September vs august recap

Before I recap the month I wanted to briefly mention the comment section you find below each posting on my blog. Feel free to post any comment you like in it. I have set the preference up so anyone can post (without signing up or becoming a member) at any time. However any post that is or appears to be a spam posting will be removed. The comment section is meant for "real" postings about the blog, not a forum to advertise, sell or spam myself or other readers of the comment section. Thank you. With that said I recap the month of September, which was very good for me.

September 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 14 (2 of which called me "dude")
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 0
Pre prints: 0
RTS: 0
Other: 2 unexpected autographs as gifts
Total sent out in September: 16


August 2005 autographs

Autographs received (real or believed to be): 8
Out of that number, the amount that were purchased: 0
Pre prints: 1
RTS: 0
Other: 2 In-persons (that I got for myself), 1 E-bay win
Total sent out in August: 20

Oh susannah...

A nice overseas surprise wraps up my month today.

Susannah York - Sent: 9/3/05 Received: 9/30/05. For over a year now I've been looking for a photo of Susannah York from "Superman: The Movie". On the rare occasions I could find one (on E-bay) it went too high. But recently I did run across this photo (with just a description, no scan of the image) and it was reasonably priced so I purchased it. I wish the picture was a little closer up but it was all I had to work with. So I sent it to London (where she lives) and received it and the index card I sent back today, both signed and personalized from Ms. York. A 'super' success.


Susannah York (click to enlarge)


Susannah York signed index card

My 'shipp' came in today!

Two in the mailbox today. Both were mailed on the same day and both came back on the same day.

John Wesley Shipp - Sent: 8/29/05 Received: 9/26/05. Since I started collecting I have been trying to get this guys autograph. Best known for playing "The Flash" (which is coming out on DVD next year), John Wesley Shipp was also one of my "top 12 most wanted" autographs. I have written to him at every address I could find (and lost a lot of photos) with no success until today. About a month ago, late at night, I read that he had joined the cast of a new PAX TV show called "Pallmeto Pointe". I did some research on the show but couldn't find a filming address. I e-mailed fellow collector and friend Beth with the info I had and asked for help. When I woke up I had a e-mail back from Beth with an address to try. And it worked! John Wesley signed the photo I sent and wrote me a note on the index card I sent as well. Besides "Flash", John Wesley Shipp's other credits include "Sisters", "Dawson's Creek" and "Guiding Light". Thank you Beth. Without you, I wouldn't have this great success.


John Wesley Shipp as "The Flash"

John Wesley Shipp added this note on my index card

Mama Mia!

Mia Farrow - Sent: 8/29/05 Received: 9/26/05. Mia is back on Broadway now in a play titled "Fran's Bed". I wrote to her at the theatre and sent a photo of her from Supergirl! (I'm sure she groaned when she saw that photo sitting in front of her). Maybe that's why she only signed her name to it. But she did personalize the index card I enclosed with the photo. I think she's getting hit with a lot of mail at the address, so I really appreciate her taking the time to sign my photo.


Mia Farrow (click to enlarge)

Mia Farrow signed & personalized this index card also.

I've been a fan since I was a 'ladd'

Another cheesy headline means another autograph success. This month has been very good for me.

Cheryl Ladd - Sent: 5/27/05 Received: 9/24/05. I was very excited to add another one of "Charlie's Angels" to my collection. Cheryl Ladd joined the cast as "Kris Munroe" after Farrah Fawcett left the show. "Kris" was a great character - beautiful, funny and smart. She signed the photo I sent her as well as the second "Angels" cast photo that I'm working on completing.


The beautiful Cheryl Ladd

"Charlie's Angels" cast photo - 2 down, 1 to go

Remember the titans

This is turning out to be a very good month for me. (It feels like the early days of collecting). There are two successes in today's mail.

Tara Strong - Sent: 8/3/05 Received: 9/22/05. Tara is a voice over actress that has appeared in many cartoons including "Teen Titans" where she voices the character "Raven". She signed my cast picture (leaving only one person left to complete it) plus sent me a photo of herself surrounded by the characters she has voiced. (See photo below). The cast photo goes to Hynden Walch next who voices "Starfire" so it can get completed.



Tara Strong - the voice of many

Wendy Kaufman - Sent: 9/13/05 Received: 9/22/05. My second success today came from Wendy Kaufman. Wendy is best known as "The Snapple Lady" and also appeared on both season's of VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club". I e-mailed a request to her and today I received a big padded envelope with a nice signed inscribed photo, plus a Snapple T-shirt, pen and lip baum. The photo got a little bent (cause the mailman put it in my mailbox and didn't leave it out) but other than that it was a great package from a sweet lady.


The Snapple Lady - Wendy Kaufman

I 'rhoda' letter & got an autograph

Another quick reply in today's mailbox.

Valerie Harper - Sent: 9/10/05 Received: 9/21/05. Her best known role is "Rhoda" from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (and her own spin off of the same name) and it's probably the first place I ever became aware of Valerie Harper. But I've enjoyed her other work as well (including the "Valerie" TV show in the 1980's). She sent me a current headshot photo of herself and even added cardboard to my return envelope so the photo wouldn't get bent.


Valerie Harper (click to enlarge)

Fired up by today's surprise success

Getting a success that took this long to get helps me hold on to hope for my other "long pending" requests that are still out there.

