''The Beatles'' (also referred to as "The Beatles Cartoon") was a Saturday morning

animated television series An animated series is a set of Animation, animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can ...

featuring representations of the popular English rock band of the same name. It was originally broadcast from 1965 to 1967 on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, with repeats airing until 1969. The series debuted on 25 September 1965 and new episodes ended on 21 October 1967. A total of 39 episodes were produced. The series was shown on Saturdays at 10:30 AM EST until the 1967 third season when it was moved to 12:00 PM EST. For the 1968–69 fourth season, which consisted of repeats, the series was shown at 9:30 AM EST on Sundays. Each episode has the name of a Beatles song, so the story is based on its lyrics and it is also played at some time in the episode. The original series was rebroadcast in syndication by

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

in 1986 and 1987 and on

The Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...

beginning in 1989 on Fridays at 5 PM. The series was a historical milestone as the first weekly television series to feature animated versions of real, living people.Animators & Creators.

Production overview

The series consisted of short animated stories that essentially were intended to set up the visual illustration of Beatles songs that were played in their entirety. In addition, there were sing-along sequences with simpler imagery complementing the full lyrics of particular songs. The songs were taken from all the albums up to ''Revolver'' as well as non-album singles up to 'Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane', the song 'Bad Boy', the German language song 'Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand', and the 'Long Tall Sally' EP. The series depicted the band in their early "moptop-and-suit" look as depicted in the 1964 live action film, '' A Hard Day's Night'', even though the band had moved beyond it during the series' run. The producers did attempt to acknowledge the band members' contemporary appearances with photographs of them in the series'

title sequence A title sequence (also called an opening sequence or intro) is the method by which films or television programmes present their title and key production and cast members, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound (often a opening theme song with visu ...

s during its production run. ''The Beatles'' borrowed Richard Lester's fast-cutting directorial style of ''A Hard Day's Night'' and its 1965 follow-up, ''

Help! ''Help!'' is the fifth studio album by the English Rock music, rock band the Beatles and the soundtrack to their Help! (film), film of the same name. It was released on 6 August 1965. Seven of the fourteen songs, including the singles "Help! ( ...

'' Hal Erickson writes in ''Television Cartoon Shows'' that the frenetic cuts "

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the series its breezy pace and comic impudence — which often had to compensate for some distressingly sloppy animation and infantile scripting." The band members themselves had nothing to do with the series' production beyond the use of their music recordings. US actor

Paul Frees Solomon Hersh "Paul" Frees (June 22, 1920November 2, 1986) was an American actor, comedian, impressionist, and vaudevillian. He is known for his work on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Walter Lantz, Rankin/Bass, and Walt Disney theatrical cartoons during ...

did the voices of

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

and

George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...

while

Lance Percival John Lancelot Blades Percival (26 July 1933 – 6 January 2015), known as Lance Percival, was an English actor, comedian and singer, best known for his appearances in satirical comedy television shows of the early 1960s and his ability to impro ...

did the voices of

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...

and

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

. Frees had been the voice of

Boris Badenov Boris Badenov is an antagonist of the 1959–1964 animated cartoons ''Rocky and His Friends'' and ''The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, The Bullwinkle Show'', collectively referred to as ''The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show'' for short. He was originall ...

in the ''

Rocky and Bullwinkle ''The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends'' (commonly referred to as simply ''Rocky and Bullwinkle'') is an American animated television series that originally aired from November 19, 1959, to June 27, 1964, on the ABC and NBC tele ...

'' series. The female voices were provided by

Julie Bennett Julie Bennett (January 24, 1932 – March 31, 2020) was an American actress and later talent agent and realtor. Early years Bennett was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 24, 1932. Acting career A native of Hollywood, Bennett worked as a ...

and Carol Corbett. At first, the Beatles dismissed the series because of its poor quality. It is reported, however, that the band members enjoyed the cartoons in later years.Axelrod 1999. Initially, the opening credits theme was a guitar riff from " A Hard Day's Night" segueing into "

Can't Buy Me Love "Can't Buy Me Love" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in March 1964 as the A-side of their sixth single. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included o ...

", over a cartoon sequence of the group running down a fire escape, echoing a scene in ''A Hard Day's Night''. The second season's opening theme was "

", while the third season's theme was "

And Your Bird Can Sing "And Your Bird Can Sing" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on their 1966 album '' Revolver'', apart from in the United States and Canada, where it instead appeared on '' Yesterday and Today''. The song was written ...

", over a different cartoon sequence. Although uncredited, Dennis Marks, along with

Jack Mendelsohn Jack Mendelsohn (November 8, 1926 – January 25, 2017) was an American writer-artist who worked in animation, comic strips and comic books. An Emmy-nominated television comedy writer and story editor, he had numerous credits as a TV scripter, ...

Heywood Kling Woody Kling (April 14, 1925 – April 10, 1988) was an American television writer, producer, playwright, and composer. Biography Early life Born Heywood Fisher Kling in New York City, Kling was the son of Mayme and Ken Kling. Ken was a ...

and Bruce Howard, wrote all 39 episodes of ''The Beatles'' series. Most of the episodes of the series were produced by Artransa Park Studios in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, AustraliaThe background of The Beatles cartoon television series.
/ref> and George Dunning's company TVC Animation in London, with a handful of episodes made in Hollywood, with a crew supervised by veteran cartoon writer John W. Dunn.

