Autograph Collectors Daily

Thanks For Reading 'Autograph Collectors Daily'

2009-11-06T15:05:00.003-05:00

Hi! I need to take a few days off from 'Autograph Collectors Daily' for therapy. I'll be online off and on for mail and messages...but not enough to research and post. Thanks for understanding. Have a great weekend! Lon

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

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Weezer, Echo and the Bunnymen, Catherine Keener Signing Report

2009-11-05T18:09:00.004-05:00

by Mike Sametz

Ah, another day, another alleyway… yep, here we go again! The glorious Erica and I are headed out to try and get a few people to sign, take pics, etc... and the infamously talented M’Lou Elkins is meeting us there to help out. First off, I have wanted to get the lovely Ms. Catherine Keener forever. I need her to finish off a poster or two, then two rock bands I love are on the same taping: Weezer, and Echo the Bunnymen. It should be an interesting night, so join us why don’t you!

3:30 p.m. – I just arrived. Poor M’Lou got there at three. She is so damn punctual! This is Los Angeles for God sakes! We are the only ones here. She didn't know Weezer was going to be here too, so she's acting a little uptight.

3:39 p.m. – Erica will be joining us in a little bit. For now M’Lou and I are just kicking back. I think I heard Echo and the Bunnymen sound checking in the front. I’ve never heard of two bands being on the same bill before so it’s kind of strange. I brought a couple vinyl albums for Echo, and I have an original Canadian tour poster (here’s a shout out to our neighbors to the north!) for Weezer.

4:03 p.m. – Still no one else here, this is sort of strange considering Catherine isn’t out much and Weezer is a huge band. Hmmmmm.

4:14 p.m. – For Catherine I brought my 40 Year Old Virgin poster (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/640/Glee-Signing-Report.aspx) that I have been working on for years, My Where the Wild Things Are poster (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/638/San-Diego-ComicCon--Day-2--72409.aspx) and my Being John Malkovich one sheet that I already have John Cusack, John Malkovich, and Cameron Diaz on. I just need her to finish it! Whoo hoo!

4:22 p.m. – M’Lou told me she would help me with Catherine, so she is in charge of my one sheet. Erica is bringing her Wild Things poster with her as well.

4:31 p.m. – We are still the only ones here. Oh, a few members of Weezer are milling about. M’Lou can spot them like no ones business. I mean, she really should start her own party game, “Spot the band members of Weezer in the crowd!”

4:35 p.m. – She just saw Brian and we got him to sign. Can’t say he was super friendly but he was still willing to do it. I got him with my green paint pen. Did I mention I love the paint pens?

4:41 p.m. – M’Lou just spotted the “Awesomest Bass Player Ever” (his name is Scott BTW) and she walks over to him. He’s very nice, and signs my poster, and tells me how much he likes my pen… HEH!

4:52 p.m. – The security starts setting up a barricade now, there are like three other people here… wow… usually this place is packed, you just never know.

5:03 p.m. – A young lady just showed up with promo posters for the new Weezer album, Raditude. There is a dog jumping on the front. It’s a unique poster but still pretty cool. Lol…

5:34 p.m. – Erica just got here. She thinks she can worm her way into the front with us, well I say Harumph to that… Harumph to you Erica!

5:35 p.m. – Erica just beat me so I let her stand with us.

5:39 p.m. – Rivers, the lead singer of Weezer just arrived and did not look over once at the crowd. Man that sucks!

5:48 p.m. – There are a bunch of other people here now, about 10 or so. Okay, I feel better. Lol… I thought I was missing out on something really good tonight!

5:51 p.m. – Terry Bradshaw just arrived and only waved at people. He hung out outside the stage entrance but still refused to sign. Sigh…

6:01 p.m. – Rivers walked by again… still he did not look over… man…

6:04 p.m. – M’Lou said, “He has to come over and sign, you got cool new stuff with dogs on it!” Yes, I've got cool new stuff with dogs on it, lol…

6:07 p.m. – Scott from Weezer just came over again. M’Lou asked him to sign my “cool new stuff with dogs” and he did. Lol…

6:11 p.m. - I just tried to embarrass M'Lou lol… ah good times.

6:23 p.m. – Catherine Keener just arrived, and everyone is calling her over. She said, “I’m sorry I’m running late but I will come over after.” She seemed very sincere, so hopefully she is telling the truth... Anne Hathaway said the same thing before and nothing! Grrrr…

6:48 p.m. – Weezer is sound checking now. They have matching white outfits on. M’Lou is holding my “Dog” Weezer poster. LOL… I tell her, “You would never know you are a well respected concert photographer standing behind this barricade holding a Weezer poster with a jumping dog on it.” Just my two cents.

7:15 p.m. – God this is starting to become a long long day. I’m so tired! I think the show hasn’t even started taping yet! Sigh…

7:22 p.m. – Oh, Weezer just finished, they are walking back and Rivers finally glanced over at us. Hey, it’s something at least right? RIGHT! Sigh…

7:39 p.m. – They are showing random clips of the taping on the outside screens. It looks so stupid. It could be the cold that makes it look so silly, but it looks really bad.

7:49 p.m. – Terry Bradshaw is taping his segment right now.

7:54 p.m. – Why do they keep showing this random comedian on the outdoor screens! It’s so irritating, and I don’t know why it’s so irritating, it just is! Grrrr…

8:11 p.m. – Terry Bradshaw is walking out. Everyone is trying to call him over but he ignores everyone and leaves. I have to say, it’s very irritating that a sports star like this can charge 100 bucks to sign something at a show but can’t just come over and sign a few for the fans. There are some real hardcore fans here. That is one downside to the autograph shows and conventions, people get used to making so much money out of autographs it sucks the fun out of it for so many people. (I am climbing off my soapbox)

8:35 p.m. – Catherine is leaving; everyone is calling her over… oh that’s not her… lol… sigh…

8:41 p.m. – Oh Catherine is leaving, people are creaming for her… wait that lady is blonde… man… either everyone is desperate or tired, or cold or all of the above!

8:51 p.m. – Okay, there she is! Catherine is leaving, she motions to us that she is going to put her stuff in the car and then come over. I get M’Lou set up with my one sheet, and give my Wild Things poster to my friend Marissa who happened to be walking by. Really, she just happened to come by! Lol…

8:53 p.m. – Catherine walked over and said, “I’m in a hurry guys, cause I have to pick up my kids.” She starts signing in the middle of the barricade. There is a guy taking video, and she looks up and says, “Are you taking video? I really don’t like that” and she starts signing with her back to the camera. The guy turns off his camera, and she signs normally. A lot of people are asking for her to personalize things, Erica asked her to sign her Wild Things poster and Catherine said, “Oh look who you have on it (Erica got Max like I did and also James Gandolfini in NY… grrrrrr)!” Catherine skipped M’Lou and my one sheet and went the other way… NO!

9:01 p.m. – M’Lou asked her to sign the one sheet, and she came back over and did it. Yay, Being John Malkovich is complete. Then Marissa got my Wild Things poster done, and finally I asked her to sign the 40 Year Old Virgin. I asked her to personalize it, and she said, “My brother’s name is Mike” I replied, “It’s a good name.” That sounded way cooler in person than when I wrote it. Really it did. Then I got a pic with her. She was really nice, and so cute in person.

9:05 p.m. – Echo and the Bunnymen are playing "Lips like Sugar," and M’Lou and I are singing along… Now that’s scary.

9:08 p.m. – Now I am schooling everyone on Echo and the Bunnymen history… man oh man… How can anyone not know Echo and the Bunnymen!

9:11 p.m. – Echo and the Bunnymen just finished their set. We could hear them. They just finished "The Killing Moon."

9:15 p.m. – Weezer is about to start, well it seems like they are about to start. We heard that Echo and the Bunnymen is going to leave out the front, so M’Lou took my albums and ran around to try and get them.

9:21 p.m. – Nope, M’Lou just missed them. When she got around to the front, they were just closing the van door! Doh! That sucks... sigh…

9:24 p.m. – It is at this time that M’Lou bails on us, but says she has a "good feeling."

9:39 p.m. – The band just finished their last song. Usually there is a huge throng of people running over after, but this time there isn’t a lot of people. Very strange for a band as big as Weezer.

9:43 p.m. – It’s super quiet. I don't have a good feeling.

9:59 p.m. – The guards just came over and told us everyone left. So much for M’Lou’s good feeling! LOL… I don’t know how the band managed to slip away, but they did, I hate having an incomplete poster! It blows! Man! Sigh… Well, it was fun hanging out with Erica, Marissa, M’Lou!

KISS Takes Time Off Tour To Visit Vets

2009-11-05T17:59:00.002-05:00

Prior to last week, Cpl. Donnie Earls wouldn’t have considered himself a fan of the rock band, KISS.

“Now I’m a big fan,” said Earls, a Marine who is currently receiving treatment at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center’s Active Duty Rehab Unit. Earls saw the group in concert in Atlanta on Oct. 26 and then met band members on Oct. 28 when they visited the Wounded Warriors.

On the other hand, Spc. Patrick Tefft has been a KISS fan for more than two decades. Wearing his KISS Tshirt, he waited in the active duty gym on Oct. 28 to meet band members.

“It was amazing to get the chance to see them,” said Tefft.

Three band members, lead singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer visited the service members prior to flying out to make a concert date in Nashville the same night.

Hospital staff thought the band members would be signing autographs and had a table set up for them; however, band members wanted to mingle with the service members crowded into the unit. They posed for photos, signed autographs and spoke with the service members.

“I’m honored to be here,” Paul Stanley, 57, a founding member of the band, told the service members soon after arriving. “We can’t do enough for you. I’m not usually at a loss for words. Wow, you are heroes.”

Earls said he was very impressed that band members would take the time out of their schedule especially when they had a concert later in the evening.

“I think it’s awesome. There are a lot of famous people, but few go back into the community. It stands out,” he said.

Another newly converted KISS fan was Pvt. Randy Laird. He’d never been to a concert prior to the one at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta. Wounded Warriors sat about 40 feet away from the stage, and they said the band put on quite a show.

What impacted him more was their visit to the hospital. “I’m amazed for them to even consider coming. I know they must be completely exhausted,” he said.

