The Beatles - The Complete Beatles Cartoons Collection - Vol. 1

The series premiered on ABC on Saturday, September 25, 1965 at 10:30 am. Each show was a half-hour long and consisted of two "adventures" and two sing-a-long songs. Lyrics were flashed on the screen so that viewers could join in. The show was an instant success.

The show was produced by King Features Productions. The voices of the Beatles cartoon characters were supplied by voice actors Lance Percival (Paul and Ringo), and Paul Frees (John and George). Animation was done overseas at TVC of London and Astransa, an Australian company. TVC is also the company that produced the animated movie "Yellow Submarine". The scripts were relatively easy to develop, as the episodes were based on popular Beatles songs.

The cartoons remained on ABC for three more years, with the final two seasons being reruns of previous episodes. After receiving previously unheard of daytime television ratings in its first season, its second season, however, lost ratings to CBS's Saturday morning line-up. Apparently The Beatles couldn't compete with the likes of "Space Ghost", "Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles", "Mighty Mouse" and "Mighty Heroes".

In the fall of 1968 the series was moved to Sunday mornings, where it remained until its final broadcast on September 7, 1969.

There were a total of 39 episodes made. They have been rebroadcast in the past by MTV.


Episode 1
A Hard Day's Night/ I Want To Hold Your Hand
A Hard Days Night: The Beatles try to rehearse at the Transylvania Hilton but gets a bit crowded when all the locals decide to come over to be nosey. John decides they need to find a different place to practice so they find an empty castle, but soon learn that it isn't as empty as they thought. Their music awakens the dead and they soon find out that creatures of the night are Beatles fans, too.
SINGALONGS: Not a Second Time & Devil In Her Heart
I Want To Hold Your Hand: The Beatles take an ocean cruise to get some peace and relaxation. But they soon discover that this isn't possible as they chased by screaming fans, and to make matters worse, the story narrator keeps letting their hiding locations slip. They hop into a diving bell for cover which is dropped into the water. There they encounter a lovestruck octopus and reunite it with its mate.
b: 25-Sep-1965 d: Graham C. Sharpe and Jack Stokes
NOTE: A Hard Day's Night: Produced in Australia.
Note: All Beatles are singing the lead vocal.
I Want To Hold Your Hand: Produced in England.

Episode 2
Do You Want To Know A Secret/If I Fell
Do You Want To Know A Secret: The Beatles take a much needed vacation to Dublin, Ireland. They stay in a quaint little cottage, and Ringo's room is full of chickens. While there, they run into a lady leprechaun named Willomena Morris. She wants to take them to her special pot of gold, she says its a "golden opportunity". Her pot of gold turns out to be an undiscovered band of musicians.
SINGALONGS: A Hard Days Night & I Want to Hold Your Hand
If I Fell: John is kidnapped by a mad scientist's assistant. The mad scientist wants to bring to life a Frankenstein type monster and make it a rock star, all she needs is the brain of a beetle (hence the kidnapping of John, the "brain of the Beatles"). John and the monster's brains are switched, the singing monster is mobbed by a herd of female fans. He can't handle the pressure and the girls rip him apart and foil the plan.
b: 02-Oct-1965 d: John Dunn and Ray Leach
NOTE: DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET was made in Canada. IF I FELL was made in Australia. John is the only Beatle to appear in IF I FELL.

Episode 3
Please Mr Postman
The Beatles are getting ready for a performance when a postman arrives. He delivers them a letter from the Liverpool Light Company, saying that their account is overdue. Then all the lights at the concert venue go out.
Devil In Her Heart
When Ringo wanders off from a picnic in Transylvania he ends up at an old witches house. She proceeds to fall in love with him and brew's a love potion to give him. George arrives just in time to save Ringo and knocks the witch in her batch of brew.
Sing-a-longs: If I Fell / Do You Want To Know A Secret
b: 09-Oct-1965 d: Jack Stokes and Leon Becker
NOTE: PLEASE MR. POSTMAN was made in England. DEVIL IN HER HEART was made in Australia.
Only George and Ringo appear in DEVIL IN HER HEART.
PLEASE MR. POSTMAN is the only episode to make verbal reference to Brian Epstein. Epstein's 'heard' and partially seen (hand on desk) in THANK YOU GIRL, even though he's not mentioned by name.

Episode 4
Not A Second Time
The Beatles are greeted at the airport by a huge crown of fans. They abandon the plane and join up with their friend Alan Watermain. (Alan Watermain is the only non-Beatle character to have a recurring role in the cartoons)
by Christopher Cook
Slow Down
An old western town renames itself to Ringo Ravine in honor of The Beatles visit. Ringo gets stuck on a runaway horse.
Sing-a-longs: Baby's In Black / Misery

Episode 5
Baby's In Black
The Beatles are forced to take over a castle on a rainy night. Paul gets abducted by a mad scientist who plans to marry him off to a lady vampire. Ringo, George and John arrive in time to save him.
Misery
The Beatles are off to the wax museum to see themselves in wax. The get lost in the museum and the Count Dracula wax statue comes to life, and proceeds to give chase. The Beatles end up having to melt their wax doubles to save the day.
Sing-a-longs: I'll Get You / Chains


Episode 6
You've Really Got A Hold On Me
The Beatles go on safari. When the truck breaks down Ringo goes off in search of a jack. He finds a witch doctor named "Jack" who turns a worm into a snake that they use a spare tire.
Chains
The Beatles go to see "Mutiny on the Bounty", and Ringo gets inspired to be a great captain. He gets knocked on the head at the same time, and dreams that John, Paul and George are planning a mutiny against him. He makes them walk the plank which is the diving board of a swimming pool.
Sing-a-longs: Slow Down / Honey Don't



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