BEATLE WIG

The Only Authentic Beatle Wig was produced in 1964 by the Lowell Toy Manufacturing Corporation, located at 1074 Brook Avenue, Bronx 56, New York, NY. It was made with “lifelike” hair.

At one point in 1964, production was estimated to be between 15,000 and 35,000 wigs per day, while some reports claimed that Lowell was “500,000 orders behind” in production.

The die-cut cardstock letterhead advertised the product with phrases such as:
“Wow! The BEATLES ARE HERE!” and “Fits All Head Sizes,”
“Made in U.S.A.” and “Mfd. By Lowell To Mfg. Corp. Bronx 56, NY!”
The card also included facsimile signatures of the band members.

The advertising campaign for the wigs was in full swing, and one of the most curious events was the appearance on the famous television show *What’s My Line?* The February 9, 1964, episode featured a guest who signed his name as “Irving Kantor.” It was later discovered that he was a representative of Lowell Toy. Kantor, who in 1961 was listed as the company’s “secretary-treasurer,” stated, after the panel had guessed his occupation, that “the company was making 20,000 wigs a day, with orders for ‘over 300,000.’” Curiously, the broadcast was airing live, while in the studio next door, the Beatles were performing on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In Canada, in February 1964, it was possible to purchase a Beatle Wig from Louis Cohen of Wig Creations of Canada at the pr