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Yellow Sub 30th Birthday at the BBC

Birthday cake for the Yellow Submarine film's 30th birthday celebration at the BBC

During the pandemic, I’ve been systematically watching a bunch of old video tapes (yes, VHS video tapes) on all kinds of subjects, and learning a lot!

This one turned up the other day: a record of the super-duper party my wife and I threw for the crew of the Yellow Submarine in honor of its 30th birthday in 1998. 

We rented a studio hall at the BBC in London, and my incredible wife and broadcasting partner managed to produce a live remote broadcast back to Baltimore right there from the party! She is such a pro. 

This is a little clip of her introducing John Coates and Norm Kaufmann of TV Cartoons, the London animation studio responsible for this trend-setting film.

With the help of TVC staff, we invited over 200 of the original artists for an open bar, a Yellow Submarine designed birthday cake, and lots of Yellow Sub presents. 

Dr. Bob at the merch table

You can see me briefly at the end of this clip where I’m working the “merch” table, handing out Corgi Yellow Submarine models and other valuables to all the artists. 

Anna, designated gift-giver that evening

Our then 11-year-old daughter Anna helped a lot, as designated gift-giver that evening. 

That same evening, Zoh interviewed Erich Segal, John Clive, Paul Angelis, Jack Stokes and an author on the history of the BBC. She also did several other live broadcasts back to Baltimore from the BBC that same week interviewing all kinds of British subjects, economists and authors on the global situation.

Zoh interviewing Jack Stokes

She’s the crown of all interviewers!

We invited Apple Corps to this party and they brought a film crew and captured interviews with the co-creators of the film that they then used as the Special Features bonus track on the DVD of the restored version of “Yellow Submarine.”  When you see those interviews, remember they were filmed at our party!

— Dr. Bob

Abbey Road crosswalk