Yellow Submarine: The Sea of Green

For this group shot of the foursome traveling towards the Sea of Green, I chose to alter the colors of their clothes seen in the film. The chromatic scheme is based more on their real life appearance during the press conference for the release of Sgt. Pepper.  I didn't want to use the typical colors for this one. I wanted to do something different. Also, I don't know if the words "spoken" by John are something he would have said, but it's definitely my philosophy. Usually, when things look bad, you'll find your inner strength and not only learn about yourself, but grow as a person as well.

Yellow Submarine: The Collegeville Blue Meanie Halloween costume

Another desirable item from the movie's initial merchandising blitz is the Blue Meanie Halloween costume by Collegeville. Similar to the better known Ben Cooper costumes worn by many during their youth, this is a tough nugget to find in complete and/or good condition. The box was often thrown out, the mask would damage easily, and the body costume could develop tears or runs.

Yellow Submarine: Jeremy Hillary Boob, Phd.

Like the Blue Meanies, the Nowhere Man Jeremy initially freaked me out. He was blue, weird, and strange. After watching the film many times, I overcame my fear of this odd, little creature and my phobia of blue people in general. This prepared me for the Smurf onslaught that occurred during the 1980s. . .

Yellow Submarine: Sheffield Alarm Clock

This alarm clock isn't an item I own but it is a very nice display piece. The colors in this drawing are not product-accurate. I just felt like changing them.

Yellow Submarine: Corgi's Yellow Submarine toy

The only Beatles' collectible I had prior to the 1990s was my mother's copy of Revolver, which she kept in fantastic condition before giving it to me. Beginning twenty years ago, I earnestly started to gather Beatles' memorabilia, or at least try. The '90s marked the era of high-priced vintage collectibles, and many items were unobtainable to me due to cost. 
I grew up with Corgi toys so when I learned they had manufactured a replica of the movie's namesake it was tops on my want list. I found the die-cast mini-sub on two occasions during the decade of the '90s. The first time was at Huntington's Heckscher Park antique show in 1996 where the seller was offering it for -GULP!- $1000.00 in loose, but good condition. No sale. The second time was a year later at the Cold Spring Harbor antique show. This time the sub was in better condition and was in a very good quality original box. The price? $2000.00. Finally, in 2011, I was able to purchase an original Corgi sub (its been reissued eight times over the past twenty years in various variations) from a local dealer for well under $80. Original Beatles memorabilia is difficult to obtain, but eventually, that holds true for new merchandise as well. So, if you see something you like, buy it. Or two.

Yellow Submarine: George

and George. Young Fred tells the quartet of his plight and the group agrees to save the people of Pepperland. Climbing aboard the Yellow Submarine, they begin their quest . . .

Yellow Submarine: John

John . . .

Yellow Submarine: Ringo

Ringo . . .

Yellow Submarine: Paul

Paul...

Yellow Submarine: Young Fred

Stoic & sea-smart, Young Fred narrowly evades the Blue Meanies. Taking a haphazard trip, he arrives in a small, British, seaside town where he meets . . .

Yellow Submarine: The Lord Mayor of Pepperland

Slightly scatter-brained but still a wise ruler, the Lord Mayor realizes that Pepperland is lost due to the invading Meanie army. In a last ditch effort to save his home and people, he sends his best officer to find help to free Pepperland. . .

Yellow Submarine: The Glove

The dreaded Glove, the advance scout of the Meanie army. Seeing as he is an aggressive & negative menace throughout the course of the film, I chose to represent him as such.

Yellow Submarine: March of the Meanies

The Beatles' animated classic, Yellow Submarine, premiered in the U.S. on November 13th, 1968. This was the first movie I ever saw, though a few years later. It was New Year's Eve and my parents had decided to stay home that year. I was having my usual bath in the kitchen sink and my father was watching The Fab Four's animated antics on television. Channel 5 here in New York regularly showed the film at midnight on the beginning of a new year from the 1970s till about 1988.
I could see the T.V. from my spot in the sink and it was here that my mind was expanded without the use of drugs (I have never relied on them). The psychedelic sights and sounds had a profound effect on me from my tender age of two.
The Blue Meanies were completely frightening and did give me nightmares. For those who don't recognize the main figure in this piece, it is the ECW/WWE wrestler who goes by the same name. Beginning his career in the 1990s, his wrestling presence is the funniest I have ever seen. 
And, for you sticklers out there, yes, I know the Kinky Boot Beast (in the lower right corner next to Robin the Butterfly Stomper) is not a Blue Meanie, but he worked well in this drawing.

Twenty five years ago today . . .

Twenty five years ago today, Vincent Price passed away. That rhymes.
Rightfully considered one of the twentieth century's masters of horror, Vincent Price had a career that stretched from the mid 1940s to the early 1990s. Apart from an extremely long list of films, Price was also the host of PBS' Mystery! television program. He maintained that post admirably until ill heath forced him to abdictate to his friend, Dame Diana Rigg, with whom he starred in Theatre of Blood, one of his best films.
Vincent Price was also a star on radio, appearing as Simon Templar aka The Saint. His best films were made in the sixties and seventies, but as audiences turned their attention to slasher flicks, Price ventured into the role of pitchman. He hocked everything from children's vitamins to board games and had a memorable association with Milton Bradley's line of toys.
Televison welcomed Price's presence and he had a long association with the medium. Apart from the aforementioned Mystery!, he appeared on Batman (as Egghead), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Here's Lucy, and F-Troop to name a few.
A gourmet chef with several cookbooks to his name, Price was also an avid art collector. In an effort to bring fine art to the masses, he teamed up with Sears & Roebuck in the 60s, handpicking reproductions of the great masters work which was then sold in Sears stores across America.

Remember Brandon Lee . . . .

Killed 25 years ago when he was struck by a bullet loaded into a prop gun, Brandon Lee never lived to see the success he would achieve after death. Living in the shadow of his late father, the legendary Bruce Lee, Brandon struggled to establish his own identity in Hollywood and in life. He had some minor success on television with 1986's Kung Fu: The Movie and the feature film Showdown in Little Tokyo in 1991, alongside Dolph Lundgren.
However, in 1992 Lee started to shake things up in cinema's with Rapid Fire; an excellent action flick now unjustly forgotten. Rapid Fire (similar in tone to his father's movie, The Big Boss) left a strong impression on me. Brandon Lee didn't hide from his father's legacy in this film, in fact, he openly embraced it. After watching this motion picture I was really looking forward to many future projects from this young actor.
That future became all too brief when on the afternoon of March, 31 1993, Lee died in a North Carolina hospital, the victim of a gunshot wound. With his current film now in limbo, we were not going to see anymore of this dynamic celebrity. I equate the loss of Brandon Lee to the death of Kurt Cobain a year later. Both are tragic losses that affected me and others of my generation.

R. I. P. Oscar Gamble

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