LOS ANGELES: A Beatles contract for a 1965 California concert hat reveals that the Fab Four refused to play before a segregated audience has sold for 23,033 dollar– more than four times its estimated price .
The contract, which was signed by the Liverpool group’s manager, Brian Epstein, specified that they ”not be required to perform in front of a segregated audience” for their August 31, 1965, show at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.
It sold far above the pre-auction estimate of 3,000 dollar to 5,000 dollar at a Los Angeles auction held yesterday by Nate D. Sanders. The buyer was not disclosed.
The Cow Palace concert was part of the Beatles’ third major tour of the United States. Signed on March 24, 1965, the contract guaranteed the band 40,000 dollar against gross box office receipts of more than 77,000 dollar.
In addition to the desegregation requirement, the agreement called for at least 150 uniformed police officers for protection and a special drumming platform for Ringo.
It followed a public stand the Beatles took in 1964, during their first American tour, when they refused to perform at a segregated concert at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. City officials relented, allowing the stadium to be integrated, and the band did take the stage for that show. (PTI)
