Author: Beatles should release Saturday cartoon series, music videos on DVD

July 6, 6:49 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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An image from "The Beatles" cartoon series episode called "You've Really Got a Hold on Me." (DenniLu
Company. Copyright Apple Corps Ltd.) More images from the cartoon series can be seen in the slideshow
at the bottom of the page.)

One of the items on Beatle fans' wish list for release is "The Beatles" animated cartoon series, which ran from 1965-69 on Saturday morning TV. But even though Apple has had the rights to it for several years, their use of it has remained fairly dormant, with the exception of some licensed items using the cartoon images.

 Mitch Axelrod, author of "Beatletoons, The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles," a book detailing the history and creation of the series, says it's too bad the series hasn't been released on DVD because people forget how popular the cartoons actually were when they were first broadcast.

"The cartoons were very very popular, especially the opening weekend got a 52 share, which is unheard of," he says in a phone interview. "And they kept that for a long time, you know. ... People would sit in front of their TV watching for two hours prior to the Beatles just to sit there and not miss the Beatles. And they’d sit there with their bowl of cereal, even though the Beatles were on at 10:30 ... because they wanted to stay in front of the TV."

Axelrod says he knows they would be an enormous hit because of their cross-generational appeal.

"It’s a win-win for everybody. Baby boomers would watch it because we’d want to remember. And the younger kids would watch it because either mom or grandpa or grandma, whatever, or dad, would watch it with them. You’d be catering to a young, young audience who you’d carry forever," Axelrod says. "The legacy would carry on to ages 5 though 12. And I think it would carry on the Beatles legacy even more than (Apple) would hope."

How did the series come about in the first place?

"The Beatles cartoon series was essentially the brainchild of Al Brodax. There are a couple of versions of how it began. Al told me this version when I interviewed him at his home. Al worked at King Features in the budding animation department. A man came into King Features to see the comic strip editor Sylban Byck. He had some crude drawings of the Beatles and inquired about the possibility of a comic strip using the Beatles. The editor did not think it was a great idea and sent the man on his way. (Note: It was early 1964 and the group was hot but no one knew how long they’d last).

"Before leaving, the man went to use the bathroom. Al saw the Beatles pictures and followed him in. He asked the man if he had the rights to use the Beatles pictures in animated (moving picture) form. The man said yes. Al made a deal with the man and he proceeded to secure additional rights from the appropriate people. He quickly got sponsorship from Anson Issacson, President of the A.C. Gilbert Company.

"ABC-TV signed on as the network and, in November 1964, the announcement was made in Variety Magazine that the Beatles were going to star in a prime time cartoon series. And if you want to find out why they never made it to prime time, you’ll have to read my book."

The prevailing wisdom is that the Beatles didn't care for them. Axelrod disputes that.

"Dhani knows that the cartoons are out (there). Oh yeah, believe me, he does. And so do all the other Beatle children. Sean said he became a Beatle fan by watching 'Yellow Submarine' and the cartoons ... Even George (Harrison), in a 1999 interview with Timothy White from Billboard, when he was talking about 'Yellow Submarine,' White brought up the cartoons and George said, ‘We (Apple) bought them up,’ ... and we have no plans for them right now.' But, he said, 'They’re so silly they’re good.''"

 Then there's the issue of racial stereotypes, which were often found in cartoons of that vintage, and political correctness. Axelrod says it really shouldn't be a factor.

"Politically correct? No. Is ‘Family Guy’ politically correct? No. I love that show. I watch it religiously. There are shows today that aren’t politically correct. So, .. a silly cartoon ... from the ‘60s, should not be judged at all for PC. It really shouldn’t.

"And if you think about it again," he says, "is Dr Ah So in the episode for 'It Won’t Be Long' that bad? Maybe to some, but in the scheme of things, it’s really not that offensive anymore. There are some things I think could be deemed politically incorrect. But I really feel like it’s just a cartoon."

Axelrod's suggestion to Apple: Just put the cartoons out.

"Just put (the series) out as is. No best of volumes. Just put the cartoons out in the full series."

He says he's even offered to supplement them with material that could be used as special features.

"I’ve offered to do new interviews. I interviewed a ton of people and I have them all on tape. So I could have enough material for three or four discs of just production stuff, extras. It’s a question of whether they want to have it out there. The longer they wait, the fewer people are gonna be around. ... And it’s just unfortunate that they’re not going to see the release or get the credit they deserve," he says.

The big question is whether Apple will release them.

"You know what?," he says, "I can’t tell. ... Right now, any time it’s been brought up, it’s been brushed off." 

One thing Axelrod would prefer not to see out is the film "Let It Be."

"It’s boring. When they play and they have fun, it’s great. When they’re talking and McCartney’s bossing ... or this one is getting ticked off or this one is getting ticked off, it’s boring. It’s a documentary, so it’s not as bright and cheery as you’d like. ... But if that’s all we’re going to get in terms of the Beatles in the studio, in terms of film footage from ’63-’70, I’m not impressed."

He thinks prospects will be better next year when the Beatles get "The Beatles: Rock Band" and the remastered sets out into the market.

"Now that ‘Rock Band’ and the remasters are out of the way," he says, "I think it could potentially open the floodgates for everything. Now, when I say that, I’m not optimistic about that, but, you know, you would think if the Beatles want to put out more product ... well, there’s not gonna be any more Beatles songs because it’s only Paul and Ringo. So, what can you do other than the promo films and stuff? Maybe you could do “Let It Be”? I don’t personally think they’re ever going to put out ‘Shea Stadium’. ... I don’t think it would be a big release for the mass audience which they like to go for. "

But a DVD of Beatles promo videos would be a great idea, he says. And Axelrod has a plan in mind.

"Just put out the (video) companion to '1.' Put all 27 videos, because there are for every one of those songs. ... I’m not going to care if you give me 'Hello Goodbye' No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. Whichever one you give me. I don’t care. ... Just give me one version of each song on DVD uninterrupted and I’ll be happy.

"I don’t care if they give me the dartless ‘Help!’ or the sawhorse ‘Help!’ Just give me something."  

 (Below, a portion of the first episode of the series, including the cartoon for "A Hard Day's Night.")

• For officially licensed items with images from "The Beatles" cartoon series, go to www.beatlescartoon.com.)