Scream Awards 2009: Part Deux

2009-11-04T17:24:00.005-05:00

By Mike Sametz

My God, what a day. I did some scouting around and found a different entrance where people may or may not come out. I’m not 100% sure, but it could be good. So let’s cross our fingers and hope that no one has to pee, cause baby, there are no bathrooms here, and we’ve been here for almost six hours at this point.

7:31 p.m. – Well, there are about five of us at this small entrance…A car just pulled up… it’s Anna Paquin! She didn’t sign and just darted right in…. I am sending Erica a text to meet me here!

7:33 p.m. – Taylor Lautner just arrived. He signed like two and then darted in… Erica just got here, and missed him. He really didn’t do a lot and I didn’t get him either…

7:35 p.m. – Alexander Skarsgard pulled up. Before he got out of the car, his people said no autographs… bummer… He looked really pale, not just Swedish pale, but like Swedish Vampire pale.

8:01 p.m. – Someone is leaving… We can hear the screams from the theatre, it’s a girl… it’s Jessica Alba. She is stopping to sign, but only at the very front of the barricade. I don’t have anything for her, and neither does Erica so it’s not a huge deal. However, it’s disappointing cause we haven’t gotten anyone here yet.

8:05 p.m. – A limo just pulled up, the door opens, and it’s… it’s… dude, it’s J.J. Abrams, or as I call him, “the man who saved Star Trek.” Erica yells out for him, “JJ!” She pulls her poster out, and security tells Erica he doesn’t have time. I got my poster out as well. J.J. says, “I’ll sign this!” He comes right up to Erica and personalizes her poster, and I got him on mine as well. He is such a nice man, so fan friendly! Security is insisting he goes in, and he takes off.

8:07 p.m. – We finally got one! YAY!

8:15 p.m. – A new arrival… It’s the kid from Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, Josh Hutcherson. He’s very nice, and takes pictures with some of the collectors. John C. Reilly just stands by his car for a while and doesn’t say anything, or acknowledge the fans at all.

8:16 p.m. – Liv Tyler just arrived; she waved at the crowd, looked at Erica saw her book and just walked in.

8:17 p.m. – Holy crap, Keith Richards is leaving. He did not come over though; well he did not even look at the crowd. And now… it’s Johnny Depp! People are going nuts for him. He gets in the car, on the opposite side from where we are at. The car pulls up and pauses before it turns. Johnny rolls down the window and begins signing, but the driver takes off, and all we can see is Johnny’s hand out the window with pen in hand ready to sign as the car drives out of view.

8:19 p.m. – Christina Ricci, Who I adore, is leaving. There are a few people walking with her, but she is refusing to sign anything. Sigh… My Rolling Stone is destined to remain unsigned for even longer I suppose…

8:38 p.m. – Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost and V just got here. She is wearing giant heels, and looks killer! She is so nice and taking pictures with fans, and signing for the entire barricade.

8:39 p.m. – Oh, Morgan Freeman just arrived. He waves at the crowd but does not come over.

8:44 p.m. – Elizabeth Mitchell is still signing!

8:51 p.m. – Some more people are trickling out. The Big Bang Theory must be done with their presentation. Simon Helberg is leaving. He is cool, and comes over to sign for everyone. I got him on my poster, but for some reason he misses Erica! LOL…(evil LOL)

8:53 p.m. – One of the other collectors calls out to Simon and asks him to come over and sign Erica’s poster. He actually runs back over and signs it for her! How cool is that?

9:08 p.m. – And now here comes Jim Parsons, someone asked him if he could sign, and he says, “Absolutely!” Erica and I both get him on our Big Bang Posters. Whoo Hoo, almost the full cast! Three down two to go.

9:11 p.m. – The crowd has now grown, to about 30 people and the security, who are actually cool, set up a barricade to control everyone.

9:20 p.m. – Everyone keeps saying Harrison Ford is coming, but no one yet. Wait, it’s Jaimie King. She was in the Spirit, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2… She is actually really nice and signs for so many people and takes a lot of pictures as well.

9:21 p.m. - You can hear the crowd in the theatre erupt in applause, screams, yells, I mean it was sonic. Wow… something cool is happening, and it ain’t Twilight people.

9:24 p.m. – There is a hush in the air… everyone is quiet… something is happening, you can just feel it. I have my Indiana Jones poster at the ready, cause it just feels big.

9:26 p.m. – Holy crap, there he is, in the flesh Han Solo, Indiana Jones, The Fugitive… it’s Harrison Ford! The crowd starts screaming for him to come over. He smiles and looks at us. He then walks to his car. The crowd by the barricade gets louder and louder. He opened the car door, and the crowd starts yelling again. He is about to duck in the car, and then looks up at us again. He has a wry smile on his face like he is thinking. Then he ducks inside the car, and it looks like he is about to close the car door and leave. He pops back out, closes the car door, and proceeds to walk right over to us.

9:27 p.m. – Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap.. it is pandemonium! I pull my poster out. He is signing for a lot of people. Everyone is rushing the barricades, security is promising he will do the full line. I have my poster out and I don’t think he can see it.

9:28 p.m. – Erica sees my plight, and tilts the poster down at the corner slightly, and he sees it. Harrison Ford signed my poster in blue sharpie. I think I just peed.

9:29 p.m. – Erica is holding her promo Indiana Jones poster out and Harrison keeps missing it. He finally looks down, sees Erica’s poster and takes a beat to examine it. Then he signed her poster as well.

9:30 p.m. - I am being crushed. Crushed, to such an extreme I can’t even tell you.

9:35 p.m. – Harrison just left. He did the entire line, and I am so stoked I can’t even tell you. It was just rad! So rad, I am using 1980’s slang! This is so worth not eating, or peeing for 8 hours.

9:38 p.m. – There is an amazed glow in the crowd. Everything else that happens is just gravy. Even the hard core dealers are shocked and in awe. Justin Long just came out. He is really cool and signs a bunch. I don’t have my Galaxy Quest poster with me (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/437/ALAN-RICKMAN-DENNIS-LEARY-SIGNING-REPORT.aspx) but someday I’ll get it done. Lol… Dude, Harrison Ford just signed! Oh my God!

9:44 p.m. – Slash from Guns N Roses just arrived with a posse of people. Including Clifton Collins Jr. from Star Trek. They are very… and how should I say this… I think they have partaken of some herbal refreshments in the limo. They are all staggering around. Still cool though. I mean you know… he’s Slash for God sakes, do you want to see him sober?

9:50 p.m. – Kate Bosworth is leaving. She is very nice, and comes over to sign. I got her on my Rules of Attraction DVD cover (where are you Ian!). She is very nice, but she pauses when she sees the DVD cover. I know it’s random! LOL…

9:54 p.m. – Vampire Diaries must be done with their presentation. Nina Dobrev is coming over. She is really nice and is stopping to sign for everyone. Erica and I have the cast, so we don’t try for her.

9:56 p.m. – Ian Somerhalder is coming out now. He is signing a bunch of stuff, and sees my DVD cover and says, “Whoa.” He’s very nice and is more than happy to sign for everyone.

9:57 p.m. – Oh my god, the True Blood folks are starting to leave. Sam Trammell who plays Sam Merlotte is walking by. Erica spots him right away. It’s a good thing she’s in the front, not only does she look like a “regular fan” but she’s a hot mamma as well. HEH HEH HEH… Erica calls out to him and asks him to sign. He saunters over and is really nice. Both Erica and I have True Blood promo posters and he signs them both. Erica mentions he was really good in a play she saw him in forever ago called, “Ah, Wilderness.” He is so taken aback, and is genuinely happy. He really appreciated that, he turns to her and says, “Thanks for that! No really thanks.”

9:59 p.m. – Anna Paquin is leaving. She looks incredible! Wow… Everyone is going crazy for her. She is totally cool, and is signing for everyone. Anna is with Stephen Moyer who is, Bill, on the show and is also her fiancé. He is just standing there, so Erica calls him over too. I have a super cool individual mini poster of Stephen and one for Anna that I am ferreting through my bag to find. I also have my red paint pen at the ready. Ah, paint pens… anyway, Erica is chatting with Stephen over his new look. He has a cane, and looks really formal. Apparently, he had knee surgery, and is using the cane to get around.

10:01 p.m. – Erica just stabbed Stephen Moyer with her pen. The trials of the new click Sharpie. They are a new thing, and a 100 year old vampire apparently is just not used to them! Lol… He has ink on his hand, and says, “Great indelible ink.” Erica replies, “oh no it will wash out.” He says, “Ahem, indelible is permanent and will not wash out.” I now interrupt Erica’s chastising or as she calls it, her lesson in English and ask Stephen to sign my mini poster with the paint pen. He does. Paint pens are indelible!

10:05 p.m. – Anna is making her way to us. I have my individual mini poster out for her, and she is more than happy to use the red paint pen on the mini poster. However, when she switched pens, she missed Erica’s poster all together. Oops… Sorry Erica. Stephen walks over and pretty much fetches Anna. They both are super cool, and signed quite a bit.

10:09 p.m.- Next is Rutina Wesley who plays Tara on True Blood. No one sees her until one of the collector’s says, “There’s Rutina.” Luckily we are upfront and we call her over. She is really nice, and signs Erica’s poster and my poster as well.

10:11 p.m. – Woody Harrelson is about to leave. People don’t like him. I mean they really don’t like him because he generally is NOT fan friendly at least for the dealers. I met him at comic con and thought he was cool, but that was a different situation. People are actually booing and hissing at Woody. Poor guy. Through all this Erica spots Mr. Alan Ball the creator of True Blood and Six Feet Under. Erica calls him over and I make a fool of myself professing my love for Six Feet Under. I’m going on about how it’s art and I really have no idea what is coming out of my mouth, but Alan is just thanking me and listening attentively. I’m sure he gets blathering idiots all the time, so I don’t feel that bad… lol.. Oh God, I said he creates art… This is why I freeze when I see someone I like, so I don’t babble… Ah… screw it. We both get him on our True Blood posters.

10:14 p.m. – Alexander Skarsgard is leaving. He is not looking over and just gets into his car. Sigh… As he pulls away his publicist comes over and says, he is not feeling well and he will get us next time. Next time, she doesn’t know me… How does she know there will be a next time. She she’s right, but still… She doesn’t know me….lol… I also have an individual mini poster for Alex that must be signed… Harrumph.

