Statler & Waldorf

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Text on Button STATLER & WALDORF
Image Description

Blue background with images of the Muppet characters Statler (on the left with dark eyebrows) and Waldorf (on the right with a white mustache) in the center, with yellow text along the top and red text along the bottom

Curl Text © HA! 1976-77-78
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Statler and Waldorf are characters from The Muppet Show, a family television series created by Jim Henson in 1976. The characters were created by Henson, with their puppets being made by designer Bonnie Erickson, also responsible for designing the Muppets character of Miss Piggy. The two old men always appear together, occupying the balcony seats in the Muppet Theater, and are known for their curmudgeonly attitudes and tendency to make fun of other characters and the show at large. Both are named after New York hotels, with Statler being named after the Statler Hotel, and Waldorf after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (Waldorf's wife is named Astoria, and she appears only in episode 413 of the show).  

Their banter became a defining feature of The Muppet Show, to the point that the characters are often cited as early pop culture representations of the heckler archetype. They appeared in later Muppet films and series, maintaining their role as comic commentators on the action. Over the years, they have been performed by multiple puppeteers; most notably, Waldorf was performed by Jim Henson until his death in 1990, after which Dave Goelz took over and continues the role as of 2025. Statler was originally performed by Richard Hunt, with Steve Whitmire and later other puppeteers taking on the role. The pair remain two of the most recognizable Muppet characters, beloved for their grouchy charm and sharp one-liners.

Sources

Gupta, A. (2008, October). The woman behind Miss Piggy: Muppet designer Bonnie Erickson on puppet storytelling and inspiration. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-woman-behind-miss-piggy-11290861

Muppet Wiki. (n.d.). Statler and Waldorf. In Muppet Wiki. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Statler_and_Waldorf

Muppet Madness. (2021, October 3). From the balcony to eternity: The legacy of Statler and Waldorf. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://muppetmadness.com/from-the-balcony-to-eternity-the-legacy-of-statler-and-waldorf

Catalog ID EN0687

Play It Again Rowlf

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Text on Button play it again, ROWLF
Image Description

Illustration of Rowlf, a Muppet dog with shaggy brown fur and floppy ears, sitting at a light brown piano; a glowing candelabra sits on top of the piano and the whole the scene is in front of a blurred blue and white background

Curl Text © HA! 1976-77-78
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Rowlf the Dog is one of the earliest Muppet characters created by Jim Henson, first appearing in 1962 in a series of Purina Dog Chow commercials made for the Canadian market, where he appeared alongside Baskerville the Hound. He was designed and performed by Jim Henson, and the puppet was built by Don Sahlin, being his first construction of a Muppet puppet. Known for his shaggy brown fur, long floppy ears, and easygoing personality, Rowlf is perhaps best known for playing the piano, which became his signature trait.

He later appeared regularly on The Jimmy Dean Show (1963–1966), where his musical talent and deadpan humor made him especially popular. When The Muppet Show launched in 1976, Rowlf was part of the core cast, performing comedic sketches and musical numbers. After Jim Henson’s death in 1990, Rowlf’s appearances lessened, but he has since returned in various Muppet films, specials, and series, and remains beloved for his wit and musical charm.

Sources

Henson, J. (Red Book). (1963, Sept.). “Build Rufus” — the expressive puppet built a year earlier by Don Sahlin for a Purina Dog Chow commercial. In Jim Henson’s Red Book.

Henson, J. (n.d.). Rowlf the Dog. Muppet Wiki. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Rowlf_the_Dog

Museum of the Moving Image. (n.d.). Puppet, Rowlf, 1976 [artifact description]. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from Museum of the Moving Image collection catalog. 

Sennett, T. (1989). The art of the Muppets. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Catalog ID EN0686

Clinton Tsongas

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Text on Button LEADERSHIP FOR A CHANGE CLINTON TSONGAS
Image Description

Black and white photographs of Bill Clinton and Paul Tsongas in the center, both smiling and wearing suit jackets and ties, surrounded by white text on a red background around the rim

Curl Text BOLD CONCEPTS NYC 212-764-6330 [union bug]
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Catalog ID PO1300

Bock is Beautiful

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Text on Button BOCK is Beautiful!
Image Description

Yellow background with pink text: a bold serif font above 1970s-style bubble letters. An pink outlined flower is used in pace of a dot on the letter "i" and yellow text is embedded into the exclamation mark. 

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Bock refers to a style of German beer, usually a lager, that dates back to the 14th century. There are several types of Bock beer (Maibock, Doppelbock, Eisbock, and Weizenbock) with varying strengths and flavor profiles. Generally, Bocks are known for their malty and sweet taste, offering a relatively high alcohol content while remaining mildly bitter. Historically, Bavarian monks would consume Bocks during times of fasting, and some uphold the tradition today. 

In the present day, there are Bock beer festivals held globally, generally to celebrate the beginning of Spring. The most notable one of these festivals in the United States is Bockfest in Cincinnati, Ohio, held annually in the first weekend of March. Attendees can spectate a parade, participate in the Bockfest 5K, or become that year's "Sausage Queen" through winning a series of games. 

Sources

Shatkin, E. (2011, April 20). The man who drank only beer, part 1: Interview with a part-time monk. LA Weekly. https://www.laweekly.com/the-man-who-drank-only-beer-part-1-interview-with-a-part-time-monk/
Brewers Association. (n.d.). Beer style guidelines. https://www.brewersassociation.org/edu/brewers-association-beer-style-guidelines/
Bockfest. (n.d.). History.  https://www.bockfest.com/history.html

 

Catalog ID BE0204

Dolly for President

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Text on Button Dolly FOR PRESIDENT
Image Description

A photograph of Dolly Parton wearing yellow with her signature blonde hair in the center surrounded by a red border with white stars; the bottom section is blue with bold white text.

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Dolly Parton is at the center of this novelty “Dolly for President” button, styled after classic American campaign pins. Though she has never run for office, Dolly has become the kind of public figure fans imagine as a perfect leader: kind, resilient, generous, and down-to-earth. Over the decades, she has won admiration not just for her music but also for her philanthropy and humor, making her one of the most loved celebrities in the world. The slogan “Dolly for President” reflects a wish for a leader who embodies positivity and compassion rather than politics. Buttons like this have become popular among fans because they combine humor and affection with the familiar style of campaign memorabilia. This transforms admiration for Dolly into a collectible piece of pop culture.

Sources

BBC. (2020). How Dolly Parton became the world’s best-loved celebrity. BBC Culture. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201204-how-dolly-parton-became-the-worlds-best-loved-celebrity

Heller, S. (2022). The Daily Heller: Buttonmania! PRINT. https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-buttonmania/

Catalog ID HU0239

Old Style Ski with Style

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Text on Button I Ski with Style HEILEMAN'S PURE GENUINE Old Style
Image Description

White background with red text on top; below are blue illustrated skiers shown in motion, one skiing downhill with poles extended and the other smiling and carving through the snow. On the right side, there is a colorful shield-shaped logo featuring blue, yellow, green, and red accents and white and blue text.

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Catalog ID BE0203