ADAM WEST’S BATMAN, BARBARA EDEN’S JEANNIE, AND WILLIAM SHATNER’S CAPTAIN KIRK STAR IN DR. STEWART BERKOWITZ’S TROVE OF TELEVISION TREASURES
By Christina Rees | October 7, 2025
On October 24, Heritage Auctions will open the vault on a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of classic television history – a singular private collection built with passion, precision, and joy by the late Dr. Stewart Berkowitz, a cancer radiologist whose love of mid-20th century television became the foundation for one of the most admired memorabilia collections in the field.
This selection from Dr. Berkowitz’s collection of television treasures, offered for the first time at auction, features more than 300 lots that celebrate television’s golden age, from The Honeymooners and The Munsters to Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie, Batman, and more. The auction includes screen-used costumes, production-used props, set pieces, original artwork, and promotional materials spanning the 1950s through the 1970s – a golden era of broadcast comedy and genre television.
Among the gems in The Stewart Berkowitz Television Treasures Collection is this original pair of Batman and Robin ensembles worn by Adam West and Burt Ward in the 1960s television series ‘Batman.’
Like many collectors, Dr. Berkowitz took a beat to find his passion as he began in high school with comic books. But by his college years the television bug hit him hard. “My dad started this collection before the auction world for this kind of material existed,” says Dr. Berkowitz’s son, Jordan Meddy. “He was an early adopter of eBay, and at first he collected what he came across and was especially into The Honeymooners and Batman. His collection expanded and then contracted as he became more serious about it, and he decided to focus it on the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. He was very detail-oriented, and he wanted it to be the most complete, authentic collection possible. He put everything he had into it.”
“This extraordinary collection speaks not only to Dr. Berkowitz’s discerning eye and deep knowledge of television history, but also to the love, nostalgia, and humor he brought to everything he did,” says Joe Maddalena, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “Collectors will recognize the care that went into every acquisition and the cultural significance of what’s now coming to auction for the very first time.”
‘The Honeymooners’ was one of Dr. Berkowitz’s favorite TV shows, and this bus driver uniform worn by Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden is one of the highlights of his collection.
Barbara Eden’s iconic Jeannie costume from ‘I Dream of Jeannie’
Dr. Berkowitz’s collecting tastes were wide but specific: sitcom icons, superheroes, classic monsters, and all things zany. Friends and fellow collectors knew his name and his eye for quality, but few have seen the full scope of what he amassed. Now, for the first time, the doors open on a collection that pays tribute to the best of TV’s early days, a time when laughs came in black and white, heroes wore capes (and utility belts), and every home had a favorite TV night.
At the heart of the auction is Jackie Gleason’s screen-worn Honeymooners bus driver uniform – the crown jewel of Dr. Berkowitz’s collection, as his acquisition of it was the result of a decades-long pursuit. The rest of the offerings trace the golden era of American TV with pieces that are equal parts iconic and deeply personal.
The signature leather jacket Henry Winkler wore for his turn as Fonzie in ‘Happy Days’
Bob Denver donned this instantly recognizable red rugby shirt for his role as the bumbling Gilligan in ‘Gilligan’s Island.’
Says Meddy of his dad’s taste and disposition: “He wanted more complete collections for his favorite shows, and he wanted things that were visually exciting. He had a very serious job in radiation, and he took it very seriously, but his sense of humor was totally slapstick. He was very funny. He loved jokes. I think collecting brought him a lot of joy and pleasure. It wasn’t about how valuable the collection was for him; it was about preserving and sharing.”
Among the highlights that prove Dr. Berkowitz’s bloodhound-worthy hunting skills: Henry Winkler’s leather jacket from Happy Days, the full superhero costume ensembles worn by Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, and Barbara Eden’s signature pink harem costume from I Dream of Jeannie. Screen-worn outfits from Gilligan’s Island include Bob Denver’s red shirt and bucket hat, Alan Hale’s Skipper’s cap, and Tina Louise’s glam movie-star gown. From Wonder Woman, the auction includes Lynda Carter’s unmistakable costume ensemble – a fan favorite that rarely reaches the auction market.
Berkowitz’s collection includes several treasures from ‘The Munsters,’ including Fred Gwynne’s Herman Munster ensemble and Yvonne De Carlo’s Lily Munster batwing dress.
Dr. Berkowitz’s deep appreciation for character-driven comedy and midcentury sci-fi also shines through in standout pieces like Don Adams’ Agent 86 shoe phone from Get Smart, Sally Field’s winged nun’s habit from The Flying Nun, and Bill Mumy’s Lost in Space Season 3 costume ensemble. Classic monsters are well represented, too, with Fred Gwynne’s towering Herman Munster costume and Yvonne De Carlo’s signature batwing dress from The Munsters standing as highlights from one of the most enduring monster sitcoms of the 1960s.
Perhaps the single most formidable section of the auction centers on Batman, the 1966-1968 series that cemented superhero culture in prime time. Alongside the West and Ward costumes are Julie Newmar’s slinky Catwoman catsuit, Burgess Meredith’s Penguin outfit, Cesar Romero’s Joker suit, Frank Gorshin’s green Riddler costume, and Yvonne Craig’s sleek Batgirl ensemble – making this one of the most complete offerings of Batman television wardrobes ever brought to market.
Berkowitz’s ‘Star Trek’ costumes include Starfleet uniforms worn by William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock.
Science fiction collectors will also be thrilled to see both William Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Mr. Spock Starfleet uniforms from the original Star Trek – two artifacts that helped define a genre and a fandom.
“My dad was ferocious about building this collection,” Meddy says. “He built it over so many years – decades. He loved these iconic shows, and he wanted to find that joy and share that with people.”
