MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR / THE MOVIE (Room 401)
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR / THE MOVIE (Room 401)
In April 1967, Paul read about Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters who were traveling around the United States in a magic bus. Paul began work on its British equivalent which later became ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, which spawned an EP, an album and a film. Paul fondly recalled the British tradition of taking a Magical Mystery ride at the seaside, a coach trip where the customers had no idea where they would end up. This was the basis for the project and perhaps taking the idea a bit too far, the actress in the film had very little or no script and made it up as they went along, thus the actors themselves had no idea where they would end up! After Brian’s death, Paul pushed hard to complete this project and filming begin in September and lasted for two weeks. Alistair Taylor booked a coach from Fox of Hays in Middlesex, which was blue and yellow in livery. When various stars, moons and rainbows were added ‘The Magical Mystery Tour Bus’ was ready for action. The coach departed from London and roamed Devon, Somerset and Cornwall to film scenes. The film was aired Boxing day, a traditionally busy day for families to sit down over Christmas and ‘watch the telly’. The reaction was almost universal; the critics hated it with a vengeance. It was pilloried in the press and The Beatles were completely taken aback. This was perhaps their first ever-real failure! Looking back there were mitigating circumstances. Perhaps the biggest single reason was that although filmed in full color it was transmitted in the UK in black and white thus negating much of the impact. Much of the criticism was justified and the film lacked direction and a proper script. It was self-indulgent and was a timely reminder to The Beatles that they couldn’t just put an ill thought out product together and expect everybody to like it. They were fallible after all. Having said that, released in the USA in full color, it did not receive the backlash it did in the UK. When all was said and done, it still featured classic Beatles songs that topped the charts all over the world.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR / THE MOVIE (Room 401)
In April 1967, Paul read about Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters who were traveling around the United States in a magic bus. Paul began work on its British equivalent which later became ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, which spawned an EP, an album and a film. Paul fondly recalled the British tradition of taking a Magical Mystery ride at the seaside, a coach trip where the customers had no idea where they would end up. This was the basis for the project and perhaps taking the idea a bit too far, the actress in the film had very little or no script and made it up as they went along, thus the actors themselves had no idea where they would end up! After Brian’s death, Paul pushed hard to complete this project and filming begin in September and lasted for two weeks. Alistair Taylor booked a coach from Fox of Hays in Middlesex, which was blue and yellow in livery. When various stars, moons and rainbows were added ‘The Magical Mystery Tour Bus’ was ready for action. The coach departed from London and roamed Devon, Somerset and Cornwall to film scenes. The film was aired Boxing day, a traditionally busy day for families to sit down over Christmas and ‘watch the telly’. The reaction was almost universal; the critics hated it with a vengeance. It was pilloried in the press and The Beatles were completely taken aback. This was perhaps their first ever-real failure! Looking back there were mitigating circumstances. Perhaps the biggest single reason was that although filmed in full color it was transmitted in the UK in black and white thus negating much of the impact. Much of the criticism was justified and the film lacked direction and a proper script. It was self-indulgent and was a timely reminder to The Beatles that they couldn’t just put an ill thought out product together and expect everybody to like it. They were fallible after all. Having said that, released in the USA in full color, it did not receive the backlash it did in the UK. When all was said and done, it still featured classic Beatles songs that topped the charts all over the world.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR / THE MOVIE (Room 401)
In April 1967, Paul read about Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters who were traveling around the United States in a magic bus. Paul began work on its British equivalent which later became ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, which spawned an EP, an album and a film. Paul fondly recalled the British tradition of taking a Magical Mystery ride at the seaside, a coach trip where the customers had no idea where they would end up. This was the basis for the project and perhaps taking the idea a bit too far, the actress in the film had very little or no script and made it up as they went along, thus the actors themselves had no idea where they would end up! After Brian’s death, Paul pushed hard to complete this project and filming begin in September and lasted for two weeks. Alistair Taylor booked a coach from Fox of Hays in Middlesex, which was blue and yellow in livery. When various stars, moons and rainbows were added ‘The Magical Mystery Tour Bus’ was ready for action. The coach departed from London and roamed Devon, Somerset and Cornwall to film scenes. The film was aired Boxing day, a traditionally busy day for families to sit down over Christmas and ‘watch the telly’. The reaction was almost universal; the critics hated it with a vengeance. It was pilloried in the press and The Beatles were completely taken aback. This was perhaps their first ever-real failure! Looking back there were mitigating circumstances. Perhaps the biggest single reason was that although filmed in full color it was transmitted in the UK in black and white thus negating much of the impact. Much of the criticism was justified and the film lacked direction and a proper script. It was self-indulgent and was a timely reminder to The Beatles that they couldn’t just put an ill thought out product together and expect everybody to like it. They were fallible after all. Having said that, released in the USA in full color, it did not receive the backlash it did in the UK. When all was said and done, it still featured classic Beatles songs that topped the charts all over the world.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON