Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles
Foreground

Saturday, September 23, 1967

Filming of “Magical Mystery Tour” • Day 11

Last updated on July 30, 2024


Location

  • Location: West Malling Air Station, Maidstone, Kent, UK

Timeline

Filming of “Magical Mystery Tour”

Related master release

Related film

Production of The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” TV special took place throughout September 1967, with some additional scenes filmed in late October / early November. The first leg of filming occurred from September 11 to 15 in and around Newquay. On September 18, filming resumed with the crew choosing the Raymond Revuebar strip club in London’s Soho district as the location for the day’s shoot. From September 19 to 24, the Beatles relocated to West Malling Air Station in Maidstone, Kent, where they filmed interior and exterior shots for the project.


On the fifth day of filming at West Malling Air Station, the Beatles filmed the “Magical Mystery Tour Marathon” sequence. The sequence was set on the main runway and perimeter road of the air base, and featured a variety of scenes, including:

  • A tug-of-war between children and blindfolded vicars
  • The main cast and extras lining up for the start of a race
  • A variety of vehicles, including a racing motorcycle, some painted mini coopers, and the “Magical Mystery Tour” coach, being used in the race
  • A group of people, including Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall, having their picture taken by Little George the photographer

Those scenes were filmed with the help of a number of extras, including a rugby team, ten children, six miniature wrestlers, and three vicars. The Beatles also requested a number of props, including a winner’s cup, a starting pistol, a Victorian camera, and a tug-of-war rope.

Filming at West Malling Air Station continued the following day.




DateScenes filmed
September 19Aunt Jessie’s dreadful dream, including the scene where John Lennon serves spaghetti using a shovel.
September 20I Am The Walrus” sequence and the scenes with the Beatles wearing wizard outfits
September 21Blue Jay Way” sequence
September 22“Barking Seargent” sequence with Victor Spinetti.
The sequence where Jolly Jimmy welcomes people who have crawled inside the magic tent to watch “Blue Jay Way
The sequence where Ringo Starr buys his ticket for the Magical Mystery Tour.
September 23“Magical Mystery Tour Marathon” scenes, with the cheating vicars, the mini-coopers…
September 24Scene with Mr. Bloodvessel performing “I’m Going In A Field” at the organ (unused)
Scene for “Your Mother Should Know
Schedule of sequences filmed at West Malling Air Station, based on details given in the 2012 reissue of “Magical Mystery Tour” film

BEATLES XMAS TV MYSTERY

Just back from their lightning tout in Devon and Cornwall, The Beatles are burying themselves in studio work to complete their “mystery” TV programme before they leave for India at the beginning of October.

The location material for the one-hour colour programme was gathered on a four day coach trip of the west country. The Beatles plus a film crew and publicity men, made unscheduled stops and the boys relied on scenery and surroundings for inspiration and Beatle-type talent teasers.

The tour named by them Magical Mystery Tour was the backbone of the programme and for it The Beatles put off their original plans for their India trip.

Now the location work is complete, and The Beatles have something to work on, they are absorbing themselves in the finishing touches in a studio, the name of which has not been revealed.

The complete show is all their own work. They are using no script and no director. There will also be a special guest star attraction.

The title song was penned by them as long ago as April, and for a week before the Devon tour they were recording at all night sessions at EMI’s St. John’s Wood studios.

It is more than likely that the show will be a special Christmas highlight on the new BBC-2 colour service.

Come October the boys will be off to India for meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The India trip coincides with the anniversary of the release of their first hit Love Me Do which was October 4th, 1962.

From Fabulous208 – September 23, 1967
From Fabulous208 – September 23, 1967

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

"With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group."

We owe a lot to Barry Miles for the creation of those pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - a day to day chronology of what happened to the four Beatles during the Beatles years!

Shop on Amazon

If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.

Read more on The Beatles Bible

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.