DRMS RINGO PLAYED AT BEATLES' SHEA STADIUM SHOWS ON DISPLAY AT NYC BLOOMINGDALE'S STORE

On August 15, 1965, the Beatles made history when they played for a record 55,000 screaming fans at the now-demolished Shea Stadium during a stop on their 1965 tour of America. The noise generated by the adoring crowd was so great that the security guards were seen covering their ears and the band—John, Paul, George and Ringo—struggled to hear themselves play. Film footage from the concert shows fans in hysterics, crying, fainting and running onto the field (only to be stopped well short of the stage by the diligent, if deafened, guards).

Not only did the Beatles play for a record crowd, among them Ringo’s future wife Barbara Starkey, they also became the first band to prove that large-scale, outdoor performances were not only possible, they were profitable—the 30-minute Beatles performance generated more than $300,000 in profits. No other event in entertainment promotion history had come close to that number.

This performance was so important to American music history and to the Beatles’ careers that the kit is now referred to simply as the Shea Stadium Kit. In addition to the Shea Stadium Kit, the only two other kits played by Ringo that share this distinction of being known for where he played them are his Ed Sullivan Kit, played during the Beatles’ first American television performance which took place on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964, and his Maple Hollywood Kit, played during the Beatles’ unannounced performance on the rooftop of Apple headquarters in 1969.

Previously these historic items would only be available for display in a museum (such as the current record-breaking exhibit, Ringo: Peace & Love, at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, which includes both the Maple Hollywood Kit and the Ed Sullivan Kit and which has already had over 90,000 visitors).

Now, for the first time ever at a store, Bloomingdale’s proudly unveils the Shea Stadium Kit, featuring Ringo’s original Ludwig 22-inch bass, which he played that evening, on exclusive display in their flagship New York location at 59^th street and Lexington Ave. for a very limited-time only. The kit can be viewed on the main floor in the Men’s Department at the Third Avenue entrance. At the beginning of 2014, the Shea Stadium Kit will travel to Los Angeles and be on display at Bloomingdale’s Century City.

Bloomingdale’s is celebrating the phenomenon that started the American’s love for all things British – The Beatles. Together with both Apple Corp Ltd and The Beatles, Bloomingdale’s will offer a one-of-a-kind assortment of men’s merchandise to celebrate 50+ years of “Beatlemania.” With the help of Ben Sherman, Hardy Amies, Lily and Lionel, Ted Baker, and dozens of others, shoppers will be able to scoop up new collectables inspired by the beloved band. Look for Beatles pop-up shops in select stores which will also feature some of the greatest books honoring The Beatles that were hand-selected by Mark Lewisohn, the world's pre-eminent Beatles historian and author of TUNE IN, which will be released by Crown Archetype on October 29 and available in select Bloomingdale’s. Also in October, Bloomingdale’s will partner with Esquire to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the British Invasion and the seismic impact The Beatles have had on the world with special roundtables hosted by Lewisohn. Esquire, the authority on men’s style and culture, will create four invite-only events at the Paley Center for Media in New York and Los Angeles in partnership with Hardy Amies, Kent & Curwen, and Ted Baker. Along with Lewisohn, the evenings will feature additional distinguished speakers, and will focus on the Fab Four’s legacy through their music and films. That’s not all! Rock Paper Photo, the world's leading online destination for music and pop culture fine art photography, will showcase a selection of rare Beatles photos in select Bloomingdale’s including framed and unframed, limited-edition prints featuring the work of several renowned photographers including Henry Grossman, Astrid Kirchherr and Trevor Bray, each of whom captured the Fab Four in their own fascinating light.

“Bloomingdale’s is honored to be able to exhibit the iconic Shea Stadium Kit,” said David Fisher, EVP and GMM. “Fashion is so often influenced by music, and giving access to such an iconic piece of entertainment history authenticates our British style focus and brings excitement to our exclusive Beatles merchandise.”