License Plate for a Beatlemaniac

Baby, you can drive this car:

"4 FAB 4"
New York State license plate

04756

The Chief Blue Meanie Animation Cel

Among the treasures auctioned last month at Swann Galleries' sale of Illustration Art was a cel from "Yellow Submarine" (1968) featuring the Chief Blue Meanie. Note how well the intense color has been preserved.

I don't know precisely where this image appears in the film, but I do know my favorite quotation, written by Erich Segal and spoken not by a Blue Meanie but by Jeremy. "Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo: so little time, so much to know!" That sums it all up.

"Yellow Submarine" trailer (1968)

03845

Julian Lennon's Copy of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

I have long been intrigued by The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics (1969) edited by rock illustrator Alan Aldridge. I recall in high school being entranced by at least some of its commissioned illustrations of Beatles lyrics. I was surprised yesterday to come across Julian Lennon's copy of the book on eBay with a Christmas inscription from his father John Lennon, and, as if that weren't enough, an original sketch. The book, which the eBay seller appraises at a value of $100,000, is offered for sale with a Buy It Now price of $49,000 or alternatively the Make Offer option. Still, it's by no means a happy holiday thought that Julian was willing to part with this book from his father.

John Lennon
eBay Listing Retrieved December 21, 2019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Beatles-Illustrated-Lyrics-Inscribed-by-John-Lennon-to-his-Son-Julian-1969/193265302781?hash=item2cff827cfd:g:a70AAOSwNhNd~RoZ

John Lennon
eBay Item Description

03114

Whitney Darrow, Jr. for the United Way

Whitney Darrow, Jr. illustrates the face of childhood need in this 1967 appeal for the United Way. This appeared in Billboard but the campaign began in 1965 in various local newspapers. On the back cover, this issue of Billboard carries a short review of "Magical Mystery Tour" by the Beatles, but the scan by Google Books makes reading it a real challenge.

Whitney Darrow, Jr. Advertisement for The United Way.
Billboard, December17, 1967, page 74

Google Books: Billboard

"Magical Mystery Tour"--The Beatles
Billboard, December17, 1967, back cover

Note:  I'm a bit disappointed. Google Books went to all the effort and expense of scanning Billboard, and the resolution is inadequate for the small typeface. Google hosts this blog, and I hold them to the highest standards.

Readers may wish to reacquaint themselves with Attempted Bloggery's archive of advertising art and previous posts on Whitney Darrow, Jr. Remember: if it isn't here, it's somewhere else.

01542

Blue Meanies

An animation cel featuring two Blue Meanies from "Yellow Submarine" (1968) was sold at Swann Galleries this week. It sold for more than the high estimate. When will the Blue Meanies realize that all you need is love?

An animation cel with two Blue Meanies from "Yellow Submarine" (1968)

An animation cel with two Blue Meanies from "Yellow Submarine" (1968)

Hammer Price:  $950

An animation cel with two Blue Meanies from "Yellow Submarine" (1968)

Note:  There is a lot more animation art on this blog, but none from Pepperland.

01409

Aug. 23: The Beatles in Person, Shea Stadium

No, this is not the famous but extremely rare Beatles poster of which no more than a handful exist.  Rather, it is a more common facsimile edition from the 1970's.  It is signed by promoter Sid Bernstein, but I doubt whether this enhances its value. The Beatles's legendary first and most famous concert at Shea Stadium was on August 15, 1965.  Forty-five years ago today, the Beatles performed their second concert at Shea which the original of this poster promoted, part of their North American Tour.  This was one of their last concerts anywhere.  Where were you on August 23, 1966?  And if you're too young to answer that question, there's really no need to let me know.

Sid Bernstein Presents the Beatles in Person

Shea Stadium Tuesday Aug. 23 (1966) 

1970's Facsimile

247. A Vintage Beatles Poster, ca. 1970's 
"Sid Bernstein Presents the Beatles". A poster, ca. 1970's, publicizing a performance at Shea Stadium on Tuesday, August 23, (1966) autographed near the top by Sid Bernstein, approx. 28" x 20-1/4", not framed. There are four known copies of the original edition; this is from a second edition published by Sid Bernstein. Printed in yellow and black inks on glossy paper by Murray Poster Printing Co., New York, including a photo screen printed image of the Fab Four. On 15 August 1965, The Beatles performed the first major stadium concert in the history of rock 'n' roll at Shea Stadium in New York to a crowd of 55,600. The 1966 North American Tour ran from August 12-29 including Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Toronto, Boston, Memphis, Cincinnati, St. Louis, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco (the last ever public performance). 
Sid Bernstein imported the British Invasion to the shores of New York City and helped build the dreams of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, the Moody Blues, the Kinks, James Brown, Ray Charles, John Denver, Joan Baez, Miles Davis, the Rascals, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, ABBA, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the list goes on and on...www.sidbernstein.com 
800/1,200   Sold $575.00

Aspire Auctions

November 2008 Fine Art & Antiques Auction

http://www.aspireauctions.com/auction95/details/24658.html 

Notes:  My post on The Beatles Illuminated:  1964 Concert Photos by Mike Mitchell can be found here.

My previous post on poster art is here.

059

The Beatles Illuminated: 1964 Concert Photos by Mike Mitchell

On Wednesday, Christie's is offering a few dozen striking vintage black-and-white photographs of the Beatles taken by 18-year-old photographer Mike Mitchell. These incredible images were taken on February 11, 1964 at the Washington Coliseum. This was the Beatles's first U.S. concert, and it took place just two days after their historic first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Mitchell had obtained a press pass for himself. He did not own a flash for his camera so he had to rely on the lighting in the concert hall for his images. I think he did a spectacular job.

These photographs were never published and were apparently forgotten even by their creator for a long time. Recently, Mitchell rediscovered them in his basement and realized their cultural value. He spent the last three years digitally restoring the negatives and preparing a single print of each for Christie's. (It sounds as if he may publish other editions of at least some of these photos.) Here are just four of the images:

Lot 8

MIKE MITCHELL
gelatin silver print; singed lower right, numbered 1/1
20 x 13in. (50.8 x 33cm.)
Special Notice
This lot is offered without reserve.
Estimate $3,000 - $5,000 
Price Realized $16,250 

Lot 12

MIKE MITCHELL
gelatin silver print; signed lower right, numbered 1/1
16¼ x 24in. (41.3 x 61cm.)
Special Notice
This lot is offered without reserve.

Estimate $3,000 - $5,000
Price Realized $8,125 

Lot 20

MIKE MITCHELL
gelatin silver print; signed lower right, numbered 1/1
14¼ x 16in. (35.5 x 40.6cm.)
Special Notice
This lot is offered without reserve.
Estimate $2,000 - $3,000
Price Realized $4,750 

Lot 46

MIKE MITCHELL
gelatin silver print; signed lower right, numbered 1/1
16 x 16¼in. (40.6 x 41.2cm.)
Special Notice
This lot is offered without reserve.
Estimate $2,000 - $3,000
Price Realized $68,500 

 Sale 2633 

The Beatles Illuminated: The Discovered Works of Mike Mitchell            

20 July 2011 New York,   Rockefeller Plaza

The Christie's catalogue:  http://www.christies.com/eCatalogues/index.aspx?id=89FF90C24F056D0C852578A4007DACA3

Conversation Crossroad radio interview with Mike Mitchell:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conxroad/2011/07/13/the-beatles-illuminated-discovered-works-of-mike-mitchell

023