Subject:	Topps cards - 2nd series - question
Posted by:	RadioJP on 5/5/08 12:10 AM
Here's a question: In ther 2nd series of Topps Trading cards, there are 2 nearly identical cards. Each features the 4 Beatles in the same pose. (It's the same photograph). However, in one of the cards, their heads have been primitively "photoshopped" with crew cuts. I know most of us have seen this image. It was featured in Nick Schaffner's "Beatles Forever" book. My question is why was this done. Was it done by Topps as a joke? Wouldn't they fear upsetting NEMS or Seltaeb? I just never understood why this image was made, and who was responsible.
[Posted by DaveHaber on 5/5/08 12:31 AM] I remember reading somewhere that the retouching work was originally done for a 1964 newspaper article/editorial about the radical mop top hairstyle, and was accompanied by the caption, "The Beatles As We'd Like To See Them." Topps probably just thought, and thought that fans would think, that the picture was just funny.
[Posted by RadioJP on 5/6/08 10:04 AM] OK...so can anyone provide the source of the original article? How did Topps got a hold of the image (clearly they didn't copy it from some publication (newspaper or magazine). I really think Topps did the retouching, particularly because the original image (with their actual hair) was another card in the same series). And if it was someone at Topps, I'd like to know the logic behind it.
[Posted by DaveHaber on 5/6/08 11:14 AM] Maybe they thought including the faked photo in the cards set would be something the kids could show their parents, so the parents, not knowing it was faked, would approve of the kids liking the Beatles.
[Posted by namralos on 5/7/08 1:12 PM] As far as I know, Topps was the source of that photo. There were likely others of the kind, however. I don't believe the idea itself was original to that card. Frank Daniels
[Posted by RadioJP on 5/8/08 5:17 AM] That's what I think too....that Topps was the source of the "retouching" on that card. As far as other "images" of that kind, I've yet to see one. Again, an image of that card was printed in Schaffner's "Beatles Forever" book. Since that was a VERY popular Beatles book in the late '70's, I think the image is widely known. My real question has to do with the employees at Topps. Was this done by one of their staff without executive Topps approval? There were six (6) series of cards in 1964 (approx 360 or so cards)....this is the only card where the Beatles were jokingly retouched. I mean the tops of their heads were replaced with heads with crewcuts! It just seems crazy that the administration at Topps would risk upsetting The Beatles and their management. There's got to be a story behind it....I just want to know what it is out of sheer curiosity.
[Posted by namralos on 5/8/08 1:00 PM] Go to eBay and search for Help 22 That will turn up issue 22 of Help! magazine which contains a front cover photo of the Beatles -- totally bald. Their first press conference in the US had a long string of questions relating to hair and baldness. It was bizarre. I don't think anyone at Topps got in trouble. Frank Daniels