Beatlemania! When The Fab Four Rocked The Lunchroom
If you've ever doubted the enduring power of Beatlemania, look no further than the vintage lunchbox market.
The Beatles are not only considered the top of the heap when it comes to musical acts of the 20th century, they're also apparently the kings of the lunchbox.
After John, Paul, George and Ringo shook their little mop tops on The Ed Sullivan Show, 50 years ago this Sunday, American lunchbox manufacturers figured out, hey, the kids dig 'em. Let's put these boys on lunchboxes. Iin 1965, manufacturer Aladdin released the light-blue metal ode to The Beatles you see above, widely considered "one of the Holy Grails" of the lunchbox-collecting world, says Barbara Crews, the collectibles expert for About.com.
It came with a thermos and some serious street cred, says Beatles historian Bruce Spizer. Last year, a mint condition version of that lunchbox sold for $1,625. Yeah, you read that right.
"Anyone who is despondent they didn't keep theirs" from childhood, says Spizer, "they need to remember how cool it was to go to school carrying that lunchbox and be the envy of their friends."
If you did keep yours but, you know, actually used it, don't despair. Even a beat-up version of that lunchbox can sell for $200 or $300, Crews says.
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