“Luther Billis Bear” from South Pacific

The Broadway Bears was an annual auction of one-of-a-kind, museum-quality, theatrically costumed teddy bears, each dressed in a handmade, authentic recreation of the original costume design and signed by the star who made the character famous. After a successful 15-year run, The Broadway Bears held its final auction in 2012.

This “Luther Billis Bear” was re-gifted to us by its original winning bidder.

He’s 101 pounds of fun. Luther Billis Bear appears in his Honey Bun costume complete with grass skirt and coconut bra. This bear made his first appearance at the second Broadway Bears auction way back in 1999. Designed by Sue M. McLaughlin, Luther is signed by original 1949 cast member William “Biff” McGuire and Danny Burstein, who appeared as Luther in the 2008 revival at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Honeys, “put your money on our Honey Bun!”