Peltzer Bathroom Buddy – Gremlins (1984)

At Anchored Props, we are proud to preserve authentic pieces of cinema history — especially those that represent the craftsmanship and creativity of practical effects filmmaking. One of the most charming examples in our collection is the original Peltzer Bathroom Buddy from
Gremlins (1984).

The Peltzer Bathroom Buddy

Seen in the home of Randall Peltzer (played by
Hoyt Axton),
the Bathroom Buddy perfectly establishes the character’s well-meaning but overly ambitious inventiveness. Designed as an all-in-one personal care device, it combines multiple grooming functions into a single countertop machine — an invention that looks promising in theory, but in true Peltzer fashion, doesn’t quite perform flawlessly.

The prop is entirely hand made and was fabricated by Bob Macdonald, showcasing the ingenuity and tactile artistry that defined early 1980s prop construction. Built for camera and practical interaction, the piece reflects an era when props were physically engineered, assembled, and detailed by hand — not digitally designed or mass-produced.

This is the only Bathroom Buddy created for the production, making it a truly one-of-a-kind artifact. Every element was custom built specifically for the film, resulting in a unique piece that embodies old-school Hollywood craftsmanship at its finest.

Direct from Director Joe Dante

When filming concluded, many of the Peltzer inventions were slated to be discarded. Director
Joe Dante recognized their charm and significance and chose to preserve them instead. He kept the Bathroom Buddy in his personal collection from the end of production onward, safeguarding this singular piece of film history for decades.

Our example comes directly from Joe Dante’s personal collection, with clear and direct provenance back to the production of Gremlins. It stands as a rare surviving example of practical, hand-built filmmaking from the 1980s — a unique artifact from a beloved film era.

We are honored to serve as the current caretakers of this one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted prop in the Anchored Props collection.