Autographs!!

[Daimajin]

Anton,

I especially love the Virginia Gregg display -- that's perfect.  It's the kind of thing that has a 'twinkle in it's eye' if you know what I mean.  Off the beaten path.  Wonderful.

Does anyone have a particular method of obtaining autographs from those actors still with us?  Do you have a common book of addresses you use?  I found movieeye.com but they were mostly contemporary actors.   

I was fortunate enough to get Forrest J Ackerman's autograph and Ray Bradbury's (both from sending them a letter with an index card and an SASE).  Haven't had much luck with anyone else (as both a martial artist and someone who had a Kung Fu lunchbox in the '70s, I felt it was almost a requirement to get David Carradine's autograph, but never got a response).  Tough for me to get to shows where I could get things signed -- here in Michigan, we've got the Motor City Con, but I've not seen a lot of horror folks there.  I'd love to get Sara Karloff's autograph.  And Bela G. Lugosi's.  (Comic con was great though when I met not only the Ghoul, but Bruce Jones, with whom I talked a bit about his work on Creepy and Eerie and with Richard Corben.)

For those actors no longer with us, what method do you use to ensure an authentic signature?  Especially from eBay. 

Anyway, great, great collection of autographs. 

[Anton Phibes]

Don't buy anything from ebay unless they are a UACC registered dealer in good standing, or a private collector (like us) who obtained them in person or bought cautiously....and even then you just don't know.  Watch out for people who have items too good to be true.   Also, check their feedback.  Not to see if its good or bad, but to see exactly how many "Vintage Ceaser Romero signed 3x5 cards" they have sold in the last few months.  If its a ridiculously high amount, then they are likely forgeries.  There is a guy on ebay right now who I feel is a complete fraud, and will never buy from.  He has great feedback, but he's sold like a zillion Roy Rogers autographs in the last two months.  That's a bad sign.

Meanwhile you can try Maxgol on ebay.  He's not cheap, but most of his stuff was signed at cons. Conway's has a good reputation for vintage stars, as does R&R.  Star Shots seems reputable.  3-D autographs is good if you can get him to return your calls. Mario Chacon has a lotta good leads (LugosiFan).  Paul Parla is where I obtained most of my really weird ones back in the day when he was harrassing these b to z grade actors for his interviews in Scary Monsters Magazine.  Most important is study, study, study.  You've really got to look at how a star's sig looks and how it may've changed through the years.  I've seen so many Vincent Price and Peter Cushings that are fakes its unreal.

For the overly skeptical, I suppose there is never a sense of security unless they see the celeb signing it.  In the case of Virginia Gregg, there was a paragraph written above the signature that said "To Cindy May, may your career be long and successful, God Bless...".  Nobody bid on it (because no one knew who she even was) and I paid more to have it shipped than for the actual item.  That was an ebay purchase.  But I got a good sense of it being authentic, so I bought it.

A lot of times (but not always) if its inscribed to someone it's a pretty good indicator its real.  Because some people don't want something written on it that says to "Joe Bob".  So a forger will sometimes leave any other writing off to make the fake more attractive to their mark. Also because they have to mimic more handwriting, which could give them away.  But with a little creative matting, an inscription can be masked out.  Better to have a real signature with a "To Fred Rogers" and matte it out than a really elaborate fake.

For instance, my Glenn Strange says "To Stanley from 'Sam' (Gunsmoke)" above the signature.  But I matted it all out.  I suppose a certain amount of faith is involved in collecting autographs.  But if you ever get an "eye" for the stuff, you'll eventually feel confident in your purchase making decisions.  Glad you liked the Gregg, hopefully I said something helpful.  I will post more weird ones later, as I take more pics.

[drthomasholmes]

 I recommend Hurd's Outpost for buying autographs. Keith is a very good friend of mine and I know his stuff is good. He's been doing the same shows for years. You don't do that by going around selling bad stuff. He's a big collector himself. Really crazy things, some of that stuff. Some I will probably never come across again. As far as Carradine, he has whatever you want from that whole family. If you need contact info, just pm me.

