Thursday, September 29, 2022

Nickelodeon Studios Time Capsule Cover Goes Up For Auction

Just over 30 years ago – on April 30, 1992 – a time capsule was buried at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida that was set to be opened after 50 years - on April 30, 2042.


Unfortunately, the studio closed in 2005, and the Nickelodeon Time Capsule temporarily dug up and reburied at Nickelodeon Suites Resort [the Nick Hotel] in Orlando, before being dug up again when the hotel rebranded and reburied across the country at the new Nickelodeon Studios in Burbank, California.

Now, the original Nickelodeon Studios time capsule cover is now up for auction.

Update (9/29) - Unsurprisingly, the Nickelodeon Time Capsule was one of the most sought-after pieces in the auction, and sold last for $19,200!

Part of Heritage Auctions’ The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Signature Auction Vol. III that runs Sept. 23-26, 2022, the one-of-a-kind 42-inch (and nearly 45-pound) cover reads, “The Nickelodeon time capsule was buried on this spot on April 30, 1992, as a gift to kids of the future.”

The cover’s edges are worn, there’s chipped paint, and a few scuffs, and scratches, but considering it was outside at Nickelodeon Studios Orlando from 1992 to 2005, it's in good condition.

On the back is a list of all the items inside the Nickelodeon Studios time capsule:

Nickelodeon Studios time capsule content list:

  • 1. Movies - Home Alone and Back to the Future on VHS.
  • 2. CDs - Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em by MC Hammer and Michael Jackson's Dangerous album.
  • 3. A Nintendo Game Boy
  • 4. Rollerblades
  • 5. Reebok Pump sneakers
  • 6. A jar of Gak
  • 7. One of Joey Lawrence's "Whoa! 92" hats
  • 8. News reports - Girl standing atop Soviet tank in Red Square during the Communist hard liners’ coup attempt in August 1991; Coverage of the AIDS crisis; Desert Storm; and the end of the Soviet Union.
  • 9. Books - A world atlas; history book; comic book; phone book; the Orlando TV Guide for the week of April 30, 1992; and a copy of the Book of Endangered Species
  • 10. An issue of Nickelodeon Magazine
  • 11. A Nicktoons t-shirt featuring Ren & Stimpy
  • 12. A piece of the Berlin Wall
  • 13. A Barbie doll
  • 14. Pencils
  • 15. A skateboard
  • 16. A baseball
  • 17. Twinkies
  • 18. A stick of bubble gum
  • 19. Photos of things too big (or alive) to fit inside - Including bicycles, planes, trains, cars, politicians and celebrities.
  • 20. A videotape - Which was a recording of the live ceremony, shot by a girl named Vicky who stood onstage to operate the Kid Cam.
  • 21. The camera recording the tape - This appears to have been unplanned. Mike O'Malley and Joey Lawrence both looked baffled about how to remove the tape from the camera, so the whole setup was tossed in at the last minute. Was this even voted on or was it a last-minute add-in courtesy of Mike O’Malley? Either way, no one was going to question Mike O’Malley. The guy was basically CEO of the Aggro Crag, and no doubt about it, he had GUTS.


The current proxy bid for Nickelodeon Studios Orlando time capsule Cover (Lot #17186) is $4,100 ($4,920.00 w/ Buyer’s Premium). Live floor, live phone, mail, fax, internet, and Heritage live bidding for this item will open on Sept. 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. CT (Signature Floor Session 2).

The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Signature Auction Vol. III auction begins on Sept. 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. CT. Click here for more information and to register to bid.

Nickelodeon Studios Orlando - Time Capsule Cover (Universal/Nickelodeon, 1992) listing:

Nickelodeon Studios Orlando - Time Capsule Cover (Universal/Nickelodeon, 1992). When Universal Studios in Orlando opened on June 7, 1990, Nickelodeon Studios opened alongside it. Not only was Universal a place where you could "ride the movies," but Nickelodeon was the only chance a kid in the '90s had at getting up close and personal with some of their favorite shows. Two years after the new Orlando site opened, they placed a time capsule in the ground. The capsule cover reads, "The Nickelodeon time capsule was buried on this spot on April 30, 1992 as a gift to kids of the future." Among the items placed in the time capsule was Home Alone and Back to the Future on VHS tape, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em CD by MC Hammer and Michael Jackson's Dangerous CD, a pair of Roller Blades and Reebok Pump Sneakers, A jar of Gak, an official Joey Lawrence "Whoa! 92" hat, an issue of Nickelodeon Magazine, a Ren and Stimpy t-shirt, a piece of the Berlin Wall, a Barbie Doll, Nintendo Game Boy, a Skateboard, some Twinkies and a stick of gum (brand unknown) as well as a few current newspaper articles and books. The plan was to open the time capsule on April 30, 2042 in Florida but -- all good things must come to an end, and Nickelodeon Studios was no exception. Their studios at Universal eventually closed and the time capsule was moved. It's now buried at Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California, and we can assume this will be its final resting place. The official opening date of the capsule is still April 30, 2042 -- now in Burbank. The metal time capsule cover measures almost 42" across and weighs almost 45 pounds! It's a substantial piece. It would make a stunning conversation piece in any home, and it displays wonderfully both on the floor (as it was originally installed) and on the wall as a dramatic piece of wall art. It exhibits edge wear with some paint chipping, scuffs and scratches. Considering this was used outside, exposed to the elements, the time capsule cover is in Good condition. Truly a one-of-a-kind!

Check out the 1992 time capsule ceremony here:






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Originally published: September 20, 2022.

Original source: Attractions Magazine; Additional source: Animation Magazine.

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