Southern California is getting a chance to own a piece of Pee-wee's world, as 439 items from Paul Reubens' personal collection are headed to auction this month. Julien’s Auctions will host "Paul Reubens’ Big Auction" at the Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles on October 28. Tickets for the in-person event quickly sold out, but fans can still participate online at juliensauctions.com. Those holding a Groundlings show ticket can view the exhibition until the auction date.
Reubens, who died in July from acute hypoxic respiratory failure, was best known for creating and portraying the beloved character Pee-wee Herman. His career began at the Groundlings company in 1978, where the character first took shape. "The Pee-wee Herman Show" started at the Groundlings Theatre, later moved to the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard, and was broadcast as an HBO special in 1981. This success paved the way for the 1985 hit film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which marked Tim Burton’s feature film directorial debut. The movie, made on a $7 million budget, went on to earn over $40 million.
The character continued to evolve with the Daytime Emmy-winning TV series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which ran from 1986 to 1990. The show notably helped launch the careers of actors like Phil Hartman, Laurence Fishburne, and S. Epatha Merkerson. Two more feature films, “Big Top Pee-wee” in 1988 and “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” in 2016, continued Pee-wee's adventures.
The auction features a wide array of memorabilia from these projects, including Pee-wee’s iconic gray suit, other costumes, red Schwinn bicycles, dolls, puppets, claymation figures, and scripts. Among the unique items up for bid is the slate gray glen plaid suit worn by Reubens in the 2016 Netflix film, complete with its white shirt, red bow tie, pocket square, and white loafers, estimated at $8,000-$10,000.
Fans of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” might recognize a collection of 12 prop food pieces from the show’s refrigerator, including a claymation red pepper, bacon with armature arms, olive barbells, and various desserts, with an estimated value of $800-$1,000. A rare 40-inch Carousel doll, part of a JCPenney-exclusive line from the late 1980s, is also featured. Only 2,000 of these dolls were made in 1989, some serving as store displays, and this one comes in its original box and shipping carton, estimated at $300-$500.
For those interested in the character’s origins, a vintage “Pee Wee” brand harmonica, made in occupied Japan between 1945 and 1951, is personally owned by Reubens, who cited it as the inspiration for his character’s name. This piece is estimated to fetch $100-$200. Also available is a full-scale replica of Pee-wee’s iconic red Schwinn DX bicycle, which Reubens rode at the 2011 Spike TV Scream Awards when he accepted the honorary Visionary Award, also included in the auction. This duo is estimated at $5,000-$7,000.
Before his death on July 30, 2023, Reubens recorded interviews for the 2025 Emmy-winning documentary miniseries, “Pee-wee as Himself.” Additionally, a two-part HBO documentary from Matt Wolf on the life and career of Paul Reubens, also titled “Pee-wee as Himself,” explores his identity and need for control, portraying the actor who often receded behind his character. Reubens himself reflected on the character's appeal, telling The Times in 2014 that he was "corny" enough to appreciate the "unique place" held for children of all ages who came to love Pee-wee Herman. The upcoming auction offers a tangible connection to that enduring legacy.
