Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, March 26th. The auction will begin at 10:30AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, March 27th or Friday, March 28th.
Pee-Wee Herman's (Paul Reubens) production-made bicycle from Tim Burton's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, which has since been outfitted with replica dressing components, including accurate real vintage bicycle accessories. After discovering his beloved bicycle was stolen, Pee-Wee Herman set out on a cross-country road trip to find it and met many unique characters along the way.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure was director Tim Burton's first feature-length film, as well as his first of many collaborations with his since-frequent composer Danny Elfman. It launched Burton's career, leading to him helming Beetlejuice (1988) and Batman (1989) soon after. It also introduced Pee-Wee to audiences everywhere, laying the groundwork for sequels, appearances, and the popular children's television series Pee-Wee's Playhouse. The bicycle was central to the film's plot and remains one of the, if not the singular, most instantly-recognizable bicycles in cinema history.
13 identical custom-built red Schwinn bicycles were put together by the Pedal Pusher bicycle shop in Newport Beach, California for use in the film. Rather than using an off-the-shelf model, Pedal Pusher assembled the unique bicycles out of a very specific and strange amalgamation of different parts - 1940s frames, 1980s forks, BMX cranks, et cetera - and painted them in a special shade of red not used by any mass-produced Schwinn. The bicycles were delivered directly to the film's prop house to be outfitted with accessories, but as they didn't have enough of the bicycle's unique accessories to fully outfit all 13 bicycles at once, the accessories were swapped between the 13 bicycles throughout filming. This bicycle, one of those 13, was acquired directly from that prop house and subsequently verified by an employee of Pedal Pusher to be one of the bicycles built for the film. Its specific combination of parts and shade of red paint match those found on known screen-used bicycles.
This bicycle was initially acquired from the prop house without most of its accessories. At that time, it consisted of the frame, tank, fork, kickstand, headset, stem, bars, grips, seat, seat post, seat post clamp, fenders, sprocket, chain ring, chain, pedals, wheels, white-walled tires, tubes, and its Mickey Mouse as Robin Hood bell. Over time, it was outfitted with a combination of replica components cast from screen-used originals, including the tiger siren, spiral wheel discs, center fins, tank badges, chainguard, saddlebags, mudflaps, and the fins and propeller for the headlight; as well as accurate real vintage bicycle parts including the black box and buttons, bar collar, headlight, compass, mirrors, streamers, brake lever, brake cables, tire siren, tank buttons, and tail light lenses. A small metal plaque, a replica, reading "Property of Pee-Wee Herman" has been added beneath the seat. The original tank was replaced with one autographed in black ink by Reubens in character with "Your pal, Pee-Wee Herman." The main body of the bicycle retains its original red paint, having never been repainted following production, while the replica components were painted to match it. The headlight currently lights up, and the bicycle exhibits some scuffing and minor paint chipping throughout the finish from use and age. Dimensions: 78" x 20" x 51" (198.25 cm x 51 cm x 129.75 cm)
Contains electronic and mechanical components; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Special shipping required; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Additional Provenance: Letter of Authenticity from an employee of Pedal Pusher bicycle shop and a copy of the contract detailing the sale of the bicycle from the original prop house.
Estimate: $15,000 - 30,000