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Lot #117. Saturday Night Live | Circa 1980s Cast/Crew Shirt A rare light grey short-sleeved Saturday Night Live (NBC Universal, 1975 - present) cast-crew shirt with the series title in red lettering on the left front pocket.
13007 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, California 90249
Phone 310-836-1818 | Fax 310-742-0155
April 18, 2025
A set of three connected audience seats from the front row of the NBC Studios sound stage that was home to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for three decades from 1962 - 1992.
The seats are cushioned blue upholstery, and the row contains four wooden arm rests with outer side panels of wood and blue-painted metal. Minor severed electrical wiring is present as well alongside the back.
Often seen on the show when Carson would descend into the crowd for audience participation segments, such as "Stump the Band."
Dimensions: 31.5 x 62 x 17.75 inches
Category: Variety/Game/Talk Show, 1980's Television
Provenance:: Acquired directly from Johnny Carson.
A set of four Mole-Richardson production lights from NBC Studios in Burbank, used during the production of The Tonight Show in the Johnny Carson and Jay Leno eras.
Includes two Type 412 Junior Solarspots, one Type 407 Baby Solarsport, and one Tyle 4131 Baby Junior Solarspot. White "NBC" stamps present on three of the lights. Accompanied by nine barn doors of various sizes, including some with white "NBC-TV" stamps. Also includes four yolk "U" frames of various sizes, two half-mesh metal spot diffusion circular frames, and an assortment of clamps and securing knobs. Affixed to one of the light's electrical cords is a tag with handwriting that reads, "Refurbished & Repaired 3/21/08."
The electrical functionality has not been tested.
Dimensions: Largest: 16 x 13 x 18 inches
Category: Variety/Game/Talk Show, 1980's Television
Provenance:: Acquired from RL Spears Auctions.
A set of two original bandstand set pieces that stood behind the upper-tier section of the Doc Severinsen-led NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC, 1962 - 1992).
The two deco-style set pieces are comprised of wood and hand-painted in white, gray, blue-gray, and powder-blue. They both contain metal floor fasteners on the bottom of each, screwed in the back with wingnuts. One of the pieces is larger and taller than the other. Handwriting in black marker present on the back of both pieces, "11" on the tall and "7" on the back. Wear and damage present throughout both due to age and usage, including scuffing, staining, and a tip broken off of one of the wooden wings on the smaller piece. Please note: Nails are present on the verso of both pieces.
These set pieces can be seen on the set of the talk show during its last ten years from 1982 - 1992.
Dimensions: Largest: 73.5 x 25.5 x 4.75 inches
Category: Variety/Game/Talk Show, 1980's Television
Provenance:: Acquired directly from Johnny Carson.
A large miniature New York City building from the skyline background set behind the desk on the talk show Late Night with David Letterman (NBC, 1982 - 1993).
The building, with a triangular bronze-tone sunroof, is constructed out of wood, plastic, glass, and other materials. It has a practical lighting that illuminates via attached power cord, and cooling system within. "Late Night" is stamped on the verso, as well as "#9" handwritten in black, and a sticker tag for "Lincoln Scenic." Set designed by Kathleen Ankers.
The skyline set for Late Night was updated for the last time for the 1990 season, including the addition of this skyscraper at the front of the re-design. For the rest of the series run, this skyscraper could be seen behind Letterman's left shoulder as he delivered countless Top Ten Lists and interviewed numerous celebrities; including during Letterman's final episode on June 25, 1993 as he interviewed Tom Hanks and welcomed Bruce Springsteen to the stage before departing to host Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.
Dimensions: 72 x 22 x 11.5 inches
Category: Variety/Game/Talk Show, Set Pieces, 1980's Television
Provenance: Acquired from NBC Productions
An original "Beldar Conehead" make-up appliance worn by Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live (Broadway Video, 1975-present). "Dan" is written inside in pen, as are the date 4/16/77 and 10-25-44 PW.
The coneheads made their first appearance in the show's second season on January 15, 1977. Coneheads was just another one-off sketch, refined during the show's meal break prior to live taping. It was received with such tremendous enthusiasm that the Coneheads became recurring characters. When they triumphantly returned a few months later, on April 16, 1977, Aykroyd was wearing this conical applicance. It is believed to be the second one he ever wore as Beldar. In that skit, host Elliott Gould plays a telephone company representative who comes to the Coneheads' house and is surprised that they need 35 phones. This particular appliance was made in durable rubber, now with the intention for it to be used on various episodes, and it is the earliest one (and perhaps the only one) to survive the first moments of this show.
The elongated conical head with forehead wrinkles and texturing was constructed out of a fleshtone-colored latex and poured over a paper cone. Except for some some dry bits along where the appliance was glued and blended to the actor’s face above his eyes, it is in very good condition, still retaining shape and original colors.
SNL is currently celebrating its 50th year on television, and reigns as one of the longest-running scripted program in US television history with 982 aired episodes. It started with original cast members John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, and others, who were referred to as the Not Ready for Primetime Players.
Almost 50 years later, the character Beldar Conehead and his family still live on in popular culture.
Dimensions: 15.5 x 6 x 8.5 inches
Category: Variety/Game/Talk Show, 1970's Television, Costume/Clothing
Provenance: Acquired from Camden House Auctioneers