10:16 p.m. – Here comes someone big… It’s Taylor Lautner, and he’s leaving. He got in the car, got out of the car, and is now back in the car. Hmmmm Nope, he’s leaving… bummer. I really thought he would do it. I mean if Harrison Ford can sign, Taylor Lautner can sign. Am I right? Come on now!

10:18 p.m. – Oh, here comes… here comes… oh it’s J.J. Abrams again! God he’s so nice! He is coming over and taking pictures and signing for people. He is so cool. I asked him for a pic, and he attempted a Vulcan hand salute. It’s more like a wave, but still very cool! I almost babbled again but stopped myself, and only tell him about my love of Alias for a second. He thanks me, and seems so genuine.

10:22 p.m. – It looks like the last couple Big Bang cast members are coming out. Johnny Galecki is first, and walks right over and signs for people. He was cool about it. I told him how much a certain friend of mine loves Roseanne, and he seems blasé. Erica and I both got him.

10:24 p.m. – Oh God, Kaley Cuoco is right next to him signing and I don’t even see her. She is about to sign for us, and is really sweet. She signed both Erica’s poster and my poster. Dude, we got the whole cast! Whoo Hoo! Ha, we couldn’t get into the comic con signing, but still got the comic con poster signed… Oh yeah!

10:28 p.m. – So, there is someone coming out… We don’t see who it is…. Wait… it’s Elijah Wood. The dealers are yelling for him, but he’s chatting with some people. Erica calls out to him, everyone calls out to him, and finally he makes his way over. Erica doesn’t need him, but I have my Faculty DVD. (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/651/Shorts-Premiere-Signing-Report.aspx)I know I know… I ask him if he would sign the Faculty, and his publicist looks over and made sure I actually had the Faculty. What, no one watches this movie! It’s good! It’s not Lord of the Rings good, but it’s good!

10:29 p.m. – Elijah makes his way down, and signs my DVD. Erica asks for a pic, which he does. It’s an interesting pic… very interesting. Uh… That’s all I’m going to say… interesting… pic… interesting….

10:33 p.m. – My God, this is turning out to be quite the day, and… Oh crap, it’s John Cho! Another surprise. Erica did not bring her Flash Forward poster. But I do have my Star Trek posters. Anyway, he doesn’t seem to want to sign. People keep calling him anyway, and eventually he gives in. I got him on my first Star Trek poster, and then I flipped it to the other poster and ask Erica in a calm manner… “ASK HIM TO SIGN THIS ONE NOW!” Erica’s like, “What?” I look at her and go… “He’ll sign it for you! You’re a girl!” So she asks him and sure enough she got it signed. YES! Both posters! He was very nice, not like the last time I ran into him (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/623/Chris-Pine-John-Cho-Star-Trek-Signing-Report.aspx). He was not a douche this time, and if I was a little harsh for calling him a douche last time… No he deserved it last time, but I’m glad he was in a more fan friendly mood today.

10: 35 p.m. – Eliza Dushku just walked by and did not sign for us. People are really almost begging for her, but she just gets into her car, and drives off. She did sign though when she left originally from what I heard. I just heard from some other collector’s that other people exited another door. This is where Karl Urban, most of the Galactica cast, Stan Lee, Julie Benz, and more left. It’s hard to know where to stand because there are so many different exits.

10:43 p.m. – There was a lull and we were able to catch our breath. Whew… what a night… I have to say… Oh wait… Quentin Tarrantino is coming out… I’m trying to find my Kill Bill poster. He heads to the other side… Man! Erica has a Reservoir Dogs mini poster/postcard for him. He signs and takes pics, but not on our side. Erica and I are calling for him.… Erica has her pen at the ready, and he turns and sees her, and comes RIGHT OVER TO HER! I think it’s cause she looks 12, and is shorter than everyone around her, cause we are on a curb and she is on the flat pavement. It’s really funny actually. He signs her poster, he signs my poster, and asks Erica if he can use her pen. LOL… She says, “sure… it will find it’s way back to me!” That is the one thing collector’s are good at passing back pens. They will throw crap on top of you, push you into a railing, hit you, but take a pen.. Hell no! We have some morals!

10:51 p.m. – Quentin is about to leave but realizes he has Erica’s pen. He walks back and looks for Erica under all the mountain of photos. He bends down, and hands her the pen, and says, “Here you go sweetheart.” Erica says thanks, and Quentin takes off….lol

11:01 p.m. – It’s pretty quiet now. Erica and I are exhausted. One of the security guards just told me everyone left. All the cars seem to be gone. I’m bushed. He said Liv Tyler left, and so Erica and I decide to make the long… long… long… trek back to the car with our magazines, posters and such. This has been the best night of collecting I think we have had on our own. We are going to celebrate by eating and peeing at the Mobil station. Ah… A Snickers bar tastes so good when you haven’t had food or drink in 8 hours. What a night, Watch the Scream Awards on Spike TV and see some of the amazing night we had for yourself!

Scream Awards 2009

2009-11-04T17:10:00.005-05:00

by Mike Sametz

Oh Jesus, help us! The lovely Erica and I are hiking up to the Greek Theatre today to try and see what transpires are the Scream Awards. I have never heard of the Scream Awards myself, but apparently they air on Spike TV. You see, I don’t have cable, I know I know… I hear it all the time when I ask my friends to TIVO True Blood, but I digress… The Awards show has a LOT of big names in the Sci – Fi genre, so God willing we will at least get a few people to come over and sign. So, on to the hike up to the Greek, I didn’t know collecting would force me to get into shape!

1:44 p.m. – Erica just arrived in LA at 10:30 a.m. so that means she had to be up at 4:00 a.m. needless to say, she’s cranky. LOL… No, I’m kidding she is always pleasant. We just parked the rental car, and are heading over to the Greek. There is about a mile walk up a hill... A hill I say... sigh…

1:46 p.m. – We just went to the bathroom at the gas station. I’m afraid there won’t be any bathrooms up at the Greek, which means no relief for the next several hours. I bought a Coke Zero, but I’m afraid to drink it. If I have to pee now, the whole day will be shot! Sigh…

1:56 p.m. – This is a very steep hill. I think Erica is about to melt. It’s 95 degrees out, I have two bags, my normal over the shoulder and my wonderful bright yellow Buffy The Vampire Slayer bag from Comic Con (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/639/San-Diego-ComicCon--Day-3--72509.aspx) that I actually got the last day I was there. It was a tough pursuit but I still got it. Erica wants a special shout out for asking strangers to swap me for their Buffy Bags because I didn’t want to talk to strangers, but she’s short and unassuming.

2:03 p.m. – Erica keeps asking me how much further. I tell her, “Ah it’s the blue tent up ahead” really I have no idea; I’m toying with her… heh heh heh…

2:10 p.m. – We just reached that elusive blue tent. Nope, still not there yet… And did I mention it’s hot and my bag weighs like 20 pounds…

2:13 p.m. – Erica needs to stop and take a breather. She’s going to pass out and then I’ll have to drag her dead lifeless body up the hill, and really who has the time for that? Not me I say.

2:21 p.m. – I think we’re going the right way… wait a minute… yeah, this looks right… kinda…

2:25 p.m. – Oh we see spotlights up ahead. God I hope I don’t have to pee.

2:33 p.m. – We’re here! Whoo hoo… Let’s go sit in the shade and rest…

2:35 p.m. – Thank Jesus for shade! Thank you Jesus…

2:38 p.m. – There are karate kids doing faux fighting for an indie film. I think they are staring at us panting. Still I don’t drink the Coke Zero for fear of having to pee. Did I mention there are no bathrooms?

2:48 p.m. – There is one other collector here. He’s telling us that the setup is different from last year, and our chances might suck. I’m still panting… Erica is lying on the cement picnic table. We need to exercise more.

3:01 p.m. – Erica is whipping out her apple! She’s a crazy person! She’s going wild! She’s not even afraid she might have to… ahem… relive herself later on! Wild! Simply wild!

3:22 p.m. – So, after deliberating for a second, I tell Erica that she should go ahead and find out what’s going on, and do a scouting trip. A reconnaissance mission if you will. So, off she goes. Good luck Erica! May The Force Be With You!

3:40 p.m. – Erica isn’t back yet... I think some Imperial troopers might have gotten her! More than likely she made friends with someone doing the tech on the show.

3:46 p.m. - She baaaaaaaaaackkkkkk! I was right; the lovely Erica made friends with this guy smoking on a bench. He turned out to be one of the managers of the sound crew. He gave us some info, so off we go! Whoo hoo!

4:01 p.m. – A few other people are starting to show up now. We’re taking some of the barricades and pulling them close together to form a line. We’re not total barbarians! We’re somewhat civilized Dammit!

4:11 p.m. – Some of the people who are scheduled to attend are the casts of True Blood, Big Bang Theory, Vampire Diaries, Battlestar Galactica, Karl Urban, Tobey Maguire, Taylor Lautner, Harrison Ford, Kate Bosworth, Keith Richards, Morgan Freeman, Jackie Earl Haley, Quentin Tarantino, Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Eliza Dushku, and Christina Ricci.

4:14 p.m. – The seat fillers are about to go in… Okay, well they are all in costume. Unlike other awards shows, this one is all about the fans so they asked everyone to arrive dressed up. There are some unique people here to say the least. Mainly I see Goth strippers, and a couple Captain Kirks. This should be a unique night!

4:19 p.m. – Dude five collectors just came out of the woods behind us! Like from the trees! I kid you not. Lol…

4:22 p.m. – There is a lot of traffic. If anyone wants to sign, they are going to have to cross four lanes of traffic. Ugh…

4:33 p.m. – Whoa! There’s a unicorn! A real life (faux) unicorn! That’s something you don’t see everyday. Ah, the Scream awards!

4:47 p.m. – We were told that this year’s theme was Alice in Wonderland and horror… at the same time… Horror and Alice… hmmmm… What kind of rabbit hole are they going to crawl into! Oh Alice, ahhhhh It’s Michael Myers!

5:01 p.m. – There are about 30 fans/collectors here now. Most seem okay… now… give them a taste of fresh meat and watch how nice people turn into rabid dogs!

