PedalPusher!Charlie
Look Ma, No Hands!
Most of you in the bike hobby have probably had someone say that at least one of your bikes looks like a “Pee-Wee Herman bike!” even if it doesn't have the remotest resemblance. Amazingly, there are claims that only 1 or 4 Pee-Wee Herman bikes were made for the movie, but in reality, 13 were built by the Pedal Pusher in Newport Beach. These were subsequently modified for specific stunts and scenes, some even motorized. For example, some of the springers were equipped with solid "springs" for jumps. The keenly observant will notice variations among the bikes in the film. Some of these minor differences were also due to the challenges of getting that many parts together under a short deadline.
The producers (it may have been the wife of a producer or somebody connected to the film) initially bought a postwar red and white Schwinn DX that we had on display and then later ordered 12 more. We suspected the bikes were essential to the plot, as we usually received orders for period-appropriate bikes, not 13 that were close to identical.
We sold, restored, and re-restored bikes for Hollywood prop rooms, and most of these bikes were pretty roughed up after being on sets and dumped in trucks or whatever other torments film crews and actors could devise. I would expect that most of the genuine Pee-Wee Herman bikes used in the film will show some wear as well from their time on set. . .
After the film came out, we built quite a few more of the bikes. If you visited the shop after the release, you likely saw a Pee-Wee bike in one of the two big windows, and it was for sale at the right price. (And that price varied according to how Gertrude or Mike happened to feel that day.) The bikes sold well!
I don't remember how many we sold but it had to be at least 6 that were similar to what the studio got.
For a bit of fun, we can start compiling a list of claimed "Genuine Pee-Wee Herman Bike(s)." The only requirement should be that somebody claims that their bike is an authentic prop from the movie or is inspired by the movie. That is a pretty wide net! We have all seen those red and white abominations that barely resemble the film bikes and heard the owner loudly insisting that they have the real deal! Don't argue; simply photograph the bike and share the story here. Let the Cabers decide, deride, or maybe even praise!
Though we may never know the actual number of supposed Pee-Wee bikes out there, we can certainly enjoy discovering and sharing them!
The producers (it may have been the wife of a producer or somebody connected to the film) initially bought a postwar red and white Schwinn DX that we had on display and then later ordered 12 more. We suspected the bikes were essential to the plot, as we usually received orders for period-appropriate bikes, not 13 that were close to identical.
We sold, restored, and re-restored bikes for Hollywood prop rooms, and most of these bikes were pretty roughed up after being on sets and dumped in trucks or whatever other torments film crews and actors could devise. I would expect that most of the genuine Pee-Wee Herman bikes used in the film will show some wear as well from their time on set. . .
After the film came out, we built quite a few more of the bikes. If you visited the shop after the release, you likely saw a Pee-Wee bike in one of the two big windows, and it was for sale at the right price. (And that price varied according to how Gertrude or Mike happened to feel that day.) The bikes sold well!
I don't remember how many we sold but it had to be at least 6 that were similar to what the studio got.
For a bit of fun, we can start compiling a list of claimed "Genuine Pee-Wee Herman Bike(s)." The only requirement should be that somebody claims that their bike is an authentic prop from the movie or is inspired by the movie. That is a pretty wide net! We have all seen those red and white abominations that barely resemble the film bikes and heard the owner loudly insisting that they have the real deal! Don't argue; simply photograph the bike and share the story here. Let the Cabers decide, deride, or maybe even praise!
Though we may never know the actual number of supposed Pee-Wee bikes out there, we can certainly enjoy discovering and sharing them!
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