A portion of the famous Ed Sullivan Show set displayed during The Beatles‘ US television debut is to be sold.
Rolling Stone reports that the backdrop – also signed by the Fab Four – will be on sale at The Fest for Beatles Fans, which takes place in Los Angeles from October 10 to 12. It is expected to go for $550,000 (approximately £337,000).
The seller is Wayne Johnson, owner of Rockaway Records. Among the other items up for purchase includes a copy of the band’s 11th US release Yesterday And Today featuring the rare ‘Butcher’ cover, which is priced at $4,500 (approximately £2,750), and the band’s first US contract with Vee Jay Records, on sale for $100,000 (approximately £62,000).
The Fest for Beatles Fans was started in 1974 to mark the 10th anniversary of the band’s first visit to the US. In its history, the event has accepted donated musical instruments from all four Beatles, which have been auctioned for charity.
The Beatles’ first Ed Sullivan Show appearance took place on February 9, 1964 to an estimated audience of 73 million viewers. The performance included the famous ‘Sorry girls, he’s married’ caption on a close-up of John Lennon.
Earlier this week, a sculpture of Eleanor Rigby made of £1m of used banknotes went on display in Liverpool. Created by Leonard Brown, the five-foot-two-inch statue is made of thousands of shredded £5, £10 and £20 notes, which were supplied by the Bank Of England in the form of pellets.