Depiction of the Beatles

Each Beatles figure was a loose, rough, exaggerated description of them, with

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

and

Paul Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

wearing a blue collar-less suit and tie, while

George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...

and Ringo wore navy blue shirts and light blue blazer jackets; all of them wore matching blue drainpipe trousers and

Beatle Boots A Beatle boot or Baba boot is a style of boot that has been worn since the late 1950s but made popular by the English rock group the Beatles in the 1960s. The boots are a variant of the Chelsea boot: they are tight-fitting, High-heeled footwea ...

John Lennon

is described as being the leader. His mop-top is slightly shorter than that of the rest of the band. He has his chin up, looking down his nose, feet apart and hands on hips, and points and poses with his hands with a "showbiz" expression with a mocking gesture, especially when giving orders (showing John does not take his job as leader seriously), and is often malicious, especially towards George and Ringo. He slouches rather than sits. He will often pull funny faces and immediately wipe them off. John's movements are described as being short and slightly aggressive. His chin is rather bulbous, chubby and rounded and his eyes are rather small. Whenever he looks to the front he uses a sideways look to talk to somebody and looks away after giving an order. John's right eyebrow is connected to his nose and gives him a look suitable to his "real life" appearance. He tends to use sarcastic, dry humour. He is also extremely lazy and overly laid-back. And yet, despite all that, he truly cares about the band members and will do anything for them.

Paul McCartney

is shown as second-in-command of the band. Paul is the most poised and stylish of the cartoon Beatles, and his mop-top is the neatest of the four of them. He uses his hands, with his fingers spread apart, to express himself when talking. He is the one to get excited whenever John suggests something. He always looks straight at whomever he's talking to. His face is very fine, with his eyebrows wide and far apart and his eyes partly closed in an almost mockingly sad expression and they will only open fully when he is excited or frightened. His mop-top takes on a messier look and his eyes open wide when he is terrified. Paul sits like he's about to jump out and get on with whatever is happening. He does not really walk, he skips. When he is making his own suggestions or comments, especially when suggesting mischief, he covers up by assuming a mockingly innocent look; eyes wide and head tilted to one side. Whenever he gets especially excited, he will put his hand over his mouth. Also like John, Paul uses a dry and sarcastic humour and is happy-go-lucky and rather laid-back. In spite of this, he will always help somebody when needed. Paul, along with Ringo, are the only Beatles who sound closest to their real-life counterparts. His character is the only left-hander, while in real life both he and Ringo use their left hands.

George Harrison

's character has a more angular, wry figure, especially when he walks, his legs are long and thin (emphasis on the knees keeps his angular appearance). His mop-top is rather longer in the back compared to the other members of the band. He always leans against something, shoulders hunched, hands in pocket, legs crossed. He is also the same height as Paul. His shoulders are hunched when he is in a standing or a leaning pose, which can indicate direction and his head tilted forward. He has a crooked smile and is almost always giving the impression of frowning due to his characters eyebrows becoming thicker as they reach his nose. His chin is long and thin, with sunken cheeks, and his nose is tall and thin. He never looks at who he's speaking to and will close his eyes for short periods when talking. Notice the distance between his nose and his mouth; his mouth is lopsided. He often uses dry, witty humour and succumbs to peer pressure. George is the only Beatle with a diverse accent that does not really fit with any accent in particular, but it sounds slightly Scottish/Irish. George has been shown to be fascinated with various cultures and is occasionally superstitious. He and Ringo are almost always made to do the work for John and Paul, such as in the episode "Do You Want to Know a Secret", they were the only ones carrying in the bands' extensive luggage into their vacation cottage. He cares a lot about the group members and will help them when they need him.

Ringo Starr

Ringo is the most sympathetic Beatle. His mop-top is the longest and shaggiest (sometimes almost completely covering his eyes) of the four of them. He is the more calm, gentle, least aggressive, innocent, and more lovable Beatle. Ringo's nose and sad, goofy, expressive eyes are among his most prominent features along with his trademark, rather deep, goofy laugh, which is highly exaggerated. His face usually has a sad or goofy expression with his upper lip protruding in a wavy line. He does smile a lot, but when he does not he has a look of curiosity or sadness on his face. Ringo's expressions and humour are usually deadpan, but when expression is required, his eye position (eyes arched) are used to make a goofy expression whenever he laughs. Whenever he laughs, having made a funny remark, he squints. Although being the eldest Beatle (three months before John), he is the smallest Beatle with a disjointed

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

-like figure. His neck is thin and gets smaller as it reaches the base of his neck, with his small chin sticking out a little, which is evidence of his disjointed figure. When he walks, his feet, legs, knees, arms and hands move loosely. Being responsible for the show's light-hearted humorous, or slapstick comical relief, after having bodily harm of any kind, his figure is crooked, bent or twisted into an, sometimes, unusual position. His clothes also often look a bit too big, especially his Beatle Boots and Blue Blazer Jacket. During the song portions of the episodes (not the sing-along segments), he often shakes his head and mop-top around with a goofy expression when drumming. He gets along best with George, and he, like George, shows interest in various cultures. He often makes bad puns and jokes (usually he's the only one laughing). During the introductions to the Sing-Along segments he substitutes for the prop-man (who is either on vacation, out sick or just not there) and sets the stage, literally, to John, Paul, or George's description, and more often than not, to their surprise or chagrin. He is often the butt of the joke, victim of a prank, or just simply has bad luck. Ringo's character tends to have bad luck, often because of his naivety, curiosity and being unaware of the danger, mistake or threat. In the episode "Good Day Sunshine", he becomes depressed and upset, thinking he is a

jinx A jinx (also jynx), in popular superstition and folklore, is a curse or the attribute of attracting bad or negative luck. The word ''"jynx"'' meaning the bird wryneck and sometimes a charm or spell has been in use in English since the seventeent ...

for misfortunes, such as that it rained at Carny Island on the Beatles' weekends, (i.e. it rained at the piers fair every time Ringo arrived) and was described in that episode as being a "sourpuss". He felt better after John, Paul, and George sang "

Good Day Sunshine "Good Day Sunshine" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. It was written mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. McCartney intended it as a song in the style of th ...

