April vs march (twice as nice)

I like to keep a tally at the end of each month to compare each month's success rate versus the previous months. One thing I have noticed is the successes slow down each time the seasons change. I think March was my "Spring Slowdown" because things picked up a lot more in April.

April 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 13
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 0
Pre prints: 1
RTS: 0
Other: 1 (unexpected gift), 1 (convention purchase)

Total sent out in April: 16


March 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 7
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 0
Pre prints: 0
RTS: 0
Other: 0

Total sent out in March: 16

Holy autographs!

My "Batman: The Movie" DVD came back today which was signed by Burt Ward at The Hollywood Collectors Show in CA last weekend. Thanks to Todd who attended the show and got Burt to sign it for me. (Visit Todd's site at: http://www.toddsautographarena.com). The addition of Burt on the cover means it's now signed by all of the (living) cast members.

Frank Gorshin - Sent: 9/24/03 Received: 10/3/03
Adam West - Sent: 10/6/03 Received: 12/30/03
Lee Meriwether - Sent: 1/16/04 Received: 2/26/04
Burt Ward - In Person 4/23/05

I remember the Frank Gorshin was one of the first successes I had when I started collecting and one of the most fun. He signed my DVD insert, sent me a signed 8X10 photo (of him as "The Riddler"), signed the letter I sent him (answering some questions) and even signed the cardboard backing I sent so the insert wouldn't get bent. Frank is one the best signers as well. Lee Meriwether is another great through the mail (TTM) signer. She charges a small fee for her signature but donates all the proceeds to the "Ability First" organization. (A very worthwhile cause). I remember getting the Adam West on the same day I received Helen Slater. I thought how cool is it to get "Batman" and "Supergirl" both on the same day. Burt Ward was on my "Top 12" most wanted autograph list (see post below). Sometime in the future I'd like to order a 8X10 autographed photo off of his web site. (http://www.robintheboywonder.com). He has many nice ones to chose from. It may have taken around 2 1/2 years to complete the DVD but it was well worth the wait!


Batman: The Autographs! (click to enlarge)

A top 12 success

In the Yahoo autograph group that I'm a member of, each person at the beginning of the year listed their "Top 12" most wanted autographs. So far I've gotten 2 of them: Megan Mullally and Julie Newmar. I found out yesterday that Burt Ward signed a DVD insert for me over the weekend at an autograph show in CA (he was on my top 12 list) and today in the mail I got another one of my "Top 12":

Cathy Lee Crosby - Sent: 4/14/05 Received: 4/25/05. I wanted a signed picture of Cathy Lee Playing "Wonder Woman". (Yes she played "Wonder Woman" in a TV movie a few years before Lynda Carter got the starring role on the TV series). I had tried her a few years ago (at the same address that I used this time) with no luck. I haven't seen a success on Cathy Lee since I started collecting autographs (and her official web site has not been updated in years) so I feel very lucky to add her to my collection. I definitely consider this a early birthday present. (my birthday is tomorrow).


Cathy Lee Crosby as "Wonder Woman"

You take the good, you take the bad ....

One of the rules (if not the #1 rule) in autograph collecting is "Never send something you can't afford to live without". And it's true. No celebrity is required to sign something for you (unless they charge which really falls more under a purchase). So this brings me to a interesting dilemma. I have this "Facts Of Life" cast photo which has been signed by Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Charlotte Rae. That means I'm only missing Kim Fields to complete it. I've spent many hours online trying to research an address that works to reach Kim with no luck. And then I find out Kim is taping a pilot TV show next Thursday (4/28) in CA called "Bow". Dilemma. Dilemma. Do I try it & send it to her to complete it or do I keep it and wait for an address that I know will work? After talking to some people and following my gut instinct, I decided to take a chance on it. I mailed it out priority today to the set. I've been burned before, but I've had successes before by taking a chance like this. I'm posting a scan here of the photo as it looked when I mailed it to Kim. Hopefully this won't be the last time I ever see this photo. To be continued... (I hope...)

Will I ever see this photo again?

A *superstar* surprise

I had a very unexpected surprise today at work. A friend had recently been in contact with Elton John's management company for a project she was working on. She was able to get autographed photos of Elton and had 2 extras. One she donated to the charity auction that I'm involved with, the other for myself personally. This isn't the first time she's helped the charity auction or me either. Last year she got me a great personalized Eric Clapton autograph. Thank you so much Monica!

Elton John - Sent: N/A Received: 4/21/05


Elton John

A successful trip to the mailbox

One of my favorite movies (of all time) is "Grease 2". (Yes I like it better than the original). I'm working on trying to add as many of the "Grease 2" cast that I can to my autograph collection. So far I have Maxwell Caulfield ("Michael"), Lorna Luft ("Paulette"), "Maureen Teefy ("Sharon") and Connie Stevens ("Miss Mason"). Today I added a new addition to my "Grease 2" collection:

Didi Conn - Sent: 3/30/05 Received: 4/21/05. Didi signed my photo and sent me a promo postcard from her "Souls Of Naples" play she's doing now on Off-Broadway. (That's where I wrote to her at). According to the date she signed on the photo, it was signed on opening night of the play.

