As tributes to the late Paul Reubens pour in, an iconic figure from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure raises its claws to celebrate the beloved comedian. On Wednesday, the owners of Cabazon Dinosaurs in Southern California posted photos of the Tyrannosaurus Rex sculpture from Tim Burton’s 1985 cult classic with a makeover worth roaring about. In the images posted to Instagram, Pee-wee’s late Cretaceous era co-star wears the child-like character’s gray suit and red bowtie. A bright red heart is at the center of the dinosaur’s chest, while the name Pee-wee lies beneath. The tribute is on display until October 30! As far as larger-than-life honors go, this is one for the books!
In Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Pee-wee, joined by his friend Simone (Diane Salinger), visits the towering dinosaur while on a cross-country road trip to recover his stolen bicycle. Pee-wee and Simone tap into their emotions while nestled in Mr. Rex’s mouth. This scene is one of the film’s sweetest until Simone’s boyfriend, Andy (Jon Harris), crashes the party. As Andy attacks Pee-wee with an oversized dinosaur bone, Pee-wee shouts in terror before escaping.
“When someone passes away, you have to be considerate of how you approach that situation,” Denise Kanter, owner of Cabazon Dinosaurs, told the Palm Springs Desert Sun. “I was thinking, ‘Well, what do we do? Do we (do) something or don’t do something?’ Then I felt with requests coming from customers and interest on behalf of news organizations, we must do something.”
Reubens died after a private battle with cancer on Sunday, August 30, 2023. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens wrote in an Instagram message posted to fans before his passing. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” wrote Reubens’ estate in an Instagram post “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Have you ever visited Cabazon Dinosaurs to see the famous T-Rex? If you have, please tell us about it in the comments section below!