A piece of legendary late-night history could soon be yours, but it will cost you
On the February 28, 1984 of Late Night with David Letterman, Letterman decked himself out in Velcro, jumped on a trampoline, and stuck himself to a Velcro wall. One of the most iconic moments in Letterman’s 33-year late-night run, the Velcro suit that the host wore is set to hit the auction block next month.
The suit is one of the centerpiece items in a new auction from Julien’s dubbed “Channel Surfing: A Broadcast to Binge Auction.” The California auction house is selling over 500 pieces of TV memorabilia at the two-day event.
Designed by Letterman’s longtime costume designer Susan Hum, Julien’s says the one-of-a-kind suit was acquired from Letterman at the request of Johnny Carson, whose Carson Productions produced Late Night. And as the item’s listing dutifully notes: the Velcro still works.
Getting your hands on the infamous suit won’t come cheap. Bidding starts at $5,000, and the lot is expected to fetch anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000.
For those who can’t shell out that much, the Julien’s auction includes nine other Late Night with David Letterman lots, including a skyscraper from the set’s backdrop, a child-sized Halloween costume of a McDonald’s Grilled Chicken, cards from various desk bits, and wardrobe worn by Paul Shaffer.
The auction also features memorabilia from NBC’s other most historic late-night shows.
Lots from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson include studio lights, desk props, a set piece from the bandstand, and audience seats. Saturday Night Live memorabilia up for grabs include cast and crew garments (including a jacket owned by Joe Piscopo), one of Dan Aykroyd’s Conehead prosthetics, and—another pièce de résistance on the auction block—“Killer Bee” antennae worn by John Belushi. Julien’s projects that item will fall in line with Letterman’s Velcro suit, going for $20-30k
Julien’s “Channel Surfing: A Broadcast To Binge Auction” takes place May 7-8. The full catalog of lots can be viewed here.
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