Fonzie for President

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Text on Button A-A-Y-Y FONZIE for PRESIDENT
Image Description

Black and white photograph of the character Fonzie from the television show Happy Days wearing a leather jacket with his arms outstretched on a white background. Red and blue outlined stars and red-outlined speech bubble with red text surround the photograph on the top half of the button; white text on a blue banner is on the bottom. 

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Catalog ID HU0240

Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson

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Sepia-toned photograph of an embracing Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, a replication of the poster for the movie A Star is Born

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A Star is Born was released in 1976 and follows Esther Hoffman (Streisand), an aspiring singer who begins a passionate relationship with established rock star John Norman Howard (Kristofferson). As Esther’s fame rises, John struggles with addiction and professional decline.

The film was itself a remake: the story was first brought to the screen in 1937, remade as a musical starring Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954, and reimagined again in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Streisand’s version reflects the aesthetics and attitudes of the 1970s, blending rock music culture with Hollywood melodrama and emphasizing themes of celebrity, self-destruction, and sacrifice. It became a commercial success and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born),” which Streisand co-wrote and performed.

Sources

Barbra Archives. (n.d.). A Star is Born (1976). Retrieved September 18, 2025, from https://www.barbra-archives.info/a-star-is-born-1976-streisand-version

Belcourt Theatre. (n.d.). A Star is Born (1976). Retrieved September 18, 2025, from https://www.belcourt.org/films/a-star-is-born-1976/

Catalog ID EN0688

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, 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

Book Lover

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Text on Button BOOK L♥VER
Image Description

Black text on a white background; a heart is used in place of the letter "O" in the word "lover"

Curl Text © Freline, Inc. 1981 Printed in U.S.A.
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A wearer of this button would be proud to announce themselves as a lover of books and reading. The design uses a red heart to replace the “O” in “lover”, which was a style that became popular after the launch of the “I ❤ NY” campaign in 1977. Pin-back buttons like these have long been used to express identity and personal interests. They were a fun and affordable way to share hobbies and passions. In this case, the button lets the wearer display their enthusiasm for books. 

Sources

Busy Beaver Button Co. (n.d.). The history of I heart buttons. Busy Beaver Button Co. https://www.busybeaver.net/the-history-of-i-heart-buttons/

Feira Pop. (n.d.). The history of pin-back buttons: A fun and colorful journey through time. Feira Pop. https://feirapop.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-pin-back-buttons-a-fun-and-colorful-journey-through-time

Catalog ID IL0146