5:26 p.m. – The carpet is about to begin! Yay, we made it all this time, in the sweltering heat! Whoo Hoo! Oh, a car is pulling up… A blonde woman is getting out… holy crap it’s Julie Benz! Everyone starts screaming their heads off. Oh course I have to have bright yellow Buffy bag with me… Oh I’m a dork. She is coming over and heads right for us. Thank you Buffy bag! I grab my Dexter DVD from Erica (she was holding it for safe keeping). Julie is the sweetest, and signs it for me. She also was nice enough to pose for a pic as well. She looks amazing! She signs for everyone on the barricade. This is a great start to the day!

5:33 p.m. – The fog machine is out of control on the red (black and white checkered) carpet. It’s madness... I say madness!

5:37 p.m. – Kunal Nayyar from the Big Bang Theory just arrived. People are screaming for him. He runs right over. Erica and I whip out our handy dandy Comic Con posters for him. He is really cool. We both got him. Now hopefully, we’ll get the rest of the cast as well.

5:43 p.m. – Next to arrive is another tall blonde…it’s… it’s… it’s… Crap Erica just screamed in my ear. I’m like who is it? She says with a sigh, “It’s Kate Vernon! Kate Vernon!” I’m like… “Yay?” Apparently, she is on Battlestar Galactica. I still have yet to watch it, but Erica assures me next time she is in town she will bring me the DVD’s so I can start watching it, and then I’ll be sad because I’ll have missed getting all these people… grrrrrr…

5:46 p.m. – Kate signs Erica’s BG poster, and was really great, cause she signed her full name, and Erica was super happy about that, cause usually she signs with only a “K” apparently.

5:49 p.m. – There is a long line of black cars pulling up. It’s like they are waiting to go in, but no one really knows. It’s like a conga line of limos!

6:09 p.m. – Oh crap, Erica is going crazy again! She turns to me and says, “I want a picture with the Hot Cylon!” I was like, “K” I’ll get you, your pic baby! Michael Trucco is the Hot Cylon and he’s coming over to sign for everyone. Erica REALLY wants this pic, because she has lost all sense of the barricade now and walking next to him to get a signature.

6:10 p.m. – Erica just got her pic. Within a minute she got her signature and a picture. You go Erica. See, she looks unassuming but she always gets what she wants… Generally speaking, yes, she gets what she wants.  (She’s sitting next to me as I type this up, and just hit me on the arm… twice… three times now).

6:13 p.m. – Christina Ricci, just got here and only waved. Also some more Big Bang Theory cast members arrived and went and did the carpet.

6:15 p.m. – Jackie Earle Haley from Watchmen just arrived. He’s also the new Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street. Everyone is going nuts for him. I had my picture disc for the Watchmen soundtrack that I got Carla Gugino, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan to sign for me at the premiere. There is frenzy around this man! LOL… People have Freddy hats, gloves, etc… Crazy times. He signed my picture disc and drew a cool little design under his name. Nice!

6:18 p.m. – Oh look, it’s Jennifer Carpenter! She plays Michael C. Hall’s sister on Dexter (and is married to him in real life!) She is really nice and signing a bunch of stuff. I grab my Dexter DVD cover and take off to the other end of the barricade. For some reason she keeps skipping me! LOL…

6:20 p.m. – I just got Jennifer. I was actually the last one she signed before she ran back through four lanes of traffic to the red (well checkered) carpet!

6:31 p.m. – Paul Wesley from Vampire Diaries just made his way to us. He is signing a bunch. Erica and I already got our Vampire Diaries poster signed, so we really didn’t have anything for him. (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/639/San-Diego-ComicCon--Day-3--72509.aspx)

6:33 p.m. – The crowds are going nuts for Paul when Ian Somerhalder runs over. I have my Rules of Attraction DVD cover for him. Hey, it’s all I had! He keeps missing it though, and runs back across with Paul.

6:34 p.m. – A limo pulled up… no one can really see who it is… Suddenly the crowd erupts in “Karlllllllllllll” Karl Urban just pulled up! Erica is screaming, the crowd is screaming… Karl is one guy everyone wants. Both Erica and I need him on our Star Trek posters (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/636/Chris-Pine-Leonard-Nimoy-Chris-Noth-Signing-Repo.aspx) and he isn’t around a lot… sigh…

6:36 p.m. – Erica is still screaming. She just turned to me and told me she was getting light headed! LOL… Here he comes… Karl is crossing traffic. Suddenly, it feels like there are twice as many people at the barricades as before.

6:38 p.m. – Erica got two from him, one on her Star Trek, and the other on her Lord of the Rings book, and I got him on my one ST poster. He signed for pretty much the entire barricade, which is great. I wish I would have gotten him on my other ST poster, but I’m very happy I got him on the second poster!

6:44 p.m. – It’s getting late and we are watching people going in. Eliza Dushku just arrived and went right onto the carpet, some Battlestar people arrived and waved, but didn’t have time to cross.

6:57 p.m. – Eli Roth arrived and ran over to sign a few. I already got him (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/650/Inglourious-Basterds-Premiere-Signing-Report.aspx) so I didn’t even really try.

7:11 p.m. – They are breaking down the event, I mean they are pulling plants and loading them onto a truck for God sakes… lol… it is over!

7:15 p.m. – The Scream Awards have begun. We still have not seen any of the giant names yet.. Oh wait, William Shatner just arrived. Wow, he waved on the way in but that was it.

7:21 p.m. – I’m doing a little scouting around…

7:24 p.m. – Okay, there are a lot of doors in and out, and a lot of collectors have split up to cover different doors. Some people are coming in late, leaving early etc… it’s hard to say where to go. I’m going to check this out more intently… I’ll get back to you with what I find.

'Fabulous Food Show' Attracts Some of Culinary World's Biggest Stars

2009-11-03T15:59:00.002-05:00

If celebrity chefs have become the rock stars of the culinary world, next week's Fabulous Food Show (Friday-Sunday, Nov. 13-15) is a festival concert. Some of the nation's top TV foodies -- Sandra Lee, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Guy Fieri and Cleveland' s own Michael Symon -- will take the stage at the International Exposition Center in a display of gastronomic prowess mixed with showmanship and fun.

"It's really become one of the biggest food events in the country," said Fieri during a phone interview. "You know that line, 'Cleveland rocks?' In the food world, Cleveland really is one of the rock capitals."

Unlike previous years, many of this year's headliners will appear only one or two days. Lee, famous for her "semi-homemade" approach to dressing up prepared foods and products for dishes that seem made from scratch, makes just two presentations on Nov. 13. Fieri will cook at three shows Nov. 14 and Flay makes two appearances Nov. 15.

The remaining stars perform on two days: Florence, with shows Nov. 13 and 14, and Symon, who appears Nov 14 and 15. All those chefs appear on the Sub-Zero/Wolf Main Kitchen Theater stage, an arena-style setting with booming acoustics and state-of-the-art video for good views of onstage action.

Thomas Keller, one of the nation's most respected chefs and owner of the acclaimed French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., Ad Hoc (also in California) and Per Se restaurant in New York City, makes his first trip to Cleveland on Nov. 13. Cleveland Heights author Michael Ruhlman moderates "A Conversation With Thomas Keller" at 7 p.m.

(A special $60 pre-sale ticket includes general admission to the food show, a guaranteed seat at the Keller presentation and a copy of the chef's latest book, "Per Se at Home" -- valued at $50 -- as well as an opportunity to meet Keller for an autograph.)

Sustainable agriculture is also spotlighted during "Farm to Table Friday" Nov. 13 on the Culinary Celebration stage and The Plain Dealer's Taste of the Neighborhood stage. A series of presentations include:

* Tastings of locally roasted Fair Trade Certified coffees;
* A seminar on how to start a sustainable food business;
* "Cowpooling" and other ways to eat well, eat locally and eat affordably;
* Chef Ben Bebenroth's demonstration of cooking heirloom poultry varieties, in conjunction with the American Livestock Breed Conservancy;
* A discussion of grass-fed beef.

Laura Taxel, author of "Cleveland Ethnic Eats," will discuss Old World food ways translated in Northeast Ohio kitchens by some of the area's ethnic chefs, and author Marilou Suszko will present dishes from Ohio farm kitchens.

The Taste of the Neighborhood Stage will host some of the region's most popular chefs:

# On Nov. 13, "Akron On a Plate" presents veteran food journalist Jane Snow talking about some of her favorite Akron-area dishes from her new book, "Jane Cooks." She'll be followed by Strongsville tea expert Eve Hill's ideas for affordable entertaining.

# Nov. 14 includes a full docket of local star power. Anna Kim of Sans Souci in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel kicks off the day, followed by "A Fresh and Local Thanksgiving" with cooking demonstrations by Paul Minnillo (Baricelli Inn), Zack Bruell (Parallax, L'Albatros, Table 45), Heather Haviland (Lucky's Cafe, Vine and Bean), Donna Chriszt (Dish Deli), Adam Schmith (La Boca), Steve Schimoler (Crop Bistro) and Matt Harlan (Bar Symon). Other area chefs cook for the crowd during a series of demos throughout that afternoon: "Feliz Navidad With Eric Williams" of Momocho; favorite dishes from Fabio Salerno (Gusto, Lago, Grotto restaurants), "Bella Italia for the Holidays" with Ed Ripepi of Verso and "From Brandt's Kitchen to Yours" with Blue Canyon chef Brandt Evans.

# On Sunday, chef-instructors from the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute will present an array of affordable comfort foods from around the world. Barbara Snow of the Western Reserve School of Cooking also will appear, with make-ahead dishes for holiday entertaining.

Other demonstrations and displays will fill the I-X Center throughout the weekend: American Wine School's Grand Tasting Pavilion and wine seminars; the Sweet Street stage, with demonstrations of chocolate confections, candy making and a life-size gingerbread house; and product sampling stations throughout the show floor.

Find more information about the show at www.fabulousfoodshow.com. Meanwhile, today's Taste section includes stories and holiday-themed recipes from some of this year's food show stars.

Elizabeth Hurley Gets Fans Going In Harrods

2009-11-03T15:43:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth Hurley was at Harrods on Tuesday to launch her new food range.

The model and actress has brought out a selection of low fat snack bars and beef jerky.

She was accompanied by her husband Arun Nayar and son Damian to the photocall.

After posing for the snappers she then signed autographs for fans.

