A reel-to-reel recording of a 1966 Beatles press conference which has made recent news reports is one of several Beatle items featured in an auction of entertainment memorabilia June 13 by Bonhams & Butterfields, 7601 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Here are the details of Lot No. 1112:
A Beatles reel-to-reel recording of a press conference, 1966
Two original 'Kodak Sound Recording Tape' reels with approximately 14 minutes of audio of the band at a press conference that took place on August 17, 1966 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Ontario. Recorded that day by the current owner when he was a young photojournalist at 'The Spectator' [a Canadian newspaper], these tapes are believed to be the only audio known to survive from that press conference, though written transcripts of the event have always been available as countless reporters were there. It was common back then to re-record over previous content which is why very little audio like this exists today. Thankfully, these reels were put in a drawer for over forty years, now allowing us to hear what the Beatles had to say. Content is somewhat somber as the reporters focus on John Lennon's then-recent controversial remark (about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus Christ) and other downer subjects like Vietnam and the generation gap. The guys do add some levity, though, and a few laughs are heard throughout, especially when asked how long the band will be together. Lennon responds, "We're obviously not gonna go around holding hands forever" and McCartney adds "...it would be a bit, you know, embarrassing at (age) 35..." Lennon and McCartney stayed true to their words that day, breaking up the band just four years later. Included are two bigger reels that the original tape was transferred to and two CDs of the content.
Reel Diameter: 2 1/2in
The auction house estimates the worth of the tape at $20,000 - 25,000.
Other Beatles-related items up for bid include lot #1109 -- a picture, said to be unpublished, of the Beatles at Candlestick Park, lot#1111, a collection of autographs including one of George Harrison, lot #1113 a Beatles butcher cover album, lot #1114 -- a butcher cover poster, lot #1115 a collection of Beatles magazines, cards and newspaper articles, lot #1116 a collection of Beatles albums and 45s and lot #1306, a Walt Disney celluloid from "The Jungle Book" with one of the four vultures that were originally supposed to be voiced by the Beatles. (You can see images from some of these items in the slideshow at the bottom.)
You can see the auction catalog here.
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