THE IMPRESSIVE TV ARCHIVE OF THE LATE DR. STEWART BERKOWITZ IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE GOLDEN AGE OF SMALL-SCREEN HEROES, FROM BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN TO FONZIE AND CAPTAIN KIRK
By Colin Tait | October 21, 2025
The first song I ever learned to play on the piano was the Batman theme song. When I say that I “learned” how to “play” Neal Hefti’s earworm, what I really mean is that I sat at the family piano, hammered on all the keys in approximate rhythm, and yelled “BATMAN!” at the top of my lungs. Like many others of my generation, Adam West and Burt Ward’s Dynamic Duo symbolized the Golden Age of television – an era when it seemed like every show from every decade was airing at the same time. You could easily watch I Love Lucy alongside The Honeymooners, then switch to Bewitched and Star Trek. Before video stores and streaming services, these series – both black-and-white and in color – played endlessly in the background of our lives, as the events of our childhood unfolded on our massive 13-inch TV sets.
So, imagine my joy when I had the chance to see, up close, the costumes and props that charmed the 3-year-old version of me – thanks to Dr. Stewart Berkowitz’s incredible collection of TV memorabilia, which hits the block October 24 at Heritage Auctions. Not only could I see the tights made famous by the Caped Crusader, but also artifacts from the unforgettable rogues’ gallery that defined the series: Burgess Meredith’s monocled Penguin, Cesar Romero’s wickedly grinning Joker, Frank Gorshin’s manic Riddler, and Julie Newmar’s effortlessly seductive Catwoman.
The Stewart Berkowitz Television Treasures auction, which takes place October 24 at Heritage Auctions, features a multitude of gems from the original ‘Batman’ series, including this pair of Dynamic Duo costumes and this original Batarang.
I could hardly believe my luck when Heritage’s photography department announced it needed help photographing these legendary pieces for the catalog. I jumped at the chance. My first assignment was to help Batgirl’s cape and cowl stretch out and display its bat-like contours. Next, I rounded out Gilligan’s hat into the perfect shape that Bob Denver wore on Gilligan’s Island. Then we carefully smoothed out the wrinkles in Leonard Nimoy’s velour Spock tunic from the original Star Trek series. The day was nearly over when I finally got to handle Lynda Carter’s unforgettable Wonder Woman tiara, complete with red star accents, jeweled details, and matching red earrings. I even got to help fit her iconic bustier onto a custom mannequin that Dr. Berkowitz had made to perfectly display this and the dozens of other television treasures he owned.
The Wonder Woman costume from Dr. Berkowitz’s collection comes with a custom-built mannequin in the likeness of Lynda Carter.
And Dr. Berkowitz didn’t stop at just costumes. His collection includes everything from original Batarangs and utility belts to respirators, screen-used models, and even reproductions of the Batcomputer and Bat-Signal, both signed by Robin himself, Burt Ward. These pieces aren’t merely replicas; they’re carefully crafted tributes to the show’s campy brilliance, further enhanced by the signature of one of its original stars. One of the most memorable items I handled was Batman’s utility belt, featuring a metal buckle and a series of accessory pouches made from wood and metal, each one a perfect reflection of midcentury sci-fi design. The belt, with its tangible, real-world weight, wasn’t just a costume accessory; it was a character on its own, part of what made Batman seem so thoroughly equipped for every “Holy ___!” emergency.
But nothing stopped me in my tracks quite like the cowl. Sleek and dramatic, it might very well be the same cowl Adam West wore during one of the most surreal and beloved moments in the series: the Batusi. As I looked at it, I vividly recalled how West, in full cape and gloves, raised his hands to his eyes and began his now-iconic dance (or anti-dance) to the beat of swinging ’60s nightclub music. The cowl now sat motionless on a mannequin, but in my mind, it was still grooving under spinning disco lights.
In addition to Barbara Eden’s iconic pink Jeannie costume from ‘I Dream of Jeannie,’ Dr. Berkowitz’s collection includes the signature green ensemble donned by the character’s evil twin.
Among the ‘Star Trek’ costumes on offer is this alternate-universe ensemble William Shatner wore as Captain Kirk in the Season 2 episode ‘Mirror, Mirror.’
Dr. Berkowitz’s Batman collection is just the start. His lifelong love for television history covers many decades and genres. From The Honeymooners, his archive features Ralph Kramden’s original bus driver uniform, worn by Jackie Gleason himself, as well as set pieces from the classic series. He also gathered multiple versions of Barbara Eden’s famous I Dream of Jeannie costumes, the classic robe worn by Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha in Bewitched, the iconic “S” insignia George Reeves wore in Adventures of Superman, and enough Star Trek crew uniforms – including Kirk, Spock, and Uhura – to defend against any Romulan attack from the Enterprise’s bridge.
Among the highlights are the instantly recognizable “L” monogrammed outfits worn by Penny Marshall in Laverne & Shirley, full of Milwaukee charm and sitcom energy. From The Love Boat, there’s Captain Stubing’s crisp formal uniform, and from Lost in Space comes Will Robinson’s purple velour outfit – a vivid, stretchy uniform that perfectly reflects 1960s sci-fi’s obsession with synthetic fabrics. (Velour, with its futuristic sheen and easy fit, became the go-to textile for space wardrobes, offering both style and stretch for imaginary intergalactic missions.) The Gilligan’s Island collection is equally rich, featuring The Skipper’s iconic captain’s hat, Thurston Howell III’s well-traveled teddy bear, and Ginger’s glittering gowns. And from Happy Days, it doesn’t get more iconic than the Fonz’s leather jacket – cool, timeless, and still ready to deliver an “Ayyy!” at the touch of a jukebox.
Fonzie’s signature leather jacket from ‘Happy Days’
The Skipper’s signature captain’s hat from ‘Gilligan’s Island’
Seeing these costumes in person – and witnessing how thoughtfully they were assembled in this remarkable collection – makes me realize how fortunate we were to experience these shows during their original broadcasts (or in their constant reruns). These artifacts are more than just costumes and props; they are symbols of our shared cultural memory. As they move into new hands and future collections, they carry with them the spirit, imagination, and lasting charm of television’s golden era.
What Dr. Berkowitz achieved with this archive is nothing short of extraordinary. His relentless dedication to finding, preserving, and sharing these pieces of television history is a gift – not just to collectors, but to culture itself. This collection reminds us how lucky we are to have inherited such a rich and whimsical legacy of entertainment and how much we owe to collectors like Dr. Berkowitz for making sure these icons don’t fade into nostalgia but stay vivid, tangible, and alive for the next generation.
When I became a father, one of the first things I made sure to do – once my son was old enough – was to show him the original Batman series. I assumed, naturally, that he would enjoy the same wild antics, the big BAM! and POW! graphics, and the insanely catchy theme song that had excited me as a kid. What I didn’t expect was that, after watching just one episode, he would grab a small plastic chair and try to hit his sister over the head with it. Clearly, the spirit of 1960s television lives on – though it sometimes comes with unintended results.