June vs may

I wrap up what turned out to be a very good autograph month for me. I've been busy with many projects which has made my motivation and time to send out new requests the most difficult I've ever had. But I got my minimum of 4 a week out each week and am feeling better about getting more requests out next month.

June 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 14 (from 11 requests)
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 0
Pre prints: 0
RTS: 0
Other: 1 (unexpected gift from a friend)
Total sent out in June: 16


May 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 10
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 1
Pre prints: 1
RTS: 2
Other: 1 (birthday gift), 1 (convention purchase), 1 refusal to sign
Total sent out in May: 22

7 days & 70 days

Another double success in today's mail.

Pat Hingle - Sent: 6/20/05 Received: 6/27/05. While the actor behind the "Batman" mask changed 3 times in the 4 movies made between 1989-1997, the actor who played "Commissioner Gordon" in those films stayed the same. That actor was Pat Hingle. He sent me a great picture of him as "Commissioner Gordon" which he personalized to my first and last name. Plus I got it back a week from the day I sent it.

Philip McKeon - Sent: 4/18/2005 Received: 6/27/05. I've always loved the TV show "Alice", and don't understand why it hasn't been released on DVD yet. (I'd even settle for some re runs, since it's been a while since I've seen the show). I had a success with Philip earlier this year which took 291 days. The photo he sent then was a current picture of himself that was signed. I had a cast photo that Linda Lavin signed for me last October so I decided to send it to him and today I got it back signed and personalized. I'm considering sending the photo to Diane Ladd (who played "Belle") for her to sign. Philip is also the brother to Nancy McKeon ("Jo" from "The Facts of Life").


"Alice" cast photo - signed by Philip McKeon & Linda Lavin

Seymour autographs in todays update

I was just thinking that it had been a while since I received more than one success in the same day. That all changed with today's mail.

Jane Seymour - Sent: 5/3/05 Received: 6/24/05. I had been looking for a photo of Jane from "Smallville" but I couldn't find one, so I made this college from some images I found. I sent it to Jane and received it back signed today. The inscription reads "To Ryan never trust Lex! With Love Jane Seymour". Lex is a reference to Lex Luthor from the "Smallville" show (played by Michael Rosenbaum who is also shown in the photo). I know Jane usually plays the heroic characters like "Dr. Quinn", but I think I like her better when she plays the evil characters like Genevieve Teague. Lets face it, good or evil, Jane Seymour is just a great actress.


Jane Seymour from "Smallville"


Sela Ward - Sent: 3/1/2004 Received: 6/24/05. Yes the dates are accurate. 479 days. I had honestly given up on seeing a reply on this so it was a pleasant surprise. I became a fan of Sela's from the TV show "Sisters". (She played Teddy on the show). Even though the photo isn't personalized to my name (which I prefer) I am happy to have this for my collection.

Sela Ward (click to enlarge)

Green with envy

Another success from one of my all time favorite movies "Grease 2".

Leif Green - Sent: 5/4/2005. Received: 6/23/05. Leif and I have been e-mailing back and forth since the beginning of May. He's a really nice guy and I can't thank him enough for sending me these two "Grease 2" photos. The second photo (with Connie Stevens) is just like the photo I sent her that she never returned. "Grease 2" was Leif's first role. After that he worked on the movie "Joysticks" and even did a guest appearance on a "Facts Of Life" episode. A very talented actor and great guy.


Leif Green (I love the look on his face in this pic.)

Leif Green ("Davey") from Grease 2

Bell yeah!

I've been working on this request since November and today it paid off.

Jeannie Epper & Zoe Bell - In person: Mid April 2005. Jeannie Epper is probably the "Super star" of Hollywood stunt women. She has been doing stunt work since 1957 (and still continues to work). Being Lynda Carter's stunt double on "Wonder Woman" is one of her most reconized roles. Zoe Bell is best known for being the stunt double for Lucy Lawless on "Xena: Warrior Princess". There's a new documentary ("Double Dare") about Hollywood stuntwomen that focuses primarily on these two performers. In November I contacted the publicity firm for the movie and received a reply from the films director Amanda Micheli. At that point she said it would be a while before she would see Jeannie again and to remind her in the spring. When I did the timing was perfect because she was going to see Jeannie that weekend. Not only did she get me a signed promo picture from Jeannie but got me a second one signed by Jeannie and Zoe Bell as well. Amanda misplaced my address so she wasn't able to get them mailed until now. Along wait but definitely worth it. Special thanks to Amanda Micheli who made it possible for me. Learn more about the women and the "Double Dare" film at: http://www.doubledarethemovie.com .


