The Beatles began making the promo film for ‘Penny Lane’ on this day. It was a two-day shoot, completed two days later.
For this first day they were filmed in and around Angel Lane in Stratford, London. The Beatles rode horses and walked in the area between midday and 4pm.
The cast, crew and The Beatles were based at the Salway Arms pub for the day when they weren’t filming. Work was delayed by the late arrival of the red hunting jackets worn by the group; eventually a newspaper distributor named Ernie Smith drove to Commercial Road in Stepney to collect them.
The Beatles rode white horses down Angel Lane and across a car park. Lennon was filmed walking alone on the street, and meeting the rest of the group by the Theatre Royal.
Much of Angel Lane was redeveloped in the 1970s to make way for the Stratford Centre, and a new pedestrian area, The Mall, was built over the old street.
Filming continued on the following day in Knole Park in Sevenoaks, Kent. Footage around the Penny Lane area of Liverpool was also filmed at an unknown date by director Peter Goldmann, without The Beatles’ involvement.
Also on this day...
- 1996: Press release for Real Love
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: Civic Arena, Pittsburgh
- 1970: Recording: Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing by Ringo Starr
- 1969: Mixing: I’ve Got A Feeling, Don’t Let Me Down, Get Back, One After 909, Dig A Pony
- 1968: Ringo Starr rehearses for Cilla Black’s television show
- 1964: Press conference: London airport
- 1963: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Doncaster
- 1962: The Beatles live: Kingsway Club, Southport
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Blair Hall, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
At the time The Beatles were filming this in 1967, in Stratford, East London, my mother was giving birth to me in The Stratford maternity hospital. It’s the nearest I was ever to be to all four Beatles! A few minutes walk, just over the road in fact! Mind you at the time being just a new born I had never heard of The Beatles…
The Fab Four Wise Men, The Beatles.
As I now examin the video of The Beatles “Penny Lane” frame by frame, filmed in Stratford, East London, not filmed entirely in Liverpool, as most of us believe,
I view the shots of John Paul George & Ringo, all meeting just outside The Theatre in Stratford, so close to where I was being born, as being, for me, some magical mystical epiphany, holy and Beatle Biblical.
The opening sequence of John Lennon walking down Stratford High Street are simply breathtaking, anyone who has ever had to suffer the mundanity of modern day Stratford life, hoodies, knife crime and legions of police officers trying to keep order.
The four holy men of music, The Beatles, just outside my very place of birth, drawn by some divine happening, as I am about to enter the world, by the medium of birth, the medium of lifes journey.
Rather like the parents of Jesus, being guided by the star over Bethlehem, images evoked of The Three Holy men, as they were guided by God, or as John said, “what ever it is.” The Coming of The Messiah.
What amazes me about the video of Penny Lane, is that I was so close to all four Beatles as it was being fimed. Taking it to the cosmic level.
Just as I was being born, The Beatles were arriving in Stratford, East London, just over the road from my birth spot, as if we were being pulled together by some kind of kinetic holy energy – mutants of God drawn to my birth! The Fab Four Wise Men.
The great thing about the Beatles and their work is that eventually everything they write has a deeper understanding each time its heard or viewed, everything they do matures into an awesome beautiful history, a tapestry of Biblical significance.
The reality of all this is somewhat stark, I’m just a nobkdy but that’s ok !
The broken sequence of John Lennon walking was not taken in East London, but on King’s Road (at Markham Square) in Chelsea.
Yoko sent us this love this man thanks, Paul
”The Fab Four Wise Men, The Beatles.
As I now examin the video of The Beatles “Penny Lane” frame by frame, filmed in Stratford, East London, not filmed entirely in Liverpool, as most of us believe,
I view the shots of John Paul George & Ringo, all meeting just outside The Theatre in Stratford, so close to where I was being born, as being, for me, some magical mystical epiphany, holy and Beatle Biblical.
The opening sequence of John Lennon walking down Stratford High Street are simply breathtaking, anyone who has ever had to suffer the mundanity of modern day Stratford life, hoodies, knife crime and legions of police officers trying to keep order.
The four holy men of music, The Beatles, just outside my very place of birth, drawn by some divine happening, as I am about to enter the world, by the medium of birth, the medium of lifes journey.
