The Hero (Prop) that Collinsport Deserves

$148,000.

That's the going rate for the "hero prop" bat used in the original DARK SHADOWS television seriues. The item is currently listed on eBay with a suggested six-figure price tag and is accompanied by a lengthy history. According to the seller, this is a prop used extensively on the show, in scenes ranging from episode 406 (where Barnabas Collins is first cursed to become a vampire) to the closing credits of the 1970 feature film, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS. It was created by puppeteer Bil Baird and, as you can see in the photo above, is unintentionally adorable.

Is it the real deal? I don't know! Seeing as how I don't have the scratch to even think about bidding on such an item, that's not really my problem. You can take a gander at the auction HERE.