vittorio Giorgio Andre “Victor” Spinetti was a Welsh actor who passed away in 2012. He has the distinction of appearing in three Beatles films, “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Help”, and “Magical Mystery Tour.” He was also heavily involved in bringing John’s book “In His Own Write” to the British Stage as a play with the cooperation of the legendary Laurence Olivier!

John Francis Junkin, who passed away in 2006, was an English actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film.

Henry Wilfrid Brambell, was an Irish television and film actor who played Paul’s grandfather in the film. Brambell was also to star in the hit UK television series “Steptoe and Son”, which was to inspire the hit US television show, “Sanford and Son.” Wilfrid passed away in 1985.

Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor, producer and author who passed away in 1999.

Deryck Bower Guyler was an English actor who passed away in 1999.

Norman Rossington was an English actor who passed away in 1999.

Anne Veronica Maria Quayle, known professionally as Anna Quayle, was an English actress who passed away in 2019.

Richard Vernon was an English actor who specialized playing aristocratic roles. He passed away in 1997.

Lionel Blair, born Henry Lionel Ogus, passed away in 2021 was a Canadian-born British actor and choreographer.

Kenneth William Michael Haigh was an English actor who passed away in 2018.

This photo in particular makes me feel the pangs of getting older. The actor who played this young boy, David Janson, is now in his 70’s.

David Janson is an English actor and theatre director: The segment he performed with Ringo in the film was unquestionably, my favorite scene!

John Bluthal, Isaac Bluthal passed away in 2018. He^] was a Polish-born Australian actor and comedian:

Robin Ray was an English broadcaster, actor, and musician. He passed away in 1998.

This photo was from a deleted scene in the film. Features Isla Blair

Isla Blair Glover is a British actress:

Bridget Armstrong is a New Zealand actress:

Actress Prudence Bury:

Julian Holloway is a British actor.

Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, an English actress:

Actress Clare Kelly was an English actress who worked primarily in television. She passed away in 2001

Character Actress Marianne Stone who passed away in 2009

British Actress Carole Joan White passed away in 1991:

Geraldine Sherman, known as Dena Hammerstein, is a British actress and writer, and theatre producer.

David Muir Langton, British actor who passed away in 1994:

A young boy who was also to experience fame, musician Phil Collins was in the audience:

Actress Margaret Ann Nolan who passed away in 2020:

The signature of the screenplay writer Alun Owen who passed away in 1994, and a little background information that came with the autograph:

Actress and former model Tessa Charlotte Rampling:

What a collection! Hope you enjoyed it.

Buzz

The Beatles

Books about The Beatles as a group

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Posted on 06/09/202406/09/2024 by Buzz — 1 Comment

JIMMY MCCULLOCH – THE LITTLE WING WITH THE BIG AXE!!!

Recently purchased this cover story of the late former Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch on Ebay! I love finding cover stories of some of the stellar musicians who played with the solo Beatles over the years. Certainly Jimmy McCulloch was one of the best of those musicians!

Jimmy played guitar on this classic recording of Thunderclap Newman as a very young man. Pete Townsend of the Who was heavily involved in the production of this great song!

Something In The Air – YouTube

That is certainly not the main part of this story…

Jimmy McCulloch Biography

I remember when the author of this wonderful book, Paul Salley, contacted me on my former Facebook page to tell me of the forthcoming publication of his Jimmy McCulloch biography. Jimmy was a very talented man who died much too young. For those who are interested in a copy of this book which also deals significantly with Jimmy’s involvement with being a prominent member of Paul McCartney’s Wings, the title is available on the Amazon link provided below.

I was fortunate that Paul informed me that he knew I liked to purchase limited and signed editions of these type of books. He created a special signed book-plate edition of the book consisting of 100 copies. He was very kind to me to allow me to purchase the last numbered copy of the signed edition. His hard work and dedication was well worth the time needed to create this wonderful book.

The book is loaded with previously unknown information and detail about a guitarist whose name can be safely coupled with the word “prodigy.”

I enjoyed this book very much and I am confident that you will as well!

Look at some of the praise offered about Jimmy on the back cover of Paul’s book. (shown below)

The book was edited by Wings fan Mark Cunningham and here is the cover:

The Amazon link to Paul Salley’s book:

Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story: Salley, Paul, Cunningham, Mark: 9780578916491: Amazon.com: Books

The back cover of the book:

How much did you know about Jimmy McCulloch? How do you rate him?

Buzz

Paul McCartney

Books about Paul McCartney

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Posted on 05/09/202405/09/2024 by Buzz — 5 Comments

ALAN ALDRIDGE AND THE BEATLES ILLUSTRATED LYRICS

Bought this wonderful limited edition and signed book of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics back in 2017 from Waterstones Bookstore in the UK. Unfortunately that was also the year that graphic artist/illustrator Alan Aldridge passed away.

Alan not only had a unique artistic vision as it applied to the Beatles. His illustrations of Beatles songs sparked many spirited conversations concerning his interpretations of the songs. Aldridge also had a very distinctive signature when he signed his books as you will see below. He had an association with John Lennon, giving John a print of his illustrated lyric of John’s song “Dr. Robert”, and also designing a John Lennon ‘Superman’ book cover!

The signed edition portrayed below was limited to 1,500 copies!

The back cover of the book

The signature page

A note from Alan:

John Lennon as Superman

Aldridge also did a reprinted cover image for one of John Lennon’s books. He portrayed Lennon as Superman, but was forced to change the ‘S’ to avoid copyright problems. I believe Alan also took the photo of the front cover of the book.