The Beatles Signed 1964 US Concert Tour Program....

Description

The Beatles Signed 1964 US Concert Tour Program. An incredible, one-of-a-kind document from the Fab Four's first US tour, signed by all four on top of the first page in blue ballpoint ink. This is a stapled, 12" squared program made for the tour, and features the main, re-arranged image from With the Beatles/Meet the Beatles! in purple and black, with green lettering on the cover. Has 12 double sided pages, with a half-page torn off in the middle. Inscribed "Love / Susan," there is an interesting backstory to this, as detailed in the two-page LOP from its current owner.

Originally, three programs were gifted to the original owner, a New York merchandising businessman named Ray Lussa, the owner of Ray Del Publications, the company that produced the U.S. tour programs. Ray sold concert and Broadway musical programs out of his warehouse. One was signed on the plane after their August 27 tour stop in Cincinnati at the Cincinnati Gardens and before their two-night stand at New York's Forest Hills Stadium on August 28-29.

Another interesting note: The Beatles upon arriving in New York stayed at the Delmonico Hotel in Manhattan. It was that night that the Fab Four met with Bob Dylan for the first time - who introduced them to marijuana in their hotel room. They liked the effects and from that point forward, it had a major influence on their songwriting for years to come.

The program in this lot is one of those three (the other two were in too poor of condition to put up for auction) and inscribed to Lussa's daughter, Susan. As incredible as it was to get a signed program in person, on a plane, and by all four members, Lussa's daughter was not excited when she was shown what her father had. She told him to hold onto the programs, as she and her friends were fans of the bad boys in the Rolling Stones, not the clean-cut, smiling Beatles.

Well, her and her friends' loss became the next owner's gain. Gifted to a new owner decades later, now that owner has put it up for auction. Beatles signed U.S. tour programs are very scarce and desirable.

In overall Very Good condition with toning, creasing (especially along the edge), scuffing, the aforementioned torn page, and edge wear. Comes with an LOA from Beatles expert, Frank Caiazzo. COAs from Roger Epperson and Heritage Auctions.

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