Famous for going out with Hugh Grant and starring in Austin Powers, Liz has previously designed her own swimwear range, however this is her first food line.
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Elizabeth Hurley Hates Paparazzi

Elizabeth Hurley has said that she hates the paparazzi because her seven-year-old son Damian was snapped nude on a beach.

The ‘Bedazelled’ star insisted that the photographers had violated her privacy during the family trip.

“I would be bursting into tears and just be so angry. There is something about motherhood that makes you very protective of anyone coming too near your child, and the paparazzi did things like take pictures of him nude on the beach and put them online,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

She added: “It was disgusting, disgraceful.”

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

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Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Andre Agassi Book Signing Events

2009-11-02T14:49:00.002-05:00

Andre Agassi, tennis legend, will be signing copies of his book Open: An Autobiography at the following locations:

* 11/12/09 12:30 PM at Barnes & Noble - Fifth Avenue. New York, NY
* 11/13/09 7:00 PM at Indigo Books - Bloor Street. Toronto, Ontario.
* 11/15/09 2:00 PM at Books-A-Million - Sawgrass Mills Mall. Sunrise, FL.
* 11/18/09 7:00 PM at Borders Books - Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA.
* 11/20/09 7:00 PM at Books Inc. - Van Ness Avenue. San Francisco, CA.
* 11/21/09 1:30 PM at Kepler's Books - El Camino Real. Menlo Park, CA.
* 11/22/09 1:00 PM at Costco – South Pavilion Drive. Las Vegas, NV.

Book Signings & Events

Dwayne Johnson Makes Amends With Fan Who He Denied An Autograph

2009-11-02T14:42:00.002-05:00

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson got some negative press last month after he refused to sign an autograph for a fan. According to ContactMusic.com, the former WWE champ is making it up to the fan in a big way.

It all started when a security guard on the set of his upcoming film "The Other Guys" approached Johnson and asked for an autograph and a picture for his son. Johnson refused, saying he can't sign autographs for every single person who asks.

The story was reported in the New York Post newspaper and caught the attention of Johnson. Determined to make the situation right, he tracked down the fan out the fan and offered him a walk-on role in the 'Other Guys' movie and an autographed photo for his son. A source told Contact Music, "He was very apologetic."

A Man on a Signature Mission

2009-11-02T14:32:00.002-05:00

bostonherald - The first time he raised a big wad of cash for Special Olympics, Jim Albright flew 70,000 miles with a football to get the autographs of every living Heisman Trophy winner, including O.J. Simpson.

Then it hit him: If he got $200,000 from a Dallas man for the football, what could he get for baseballs signed by every Cy Young Award winner since they started handing it out in 1956?

"The motivation on getting the baseballs was that it’d put my fundraising over a million dollars," said Albright, a retired Dallas businessman who volunteered because of his special-needs daughter, Kate, "and then I wouldn’t have to do this anymore."

First on Albright’s hit list was Gaylord Perry (1972, ’78), snagged at a Plano, Texas, appearance. He got Orel Hershiser (’88) while the former Dodger watched his son play baseball.

Location proved to be key. Albright "bumped into" Whitey Ford (’61), Ron Guidry (’78), Rick Sutcliffe (’84) and Dwight Gooden (’85) in Cooperstown.

But by the time he’d collected maybe half of the winners, he was out of steam and connections. And that’s when he met Bobby Bragan, the Fort Worth icon and former big league manager.

Bragan told Albright he’d be glad to help as long as the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation got a cut.

Bragan’s first call was to Maury Wills, the stolen base king. He asked Wills if he knew how to get in touch with Don Newcombe (’56).

Wills told him he played golf with Newk every week.

Bragan worked former players and teammates, clubhouse managers, broadcasters, agents, anyone who could help. He needed it. Four winners — Warren Spahn (’57), Early Wynn (’59), Don Drysdale (’62) and Catfish Hunter (’74) — had died.

Bragan used his Dodger connections to get a ball signed by Drysdale. A collector sold them balls signed by Wynn and Hunter. And Spahn’s came in the mail from a lady in Florida who’d heard about the cause.

Nearly all of the winners were glad to give. Only a couple had to be convinced.

"Pete Vuckovich (’82) said he doesn’t sign baseballs anymore," Bragan growled. "We had to go through his agent."

John Denny (’83) was the final piece in the four-year odyssey.

"We got it from his ex-wife," Albright said.

Experts have told them the collection might be worth $30,000. But no one thought Albright would get $200,000 for the football, either. He’s not putting it up for auction. He works one-on-one, which is especially effective when one of your backers is T. Boone Pickens, a high school classmate who sponsors Albright’s annual black-tie gala.

And as a bonus for your purchase of a half-million or more, Albright promises that, as long as he’s able, the collection will always be complete.

"Pray that C.C. Sabathia (’07) or Cliff Lee (’08) win this year," Albright practically whispered.

Why’s that?

"We’ve already got theirs."

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

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Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

'Eclipse' Filming is Finished

2009-10-31T14:23:00.003-04:00

Their every move might be under a microscope, but Twilight co-stars/rumored couple Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart did manage to carve out some alone time on Thursday night.

E! Online reports that, after arriving in Los Angeles from Vancouver on Thursday, the pair spent the evening together at famed Hollywood hotel Chateau Marmont—you know, the same place where they spent the night together earlier this year, while in town for the Teen Choice Awards.

Says a source,

"They went straight up to a room. No one saw them the rest of the night."

That's right, "a room." Singular. As in, the two of them sharing the same room. All night.

Of course, they were probably just playing Jenga, right? Who doesn't love an all-night Jenga marathon?

Robert and Kristen plan to take a vacation before starting to promote New Moon. They have had a couple hard weeks of filming and soon they will be on tour around the world promoting their movie, giving interviews, speeches, and signing autographs for the thousands of fans who can't wait to see the movie.

Anne Murray Book Signing In Toronto

2009-10-31T14:16:00.002-04:00

Canadian singing icon Anne Murray is currently on a different sort of tour for her - a book tour. Fresh from an appearance at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, Ms. Murray arrived at Indigo Books in Toronto’s Eaton Centre to greet a long line of fans and sign her new tell-all memoir, All Of Me.

It could be the last we see of Canada’s original song diva for a long time. Murray answered repeated questions from fans at Indigo about the next time she would tour or sing live again. Anne was very kind and gracious in her response explaining she was pretty much retired from the music business and doesn’t expect to tour or record another record ever again. “I haven’t sung in a year and a half and I don’t miss it,” said Murray.

“I was never much interested in the drugs. I certainly smoked dope like everybody else the odd time, but you know, I did very little of it. … I had to have my wits about me. I was the one out on stage, I was the one doing these shows, so I couldn’t get involved in that stuff.” - Anne Murray to The Canadian Press

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Rare Autographs Sell For Thousands at Colwyn Bay Auction

2009-10-30T15:08:00.002-04:00

Books filled with autographs by rock and roll legends - which were used to pay an overblown shop debt - have gone under the hammer at a Colwyn Bay auction.

The collection, which features some of the hottest acts of the sixties including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard and The Shadows, were sold at auctioneers Rogers Jones yesterday.

Despite being estimated to sell between £200-£300, the collection went for a staggering £3,500.

All the signatures in the books were collected by cameraman John Rees when he worked on the set of Thank Your Lucky Stars - ITV's rival to Juke Box Jury which ran between 1961-1966.

After running up a big bill at a shop down the road from the studio, he used the albums as collateral to pay his debts.

The vendor, until recently living in North Wales but now living in France, said: “We owned a delicatessen in Teddington and John Rees was a regular customer but often short of cash and he had goods on tic. He gave me the autograph albums in payment of a large bill.

“The other autographs on our headed paper we got when the celebrity concerned was shopping in the delicatessen, which was located close to the studios and some others we got when we made deliveries to the studios.”

The Beatles made their first networked TV performance on Thank Your Lucky Stars in January 1963, when they mimed their second single From Me To You.

They signed John Rees’s autograph book on February 17, 1963, after their second appearance on the show when they mimed Please Please Me for the cameras.

The Rolling Stones made their first UK television appearance on the show on July 7 that year, when they mimed Come On.

Their autographs, including that of Brian Jones, appear on a sheet of paper from a notepad dated 1964.

Other autographs include pop icons like Gerry and the Pacemakers, Helen Shapiro, Bobby Vee, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Johnny Leyton, Rolf Harris, The Crickets, Bobby Rydell, Rosemary Squires, David Jacobs (Of Juke Box Jury Fame), Joe Brown and many more.

Seth Meyers Hosts Comedy Benefit at Toronto Winter Garden Theatre

2009-10-30T14:50:00.003-04:00

You can’t say comedians don’t have big hearts or don’t do a lot for charity. But in that ironic comic kind of way, the comedians that just came together in Toronto to support KIDS charities provided an evening of stand-up comedy that was decidedly very ADULT in nature - or as the event program says, One night, unlimited laughter. Stand Up for Kids (Just don’t bring them.)

So an impressive roster of names came together for the one-night only benefit hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers. Tina Fey recently said it was Meyers that was responsible for writing a lot of the Sarah Palin material that Saturday Night Live used to great effect in the run-up to the presidential election last year. And yes, Meyers certainly did work a little Palin material into his hosting duties during the Toronto benefit.

Joining Meyers at the Winter Garden Theatre also by way of New York, was the Daily Show’s Lewis Black. Also featured on the night was Black’s good friend and fellow gravel-voiced ranter Mike Wilmot.

Nikki Payne seemed to give the surprise performance on the night. A Canadian comedian and actress, she worked a high-energy style and well-known lisp (which made a sucking c*ck joke motif a highlight on the night) that had the audience perhaps their most whipped-up on the evening.

Rounding out the night were other strong sets by Kate Davis, Irwin Barker, Rob Pue, and David Goodman. Stand Up for Kids was presented by DundeeWealth all in support of charitable agencies assisting Canadian youth at risk.

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

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'Glee' Cast to Embark on Autograph Tour

2009-10-29T14:37:00.002-04:00

The stars of 'Glee' are to embark on an autograph signing tour.

The in-store appearances will coincide with the release of their first cast LP 'Glee: The Music Volume 1', which will be available on November 3, Ace Showbiz reports.

