Props from '90s Nickelodeon Shows, Including 'Clarissa', 'Double Dare', 'Weinerville' and More Up for Grabs in Upcoming Auction

Bruneau & Co.'s Summer Comic, TCG & Toy Auction on July 10th will feature the Pop Culture creations of Eric Baker

Baker did props and set dressing for Nickelodeon Studios, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World and Disneyland.

Screen-used Frankenstein operation game from Nickelodeon’s popular Double Dare TV show (1991), used in numerous episodes throughout the show’s run. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500.

CRANSTON, RI, UNITED STATES, July 1, 2021 -- Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Summer Comic, TCG and Toy auction on Saturday, July 10th, starting at 10 am Eastern time, is shaping up as the firm’s biggest and best Pop Culture sale to date. In addition to the abovenamed categories, the first 52 lots will be from the collection of Eric Baker, someone who’s very well-known and respected in the community.

Mr. Baker was the creative lead of props and set dressing for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World and Disneyland. He was also Nickelodeon’s prop master and fabricator. Several of the props in the auction were fabricated by him during his career with Nickelodeon. Other items are objects he collected.

“I’m honored that we get to handle the collection of Eric Baker, not just because of his unbelievable career but for the fact he’s a longtime friend,” said Travis Landry, a Bruneau & Co. auctioneer and the firm’s Director of Pop Culture. “So cool to think we’re bringing his creations to market, especially when you consider Nickelodeon props are so elusive to collectors today.”

The Upside-Down Compass of Henry Hudson, used on-screen in Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple TV game show, featured in the show’s 90th episode (1995). Estimate: $300-$500.

The screen-used Frankenstein operation game from Nickelodeon’s popular Double Dare TV show (1991), used in numerous episodes throughout the show’s run, has an estimate of $1,000-$1,500. The prop, 84 inches tall and 32 inches wide, retains the heart, saw, wrench and hammer accessories. Included is an original snapshot of the Frankenstein, taken on-set by Eric Baker.

Two prototype shrunken heads from Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, made circa 2015, will be sold as one lot, with an estimate of $800-$1,200. These were the samples to the production ‘Shrunken Heads’ found in the park’s gift shops. Each has production notes on the bottom, in marker. The heads are approximately 5 ½ inches tall by 4 inches wide.

Also from the Eric Baker collection, The Upside-Down Compass of Henry Hudson, used on-screen in Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple TV game show, an artifact that was a point of focus in the show’s 90th episode in 1995, is expected to change hands for $300-$500. The compass is a little more than 6 inches in diameter and just shy of 2 ½ inches in height.

The second portion of the catalog will include 321 lots of graded CGC and CBCS comic books, in addition to group lots of Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age comics. The entirety of the recently graded CGC Silver and Bronze age comics came from an original owner New Jersey collection Bruneau & Co. processed this year – truly a great selection of books. The final portion of the catalog includes 166 lots of Pokémon trading cards.

Wizards of the Coast Pokémon Gym Challenge 1st edition factory sealed booster box from 2000, a true Holy Grail item for Pokémon / TCG collectors. Estimate: $20-$10,000.

“The comic sales always bring so much color to the gallery,” said Bruneau & Co. president and owner Kevin Bruneau. “The comics in this sale are phenomenal, especially the high-grade Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, and other Silver Age comics, which all came from the New Jersey collection. It’s great to see them go from carboard liquor boxes to beautiful CGC slabs.”

A strong candidate for top lot of the auction is the copy of Marvel Comics Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963), graded CGC 8.0 and featuring the origin and first appearance of the Avengers, plus appearances by the Fantastic Four, Loki and Teen Brigade. It has an estimate of $18,000-$24,000. Mr. Bruneau called it “the finest copy of Avengers #1 we have handled to date.”

Not far behind is a copy of Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-Man #14 (July 1964), graded CGC 9.0 and having a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000. The comic book features the very first appearance of the Green Goblin, as well as the first meeting of the Hulk and Spider-Man. Like with Avengers #1, Mr. Bruneau said this is the finest example of ASM #14 he’s ever handled.

Two prototype shrunken heads from Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, made circa 2015, to be sold as one lot. Estimate: $800-$1,200.

Other comic books will include a copy of Marvel Comics X-Men #1 (Sept. 1963), featuring the origin and first appearance of the X-Men and Magneto, graded CGC 3.0 (est. $7,000-$10,000); and a copy of Marvel Comics Avengers #4 (March 1964), featuring the first Silver Age appearance of Captain America, plus Sub-Mariner, graded CGC 8.0 (est. $3,000-$5,000).

On to Pokémon, and the ever-popular world of TCG (Trading Card Games). A Wizards of the Coast Pokémon Gym Challenge 1st edition factory sealed booster box from 2000, a true Holy Grail item for Pokémon / TCG collectors, as well as a 1999 French Pokémon base 1st edition Dracaufeu (Charizard) holographic trading card, graded BGS 9.5 Gem Mint, will both cross the auction block. The final price is anyone’s guess; each has a pre-sale estimate of $20-$10,000.

Marvel Comics Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963), graded CGC 8.0, with the origin and first appearance of the Avengers, plus the Fantastic Four, Loki and Teen Brigade. Estimate: $18,000-$24,000.

The auction overall has more than 550 lots. Live, in-house bidding will be reserved for active bidders only. To save a seat, call 401-533-9980. Previews will be held July 8th and 9th, from 9 am-4 pm, by appointment only. State COVID-19 regulations will be strictly enforced for in-house previews. For an appointment, call 401-533-9980 or email to info@bruneauandco.com.

The Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers gallery is located at 63 Fourth Avenue in Cranston, Rhode Island. Internet bidding will be via LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, Bidsquare.com, bidLIVE.Bruneauandco.com and the mobile app “Bruneau & Co.” on iTunes or Google Play.

Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions, with commissions as low as zero percent. Now would be a perfect time to clean out your attic. To contact Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, you may send an e-mail to info@bruneauandco.com. Or, you can phone them at 401-533-9980.

To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers and the Summer Comic, TCG and Toy auction on Saturday, July 10th, at 10 am Eastern visit www.bruneauandco.com. Updates are posted often.

Below are the full details about the screen-used Nickelodeon props available to bid on in the auction!:

'Allegra’s Window' Actor Harry Lawrence Burney, III Passes Away Due to Complications from Coronavirus

Harry Lawrence Burney, III, a New York singing legend who went on to have a productive career that took him around the world, died Saturday, April 18 of complications from his battle against coronavirus. He was 75.

FLORIDA NATIVE

Born Sept. 29, 1944 in Tampa, Burney was the son of the late Iona Mack Burney who retired as a librarian at then Bethune-Cookman College, and the late Harry L. Burney, Jr., a former vice president of development at B-CC and organizer of the United Negro College Fund in Florida.

He was raised in Crescent City, Fla., and graduated from Bethune-Cookman in 1965 with a degree in biology. He also studied at American University in Washington, D.C.

While at Bethune-Cookman, his musical talent was developed in the Concert Chorale. He was also initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s Delta Beta Chapter, following in his father’s footsteps. (The Burney family is one of four families so far who were all graduates of Bethune-Cookman College.)

Burney served as a captain in the United States Army during the Vietnam War in the Medical Corps from 1965 to 1971, when he was honorably discharged.

In 1970, he married Sandra A. Broadnax of Philadelphia, Penn. To this union, their only child, Harry “Chip” Lawrence Burney, IV was born.

BACK TO DAYTONA

While living in Philadelphia, Burney worked as a pharmaceutical representative. B-CC called him back to Daytona Beach in 1972 to appoint him as the director of student recruitment. While here, he became increasingly recognized as a gifted bass-baritone singer and served as artist-in-residence at The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.

EVENTS LARGE AND SMALL

According to former Daytona Times publisher Charles W. Cherry II, Burney appears often in the newspaper’s archives since the first issue was published in 1978.

“We always referred to him as ‘Harry L. Burney III’ in any story in which he appeared,” Cherry remembered.

“Harry always performed joyfully at any and every place he could locally. He sang at weddings, funerals, family reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, retirement parties. You name it, and Harry was there. And anybody who heard him would never forget that rich, deep baritone voice.”

ARTISTICALLY ACTIVE

While living in Central Florida, Burney sang “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Daytona 500. He directed a multinational cast in I Am an American for the National Conference of Christians and Jews in Orlando, and created, directed and produced So You Wanna Be a Star, a program for students with special talents and special needs in Volusia County.

He appeared on Nickelodeon daily in the mid-'90s as “Ellington” and as the voice of "Woofer" in Allegra’s Window and was the acting coach for the network’s comedy series My Brother and Me. Burney also appeared in an episode of Kenan & Kel.

MOVED UP NORTH

Burney later moved to New York City and enjoyed a long and productive career there.

He participated in the inauguration of New York City Mayor David Dinkins on a program with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Jesse Jackson. He also toured with Harry Belafonte, Patti LaBelle and Geoffrey Holder.

His many other highlights included playing the role of “Crown” in Porgy and Bess at Teatro Comunale in Florence, Italy. Several times, he performed the role of “Balthazar” in the New York Grand Opera production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

He appeared in Ain’t Misbehavin, Showboat, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Devil and Daniel Webster. He played “Jim” in Big River on Broadway, “Troy” in August Wilson’s Fences, and “Hoke” in Driving Miss Daisy.

A LABOR OF LOVE

In 2016, Burney starred in Mary’s Gift, a short film produced by Bethune-Cookman University’s Cat-eye Network and written by Lynn Thompson. Burney was “Mr. Brown,” the fictional attorney of the estate of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, who interpreted her “Last Will and Testament.”

Thompson and Burney are longtime close friends and artistic collaborators. They had more projects in the works at the time of Burney’s death.

“Harry Burney was family,” wrote Thompson in a posting on the B-CU Athletics website. “His mother and my father came from the same neck of the woods and all the kids in our family are heartbroken at the loss of Uncle Harry, this iconic giant. He was so full of passion and love for people and for the arts. We connected on so many levels including athletics because athletics is truly a form of the performing arts and he loved it.”

CHURCH VOICE

Burney was a faithful member of The Church of the Intercession in New York City, where he was a soloist and choir director. His was the voice of the church on voice mail.

Burney was predeceased by his parents and sister, Sandra Burney Vanterpool Smalls. He is survived by his son, Harry “Chip” Lawrence Burney, IV; granddaughter Dylan Lawrence Burney, sister-cousin Joyce Hanks Moorehead and her husband Thomas Moorehead; ex-wife Sandra Broadnax Burney-Boxley and her husband Packard L. Boxley; nephew David Lawrence Vanterpool (Felicia) and their children Kendel Madison Vanterpool and Devin Lawrence Vanterpool; and many other relatives, extended family and friends.

The Burney family has planned a private service. A local, public celebration of life is being planned for later this year.

The family has established the Harry Burney Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Bethune-Cookman University for music majors to honor Mr. Burney's legacy. Make checks payable to Bethune Cookman University; Office of Institutional Advancement, 640 Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 with “Harry Burney Memorial Endowed Scholarship” in the memo line.

Visit daytonatimes.com to see Burney’s performance in Mary’s Gift.

R.I.P. Harry Lawrence Burney, III, September 29, 1944 - April 18, 2020.

Original source: Daytona Times.