Beatles NY Shea Stadium Photos Realise £30,000 At Auction

A collection of 61 amateur black and white negatives of the Beatles live at Shea Stadium taken in August 1965 have sold for double the low estimate realising £30,000 at Omega Auctions.  The rare photographs were taken at the height of Beatlemania during what is still regarded as one of the most famous concerts in popular music history, with a record attendance of over 55,000 Beatles fans.

The photographs were snapped by Marc Weinstein who at the time was an amateur photographer using a fake press pass to blag his way backstage. Mr Weinstein used his ticket for entry to the concert and slipped backstage asking a police officer to escort him to the entourage. He ended up meeting Brian Epstein and Ed Sullivan, but not the Beatles, who rushed on and off stage for security reasons.

The collection contains shots taken from the front and side stage and are understood to be the largest collection in existence, from this performance, with the only one other photographer shooting from the stage.  

Brian Epstein back stage at Beatles Shea Stadium gig. Photo: By Marc Weinstein Courtesy Omega Auctions

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