The first 400 fans who purchase the album will get the chance to have the castmembers' signature after they receive a wristband that allows them to stand in line. It has not been confirmed if all the show's stars or only some of them will be on hand at the locations.

Four locales have been selected for the tour, which runs from November 2 until November 7. Two will be in New York and one each in New Jersey and Los Angeles.

The cast have recorded a second album, due out in December, as well as one-off single of 'Last Christmas' by Wham!

Surprise Triple Cut Autograph Inserted Into 2009 Topps Triple Threads Baseball

2009-10-29T14:29:00.002-04:00

Following the recent release of 2009 Topps Triple Threads Baseball, Topps has just announced the insertion of a very special cut autograph in the production run of the product.

Following the recent release of 2009 Topps Triple Threads Baseball, Topps has just announced the insertion of a very special cut autograph in the production run of the product. One very lucky collector will be able to lay claim to a Triple Cut Signature card that features autographs from Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Tris Speaker. Other cut signatures from the product include Babe Ruth and Albert Pujols.

Other key inserts to look for in 2009 Triple Threads Baseball include Triple-Fold All-Star Patches, 1 of 1 WBC Patches and Triple Autographed Triple Relic Cards.

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I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Kid is Having a Ball as World Series Gets Going

2009-10-28T15:41:00.002-04:00

When Jake Hartline had a baseball signed by both Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia, there was no way of knowing the two former Cleveland Indians teammates and Cy Young Award winners would be facing off in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series.

The Haverford Middle School seventh-grader and his family attended an Indians spring training game against the Houston Astros in 2008, the last year the team spent spring training at their former facility in Winter Haven, Fla.

He snagged the autographs before the game, first spotting 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, who pitched his first game in a Phillies uniform July 31.

The laid-back left-hander wasn’t pitching that night and took some time to talk with fans.

“We were standing in line and Cliff Lee was standing there signing autographs, so I got his autograph,” said Hartline, the 12-year-old son of Daily Times photographer Eric Hartline.

Soon after getting Lee’s autograph, he spotted the now-Yankees starting pitcher Sabathia, who had won the 2007 American League Cy Young award just months earlier.

“CC Sabathia was walking from one practice field to the other. I asked him to sign my ball, but he shook his head and said no, but then he took the ball and signed it anyway,” said Jake Hartline.

Hartline collects other sports memorabilia, such as baseball cards and mini-bats. He keeps the Lee and Sabathia signed ball on display in his room with his other autographed baseballs, he said.

Though his favorite team is the Chicago Cubs, Hartline didn’t hesitate when asked who he wants to win this year’s Wold Series.

“The Phillies,” he said.

Political Ink Fetches Little Paper

2009-10-28T15:25:00.003-04:00

You’ve got to give him points for persistence.

After once again failing to garner the minimum bid of $1.1 million for an Xbox allegedly autographed by Sarah Palin, its owner put the gaming system right back on the block Sunday night, for the same Grand Theft Autograph price.

By Monday morning, someone had already posted a new query:

“Does it come with controllers?”

Answer: “No.”

Since August, David Morrill, a resident of the town of Vimy in Alberta, Canada, has been hawking the Xbox 360 gaming system he says Palin signed at the Governor’s Picnic in Wasilla on July 24 — just two days before she resigned as Alaska’s chief executive.

But experts say that when it comes to his asking price, Morrill — who can currently be seen on YouTube weeping blood and playing Nirvana’s “Rape Me” on the harp — has a couple of connections loose.

“He’s out of his mind, is basically what he’s done with that price,” says John Reznikoff, owner of University Archives, a presidential and historical memorabilia dealer based in Westport, Conn.

“Let’s put it this way,” he adds. “From a valuation standpoint, it’s very difficult for me to think of anything that would be associated with Sarah Palin that would be worth over $5,000.”

What’s the most valuable Palin autograph Reznikoff can imagine? “I think a letter of hers that would talk about the geographic proximity of Russia — and that would be in the hundreds of dollars, not the thousands.”

“There was never any demand for Sarah Palin,” says Bob Eaton, owner of RR Auction, a New Hampshire-based Internet auction business that specializes in autographs. “Her demand was the same as most other politicians’: minimal. Living politicians, the demand for 90 percent of them is minimal.”

How did Morrill settle upon the $1.1 million figure? “I’d like to say there was a mathematical formula, but it seemed like common sense to me to ask that price,” he says. He reveals that he has had private offers for as high as $10,000, and although he can’t say for sure that the bidder was serious, Morrill says it doesn’t matter: “Of course, I don’t really care about that. I would never let it go for something so small.”

Did he do any research before setting his price? “It’s not really my concern, what autographs have gone for in the past — not my concern at all, actually,” he says. “Because past performance is no prediction of future results.”

Perhaps not, but it can be instructive. “You could assemble a complete autograph collection of all the presidents of the United States for $25,000,” says John Hickey, the sales development manager and “resident generalist” at Dallas’s Heritage Auction Galleries.

The most valuable political autograph, says Reznikoff, is that of Button Gwinnett, an obscure signer of the Declaration of Independence. “If you want to complete a set of signers of the Declaration of Independence, you need him,” Reznikoff says. “And his signature sells for up to half a million dollars.”

Even John Hancock’s John Hancock tops out at about $50,000, Reznikoff adds.

Whose autograph is the most valuable among living pols these days? “I’d have to say it’s a tossup between [Fidel] Castro and [Barack] Obama,” Reznikoff says.

Hickey agrees that the commander in chief is commanding big bucks, recalling that a competitor just took in $850 for a holiday card signed by the president. But he also notes that prices for the president’s autograph have finally begun to soften a touch.

And what of the rest of the cast of characters from the 2008 election? How do they stack up one year on?

Michelle Obama remains very popular, Hickey says, “and I haven’t seen many signed photos of just her. I would suggest that they would be valued at $100-plus — maybe $200.”

Sen. John McCain’s signed photos, which were going for between $100 and $200 during the campaign, now top out at $75, Hickey says.

“A McCain autograph is 20, 30, 40 dollars,” says Reznikoff, “and they’re not selling like hotcakes.”

That’s not surprising, says Eaton. “It is always the case — every four years leading up to the election — the prices rise up until Election Day in November, and they pay high prices, and the losing candidate’s stuff after the election plummets 90 percent,” he says.

And McCain’s still doing better than the average living member of Congress, whose signature is worth about $10.

A signed photo of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton goes for $100 and up — down from more than $200 when she was vying for the Democratic nomination, Hickey says, but still holding value well for a living pol. (A signed photo of her hubby dated during his time in office goes for between $400 and $600.)

And what about all those autographs Sam Wurzelbacher — aka Joe the Plumber — signed? What are they worth today?

“Zero. Nobody cares,” says Reznikoff.

“All the role players, they don’t have sustaining value,” says Hickey.

“He had his Andy Warhol moment, for sure. Sometimes people will put together large framed displays, some slice-of-life thing with all the intrigue. Like the O.J. trial, with Kato Kaelin. But that’s the only place where Kato’s autograph would have some value — to what I would call a completist.”

Morrill says he plans to hold out for seven figures “at least until 2012,” when he is certain Palin will run for president. After that, he says, “regardless of the outcome, my item’s going to be much more valuable than it is now.”

But the experts say that if Palin doesn’t run — or doesn’t win — her autograph is likely to be worth less, not more, with the passage of time.

Which means Morrill might consider adding three more words to his eBay listing: “Or best offer.”

*********************

I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Mel Gibson Signing on Set in Mamaroneck, NY

2009-10-27T13:30:00.001-04:00

Mel Gibson filmed a scene Friday night at a Mamaroneck beverage store for the movie "The Beaver" directed by Jodie Foster, who also appears in the film.

The movie has been filming around the Sound Shore, including earlier in Friday at a home in Harrison a couple of blocks off North Street.

In the film, Gibson portrays a man who takes to wearing a beaver puppet on his hand and treats it as if it's alive, according to the Internet Movie Database, www.IMDB.com.

In one scene filmed Friday, Gibson, in a suit, leaves the beverage store with a box, walks to a car in the parking lot and puts the box in a trunk. The scene was filmed at the One Stop Beverage Center on Boston Post Road.

Large white trucks and trailers were parked along the Post Road as well as on Carroll Avenue, near the Bellows School.

A couple of dozen onlookers from the neighborhood gathered to watch the action. Gibson, smoking a cigarette, walked past them and said "Hi" on his way to the film set.

Foster, in a green rain slicker, spoke animatedly with crew members as lighting was changed for another angle and small trees were placed across the street as a backdrop.

The film is due out in 2010.

Pamela Anderson In Toronto For PETA

2009-10-27T13:22:00.002-04:00

Actress, activist, and all-round hot babe Pamela Anderson is back in Canada to launch a new PETA ad campaign against the annual Canadian seal hunt.

Despite the cold and rainy weather in Toronto, Anderson was wearing a summer-like dress outside the Ontario legislature buildings and addressed a large media scrum of photographers and reporters.

Will Pam’s march on Queens Park have any effect on official Canadian policy? Not according to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea who was reached for comment today and called Anderson’s remarks disappointing and suggested she spend time with East Coast sealers to understand the hunt’s importance.

“Hollywood celebrities are not going to dictate policy in Canada because we make decisions that are based on science and consultation with Canadians,” Shea said in an interview with Canadian media.

The National Post blog sums up the PETA publicity stunt well.

“I can only hope by bringing attention to the slaughter, the international outcry will force the Canadian government to end this shameful practice.” - Pamela Anderson

*********************

I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Jim Craig, USA ‘Miracle on Ice’ Goalie, Finds Himself an Inspiration to Others

2009-10-26T14:50:00.002-04:00

heraldnet - Nearly three decades later, people still want to shake Jim Craig’s hand, to get his autograph, and to tell him what they were doing at the moment Craig and his United States Olympic teammates beat the Russians.

Every day, it seems, he’s reminded that he was part of a miracle.

“Anybody that (recognizes) me, but hasn’t met me, they will stop me and tell me,” Craig said Friday. “It really is quite amazing.”

On Feb. 22, 1980, Craig was the goaltender when the U.S. hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union 4-3 at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. Two days later, the U.S. beat Finland 4-2 to clinch gold medals for themselves and a storied place for their team in American sports history.

