Paul Reubens Memorabilia Previewing at the Groundlings Before Auction

Fans and collectors will have a chance to preview a significant collection of Paul Reubens' career memorabilia this Wednesday at The Groundlings Theatre in Hollywood, before the items go up for auction later this month.

The media preview, scheduled for 10 a.m. at 7307 Melrose Ave., will showcase a selection from “Paul Reubens’ Big Auction.” The full auction, managed by Julien’s Auctions, is set for October 28.

More than 400 items from Reubens’ personal and professional archives will be available for sale. These include a range of costumes, scripts, props, bicycles, puppets, and other collectibles tied to his extensive career. The auction offers a look back at the impact Reubens had, particularly through his most iconic character, Pee-wee Herman.

Catherine Williamson, managing director of entertainment for Julien’s Auctions, noted the significance of Reubens' work. In announcing the sale, Williamson described him as “one of the great performers of his generation: a gifted improviser, a meticulous writer, and an artist who built entire worlds around the characters he created.” She added that the collection is a “remarkable archive of that artistry” and that The Groundlings, where Reubens’ journey with Pee-wee Herman began, is a fitting place to celebrate it.

Reubens first joined The Groundlings in the 1970s. It was at this very Los Angeles comedy theater that he developed the distinct Pee-wee Herman character, eventually bringing it to wider audiences at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip and through a 1981 HBO special.

His career expanded significantly from there. Reubens co-wrote the 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which was also the feature directorial debut for Tim Burton. He followed that success with “Big Top Pee-wee” in 1988. Beyond the big screen, Reubens created, co-wrote, and co-directed the beloved CBS children’s series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which garnered numerous Daytime Emmy Awards over its five-season run.

Reubens’ acting credits stretched far beyond Pee-wee, including roles in films such as “The Blues Brothers,” “Batman Returns,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Matilda,” “Mystery Men,” and “Blow.” He continued to bring Pee-wee Herman to new generations, returning to the stage in 2010 with “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” which played to audiences in Los Angeles before moving to Broadway. In 2016, he co-wrote and starred in the Netflix film “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.”

Paul Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70, following a battle with cancer.

Among the specific items highlighted for the auction are a replica of the distinctive bicycle from “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which carries an estimated value of $5,000 to $7,000. Another notable piece is a gray Pee-wee Herman suit, worn by Reubens in “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” estimated between $8,000 and $10,000. The auction will also feature a circus costume from “Big Top Pee-wee,” various prop foods from “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” and a limited-edition Pee-wee Herman doll. The auction itself will take place on October 28, both at The Groundlings Theatre and online via Julien’s Auctions.