A section of plastic backdrop the Beatles signed before their American television debut could fetch almost a million dollars at Heritage Auction‘s Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Auction. A sizeable piece of backdrop from the Ed Sullivan Theater signed by the Beatles during their first appearance on the show could fetch $800,000 when it crosses the block at Heritage Auctions. This collectors item is signed by the Beatles when they played the program on February 9, 1964, Appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, their National Introduction to American Fans. Each Beatle also drew a caricature by their autograph. The piece, measures more than 48-inches long and 16-inches across, also has a note “The ‘Beatles’ were here 2/9/64″.
Another item that was present at the Beatles first performance on the Sullivan show will be also offered for bidding. That’s foldover photo album which contains an early photo of the Beatles. On the inside cover are found the autographs of the Beatles, Ed Sullivan, and Brian Epstein signed that day, as well as those of Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor signed at a later date.
Another signed piece from the February 9, 1964, Ed Sullivan Show is a dress rehearsal schedule signed by Paul, John, and Ringo (George didn’t appear at rehearsal as he was nursing a cold). It was obtained by a young lady who was a member of an acrobatic troop that appeared on the show right after the last song by the Beatles.
Next item is an extremely desirable Meet the Beatles! Capitol LP that was signed the very next weekend during the Beatles’ trip to Miami for their second Ed Sullivan Show appearance on February 16th. The show was broadcast from the Deauville Hotel and that’s where the Beatles stayed and where they neatly autographed this album on the 15th. Signed American Beatle LPs are very rare and this is a particularly fine one.
One more lot is Beatles Signed Pan Am Airways Route Map Obtained on Their Flight to America, February 7, 1964.
his barely scratches the surface of the fabulous material found in this auction both in the Music and in Hollywood categories. The live auction takes place April 26th and April 27th at The Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion at 2 East 79th Street in New York.