Stuntwomen Jeannie Epper "Wonder Woman" & Zoe Bell "Xena"

I named todays post "Bell Yeah!" not only because of Zoe Bell but because my last post was a success from Michael Bell (no relation to my knowledge).

Ring my bell

I received my first success at my new address today.

Michael Bell - Sent: 5/31/05 Received: 6/15/05. I don't think voice actors/actresses really get the credit they deserve for their work. I grew up with Michael Bell, who provided the voice on many cartoons I watched. Michael sent me 2 photos, the first was a very cool photo (with a funny inscription) of him surrounded by the characters he has voiced throughout the years. Look closely and you'll see characters from "G.I. Joe", "Super Friends", "Rugrats", "Smurfs" and "Plastic Man" among others. The second photo was him in full make up from "Deep Space 9". Then he sent me a "Wonder Twins" note card answering many questions I wrote to him in my letter. Very cool and quick success.


Voice actor Michael Bell (click to enlarge)

The inscription reads "Dear Ryan, Please don't hang this in your bathroom! Your pal, Michael Bell".

Michael Bell from "Deep Space 9"

The inscription on this photo reads "Ryan, This is from Deep Space Nine! Michael Bell".

Lucky 13

This month the "13th" was lucky for me with 2 great successes in today's mail.

Shonna Smith, Emily Vigney-Wissmiller, Melissa Wissmiller - Sent: 3/22/05 Received: 6/13/2005. No it's not SheDaisy, it's the Wissmiller girls. My friend Mark got me interested in the show "Family Plots" and I've been hooked ever since. (Mark and I call it "The Shonna Show"). "Family Plots" is a reality show on A&E TV about a real life family run mortuary in Poway, CA. Shonna is the head embalmer at the mortuary and just my favorite on the show. I wrote to Shonna requesting a signed photo (cast if possible). Today I got a great print-out picture of the 3 sisters. Melissa, Emily and Shonna, signed and personalized by all 3. This was the first autograph success I've read about from the cast. By the way today is my friend Mark's birthday. (Hope your having a great one Mark!).


Melissa, Emily & Shonna from "Family Plots"

George Jones - Received: 6/13/2005. This was a surprise. My friend Heidi visited my blog site, saw my autographs and sent me a George Jones one to add to my collection. I haven't had a chance to contact her to ask where she met George at yet but it was very nice surprise to start my day off. I love Heidi and her family. They are awesome!


Country music legend George Jones (thanks Heidi!)

Cool success .. if it's real...

I was happy to get a success today, although I'm not sure of it's authenticity.

Samuel L. Jackson - Sent: 4/14/2005 Received: 6/10/05. This is one of the few autographs that I'm not sure of. Samuel was known to send pre-printed signature photos or use a autopen machine or a stamp on autograph requests, so it would seem odd that he would have a secretary start signing for him now, but the signature doesn't seem to exactly match the "in-person" ones I've seen for him. It's similar in places but not in others. It would be nice if it was real, because I have signed "Incredibles" photos already of Holly Hunter ("Elasti-girl") and Craig T. Nelson ("Mr. Incredible").

Samuel L. Jackson: real?

Holliday, celebrate!

Today's mail brought an autograph I have wanted for quite some time.

Polly Holliday - Sent: 5/12/2005 Received: 6/3/2005. I was so excited to get this. I had written to Polly before (with no luck). She signed the index card I sent her and then sent me an "Alice" print out which she inscribed "To Ryan - from the girls! Polly Holliday". Getting this autograph took me back to grade school when I got in trouble and told a teacher to "Kiss my grits!". I wonder where I picked that up at?


Polly Holliday as "Flo" (click to enlarge)

Polly has a very unique signature. I scanned the index card so you could look at it (or study it) better.


Would you know who that was if I didn't tell you?

A 'magical' beginning to june

I had an autograph success yesterday to start out the new month.

David Copperfield - Sent: 4/18/2005 Received: 6/1/2005. This is the first autograph I've gotten from a magician. I used to enjoy watching his TV specials so I wrote to him and he sent me a signed photo personalized to my name. People used to tell me I looked like him. (I personally never saw it, but then there's much worse people I could have been compared to I guess).


magician David Copperfield