Didi Conn from "Grease 2"

Getting caught up

Before I begin a new week at the mailbox, I though I better get you caught up on how April has been treating me autograph wise. This has been a much better month for me than March was. As a matter of fact by April 4th, I already had more autographs than I did the entire month of March. To get caught up, let's start at the beginning of the month and work our way forward:

#1. Eartha Kitt Sent: 2/11/05 Received: 4/1/05 - Signed my "Catwoman" photo. Very hard to get autograph. I've written to her three times at three different concert venues she was performing at, this last time was my only success with her. Third times a charm!

Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

#2. Connie Stevens Sent: 2/28/05 Received: 4/1/05 - I sent her two "Grease 2" lobby cards. She signed one (& did not return the other one).

#3. Lisa Whelchel Sent: 3/15/05 Received: 4/4/05 - Signed my "Facts Of Life" cast photo. Her signature means I'm only missing 1 (Kim Fields) from having it complete.

#4. Conrad Bain Sent: 3/15/05 Received: 4/4/05 - Signed my photo & index card. Conrad was the dad on "Diff'rent Strokes".

#5. Michael Rosenbaum Sent: 2/7/05 Received: 4/4/05 - Sent a personalized 4X6 photo. Great picture of him from "Smallville"

#6. Sarah Douglas Sent: 2/11/05 Received: 4/4/05 - Sarah must have liked the "Ursa" (from the "Superman" movies) photo I sent her. She kept it and in its place sent me a "Ursa" magazine pin up that was taped to a cut up file folder backing. She did sign & personalize the pinup though.

#7. John Schneider Sent: 1/24/05 Received: 4/4/05 - This was my second success with John. He sent me a "Smallville" promo pic.

#8. Gene Wilder Sent: 2/7/05 Received: 4/4/05 - ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE! Gene Wilder is one of the most sought out autographs (and reclusive signers) around. He replies to most of his mail by sending a pre-printed signature photo. I had contacted him on behalf of a charity project I work on. My letter was 100% honest about the charity auction and what we do. I included one line in the letter asking if he would sign a photo for myself as well. Not only did he sign the "Willy Wonka" photo for my charity auction, he personalized the other for me as I asked. A letter of authenticity was sent from his assistant stating how rare it was for Gene to sign items but he was caught "at a convenient time in a freetingly brief 'autographing' mode" so he accommodated my request. The letter also asks me to discourage anyone from requesting their own personally autographed items saying "He will not be in that 'autographing' mode again for an infinite number of moons to come, and their request in all probability will be denied (with a copy of the previously mentioned printed-signature photo as a substitute)". Incredible. I never thought I'd be able to add Gene Wilder to my collection!

Gene Wilder

#9. Debra Messing Sent: 2/19/05 Received: 4/7/05 - You don't win them all! Debra is well known for sending out photos with a pre printed signature. I tried reaching her via a movie set, but it didn't work. My photo was sent back to me unsigned with the typical pre printed photo. In my letter I had taped my movie ticket from "The Wedding Date", it was re-taped back on my unsigned photo. Bummer.

#10. Craig T. Nelson Sent: 3/29/05 Received: 4/8/05 - Quick reply (via movie set). Craig signed my "Mr. Incredible" photo that I sent.

#11. Howard Hessemen Sent: 3/21/05 Received: 4/12/05 - Sent me a photo of him as "Dr. Johnny Fever" from "WKRP".

#12. Farrah Fawcett Sent: 12/28/04 Received: 4/14/05 - This was my second success with Farrah. When I first wrote to her I sent her a "Charlie's Angels" DVD insert and photo plus a photo of her in the famous red swim suit. On my first request she only signed the swim suit photo and returned the other 2 unsigned. I don't like to write more than once but I took a chance and sent my "Angels" photo back to her (which had gotten signed by Jaclyn Smith in the mean time), and got it back signed & personalized. Now all I need is Kate Jackson to complete it.

Introduction

Welcome to the first post on my web blog. I plan on keeping this as a online journal of my through the mail (TTM) autograph successes hobby from April, 2005 and forward. I'm sure during "dry spells", I'll go back and reminisce about some previous successes that I had before I started this blog. Many times I will also include scans of my autographs, all I ask is that you do not repost any of them on other sites.

I research the addresses I use to obtain autographs online. If your looking for addresses, I recommend these sites: http://www.stararchive.com and http://www.star-collector.net/ . You'll find in my successes a wide variety of performers but all have one thing in common. They are people who's work I have enjoyed or brings back very special memories for me.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I hope you'll return often.