" for him, and showed him how to have fun again. It is revealed in "Money" that Ringo's mother dropped him as a baby ("Me mother dropped me once"). Ringo, like Paul, is also left-handed, although in "I'll Be Back" Ringo plays a guitar right-handed.

Brian Epstein

Brian Epstein Brian Samuel Epstein (; 19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was a British music entrepreneur who managed the Beatles from 1962 until his death in 1967. Epstein was born into a family of successful retailers in Liverpool, who put him i ...

acts as the Beatles' manager. He is rarely seen or mentioned but he was mostly mentioned in the episode "Please Mr. Postman" when the Beatles ran out of money. Ringo had purchased 15 rings, which were later snapped by autograph collectors, and they needed to contact Epstein for money. Epstein finally makes his appearance in the episode "Thank You Girl" in the beginning of the episode, but only his arm is seen, again voiced by

as he grounds the Beatles for gaining so much weight after dining on the French cooking. Epstein, himself, along with the other real-life Beatles, appear in a lost deleted scene featuring the production of the animated Beatles cartoons at the end. His fictionalized animated version of his appearance and habit of smoking is a homage and based on the animated series' creator, Al Brodax.

List of episodes and Sing Alongs

:: * Songs in episodes with no Sing Along counterpartsThe Big Cartoon Database.
/ref> :: ** Songs in Sing Alongs with no episode counterparts

Season 1 (1965–66)

''1. A Hard Day's Night /

I Want to Hold Your Hand "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded on 17 October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment. With advance orders ...

:'' While in Transylvania, The Beatles try rehearsing in a haunted house with "monstrous" visitors, including a vampire, a ghost, a werewolf, and a witch, with a parody of

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...

; To hide from their fans, the Beatles run inside a diving bell, which drops them into the ocean with a lovesick octopus. ''Sing Alongs:''

Not A Second Time "Not a Second Time" is a song by English rock band the Beatles. It was written by John Lennon, though credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It was first released on the Beatles second British album, ''With the Beatles'', and their seco ...

Devil In Her Heart "Devil in His Heart" is a song written by Richard B. Drapkin, who recorded under the name Ricky Dee. Recordings The song was originally recorded as "Devil in His Heart" in Detroit by the Donays for Correc-tone Records. It was later picked up ...

''2.

Do You Want To Know A Secret "Do You Want to Know a Secret" is a song by English rock band the Beatles from their 1963 album '' Please Please Me'', sung by George Harrison. In the United States, it was the first top ten song to feature Harrison as a lead singer, reaching N ...

If I Fell "If I Fell" is a song by English rock band the Beatles which first appeared in 1964 on the album '' A Hard Day's Night'' in the United Kingdom and United States, and on the North American album '' Something New''. It was written primarily by John ...

:'' The Beatles go to Dublin, Ireland for the weekend where they meet a female leprechaun named Wilhelmina Morris; John is kidnapped by Dr. Dora Florahyde and Igor, who want John's brain for their monster. In the

I Want To Hold Your Hand "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded on 17 October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment. With advance orders ...

Sing Along, Ringo is shown inside a submarine. ''Sing Alongs:'' A Hard Day's Night /

''3. Please Mr. Postman /

:'' Ringo loses 15 rings he bought with all of the Beatles' earnings and they are expecting a telegram from manager

for more money; While in Transylvania, Ringo wanders into the woods, where he meets a witch who wants him for a husband. ''Sing Alongs:''

''4.

Slow Down Slow Down or slowdown may refer to: Music * ''Slow Down'' (album), by Keb' Mo', 1998 Songs * "Slow Down" (Bobby Valentino song), 2005 * "Slow Down" (Brand Nubian song), 1991 * "Slow Down" (Douwe Bob song), representing the Netherlands at Euro ...

:'' Trying to get away from their fans, The Beatles abandon their flight and land in Africa, but three girls keep tracking them down; The Beatles are on the way to the town Ringo Ravine (named after Ringo) until they encounter a donkey named "Gold Nose" that smells gold". ''Sing Alongs:''

Baby's In Black "Baby's in Black" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It appears on the United Kingdom album ''Beatles for Sale'' and on the United States album '' Beatles '65'', both released in 1964. Co ...

/ Misery ''5.

/ Misery:'' Paul gets kidnapped by Professor Psycho, who wants Paul to marry his creation Vampiress, half girl and half bat; The Beatles go to a wax museum to see themselves, but a vampire who's hiding there from the police chases them. ''Sing Alongs:''

I'll Get You "I'll Get You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Lennon–McCartney, and released by the Beatles as the B-side of their 1963 single "She Loves You". The song was initially titled "Get You in the End". Structure Typical ...

Chains A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A c ...

''6.

You've Really Got A Hold On Me "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, which became a 1962 Top 10 hit single for the Miracles. One of the Miracles' most covered tunes, this million-selling song received a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame Award. It has als ...

