The actual bar from “Cheers” and the set from Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” are among the thousand items available in a massive action of TV memorabilia.
James Comisar has been collecting props, sets and costumes from several eras of television history for decades and now that collection, with about 1,000 lots, is being auctioned off by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.
Online bidding for Comisar’s prized possessions began Monday and will conclude with in-person bidding June 4.
Among the items are the bar from “Cheers,” — with the stars’ names carved into it — Barbera Eden’s famous “I Dream of Jeannie” outfit, costumes from the “Superman,” “Batman” and “Star Trek” series as well as a number of full sets, including Archie Bunker’s living room from “All in the Family” and Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” desk and guest chairs.
“I would love to say that I convinced him that I was the best guy for the job, but really, if I’m being honest, I had to convince him to save the set at all,” James Comisar told the Associated Press. “He told me he had the tackiest set in Hollywood and who would ever want to see it?”
Comisar, 58, started collecting the items in 1989, but decided it was time to take it all out of storage after his proposed plans for a TV museum failed to come together.
“I just decided these pieces should go back to the fans and let them enjoy them and then when that good day comes when a TV museum is effectuated, these pieces will be well cared for in the hands of passionate fans and collectors,” he said.
He added that the “Cheers” bar was found in a studio storage unit with a dead skunk in it when he bought it.
It’s unknown how much Comisar’s collection is expected to fetch, but Heritage Auctions recently made headlines after selling a lewd note from Yankees legend Mickey Mantle and an unopened “Super Mario 64″ cartridge in other auctions.