This Beatles Building Block Set Re-Creates Band’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ Debut: Here’s Where to Buy It Online
Mattel is celebrating The Beatles with a collectable MEGA set marking 60 years since the British band made its U.S. debut.
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Mattel honored The Beatles last year with a one-of-a-kind, construction set celebrating the 60th anniversary of the band’s first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Now, the MEGA x The Beatles Building Toy Kit is back in stock and on sale at Walmart.
Feb. 9 marks the now-61st anniversary of the legendary band playing The Ed Sullivan Show for the very first time. The performance, which aired Feb. 9, 1964, became one of the most-watched moments in television history, garnering a record-breaking 73 million viewers.
Now, Beatles fans can build their own piece of “rock ‘n’ roll history” with this collectable building set, which commemorates The Beatles’ first U.S. performance on the variety show.
The 681-piece set from MEGA, a Canadian toy company owned by Mattel, replicates the “arrows” stage that was specially made for the broadcast and includes four, two-inch posable micro-figures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, complete with swappable instruments. The set also includes a drum riser, mic stands, recording cameras and four working lights around the stage. The entire setup measures approximately 11 inches across.
The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show launched the “British invasion” and birthed Beatlemania Stateside, as the show received more than 50,000 ticket requests for the 728-seat studio. By comparison, Elvis Presley drove more than 7,000 ticket requests for his Ed Sullivan Show debut in 1957.
The Beatles appeared on the show three times in 1964 and several other times over the next four years but stopped performing live on the show in 1966, opting instead for pre-taped performances. The band’s final performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was on March 1, 1970.
Pick up the Beatles’ MEGA building set on sale at Walmart here. This is an officially-licensed release. For more collectibles, check out the best gifts for Beatles fans.