Even today, the team’s golden aura remains bright.

Wherever Craig goes — and he goes a lot of places as a motivational speaker and corporate trainer for his Boston-area company Gold Medal Strategies — people light up in his presence. They stand to applaud his speeches. And in conversation they want him to know how much they, as ordinary Americans, were inspired by what happened on the ice at Lake Placid.

He hears “where they were, how they were rooting and how they were a part of it. And they really were a part of it. We all won that game (against the Russians), and it made a lot of people feel good.”

The 52-year-old Craig, who was in the Everett area on Friday for a speaking engagement at the Tulalip Resort Casino, has plenty of precious Olympic memories.

He remembers, for instance, the pride of marching in the opening ceremonies “with the greatest athletes in the world at that time.” Also, the stirring pre-game speech by U.S. coach Herb Brooks, who told his players, “You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours,” before they took the ice against the Russians.

But maybe the best moment, Craig said, “was when we were all up on the podium (after receiving their gold medals). We had achieved our mission, our goal, and then to hear everybody in the crowd chanting ‘U-S-A,’ and all of them being really proud of us. … There are so many great memories there, and it was just a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

Brooks, he went on, “was fabulous at pulling greatness out of each and every one of us. … When we needed confidence, he gave us confidence. When he thought we had too much, he took it away. He was really quite an unbelievable man.”

Craig’s Olympic team was chronicled in the movie “Miracle,” which was released in 2004. The title was drawn from TV sportscaster Al Michaels’ famous phrase in the waning seconds against the Soviet Union: “Do you believe in miracles?!!”

“The greatest thing about the movie ‘Miracle’ is that it helped our legacy,” said Craig, who consulted on the movie with four of his former teammates. “Kids today, and I know this from experience, they’re watching it before dance recitals, they’re watching it before soccer, hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse games. It doesn’t matter which sport.”

In American culture, he said, “we get a lot of feel-good stories. And this is a feel-good story that was real.”

But was it a miracle? Well, after all these years Craig isn’t so sure.

“I don’t think what we did was a miracle,” he said. “Because I think a miracle is a term for somebody that didn’t believe they could do something. And what we did was a lot of hard work.

“I like to tell people we were a team of dreamers. And we were able to make a dream, and even a seemingly impossible dream, come true.”

AutographAlert.com: PSA/DNA's Considered Opinion Fails In Court

2009-10-26T14:15:00.004-04:00

Reprinted from AutographAlert.com

The following is an email received from a professional dealer in boxing autographs. A collector who purchased a high end signed photograph from this dealer sent the photo to PSA/DNA for their "opinion" or "best guess." The so called "experts" at PSA/DNA failed the item.

Email as sent to www.AutographAlert.com:

Subj: Re: lawsuit/ruling in our favor 2
Date: 10/20/2009 1:12:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: fighttoys@nycap.rr.com
To: Autographalert@aol.com

Autograph Alert,

I’d like to thank you for providing me with evidence to prove the incompetence of third party authenticators. I recently had a civil lawsuit filed against me where the sole piece of evidence was a rejection letter from PSA/DNA denouncing an autograph I sold. I actually printed some posts off your site (5/29/09, 5/11/09, 5/5/09, 12/6/08, 12/1/08, 8/8/08, 12/10/07, 5/23/06) and presented as evidence in court along with a long list of exemplars of the subjects handwriting. Together, with the proof of this company’s incompetence and with a signature comparison of my item to a long list of authentic exemplars, I obtained a ruling in my favor. I was expecting the plaintiff to provide evidence from their authenticator, perhaps authentic exemplars and an explanation as to the discrepancies, but the only thing that was provided was this letter. My attorney pointing out there is no evidence contained in the so-called document and it states “opinion” in it by their own admission. I’ve been a longtime collector and dealer of autographs pertaining only to the sport of professional boxing and do a thorough inspection before obtaining and offering each signed item for sale. I’ve been filing exemplars and studying the hobby for quite awhile before these authenticating companies existed. The legitimacy of the item I sold was never in question to me so rather than giving in to a demand for a refund I decided to take a 4 hour and 15 minute drive (one way) to defend my name. I paid $500 for the attorney and spent $150 on gas and tolls but the experience and outcome is priceless to me. I’ve never had a complaint about the authenticity of an item I’ve sold and I knew very little about these third party authenticators until this matter arose. I was fortunate to discover your web site while searching for evidence of this company’s incompetence. I guess you could say I hit the mother-load here. I just can’t understand how an authenticator can be considered legitimate when their company provides no explanation or evidence to support their claim. Feel free to use any and all information/photos provided if you think it will be informative to your readers.

For additional information go to: www.fighttoys.com/lawsuit

The PSA/DNA Letter of Authentication states "…..it is our considered opinion…."

Repeatedly it has been proven to trust your professional autograph dealer or auction house who guarantees what they offer. There is still a handful who don’t want to stand behind what they offer for sale and hide behind the "opinions" or "guesses" of third party autograph authenticating companies. This avoids responsibility. If the dealer or auction house will not stand behind what they sell then these are the dealers and auction houses to avoid

NOTE: Opinions posted are not necessarily those of Autograph Collectors Daily and it's staff.

*********************

I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

Beatles' Autographs Go To Auction

2009-10-24T14:01:00.002-04:00

An autograph album signed by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, which was used to settle a bill at a delicatessen, is up for auction.

The stars' signatures belonged to John Rees, a cameraman on the set of the 1960s ITV show Thank Your Lucky Stars.

But Mr Rees, who until recently lived in north Wales, used the album to settle a large bill at a delicatessen near the studio where he worked.

The album is under the hammer 40 years on at an auction in Colwyn Bay, Conwy.

Mr Rees also collected the signatures of other stars who appeared on the music show in the 1960s, including Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Helen Shapiro, Joe Brown, Rolf Harris and Bobby Vee.

The autograph album is estimated at between £200 and £300.

Mr Rees, who is now living in France, said: "We owned a delicatessen in Teddington and John Rees was a regular customer.

"He gave me the autograph albums in payment of a large bill.

"The other autographs on our headed paper we got when the celebrity concerned was shopping in the delicatessen, which was located close to the studios and some others we got when we made deliveries to the studios."

Thank Your Lucky Stars was a pop show made by ABC Television and recorded at Thames Television studios. It was broadcast by ITV from 1961-1966.

The Beatles first appeared on the show in January 1963, while the Rolling Stones performed in front of the cameras later that year in July.

The autographs will be auctioned on 27 October.

Mary Louise Parker Signing Report

2009-10-24T13:36:00.003-04:00

by Mike Sametz

This promises to be a unique night to say the least. The lovely Erica is joining me tonight for… Wait for it… Wait for it… The Best in Drag Show Benefiting the Aid for Aids Foundation. Now normally this wouldn’t be my first choice for an event, but I have to say, it will be interesting to say the least. I mean really, who doesn’t love a good drag show right? It takes patience, dedication, and flair to do what these guys do, and even though I don’t think I would look good in heels, if you can pull it off, I say go for it. Well, one of the guest judges is one of the people I have wanted to meet for a long long time. I am talking about Ms. Nancy Botwin, Mary Louise Parker. I have been a fan since she was making those wonderful Fried Green Tomatoes, and now Weeds is one of my favorite shows ever. So, god willing, I will be able to at least get an autograph, a picture a makeover or something. Wish me luck… Deep breath…

4:01 p.m. – Erica and I just got down to downtown LA. I really don’t love downtown; I’m more of a suburban kinda guy, so I really feel out of my element. Tonight is a benefit for an organization called Aid for Aids, and what they do is help improve the quality of life for those individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS. Take a look at their website http://www.aidforaids.org for more information.

4:12 p.m. – So, after scoping out the scene, Erica and I are parking around the back. There really doesn’t seem to be a good place to wait, the back is gated off, the front is still locked up tight, so if they drop it will be kind of a mess with everyone arriving… sigh…

4:34 p.m. – Apparently Ms. Parker is going to be a celebrity judge on the panel along with Ms. Anna Farris (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/629/San-Diego-ComicCon--Day-1--72309.aspx), Chris Pratt, Jennifer Coolidge, Jo Anne Worley, Jayma Mays, and Camryn Manheim.

4:56 p.m. – Erica has a really cool thing for Ms. Parker - an original program from her Tony winning performance in Proof. I have my cast signed Weeds insert (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/639/San-Diego-ComicCon--Day-3--72509.aspx) and a magazine as well. I have about 40 other things at home but I didn’t want to be greedy! LOL…

5:12 p.m. – We heard call time was at 5:00 p.m. but so far no one has shown up. Well, there was a guy dressed up like the Statue of Liberty, but I don’t think that counts. He was fierce though! Wow... I just quoted Tyra Banks…

5:33 p.m. - One other collector just showed up. So, we are now three. I’m not expecting a lot of other people here, I mean besides the aforementioned State of Liberty. I just don’t know if we can even get any access. Erica just went off to make friends with the security guard. Having cute women around to get info from men is a definite plus! See Erica, I called you cute!

5:46 p.m. – It’s still pretty quiet… I did see a 6’3 man covered in glitter, this really is like a gay comic con. One guy's Luke Skywalker is another guys Dolly Parton and I totally get that!

6:01 p.m. – Well, since the back is dead, we’re heading to the front of the venue now. The press line is supposed to start at 6:00 p.m. but no one seemingly has arrived yet. I say seemingly because we really don’t know for sure.

6:09 p.m. – I really feel like I am in a scene from Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar. I kid you not! It’s so great!

6:12 p.m. – There are five other collectors here now. Apparently, they came in from France and are doing everything they can this weekend to make money. Great. (Insert sarcasm here)

6:22 p.m. - Camryn Manheim just showed up. She is signing and taking pics. She seems so nice. There are a row of guys in the restaurant next door rating men as they walk by. As Camryn walks by she yelled “I love my gays!” and they cheered.

6:24 p.m. – I got an 8.5 from the guys. I think that’s pretty good, I accept an 8.5 especially because I’m about 10 pounds above my normal weight right now. It’s water weight… just water weight…

6:25 p.m. – Okay, Burger King weight but still weight nonetheless… lol…

6:33 p.m. – Anna Farris and her husband/fiancé Chris Pratt just arrived. I have my Lost in Translation picture disc for her. But Chris is not letting Anna sign. He said, “She’ll do it after guys.” I’m not really here for her, and have met her twice before. She was so sweet both times, so I’m not holding it against her.

