Paul Reubens' Iconic Pee-wee Herman Collection Goes to Auction
Hundreds of personal items and props from the beloved character's creator, Paul Reubens, will be available for purchase.
More than three years after his passing, fans of Paul Reubens and his iconic character Pee-wee Herman can acquire items from the late actor’s life and career. Julien's Auctions is hosting "Pee-wee’s Big Auction," featuring over 400 lots.
The auction is scheduled to take place online and at The Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28th. Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, October 2nd.
Reubens created the Pee-wee Herman character in 1978 at The Groundlings Theatre. His success led to the stage show "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" in the early 1980s, followed by the 1985 film "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure." The film, which marked Tim Burton’s directorial debut, grossed over $40 million against a $7 million budget. This success spawned the television series "Pee-wee’s Playhouse," which aired from 1986 to 1990 and featured actors such as Phil Hartman, Laurence Fishburne, and S. Epatha Merkerson.
Among the auction items is the slate grey suit and red bowtie worn by Reubens in the 2015 Netflix film "Pee-wee’s Big Holiday." The suit had an opening bid of $4,000, with an estimated sale price between $8,000 and $10,000.
A replica of the bicycle featured in "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure" is also up for bid, though it is not the original film prop. This replica was ridden by Reubens on stage at the 2011 Spike TV Scream Awards where he received the Visionary Award. It is expected to sell for $5,000 to $7,000.
More economical items include a collection of 13 bowties, with a current bid of $500 against an estimate of $100 to $200. A set of six vintage Pee-wee Herman ventriloquist dolls in their original packaging has a current bid of $500, within its $500-$700 estimate range. A signed photo from "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure" has a current bid of $350.
Additional items include scripts from "Pee-wee’s Playhouse" and other projects, clothing, toys, and merchandise. The full catalog is available on Julien's Auction website.
An exhibition of selected auction items will be open to ticketed guests of Groundlings shows from October 14th to October 28th. The Groundlings Theatre will also screen episodes of "Pee-wee’s Playhouse" and host a panel discussion on October 14th.