J.R. Ewing wore it first — and best. Then it was John Ross Ewing III’s for a spell. And now it can be yours: J.R.’s silver-and-gold, ruby-decorated belt buckle, which is one of the many extraordinary items available in Heritage Auction’s Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction to be held in Dallas on April 4 and 5.
From Southfork with love.
This iconic oval was with J.R. in life and in death: Larry Hagman wore it in the original Dallas series, which ran on CBS from 1978-1991, and again in the TNT reboot two decades later. And when Hagman died in November 2012, at the age of 81, it was featured in his memorial at Southfork Ranch. It eventually became the property of John Henderson’s character — the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen, and every bit the son of a … gun, let’s say, as his old man.
Souvenir replicas have been all the rage since the show first debuted; Texas Monthly ran a photo of a beautiful knock-off with its oral history “Dallas at 40: The Inside Story Behind the Show That Changed Texas Forever.” But this is the real deal, which makes it that much more special:
It was designed by no less than Edward H. Bohlin Inc., the legendary Hollywood maker of Western buckles and jewelry for almost a century, and whose items have been worn by no less than the Lone Ranger (and Silver!), Roy Rogers, The Cisco Kid and John Wayne. J.R.’s buckle sports the Bohlin stamp.
And now it can be yours, to display in the case that comes with. Or to wear. You know you want to.
The J.R. Ewing buckle is available in Heritage Auction’s Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction to be held April 4-5 in Dallas.