RON CAMPBELL BEATLES' CARTOON ANIMATOR AMONG STAR ATTRACTIONS AT KZEP ROCK ART SHOW

Animator Ron Campbell, who worked on the Beatles film “Yellow Submarine” and “The Beatles” Saturday morning cartoon series, will paint and sell his acclaimed watercolor images at the KZEP Zeptember Classic Rock Art Show & Sale.

Animator Ron Campbell doesn't do bugs. Beatles are another story. He directed many of the original episodes of “The Beatles” Saturday morning cartoon series that aired on ABC from Sept. 25, 1965 to April 20, 1969.About half of the episodes were produced in Australia, where Campbell worked. He and his crew were responsible for creating the storyboard from a script, animating and delivering them on time. Soon enough, he (and partner Duane Crowther) were involved animating Blue Meanies, the Sea of Time and other sequences for the 1968 feature film “Yellow Submarine.” Campbell, whose credits include “The Jetsons,” “The Flintstones” and “Scooby Doo,” is one of the star attractions at the KZEP Zeptember Classic Rock Art Show & Sale at Wonderland of the Americas mall. He'll be painting and selling his acclaimed vivid watercolor images. The free exhibit of rare rock 'n' roll artwork, photographs, posters and memorabilia runs from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

For sale are pieces featuring the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, the Who, Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Cash, Santana, the Police, U2 and Tony Bennett.Campbell readily admits that in 1964 he never expected he'd be talking about the Beatles nearly 50 years later. “Hell no,” Campbell said with a chuckle. “I came from the decade where singers came and went. Do you remember Johnny Ray?” He recounted the phone call he received from New York producer Al Brodax. Campbell was excited about the proposition of working on an animated TV series until he heard it was going to be about bugs  —   or that's what he assumed when he heard “beetles” over the line.  “I said, 'What's the show, Al?' He said, 'The show is called 'The Beatles.'' And I said, 'Gee, Al. I don't know. I really hate insects.' He said, 'No, no, no, the singing group, you idiot.'“I hadn't even heard of them. Rock 'n' roll was not my shtick.” Though admittedly crude “with a gutsy spirit” (Campbell says he winces looking at them from a technical vantage and is “thoroughly embarrassed”), the cartoon series was a huge part of Beatlemania and “turned 5-year-olds into Beatles fans,” said the animator. By the time of “Yellow Submarine,” what was required “was that whole psychedelic look,” much of which had seeped into the pop culture and advertising. “It kind of captures the spirit of the age,” he said. “I had the ability to draw like that. It was a natural thing. I was part of that generation.” Campbell loves interacting with the generations of fans. For many, it's as close as they'll ever get to the Beatles magic.“The enthusiasm level is so strange,” he said. “I'm no frickin' rock star. They confuse or associate me in some way with the Beatles themselves.”

That Hippie Penny Lane