Meet Mark Klaus: Inside the Collection
See props from Elf, The Grinch, The Santa Clause and more!
Dec. 20, 2020
Every day is Christmas in the world of Mark Klaus. Mark collects authentic Christmas movie props and costumes from some of the most popular holiday films of all time. Wait until you see his goodies.
We asked pop culture expert Rob Klein to appraise Mark's amazing collection. Rob estimates that it is worth somewhere around $2 million!
1. Welcome to Castle Noel
He owns and operates Castle Noel, which is billed as "America's Largest Year Round Indoor Christmas Entertainment Attraction."
2. The Grinch Sleigh from 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
This practical sleigh from the 2000 Jim Carrey movie (directed by Opie Taylor himself, Ron Howard) is a wonderful centerpiece in Mark's collection. It's worth about $50,000.
3. The Grinch Sleigh really motors
This is no mere prop. There's a snowmobile underneath, meaning this baby could drive right out of Castle Noel. That puts it in the category of movie cars, not movie props.
4. Cindy Lou Who bedroom set
Sticking with that 2000 live-action movie for a moment, let's now step into the Cindy Lou Who's vivid pink bedroom. Everything from the curtains to the furniture was used in the film. It adds up to around $75,000.
5. Buddy costume from 'Elf'
Is there a more beloved modern Christmas movie? Will Ferrell wore this "small" suit in an early scene in the movie. It's valued at $50,000.
6. Purple Buddy costume from 'Elf'
It takes a true Elf aficionado to recognize this outfit from the 2003 classic. Will Ferrell wore it in a deleted scene, in which he plays hockey, seen on the DVD release. That makes it worth about $25,000.
7. Turboman costume from 'Jingle All the Way'
This Arnold costume from the action-holiday favorite is particularly prized because it has the complete look with the jetpack. Only a couple of the jetpacks were made. It's worth about $25,000.
8. Booster costume from 'Jingle All the Way'
Here is another costume from the 1996 Schwarzenegger flick.
9. 'Santa Claus: The Movie' effects sleigh
The miniatures are often worth more than the actual-sized props, mostly because they're more easily kept in a collection. This special effects model from the 1985 Dudley Moore film is worth about $35,000.
10. 'Santa Claus: The Movie' model reindeer
Mark has the little animatronic reindeer puppets from the movie, too. He has not tried to refurbish them, to keep them properly aged.
11. Animatronic Reindeer from 'The Santa Clause 2'
Keeping with the furry beasts, here is a life-sized animatronic reindeer from the Tim Allen sequel.
12. 'Santa Clause 2' prosthetic
That sequel featured a "Toy Santa," which required this somewhere eerie model of a plastic Tim Allen.
