Although today was intended as a rest day following their trip from London to New Providence Island in the Bahamas, The Beatles began filming their second feature film on this day.
The Bahamas had been chosen after The Beatles’ financial adviser, Dr Walter Strach, had established a tax shelter there, and had to spend a year living in the British colony as part of the setup. Partly as a gesture of goodwill, the group agreed to film there, staying for two weeks at the Balmoral Club near Cable Beach.
Filming began in the afternoon. Firstly, in an unused scene Ringo Starr listened to conch shells in the docks near Mackey Street, before all four Beatles were filmed swimming fully-clothed in the pool at the Nassau Beach Hotel in the island’s West Bay region.
The Beatles worked without a day off over the next 14 days in the Bahamas.
Also on this day...
- 2016: New organisation aims to maximise Beatles tourism in Liverpool
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Festhalle, Frankfurt
- 1979: UK album release: George Harrison by George Harrison
- 1972: Wings live: Oxford University
- 1969: Editing: I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- 1967: Recording, mixing, editing: A Day In The Life, Lovely Rita
- 1965: Mixing: Yes It Is, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, If You’ve Got Trouble, Tell Me What You See, I Need You, Another Girl, Ticket To Ride, You Like Me Too Much, The Night Before, You’re Going To Lose That Girl, That Means A Lot
- 1964: Television: Big Night Out
- 1963: The Beatles live: Granada Cinema, Mansfield
- 1962: The Beatles live: Technical College Hall, Birkenhead
- 1962: The Beatles live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: Stuart Sutcliffe is interviewed for a teaching diploma at Liverpool College of Art
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
A shot of George from that swimming pool scene was used on the cover of Olivia Harrison’s tribute book “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.”