Aaron Stanford - Sent: 4/19/2004 Received: 9/19/2005. Another great addition to my "X-men" collection. Aaron Stanford played John Allerdyce (aka "Pyro") in "X-men 2". The movie ended with "Pyro" leaving with "Magneto" and going over to the evil mutants side. Unfortunately it doesn't look like Aaron (or even his character) will be in the next "X-men" movie which is filming now. That's too bad since it would be a good storyline with his character VS his former friends. Aaron's not the best at responding to fan mail, and it took awhile (518 days) but it was well worth it. Someone had asked me what he's holding in the photo he signed. At first I couldn't tell but after scanning the photo and zooming in I realized it's his "Jaws" lighter that he carried in the movie. Here's hoping more of my pending "X-men" requests will be on the way.


Aaron Stanford as "Pyro" from "X-men 2"

"Quick reply" club - new member

6 days is the fastest turn around I've ever had in getting a success. (And I've had a few people who replied in 6 days). Today's success adds another name to that elite "quick reply" club.

Fred Willard - Sent: 9/10/05 Received: 9/16/05. I was looking through Fred Willard's acting resume on IMDB. The man has been in everything and I think I've enjoyed everything of his that I've seen. "American Wedding" and "Roseanne" (he played "Scott") are two of my favorite roles he's played. I also enjoyed the other commercials, promos & projects he's done with Martin Mull. Looks like Fred forgot (for a moment) what year it was though when signing my photo.


Fred Willard (click to enlarge)

I saw the light

Chalk up another "TV Mom" success with today's mail.

Judith Light - Sent: 9/3/05 Received: 9/15/05. Judith is starring in a off-Broadway play now called "Colder Than Here", so it was the perfect opportunity to send her a "Who's The Boss" photo. In a quick 12 day turn around, the photo and index card I sent both came back today signed and personalized. This cast photo will be a challenge to complete. Danny Pintauro (who I'm sending it to next) and Tony Danza will be easy to get. Katherine Helmond and (especially) Alyssa Milano will definitely be a challenge.


"Who's The Boss" star Judith Light

Esmeralda ... yoo hoo!

Now this one was a surprise today.

Alice Ghostely - Sent: 6/28/05 Received: 9/12/05. I love this woman! She was great as "Esmeralda" on "Bewitched" and hysterical as "Bernice Clifton" on "Designing Women". I also enjoyed her in the movie "Grease" where she played "Mrs. Murdock" (the shop teacher). I say it was a surprise getting this because I tried her last year (same address) with no luck. So after watching a bunch of people get a success from her at the same address, at the end of June I decided to write again. Then I watch a few more people get successes and I got nothing. But today she came through for me. I'm very glad I wrote again. Truly one of Hollywood's most under appreciated actresses!


"Bewitched" & "Designing Women" star Alice Ghostley

Lost ... but only for 37 days

Another envelope postmarked Hawaii means another success from "Lost".

Jorge Garcia - Sent: 8/3/05 Received: 9/9/05. Jorge Garcia ("Hurley") is probably the best cast member of "Lost" when it comes to answering fan mail. He's prompt and everyone seems to get a reply. Not only did he send me this great "Lost" photo but he sent me a separate handwritten note (on his stationary) answering questions I had in my letter to him. I enjoyed the episode of "Lost" that was primarily about him. ("Numbers"). Jorge and I are only 2 days apart in birthdays too!


Jorge Garcia ("Hurley") from "Lost"

Pair of surprises

I recently have helped someone get a few autographs for their collection and in return they surprised me by getting me a few autographs.

Patti Page - Sent: N/A Received: 9/7/05. Patti Page was a very successful (pop and country music) recording star who had her own TV series from 1955-58. "The Tennessee Waltz" and "(How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window?" are two of the songs she's best known for. A true musical legend.


Miss Patti Page (click to enlarge)


Jody Miller - Sent: N/A Received: 9/7/05. Jody Miller scored 5 top 10 country music hits between 1965-1973. She is best known for "Queen Of The House" (her first single) which was an "answer song" to Roger Miller's classic "King Of The Road". Thanks to Marvin for getting this success and the Patti Page one for me. I appreciate it.

Country music singer Jody Miller

Super success

John Haymes Newton - Sent: 6/28/05 Received: 9/6/05. John Haymes-Newton started his career out by playing "Superboy" in the first season of the 1988 TV series. (Gerard Christopher took over the role starting with season two). Since "Superboy" some of his credits include the movie "Alive", plus a year stint as "Ryan McBride" on "Melrose Place" and "Agent Tony Pagno" on "The Untouchables". His guest star work includes "Walker, Texas Ranger", "Models, Inc", "ER" and 2 episodes of "Desperate Housewives" from this past season. He sent me a current headshot photo with a note on my SASE "Ryan- I'd be glad to sign a SB picture if you find one. Try eBay -" then initialed it. So now I will try to track down a "Superboy" photo to send to him in the future (which may not be that easy). I really have to thank my friend Joey who gave me the idea to write to John.


John Haymes Newton (click to enlarge)

Some dude sent me his autograph

Why do I worry the other autographs are going to laugh at this one when I add it in the collection today?

Ben Curtis - Sent: 8/8/05 Received: 9/1/05. Catch phrases have been common in TV shows. "Kiss My Grits", "What'chu talkin' about Willis?", "Dy-no-mite!" among others, but one of the more recent catch phrases of the last few years came from the Dell computer TV ads. "Dude..your getting a dell". Those words will probably forever haunt Ben Curtis who played "Steven" in that "Dude, your getting a Dell" series of commercials. Ben is currently starring in a New York play called "Joy". I wrote to him via that venue and today received the photo below with a typed letter (that was hand signed) talking about what he's been doing since the "Dell commercial days". Now if I could only find an address to write to Miss Cleo.......



Dude, I got an autograph! from Ben Curtis