DM's Beatles forums

Solo forums => John Lennon => Topic started by: peterbell1 on May 18, 2011, 09:39:27 AM

Title: John's granny glasses
Post by: peterbell1 on May 18, 2011, 09:39:27 AM: I was on eBay last week and noticed a copy of Rubber Soul UK vinyl where someone had written in the text ...

"the original owner was the writer of the film Help! That's how I got to meet The Beatles when I was 5. I had a signed photo of them but I drew over it - let's not go there. I'm selling his entire collection of Beatles Albums (minus Help! for sentimental reasons)."

It pricked my curiosity and I emailed to ask who it was she knew who worked on Help!. Here's her reply (talking about the film How I Won The War) ....

"It was my father, Charles Wood who wrote Help! which is why I got to spend time with the boys.
John went on to do another film with my dad and I got to meet him again. In the film his character wore glasses and when asked what sort of glasses he'd like John said "I want ones like Charlie Wood's" which happened to be round NHS frames. And John wore them from then on.
So they're not John Lennon glasses but Charles Wood glasses.
Or so the family story goes."

So that's how John Lennon started wearing his trademark round granny glasses!
I thought that was a great little story that I'd share with you all.
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: Bobber on May 18, 2011, 12:04:24 PM: Great story!
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: Mairi on May 19, 2011, 08:45:40 PM: Thanks, I loved that!
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: nimrod on May 19, 2011, 09:15:45 PM: interesting Peter

how much did the album sell for do you know ?
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: Hello Goodbye on May 19, 2011, 11:54:58 PM: John might have borrowed his glasses for these scenes in Help!

(http://beatleshelp.50megs.com/summary/caps/07_glasses.jpg)

(http://beatleshelp.50megs.com/photos/disguise1.jpg)
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: Hello Goodbye on May 20, 2011, 12:04:59 AM: (http://beatleshelp.50megs.com/summary/caps/07_jcrlook.jpg)

(http://beatleshelp.50megs.com/summary/caps/07_bhuta.jpg)

"That's right sir, they are glasses sir."

;D
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: KelMar on May 20, 2011, 03:19:03 AM: Quote from: Hello Goodbye
John might have borrowed his glasses for these scenes in Help!

That thought crossed my mind too.
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: cubanheel on May 22, 2011, 02:35:48 PM: I've had a quick search on the web but can't find a pic of the right Charles Wood, just got a bit curious (ok - nosey) about what he looks like after reading this thread. Could anyone else oblige, or is that too stalker-ish?!
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: KelMar on May 22, 2011, 03:46:17 PM: I tried my best but I couldn't find any images of him, just lots of mentions. I would think his connection with John Lennon would merit some pictures from that time. I'll be interested to see if anyone else has something.
Title: Re: John's granny glasses
Post by: peterbell1 on May 24, 2011, 09:54:29 AM: Quote from: nimrod on May 19, 2011, 09:15:45 PM
interesting Peter

how much did the album sell for do you know ?

The Rubber Soul LP sold for around GB£47. It was one of the rarer "dash-1" copies (the very first issue which was deleted) so it sold for more than your average LP, although it was quite cheap for a dash-1 because it wasn't in perfect condition.

The same seller had also listed several other albums that used to belong to her father and they didn't sell. She relisted them last week at a lower starting price and I managed to win Charles Wood's copies of Revolver and Sgt Pepper, which is cool. They were £15 and £10 respectively, which is OK for original 60s Beatles vinyl. I don't think the price was any higher than normal, so I don't suppose anyone else was interested in the history of who owned them, but I'm really pleased to have won them. It's cool to have Beatles albums that were bought and owned by someone who knew the band personally.