Ringo Starr’s drums are on view at Bloomingdale’s, along with George Harrison and John Lennon guitars (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Bloomingdale’s
1000 Third Ave. at 59th St.
Through December, free
212-705-2098
www.ringosbeatlekits.com
www.bloomingdales.com
Fifty years ago this February, four mop-topped Liverpudlians landed in New York City and changed the world when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. In honor of that event, as well as the release of new Beatles merchandise, Bloomingdale’s is displaying Ringo Starr’s Shea Stadium drum kit, consisting of the Ludwig 22-inch bass Richard Starkey played at Shea on August 15, 1965; floor and rack toms from the Fab Four’s 1964 and 1966 tours, which stopped at the home of the Mets on August 23, 1966; a Jazz Festival snare drum from Ringo’s second Oyster Black Pearl kit, used by Paul McCartney on Macca’s solo debut and various early Wings tunes and purchased at Manny’s Music Store on February 9, 1964; and Ringo’s original bass drum travel case. The display, inside a Plexiglas case in the men’s department next to Magnolia Bakery at the Third Ave. entrance, also includes a new model of George Harrison’s Signature Duo Jet Guitar, which the Quiet Beatle used on “Please Please Me” and appears on the cover of his 1987 album, Cloud Nine, as well as a John Lennon electric model. The memorabilia will be moving shortly to Los Angeles, but a whole lot more paraphernalia will be heading this way in February when Beatles Fest comes to town.