6:35 p.m. – With Anna walking in no one saw Jayma Mays except, of course, Erica! Her and her eagle eye! Harrumph. She got Jayma on her Glee poster (http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/640/Glee-Signing-Report.aspx), but Jayma wouldn’t sign anything else so I was shut out…

6:41 p.m. – Jo Anne Worley just arrived, and she is really nice, and taking the time to sign for everyone.

6:45 p.m. – As it gets later and later my hopes are getting smaller and smaller. Cause the show starts at 7:00 p.m. and whoever arrives now still has to do the press line, and get inside… ugh…

6:47 p.m. – Holland Taylor just arrived. The guys are going crazy! She is so nice, taking pics and signing as well. There is one guy, who looks stunning. He has a huge afro, and has to be at least 6’7. Damn!

6:52 p.m. – Oh God, there she is! Ms. Mary Louise Parker. She is walking around the corner and looks so adorable. I have my Weeds promo insert at the ready. Everyone walks up to her, and she is so sweet. She stops and starts signing. She gets my insert second, and I think I was babbling… Okay, Erica confirmed I was babbling, but I started telling her how much I loved Bullets over Broadway, and Weeds, and Fried Green Tomatoes, etc… She was like, “Oh My God, thank you so much.” Erica got her Proof program out and Ms. Parker looked at it, and was like stunned. She signed it, and Erica said, “You were so great in this. You should have done the movie.” To which Ms. Parker replied, “Yeah, Fuck her.” So Nancy Botwin! I love it.

I got my magazine out, and as she was about to sign it, I asked Ms. Parker to personalize it, and she stopped and did so. I then asked her if I could get a pic. Erica had to chime in and said, “He’s such a huge fan and has been waiting to meet you for like 6 years!” So, now I feel like an uberdork… but… I got my picture! Whoo hoo! I am so stoked! That was just incredible. She was so nice. I love meeting people you really are a fan of, and having them not only live up to your expectations, but exceed them!

7:05 p.m. – Jennifer Coolidge just arrived late, and is being rushed inside. She does try and stop to sign a couple but Erica and I don’t bother her because she is in a hurry. She looks great though.

Such a great night! Whoo hoo! I just wanted to give Erica a shout out for coming with me and helping me not go into my “Leonard Nimoy I can’t move” mode. Such a great day.

*********************

I am in the process of compiling data from collectors and dealers to determine which celebrities have been the best autograph signers for 2009. There will be a U.S./Canada celebrity list and a UK/Europe/Australia celebrity list. If you would like to participate, please send your list to this email Your Best Celebrity Signers For 2009. Please consider the signer's willingness to sign, their demeanor and how they signed. Celebrities from movies, music, TV, sports, etc. from any country can be included. Please limit your list to 10 celebrities in order of preference.

*********************

Autograph Collectors Daily updates are posted at Twitter. Signup today!

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve
PLEASE DONATE

A Fan’s Signature Moment

2009-10-23T11:54:00.003-04:00

nytimes - It wasn’t God, but the male voice that floated over the P.A. system managed to convey all the solemnity and importance of a sacred occasion. “Debbie Reynolds,” the voice gravely announced, “has now arrived.”

And there she was, standing in a Marriott in Burbank. The woman who had jumped out of a cake for Gene Kelly in “Singin’ in the Rain” and danced and sang when the movies were still golden, and then married Eddie Fisher only to lose him to Elizabeth Taylor, was here to bestow a piece of herself and her history on us. Serene as the Buddha, vivid in an electric blue coat, her blond hair impeccably coiffed and pale face lightly powdered, Ms. Reynolds was at an event called the Hollywood Show to walk among us. She had carried her own bags. But she was royalty, and when she passed through the hall, we quickly stepped aside.

An autograph and collectibles convention, the Hollywood Show takes place four times a year at the Marriott across from the Bob Hope Airport, some 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles. (The most recent ran Oct. 9 to 11.) For three days the show fills an L-shaped foyer and adjacent ballroom, 15,000 square feet of the hotel’s convention center. As the event’s title suggests, collectibles — vintage movie posters, lobby cards and the ephemeral like — are part of the draw. A Paramount Pictures marketing manual and press book for the Jerry Lewis comedy “The Nutty Professor” caught my eye, as did an exhibitor’s campaign book from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

By far, though, the biggest attractions are the celebrities who sign their names on photos, posters, baseballs, even napkins. There were 133 famous and less-so signers at the October show, including Jackie Cooper, the child star of the 1930s — immortal, and shockingly intense in the 1931 father-son weepie “The Champ” — who was so busy signing he rarely seemed to look up. A few feet away sat Mickey Rooney, one of the biggest box-office stars of the late 1930s and early 40s. A little farther dozens of actors from the original “Twilight Zone” kibitzed at rows of tables, including the comic Shelley Berman, who more recently played Larry David’s father on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

It was surreal, fascinating, unsettling. Here were some favorite actors, immortal on screen, very mortal in flesh. Here was Richard Kiel, still recognizable as the giant alien with a bulbous head from a 1962 “Twilight Zone” episode about extraterrestrials whose intentions are misinterpreted when they land on Earth with a book titled “To Serve Man.” (“It’s a cookbook!”) Inside the ballroom Billy Mumy — who starred in another memorable “Twilight Zone” as a boy who terrorizes a community by wishing people into a cornfield — was tucked alongside fellow cast members from the television show “Babylon 5.” A few tables away Angela Cartwright, who played Mr. Mumy’s sister Penny on the 1960s show “Lost in Space,” sat next to her own sister, the actress Veronica Cartwright.

Seated at nearby tables, smiling for the crush of attendees (almost 7,000), were Louise Fletcher, Jennifer Coolidge, Bruce Dern, Sally Kellerman and Beverly Washburn, a lovely, former child actor who appeared in “Old Yeller” and later “Spider Baby,” along with countless TV shows. “Honey,” my husband, Lou, blurted out, “there’s an Oompa-Loompa here!” This was Deep Roy, who pops up in Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Deep Roy was in one of the busiest corners because he was near Sean Astin, who tagged after Frodo through the “Lord of the Rings” movies. A second-generation Hollywood actor, Mr. Astin is the son of Patty Duke. William Schallert, who played her father on “The Patty Duke Show,” was in the foyer.

I don’t know what I expected from the Hollywood Show, a little entertainment, a glimpse of a subculture I appreciate but prefer to keep at an analytic distance. Certainly I don’t think of myself as a collector. I don’t keep memorabilia, and I own a single framed poster, for Otto Preminger’s “Anatomy of a Murder,” which I prize for its striking Saul Bass design. I also don’t think of myself as a fan, largely because adoration seems a betrayal of reason. Fall in love with a star, and you might not want to admit just how bad he is in his next movie. These, of course, are lies that I like to tell myself.

The truth is that movie love is itself a form of collecting, and to live with the movies, to write and watch and read about them day after day, year after year, is a form of intense worship. The word fan is thought to come from the word fanatic, which derives from the Latin word fanaticus, “of a temple.” Hollywood was built on such adoration, with ornate movie palaces that were shrines, and stars whose ethereal beauty made them virtual gods and goddesses. Such idolatry had its skeptics, like Nathanael West, whose short 1939 novel “The Day of the Locust” ends with a movie premiere that turns into a riot. “At the sight of their heroes and heroines, the crowd would turn demoniac,” West promises. “Individually the purpose of its members might simply to be to get a souvenir, but collectively it would grab and rend.”

The crowd at the Hollywood Show didn’t grab and rend, at least while I was there. Maybe the handful of Los Angeles County deputy sheriffs wandering about and sometimes posing, helped keep the order. But the mostly middle-age attendees, who paid a minimum of $20 for a one-day pass, seemed well behaved. They patiently stood in lines, discreetly passing cash to the signee or an assistant. Some celebrities pocket the money, while others sign for charities, like Mr. Cooper, who donated his proceeds to the Motion Picture Home, a hospital and long-term care facility for industry veterans that, after 60 years of operation, is to close by the end of the year.

An average member of the Screen Actors Guild makes less than $5,000 a year. This helps explain why even some famous faces end up on crummy television programs or peddling cosmetics and fat cures on late-night television. Or why they become regulars on the convention circuit, signing photographs at events like the Ultimate Collectibles and Autograph Show near Philadelphia, which in early October featured appearances by athletes and actors, like Ice T, who asks upward of $30 for a photo. His wife, Coco, rates $15. By contrast Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame baseball pitcher turned Republican senator from Kentucky, charges $50 to sign balls, $65 for jerseys and bats. The boxer Jake LaMotta asks $50 for “gloves & premium items.”

The practice of athletes selling their autographs stirs criticism, but the sports autograph circuit has more mainstream acceptance than celebrity events like the Hollywood Show. History probably helps explain the difference: Babe Ruth was famous for signing thousands of free autographs, particularly for young fans, while it was the Hollywood studios that sent out the glossies of their contracted stars. Kevin Martin, one of the owners of the Hollywood Show, partly blames the stigma attached to celebrity autograph shows on tabloid outlets that position celebrities who attend his event as washouts. “That kind of press coverage,” he said, “actually makes it very difficult for us to get the stars we want because they think there’s some low-rent” — he laughed uncomfortably — “associations to doing that.”

Mr. Martin bought the show more than a year ago from a couple who ran it for years, and now he owns it with David Elkouby, a collector who has a memorabilia shop in Hollywood. In 2000 Mr. Elkouby bought a pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers for $666,000. “They’re in a vault,” Mr. Martin said. “I’ve seen them.” I was so distracted by the idea and price, I forgot to ask what they looked like.

The world of collecting can be a shadowy enterprise, but what was most striking about the Hollywood Show was its ordinariness, the absence of frenzy and desperation that often colors the discourse on fans and stars. Only after I had wandered through the show several times, looking into the faces of people who had given me so much pleasure over the years, did I realize how badly I had misunderstood the event when I first walked in. However enjoyable and gratifying their exchanges with the fans, these were actors at work. As they smiled for us, signed our photographs, shared their memories, they were also giving us a performance. And like all performances, they were as manufactured as they were absolutely real.