Site became pilgrimage for other rock groups, says Mark Ellen

A local music writer has recalled how he took members of pop groups to Chiswick House to see where the Beatles filmed their pop videos nearly fifty years ago.

Mark Ellen, famous music writer and editor, who interviewed two of the Beatles and fronted the Old Grey Whistle Test and Live Aid said members of R.E.M. even took bits of the so-called Beatles tree in their luggage.

It was May 20th, 1966, that the four most famous people on the planet strolled into a public park in Chiswick to create two ground-breaking mini films which were to change the course of music history. And Chiswick House are seeking people with memories of that day, including local lchildren who came to take a look on their way home from school.

Says Mark; “The Beatles pioneered pop videos with the same ease and sense of invention with which they had revolutionised the use of the recording studio…They saw the possibilities and explored them. They understood the value of promotional film as an avenue to the largest global audience available and…….they embraced the whole caper with boundless enthusiasm.

“Now they drifted enigmatically round an 18th century ornamental park full of Grecian urns and stone sphinxes. It wasn’t just in colour. Suffused with pastoral impressions of space and time it almost felt three-dimensional.”

Up until then the few music promos in circulation had been largely straightforward studio performances, shot in black and white. But the legendary British rock band led the way, as they had in their music, creating two cutting edge films, for the first time venturing into full 35mm colour, conceptual film (rather than video), shot on location.

Although the Beatles are long gone, fans and film aficionados still make the pilgrimage to the 65 acre heritage estate, cared for by the Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. It looks significantly better than it did, thanks to a major £12 million restoration in 2010 and is a popular setting for weddings, film and fashion shoots and live music events.

Chiswick House archives is still seeking people who have a story to tell of that afternoon. Do you know who they were? Were you there? If so, please email any anecdotes or pictures you may have of the day to archive@chgt.org.uk putting “Beatles Memories” in the subject field.

Some of the filming took place in the Conservatory

Although the Beatles are long gone, fans and film aficionados still make the pilgrimage to West London to visit the scenes of the famous films.

April 16, 2016