For one lucky (and rich) Beatles fan, the writing's on the wall

NEW YORK -

A large piece of stage backdrop autographed by the Beatles during their first live U.S. concert 50 years ago is headed to auction.

Face caricatures accompany the signatures that the Fab Four penned between sets of their historic Ed Sullivan appearance on Feb. 9, 1964, which they opened with "All My Loving" in front of 700 screeching fans in the audience and 73 million television viewers.

The current owner of the 4-by-2-foot plastic wall section is Andy Geller, a longtime Beatles collector and television and film voice-over artist. It is being sold in New York City on April 26 through the Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions.

A stagehand is responsible for getting the band members to sign the back of the wall section known as a hardwall traveler, which is rolled back and forth to reveal the next act. It's believed to be the largest Beatles autograph.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," Jerry Gort, 81, said in a telephone interview from his Calabasas, Calif., home. "They came down from stage right from their dressing rooms, I gave them a marker and asked them to sign the wall."

The band signed vertically from the bottom up: John Lennon first, then Paul McCartney, who scribbled "Uncle Paul McCartney," followed by George Harrison. Ringo Starr, shorter than the rest, couldn't reach the top so "I put my arms around him and lifted him," said Gort, simultaneously putting his foot on the wall to keep it from opening until Starr finished signing the piece.

The wall also contains the signature of other acts that followed later in the television season, notably from the Searchers.

At the end of the season, the wall was destined for the trash heap - but was saved by another carpenter for a young disabled Beatles fan.

Geller said he purchased the wall privately for more than $100,000 in 2002 without knowing its history. He said he was selling it because "I'm not sure I'll be here for the 75th" anniversary of the Beatles' U.S. invasion.

Heritage's music memorabilia consignment director Garry Schrum called the wall "an amazing wild card," which could go for "$800,000 to $1 million, maybe more."