:'' In Africa, Ringo asks a medicine maker named Jack to help fix the Beatles' flat tire. Jack then turns a worm into a snake and it lusts for Ringo; On a cruise ship, Ringo gets accidentally knocked out and dreams that he's Captain Bligh from the movie ''

Mutiny on the Bounty The mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel occurred in the South Pacific Ocean on 28 April 1789. Disaffected crewmen, led by acting-Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, seized control of the ship from their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and set h ...

'' (1962). ''Sing Alongs:''

Honey Don't "Honey Don't" is a song written by Carl Perkins, originally released on January 1, 1956 as the B-side of the "Blue Suede Shoes" single, Sun 234. Both songs became rockabilly classics. Bill Dahl of Allmusic praised the song saying, "'Honey Don't' a ...

''7.

:'' In Africa after escaping from their fans, The Beatles run into hunter Alan Watermain (a parody of the H. Rider Haggard character

Allan Quatermain Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel ''King Solomon's Mines'', its one sequel ''Allan Quatermain'' (1887), twelve prequel novels and four prequel short stories, totalling eighteen works. An English professional ...

) and go out big-game hunting; Ringo is mistaken as a bull rider, and the cowboys send him to ride on a super-tough bull named Honey. ''Sing Alongs:''

Any Time At All "Any Time at All" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, it was mainly composed by John Lennon, with an instrumental middle eight by Paul McCartney. It first appeared on the Beatles' '' A ...

''8.

Twist and Shout "Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (later credited as "Bert Russell"). It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers ...

:'' The Beatles imagine themselves as the Three Musketeers (Plus One) while they are on a tour at a museum in France and try to rescue a "lady in distress"; The Beatles attend an art show where a girl tries to be like other artists, so they inspire her with music. ''Sing Alongs:''

I'll Be Back "I'll be back" is a catchphrase associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was made famous in the 1984 science fiction film ''The Terminator''. On June 21, 2005, it was placed at No. 37 on the American Film Institute list AFI's 100 Years... 100 Mov ...

/ Little Child ''9. Little Child /

:'' A Native American girl on a Texas Indian reservation wants to prove that girls are as good at trapping as boys are by trapping the Beatles; The mayor of a Texas town gives Ringo a golden guitar as a gift, only for it to be stolen by three men, prompting the Fab Four to hunt for the thieves and get the guitar back. (The song "Ticket to Ride" is heard at the beginning of this episode.) ''Sing Alongs:''

Long Tall Sally "Long Tall Sally", also known as "Long Tall Sally (The Thing)", is a rock and roll song written by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, and Little Richard. Richard recorded it for Specialty Records, which released it as a single in March ...

Twist And Shout "Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (later credited as "Bert Russell"). It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers ...

''10.

I'll Cry Instead "I'll Cry Instead" is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney), and recorded by the English rock band the Beatles for their third studio album, '' A Hard Day's Night'' (1964), a part-studio and part-soundtrack album to thei ...

:'' While The Beatles are staying at a castle for the night during a fog, John and Ringo try on a couple of cursed armor suits and start to fight each other; After signing too many autographs in Japan, George's hand gets swollen and suffers "autographitis", so his bandmates take him to a hand doctor but end up in a karate class by mistake. ''Sing Alongs:''

I'll Follow The Sun "I'll Follow the Sun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It is a ballad written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in 1964 on the ''Beatles for Sale'' album in the United Kingdom and on ...

When I Get Home "When I Get Home" is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney), and recorded by the English rock band the Beatles on 2 June 1964, during the last session for their third studio album '' A Hard Day's Night'' (1964). Its firs ...

''11.

I'll Follow the Sun "I'll Follow the Sun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It is a ballad written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in 1964 on the ''Beatles for Sale'' album in the United Kingdom and on ...

:'' The Beatles' car breaks down and they are captured by a highwayman who happens to be a car repairman; The Beatles explore Notre Dame in Paris where they later meet its famous hunchback

Quasimodo Quasimodo (from Quasimodo Sunday) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the novel '' The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (1831) by Victor Hugo. Quasimodo was born with a hunchback and feared by the townspeople as a sort of monster, but ...

. ''Sing Alongs:''

Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" is a rockabilly song often credited to Carl Perkins. Based on a 1936 song written by singer/songwriter Rex Griffin, it achieved widespread popularity when it was released in 1957 by Perkins and covered by the ...

''12.

I Should Have Known Better "I Should Have Known Better" is a song by English rock band the Beatles composed by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney), and originally issued on '' A Hard Day's Night'', their soundtrack for the film of the same name released on 10 J ...

:'' After spending the night at a temple in Japan during a rainstorm, The Beatles are mistaken for the ancestors of four girls; The Beatles are in Rome trying to find a theater to rehearse, and their last resort is the Coliseum. ''Sing Alongs:''

I'm A Loser "I'm a Loser" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, originally released on '' Beatles for Sale'' in the United Kingdom, later released on '' Beatles '65'' in the United States, both in 1964. Written by John Lennon, and credited to Le ...

I Wanna Be Your Man "I Wanna Be Your Man" is a Lennon–McCartney-penned song first recorded and released as a single by the Rolling Stones, and then recorded by the Beatles. The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney, and finished by Lennon and McCartney in ...

''13.

:'' In Hollywood, Ringo gets hired as a stuntman by Incredible Pictures Inc. and keeps getting pulverized in many scenes; In Rome, the Beatles buy a statue of the Goddess of Music made from stolen gold coins melted down and sculptured. ''Sing Alongs:'' No Reply /

I'm Happy Just To Dance With You "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded in 1964 by the English rock band the Beatles for the film soundtrack to ''A Hard Day's Night''. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose perfo ...

''14.