Rather like the parents of Jesus, being guided by the star over Bethlehem, images evoked of The Three Holy men, as they were guided by God, or as John said, “what ever it is.” The Coming of The Messiah.
What amazes me about the video of Penny Lane, is that I was so close to all four Beatles as it was being fimed. Taking it to the cosmic level.
Just as I was being born, The Beatles were arriving in Stratford, East London, just over the road from my birth spot, as if we were being pulled together by some kind of kinetic holy energy – mutants of God drawn to my birth! The Fab Four Wise Men.
The great thing about the Beatles and their work is that eventually everything they write has a deeper understanding each time its heard or viewed, everything they do matures into an awesome beautiful history, a tapestry of Biblical significance.
The reality of all this is somewhat stark, I’m just a nobkdy but that’s ok !”
The Beatles had their glory with Sgt Pepper, and then the reality of their retirement from showbusiness in 1966 set in with dwindling ideas and direction to go in. In the film is made certain that fans understand that the Beatles and their greatness was over as they rode past unconcerned with a stage and their instruments ready; they had retired. It slowed down and came to a stop from here; their lounge lizard records left to record and done.
Except, of course, Sgt Pepper was remotely finished and wouldn’t even be released for another 4 months. Other than that, it’s a brilliant theory. ?
Does anyone see how strange Mccartney looks in this first day of shooting the Penny Lane promo?… that is, when he is actually filmed straight on and close, which is rare during this filming… even though HE WROTE the song and sings the lead vocal! Yet for some strange reason John gets all the “face time” during the shoot… This was an intentionally shot promo for Penny Lane, not just random footage. Then I realize why Paul didn’t get much close up action during that first day’s shooting (and first half) of the video… It doesn’t REALLY look like him, unless it’s a very ILL or VERY STONED version of him. SERIOUSLY. Now to add a little more intrigue… This was only the 2nd official filming of Paul (the other being the promo for Strawberry F. F.) since he would have POSSIBLY been replaced by William Campbell (aka Billy Pepper) sometime in the previous 4 weeks!! The filming was Feb 5th, ’67 and Paul supposedly would have passed on in a car accident January 7th, ’67…. All these puzzle pieces falling together as I look a little deeper each time, really starts making me wonder… WTF?
steelyglenn , Hi , The supposed death of Paul in a Motorcar crash is wildly over exaggerated on 2 main things , True , Paul McCartney was indeed in a crash that was NOT fatal , in 1966 he crashed a moped bike he was riding and it was from that incident he sustained the chipped front tooth that can be seen in the Promotiial Film Clip of the song “Rain” . The 2nd is the constant claim of The Number plate on the VW Beetle that is parked just beyond the 4 Beatles as they cross the road over the crossing for the Photo that was used on the Abbey Road album cover. The claim by Paul is Dead spruikers is the absurd undeniable fact of one more clue being right there, if only a cryptic clue at that. In the makeup of the rear number plate registration on the car (which was in fact John Lennon’s) , the Paul is Dead devotees have pointed to this “Fact” being a hidden message that was cleverly concocted and placed there for the one’s who look for those little goodies to satisfy their Where’s Wally type fix. Unfortunately for anyone who has seen the LMW 28IF “clue” and worked out the subliminal message supporting its authentic fact. Proof of the “28IF” meant that “IF” the real Paul McCartney were dead as they believed took the shape of it is what Paul’s age would be then in the year 1969 and on the day the Beatles Iconic crossing was taken. Sorry if I sound like a smart arse but the photo shoot took place on Friday 8 August 1969 AND a little research by Paul is Dead people would show Paul McCartney’s birthday is on 18 June 1942. Therefore he was 27 , not 28. in fact he turned 27 only 1 month and 20 days before that Abbey Road Photoshoot day. I can agree on one thing you said about how he looked in the Penny Lane filmclip , I thought that whilst not very ill , but possible morning after effects of a dabbling in some hallicinogen or smoke the night before may be the reason. Who knows for sure one way or the other but whatever , the real thing that is true is on February 7 , 1967 the Real Paul was present for his spot in the Penny Lane filmclip.
I had never seen this footage before. All I could think of, watching it, was: **John had already met Yoko.** And nobody knew!! Both he and Paul look tense and pale, I think. Paul looks happier. There’s an odd vibe to it.