Artifacts from Captain Kangaroo, a CBS morning fixture from 1955 to 1984, went on the auction block on May 21, 2013 at Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles.

Prior to the auction, collectors speculated that the prize item would be the famous keys to Captain Kangaroo’s Treasure House. The keys were a beloved part of the show’s opening during the first 10 years as Captain Kangaroo unlocked the door to his Treasure House and then hung the keys on their hook near the door. The show’s theme music ("Puffin’ Billy") would then stop and the show would start.

While the keys put on a strong performance during the auction — eventually selling for an impressive $27,971 and garnering 25 bids — it was Dancing Bear’s costume that stole the show in a last-minute bidding frenzy. The outfit sold for $207,019 and now belongs to a collector in Tennessee, according to a 2013 press release. 

These items were auctioned as an investment in “collectibles.” We can only hope that some items were purchased by, or will ultimately be donated to, an archive or museum with a desire to preserve history.

NPR’s coverage of the auction is here.