Don't Bother Me "Don't Bother Me" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1963 UK album ''With the Beatles''. It was the first song written by George Harrison, the group's lead guitarist, to appear on one of their albums. An uptempo rock an ...

/ No Reply:'' The Beatles are in a rush to get to Barcelona from Rome, but they're being chased by two spies who are after their songbook "New Beatle Songs", marked "Top Secret" (The Beatles movie ''

'' and Oddjob from the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

movie '' Goldfinger'' are spoofed); In Japan, The Beatles are warned by a

Charlie Chan Charlie Chan is a fictional Honolulu police detective created by author Earl Derr Biggers for a series of mystery novels. Biggers loosely based Chan on Hawaiian detective Chang Apana. The benevolent and heroic Chan was conceived as an alter ...

-lookalike police detective about a master-of-disguise jewel thief named Anyface, and things become complicated when Anyface shows up disguised as Paul. ''Sing Alongs:''

It Won't Be Long "It Won't Be Long" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released as the opening track on their second UK album ''With the Beatles'' (1963), and was the first original song recorded for it. Although credited to Lennon–McCartney, it wa ...

''15.

/ Mr. Moonlight:'' The Beatles are in a Roman street festival where Paul wins a dancing bear named Bonnie; The Beatles meet Professor Ludwig Von Brilliant, who is on a mission to view an eclipse. After being adrift at sea, they escape from an island on a submarine. ''Sing Alongs:''

''16.

:'' John is given a friendship ring from a Polynesian tribal chief, which means he must marry the chief's New York-accented daughter who dislikes pineapples; While picnicking in Japan, John goes for a swim in a pond with shrinking potion in it and gets shrunk, making the other Beatles think John is a Beatle doll and chase after him. ''Sing Alongs:''

Anna (Go to Him) "Anna (Go to Him)", or simply "Anna", is a song written and originally recorded by Arthur Alexander. His version was released as a single by Dot Records on September 17, 1962. A cover version was performed by the Beatles and included on their 196 ...

/ Mr. Moonlight ''17.

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...

I Don't Want To Spoil The Party "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on the album ''Beatles for Sale'' in the United Kingdom in December 1964. "I Don't Want ...

:'' In Japan when Paul gets lured into a ghost ship called "Ah-Nah", the other Beatles dash off to the rescue before they lose Paul for good; Rather than go with John to a museum, Paul, George and Ringo sneak away and go to Greenwich Village for some fun time at a

Beatnik Beatniks were members of a social movement in the 1950s that subscribed to an anti-materialistic lifestyle. History In 1948, Jack Kerouac introduced the phrase "Beat Generation", generalizing from his social circle to characterize the undergr ...

party. ''Sing Alongs:''

Matchbox Phillumeny (also known as phillumenism) is the hobby of collecting different match-related items: matchboxes, matchbox labels, matchbooks, matchcovers, matchsafes, etc. Matchbox A matchbox is a box made of cardboard or thin wood and designe ...

Thank You Girl "Thank You Girl" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It was issued as the B-side of the single "From Me to You", which was recorded on the same day (5 March 1963). While not rele ...

''18.

:'' In Hawaii, rather than stay at hotels, John buys a trailer for the group to stay in. They later encounter a group of Hawaiians who are evacuating from a volcano; When they sneak away from their manager to get something to eat at a French restaurant, The Beatles somehow enroll in a cooking course. ''Sing Alongs:''

''19.

From Me To You "From Me to You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in April 1963 as their third single. It was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The song was the Beatles' first number 1 hit on what became the official ...

Boys A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man. Definition, etymology, and use According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...

*:'' In Hawaii, a surfer named Surf Wolf challenges George to a surfing duel; The Beatles participate in a Mr. Hollywood Contest in California. ''Sing Alongs:'' Please Mr. Postman /

I Saw Her Standing There "I Saw Her Standing There" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It is the opening track on the band's 1963 debut UK album ''Please Please Me'' and their debut US album '' Introducing... The B ...

''Note'': The opening title erroneously shows "With Love From Me To You" ''20. Dizzy Miss Lizzy /

:'' John and Paul secretly sign George up to an ice boat race, and he partners up with a girl named Lizzy; In Madrid, when John and Paul visit a restaurant, John develops a hot foot with ashes in his boot and a woman named Rosita falls for him, causing her boyfriend Jose to challenges John to a duel. ''Sing Alongs:'' Ticket To Ride /

''21. What You're Doing /

Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are as ...

*:'' While The Beatles are on a fishing trip, Ringo runs into gypsies, one of whom falls for him and wants to marry him, so to save Ringo George comes in as a woman claiming he is engaged to Ringo; John puts Ringo in charge of keeping their money safe in his jacket pocket, but Ringo later is being followed by a mystery man at a carnival who is after the money. (The song "Help!" is heard at the beginning of this episode.) ''Sing Alongs:'' Dizzy Miss Lizzy / All My Loving ''22.

Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand "" and "" ( en, "Come, Give Me Your Hand" and "She Loves You") are German-language versions of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You", respectively, by the English rock band the Beatles. Both John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the or ...

* /

She Loves You "She Loves You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by English rock band the Beatles for release as a single in 1963. The single set and surpassed several sales records in the United Kingdom charts, and set a record i ...

