In August 1964, when the Beatles were in Los Angeles, Paul was introduced to 16-year-old Peggy Lipton by photographer Ron Joy. Despite the fact that he was still in a relationship with Jane Asher, Paul and Peggy began stepping out together. They even continued their relationship after the Beatles tour had ended. Peggy later starred in the television series ‘Mod Squad’ and was to marry Quincy Jones. She still kept in touch with Paul and said that she would have married him if he’d asked.

Wig
When the Beatles arrived in Washington in February 1964 John’s blonde-haired wife Cynthia was wearing a black wig. Reporters were told, “Mrs Lennon doesn’t give interviews. Mrs Lennon likes to stay in the background.””

Little Malcolm
‘Little Malcolm And His Struggle Against The Eunuchs’ was a play written by David Halliwell in 1964. John Hurt starred in the production when it appeared at the Garrick Theatre, but it was taken off after twenty performances despite Laurence Olivier, Peter O’ Toole and Beatles coming to see it. 

Hurt played Malcolm Scrawdyke, a student who begins a fascist movement called the Dynamic Erectionist Party. 

Discussing the film version, Hurt recalled, “The Beatles saw it (the play), went round afterwards and said it was great. A few years later George personally put up the money (for the film). It was Harrison’s money, not Apple’s, and it was the most expensive home movie ever made.”

The film was directed by Stuart Carter in 1973 and was put on the ABC, Bloomsbury for three weeks. Halliwell was to say, “If George Harrison had been an ordinary producer he would have done everything he could to push that film. Some of the notices were very good. But as he’s a multi-millionaire, he’s never done anything about it. I’m told he shows it at private parties, but he’s never done the slightest thing to get it another public showing.

“It has been shown twice since the first release. Once was in my home town of Huddersfield when some University cinema group held its annual conference…the second time was in 1983 at the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road. The cinema had to borrow the director’s private print because all attempts to communicate with Harrison in America failed. Requests for a print, for posters, for publicity material all met with total silence. So the Electric Cinema man said he’d put it on without permission and thought it might stir Harrison to do something. It didn’t.”

In January 1985 Hurt was a guest at George’s Friar Park mansion and the film was screened after dinner.

Spymill
John Lennon was asked which writers had influenced his lyrics – James Joyce, Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll or Spike Milligan. He said, “Spymill. Do I know the others?”

Morcambe & Wise
Paul McCartney said that the ‘Morcambe And Wise Show’ was his favourite of all the television shows that the Beatles appeared in because he had the memory of “What great fun it was.”

Here is an example of the repartee:

Eric: “Hey” It’s the Kaye Sisters!”

Paul: (Shaking Eric’s hand) “I remember you – you’re the one with the short, fat, hairy legs.”

Eric: “No, no.” (Pointing at Ernie). “He’s the one with the short, fat, hairy legs.”

George: “We’re the ones with the big, fat, hairy heads! (He puts his hand under Eric’s chin). “Get out of that!”

John: “Well, it’s not like in your day, you know.”

Eric: “What? No, that’s an insult that, isn’t it?” (Looks at Ernie) You didn’t expect that, did you?” (Turns back to face John). “What do you mean, ‘not like in my day?’

John: “Well, me dad used to tell me about you, you know. (He lowers his hand, belatedly, to signify himself as a small child).

Eric: (Looking at the hand). Have you only got a little dad then?”

Slim
Paul was to say: “It wasn’t until I found a picture of Slim Whitman, who was also left-handed, and saw that I had the guitar the wrong way round.”

Not Too Bad
When the Beatles were performing in Stockholm a girl climbed onto George’s back. He recalled, “It was not very funny at the time, but if you can keep on playing it’s not too bad.”

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