NEED TO KNOW
One lucky television fan now owns an iconic piece of Happy Days history: Henry Winkler’s leather jacket from his days as The Fonz.
Two jackets worn by Winkler on the show sold as part of Heritage’s The Stewart Berkowitz Television Treasures Hollywood/Entertainment Signature Auction held Oct. 24: one for $87,500 and another for $75,000.
Some 1,500 online and phone bidders from across the globe participated in the event, which opened the vault on one of the largest private collections of classic television memorabilia ever assembled: that of the late Dr. Stewart Berkowitz, a renowned pop culture collector.
The auction resulted in $3.17 million in sales and also included the original ensembles worn by Adam West and Burt Ward in the classic Batman series, which together sold for $575,000, as well as Lynda Carter’s signature Wonder Woman costume, complete with red, white and blue corset, golden cuff bracelets and her golden “Lasso of Truth” — for $225,000.
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ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Joe Maddalena, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions, described the sale as “one of the most comprehensive and passionately assembled collections of vintage television memorabilia ever brought to market.”
“This auction was a love letter to the golden age of television,” Maddalena said, adding: “It reaffirms that the stories and heroes of classic TV continue to inspire generations.”
Seven of the top twelve sellers in the sale were costumes and props from the original Batman television series: Cesar Romero’s Joker ensemble sold for $212,000 and Yvonne Craig’s Batgirl costume sold for $87,500, while the Batscanner receiver console, a signature of Batman’s Batcave, sold for $150,000. Julie Newmar’s signature Catwoman costume brought in $68,750, and Burgess Meredith’s Penguin costume sold for $46,250.
Heritage Auctions, HA.com; BC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Other notable sales included Henry Winkler’s Fonzie leather jackets from Happy Days — which brought, and two of William Shatner’s Captain Kirk costumes from Star Trek — one his Starfleet uniform, the other his “Mirror, Mirror” episode alternate-universe ensemble — which sold for $62,500 and $52,500, respectively.
Also among the top sellers were Barbara Eden’s pink harem costume from I Dream of Jeannie, which sold for $42,500; Jackie Gleason’s bus driver uniform from The Honeymooners, which also brought $42,500.