:'' The Beatles visit the Bavarian Alps and end up on a mission to climb up a mountain with the dog Gunthar to put up their own flag on top. (The song "Slow Down" is heard in the background); On board a ship, The Beatles are about to rescue a girl who they think is held as a prisoner, resulting in her boyfriend, a knife thrower, coming to her defense...with knives. ''Sing Alongs:'' Bad Boy / Tell Me Why ''23. Bad Boy / Tell Me Why:'' In the Bavarian Alps again, The Beatles encounter a runaway named Hans who wants to be a Beatle, prompting The Fab Four to run after him with their music (in which Paul plays the bass right-handed) and take him back home; In Spain, Ringo is the jockey of a donkey that can run like a horse whenever she hears loud music. (Before the song begins, the count-off is taken from "I Saw Her Standing There".) ''Sing Alongs:''

Please Please Me ''Please Please Me'' is the debut studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Produced by George Martin, it was released on EMI's Parlophone label on 22 March 1963 in the United Kingdom, following the success of the band's first two s ...

Hold Me Tight "Hold Me Tight" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1963 album ''With the Beatles''. It was first recorded during the '' Please Please Me'' album session, but not selected for inclusion and re-recorded for their second albu ...

''24.

I Feel Fine "I Feel Fine" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in November 1964 as the A-side of their eighth single. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The recording includes one o ...

:'' Paul thinks Hollywood's all phony, and actor Dick Dashing attempts to prove him wrong by putting Paul in some different movie scenes; In New York, George and Ringo visit the Statue of Liberty, where they spot a man with a package which they think is a bomb. ''Sing Alongs:'' What You're Doing /

There's A Place "There's a Place" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their debut album, '' Please Please Me'', released in March 1963. It was written primarily by John Lennon and credited to McCartney–Lennon. In the United States, the so ...

''25.

:'' In Madrid, a bull named El Taco gets knocked out, and the Beatles decide to help out the bullfight with Ringo as the matador and John and Paul as the bull; John's sympathy helps a trained ape named Mr. Marvelous to escape from the television studio and go exploring the outside world. ''Sing Alongs:''

Roll Over Beethoven "Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit song written by Chuck Berry, originally released on Chess Records single, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace clas ...

Rock and Roll Music Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...

''26.

:'' The Beatles are on their way home after visiting New York City until Paul gets grabbed by an elephant named Beethoven (Before the song begins, the count-off is taken from "I Saw Her Standing There".); The Beatles are invited to play at the Duke's Palace, but they are mistaken for a string quartet. ''Sing Alongs:''

Season 2 (1966)

''27.

Eight Days A Week "Eight Days a Week" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon based on McCartney's original idea. The song was released in the United Kingdom in December 1964 on the album ''Beatles for Sale ...

I'm Looking Through You "I'm Looking Through You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album ''Rubber Soul''. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney wrote the song about English actress Jane Asher, his ...

:'' A great movie lover named Lips Lovelace loses his ability to kiss. Paul decides to take his place in the studio with a leading lady who falls for him; The Beatles are in Egypt. They are wandering around in a pyramid until Ringo encounters a ghost who wants a body, and he chooses Ringo's. ''Sing Alongs:'' Run For Your Life /

Girl A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary ...

** ''28.

We Can Work It Out "We Can Work It Out" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was first issued as a double A-side single with "Day Tripper" in December 1965. It also appeared on the 1966 US release '' Yesterd ...

:'' Paul and Ringo go to a fashion show in Paris, but the designs are stolen by a thief named Jacques Le Zipper. Paul chases Jacques to the Eiffel Tower, and has trouble with heights; George becomes superstitious. The Beatles encounter the Lucky Wizard who is really a thief trying to give them bad luck and rob their money. ''Sing Alongs:'' The Night Before** /

Day Tripper "Day Tripper" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out" in December 1965. The song was written primarily by John Lennon with some contributions from Paul McCartney and ...

''29.

I'm Down "I'm Down" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on a non-album single as the B-side to "Help!" in July 1965. The song originated in McCartney's attempt ...

* / Run For Your Life:'' The Beatles are on a tour at a wine factory in France where Ringo accidentally knocks down a vat of wine. If it does not get fixed in two hours, the factory will go out of business; The Beatles are on a tour at the

Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 19 ...

. Ringo gets knocked out by a statue, and dreams about the days of

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Josèphe Jeanne (; ; née Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child a ...

. ''Sing Alongs:''

Paperback Writer "Paperback Writer" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, the song was released as the A-side of their eleventh single in May 1966. It topped sing ...

''30. Drive My Car* /

Tell Me What You See "Tell Me What You See" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that first appeared in 1965 on their album ''Help!'' in the United Kingdom and on '' Beatles VI'' in the United States. The song is credited to Lennon–McCartney but mainly ...

*:'' The Beatles help a young man and his girlfriend get their old jalopy running in a car race, the Popsville Hot Rod Race; While visiting "the man of a thousand faces", The Beatles fool around with his makeup machine and change into different characters. (John briefly imitates

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, vaudevillian, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced song ...

and

Swee'Pea Swee'Pea (alternatively spelled Swee'pea and Sweapea on some titles and once called Sweep Pea) is a character in E. C. Segar's comic strip ''Thimble Theatre''/'' Popeye'' and in the cartoon series derived from it. His name refers to the flower k ...

from "

Popeye Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by E. C. Segar, Elzie Crisler Segar.Yesterday** /

''31.

I Call Your Name "I Call Your Name" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Beatles and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was written primarily by John Lennon, with assistance from Paul McCartney. It was released in the US on '' The Beatles' Second Al ...

* / The Word*:'' Ringo is convinced to release his pet frog Bartholomew in the swamp. Later a movie producer offers a filming deal to Ringo and the frog, and the Fabs have dashed off to find Bartholomew; The Beatles are being punished after gazing at the girls' unveiled faces. The only way to get out of the situation is to say the password: "love". ''Sing Alongs:''

She's a Woman "She's a Woman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on a non-album single in November 1964 as the B-side to "I Feel Fine", except in North Ame ...

** (original broadcast, replaced in later broadcasts with a repeat of I Feel Fine) /

Wait Wait or WAIT may refer to: Music * Wait (musician), British town pipers Albums and EPs * ''Wait'' (The Polyphonic Spree EP), by The Polyphonic Spree * ''Wait'' (Emanuel Nice EP), a 2002 EP released by the band Emanuel Nice * ''Wait'' (Stee ...

''32. All My Loving /

:'' The Beatles are in India where they learn how to charm an animal at an "Indian Charm Skool". When the animal is revealed to be a tiger, they use music to tame it when it is about to claw John and Ringo (The song "

Love You To "Love You To" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album '' Revolver''. The song was written and sung by George Harrison and features Indian instrumentation such as sitar and tabla. Following Harrison's introduction ...

" is heard in the beginning of this episode.); After watching the movie ''The Way Out Creatures From Planet Glom'', the Beatles take a trip out into space with a beautiful woman who is actually an alien taking them on a one-way trip 23 billion miles from Earth. ''Sing Alongs:''

/ Nowhere Man ''33. Nowhere Man /

:'' The Beatles walk into a cave for some exploring which is a home of a hermit who wants to be alone. He tries to get rid of them, but no luck; Each of the Beatles write fictional stories of how they met with Ringo as a theatre actor, Paul as a scientist, George as a secret agent, and John as a war pilot. ''Sing Alongs:''

And I Love Her "And I Love Her" is a song recorded by English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It is the fifth track of their third UK album '' A Hard Day's Night'' and was released ...

** / Michelle**

Season 3 (1967)

''34.

Penny Lane "Penny Lane" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Strawberry Fields Forever". It was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songw ...

/ Strawberry Fields:'' In a spoof of

, the Beatles are jealous of a detective named James Blonde who gets more attention from many women, so the Fab Four head to their hometown of

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

to stop a robbery on Penny Lane so they can be heroes; Traveling with their driver James, the Beatles use music to add colour and happiness to the lives of the children at an orphanage, a reference to

Strawberry Field Strawberry Field is a Salvation Army property and visitor attraction in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton. It operated as a children's home between 1936 and 2005. The house and grounds had originally been built as a private residence in the V ...

Woolton Woolton (; ) is an affluent suburb of Liverpool, England. It is located southeast of the city and is bordered by Allerton, Gateacre, Halewood, and Hunt's Cross. At the 2011 Census, the population was 12,921. Overview Originally a standalone ...

, a suburb of Liverpool. John sums up the experience with "It's all in the mind, you know." ''Sing Alongs:''

Rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water f ...

** ''35.

Got To Get You Into My Life "Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, first released in 1966 on their album ''Revolver''. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is a homage to the Motown Sound, wit ...

:'' The Beatles and a couple of hunters hunt for a rare bird called a green double-breasted tropical woosted that can sing anything, including " Hound Dog" and "

"; The Beatles are in India, learning how to escape from their bodies from Swami Rivers. It works, but the problem is that the souls' bodies are moving by themselves, and they must get them before it's too late. ("Love You To" is heard in the background) ''Sing Alongs:''

Eleanor Rigby "Eleanor Rigby" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. It was also issued on a double A-side single, paired with " Yellow Submarine". The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to L ...

''36.

/ Ticket To Ride:'' Ringo thinks he's a jinx. When the Beatles arrive at Carney Island, it starts to rain (for the fourth weekend in a row), but the boys' music turns the rainy day back into a sunny day which makes Ringo happy. (The song "Little Child" is heard at the end of this episode.); The Beatles each have their own hobby: Paul paints, George builds a three-eyed robot, John writes and Ringo collects "birds" (which is English slang for girls). Paul releases the only one Ringo caught and he runs after her. ''Sing Alongs:''

Strawberry Fields Forever "Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on 13 February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane". It represented a departur ...

''37.

Taxman "Taxman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. Written by the group's lead guitarist, George Harrison, with some lyrical assistance from John Lennon, it protests against the higher level of progress ...

* /

:'' The Beatles are delivering tons of money to pay their income tax. When they get knocked out by flying money bags, they dream they're back in the days of

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is depic ...

, but Paul keeps insisting "He never happened!"; A group of children claim that an elderly woman named Eleanor Rigby is a witch. The Fab Four tell them the truth about Eleanor Rigby in a song and get them to see her in a new way. (The song "I Feel Fine" is heard at the end of this episode.) ''Sing Alongs:''

Here, There and Everywhere "Here, There and Everywhere" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. A love ballad, it was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney includes it among his personal favour ...

** ''38.

Tomorrow Never Knows "Tomorrow Never Knows" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in August 1966 as the final track on their album ''Revolver'', although it was the firs ...

* /

I've Just Seen a Face "I've Just Seen a Face" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released in August 1965 on their album ''Help!'', except in North America, where it appeared as the opening track on the December 1965 release ''Rubber Soul''. Writ ...

*:'' The Beatles fall into a well and end up in the inner world with foreign natives (

Maya civilization The Maya civilization () of the Mesoamerican people is known by its ancient temples and glyphs. Its Maya script is the most sophisticated and highly developed writing system in the pre-Columbian Americas. It is also noted for its art, archit ...

). The chief wants the Fabs to marry his daughters, and they began to run away. (The song "Love You To" is heard during this episode.); Ringo loses his singing voice. For treatment, his three mates send Ringo to a haunted house to scare his voice back. ''Sing Alongs:''

She Said She Said "She Said She Said" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was written by John Lennon with assistance from George Harrison. Lennon described it as "an 'acidy' song" ...

** /

(repeat) ''39.

I'm Only Sleeping "I'm Only Sleeping" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 studio album ''Revolver''. In the United States and Canada, it was one of the three tracks that Capitol Records cut from the album and instead included on '' Yest ...

*:'' The Prince of Krapotkin's girlfriend is in grave danger. The Beatles help him to save her from the Prime Minister who wants to marry her; John falls asleep while telling a story to a couple of children. In his dream he volunteers to help King Arthur and Merlin slay a vicious dragon. However, John and his mates opt instead to play music to put the dragon to sleep. ''Sing Alongs:''

(repeat) /

(repeat)

Reception

The series was an instant ratings hit on ABC in the Saturday morning time slot after it debuted on 25 September 1965 at 10:30 AM ET. It racked up a 13 score (or 52 share), then unheard of in daytime television. The series was sponsored by the

A. C. Gilbert Company The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest in the world. Gilbert originated the Erector Set, which is a construction toy similar to Meccano in the rest of the world, and made chemistry sets, microscope kits, ...

, the

Quaker Oats Company The Quaker Oats Company, known as Quaker, is an American food conglomerate based in Chicago. It has been owned by PepsiCo since 2001. History Precursor miller companies In the 1850s, Ferdinand Schumacher and Robert Stuart founded oat mills. Sc ...

and the Mars Candy Company. For the third season in 1967, the series was moved to Saturdays at noon. Originally, the Beatles disliked the cartoon; however, as time went on they grew to like it. In 1972, Lennon commented, "I still get a blast out of watching the Beatles cartoons on TV." In 1999, Harrison said, "I always kind of liked he cartoons They were so bad or silly that they were good, if you know what I mean, and I think the passage of time might make them more fun now." Womack quotes the interviews with Lennon (1972) and Harrison (1999) via a reference to The series was syndicated worldwide on television and cable after the original run ended in 1969. In 1986 and 1987, new generations were introduced to the series when it was rebroadcast in syndication by

and also by

. On MTV, the series was shown on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 AM ET or 7 AM PT. On The Disney Channel, the series was shown on Fridays at 5 PM beginning in 1989.

Mark Hamill Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...

was a guest host of the MTV run of the series in 1987.

Legacy

The Beatles' views of the cartoon series discouraged them from participating significantly in the later

animated feature film These lists of animated feature films compiles animated feature films from around the world and is organized alphabetically under the year of release (the year the completed film was first released to the public). Theatrical releases as well as ...

, '' Yellow Submarine'', whose producer, Al Brodax, and director,

George Dunning George Garnett Dunning (November 17, 1920 – February 15, 1979) was a Canadian filmmaker and animator. He is known for animating and directing the 1968 film inspired by the Beatles, '' Yellow Submarine''. Biography Dunning was born in Toronto ...

, had also been involved in the production of the animated series. Only when the band saw and were impressed by the ''Yellow Submarine'''s finished footage did they realize the film was a more ambitious creation. As a result, they agreed to appear in a short live-action epilogue for it. Lance Percival provided the voice of Fred in that film. While the series remained popular in syndication worldwide, the Internet has allowed for even more exposure due to its

so bad it's good A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage i ...

nature. Due to the nature of the show and the Beatles' enduring popularity as a band, the series has recently gained a

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

online. The series was available on YouTube and on online websites, but most episodes have since been removed due to copyright infringement; some who uploaded episodes and clips elected to mute out or remove the musical scenes, in order to obey the copyright rules of the musical recordings (though the episodes themselves are still under copyright). In December 2004,

McFarlane Toys McFarlane Toys is an American company founded by comic book creator Todd McFarlane which makes highly detailed model action figures of characters from films, comics, popular music, video games and various sporting genres. The company, a subsidia ...

released a line of figures based on the cartoon series, featuring all four band members with instruments. In 2005, they released a boxed set featuring cartoon figures of all four band members with instruments, plus an alligator figure, speakers, and a radio. Apple Corps Ltd. purchased the rights to the series in the early 1990s. There has been popular demand for Apple Corps to issue a

remastered Remaster refers to changing the quality of the sound or of the image, or both, of previously created recordings, either audiophonic, cinematic, or videographic. The terms digital remastering and digitally remastered are also used. Mastering A ...

release of the series on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...

References

Sources

* DenniLu Company. Officially Licensed by Apple Corps Ltd. * Axelrod, Mitchell. ''Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles''. Wynn, 1999. * Lenburg, Jeff. ''Encyclopedia Of Animated Cartoons''. Checkmark Books, 1999. * Lehman, Christopher P. ''American Animated Cartoons of the Vietnam Era: A Study of Social Commentary in Films and Television Programs, 1961–1973''. McFarland, 2007.
TV.com.

External links

*

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20091028135843/http://geocities.com/garn13/beatles.html Garn's Guides.
The Cartoon Scrapbook featuring The Beatles TV series.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beatles 1960s American animated television series 1960s American musical comedy television series 1965 American television series debuts 1967 American television series endings 1960s British animated television series 1965 British television series debuts 1967 British television series endings American children's animated comedy television series American children's animated musical television series British children's animated comedy television series British children's animated musical television series Animation based on real people Television series based on singers and musicians Animated musical groups American Broadcasting Company original programming Television programmes about the Beatles Cultural depictions of the Beatles English-language television shows Sing-along television shows