[Daimajin]

Drs. Phibes and Holmes,

Thanks to both of you for all of the experienced advice, I really appreciate it.  The idea of 'matting out' the dedication to these autographs is a smart one and I agree that having an autograph inscribed to someone would tend to help validate it.

Like I say, I've only got a few autographs, but how cool is it to have had Ray Bradbury write an autograph for you?  And Forry write Beast Wishes on a card sent from the mansion?  Every time I read a Bradbury story or see FJA's comments in the recently re-watched Heroes of Horror set, I think of those signatures they gave me. 

Thanks again guys – I can't wait to see more of the displays!

[avenger]

I was lucky enough to get Forry's autograph as well as Ray Harryhausen and Sara Karloff but I have
had no luck getting an address for Ray Bradbury.

[Scatter]

Whoa, time out Mario!  Just because it's called the Universal Monster Army, doesn't mean we don't like mean we don't like other flavors of horror, especially classic stuff like Hammer.  With the exception of sex, politics, and religion, we talk about A LOT of other stuff.  That Oliver Reed display is a killer and not only can be shared here at UMA, but it SHOULD be.  I'd be surpised if any of our collections are Universal only.  I know mine isn't.

Rob

AAAAAAAAAAAmen!! We love all manner of horror here!!

[Illoman]

I was lucky enough to get Forry's autograph as well as Ray Harryhausen and Sara Karloff but I have
had no luck getting an address for Ray Bradbury.

Unless he's moved since 2007, Meek posted this address, which is how I got a nice letter from Ray:

Ray Bradbury
10265 Chevoit Dr
Los Angeles CA 90064

Mike

[avenger]

Thanks for the Ray Bradbury address,Mike.

[Illoman]

Thanks for the Ray Bradbury address,Mike.

Anytime, Avenger! 

Mike

[packy120353]

I only have one autograph that I can find, but it's a cool one. When I was twelve to thirteen my Dad was gone for six months each year. He flew scientists around in a Navy Helicopter during "Operation Deep Freeze" at the South Pole. He met this guy and thought I'd get a kick out of a personal message from him. Not exactly "monster" but the "Father of modern rocketry" puts the Sci in Sci-fi!


See what I mean by cool? Antarctica - the coolest place on earth!

[Anton Phibes]

I only have one autograph that I can find, but it's a cool one. When I was twelve to thirteen my Dad was gone for six months each year. He flew scientists around in a Navy Helicopter during "Operation Deep Freeze" at the South Pole. He met this guy and thought I'd get a kick out of a personal message from him. Not exactly "monster" but the "Father of modern rocketry" puts the Sci in Sci-fi!


See what I mean by cool? Antarctica - the coolest place on earth!

He didn't see a Rhedosaurus while he was there did he?

[packy120353]

Ha! No but James Arness was lumbering about!

[Illoman]

Okay, I *love* collecting autographs, and have been severely humbled by all the great ones shown in this thread. Mine are all signed on everything from photos to comics to cd's to books etc...  I would like to simply post a list of who i have and if anyone wants to see anything in particular I will try to shoot a pic of it:

AD, musical group:
   Kerry Livgren
   Dave Hope
   Michael Gleason
   Warren Hamm
   Dennis Holt
Adrian Belew, musician
Al Lewis, television's Uncle Al
Arch Oboler, playwright
Art Clokey, creator of Gumby, Davey and Goliath
Arthur Suydam, artist
Barry Windsor-Smith, artist
Basil Gogos, Famous Monsters cover artist
Berni Wrightson, artist
Buddy Guy, Blues legend
Burton Silverman, artist
Chagall Guevara, music group:
   Steve Taylor
   Dave Perkins
   Lynn Nichols
   Mike Mead
   Wade Jaynes
Charles Vess, artist
Charlie Daniels, musician
Chris Van Allsburg, author/illustrator
Christopher Lee, actor
Chuck Jones, animator
Clifton Fadiman, author, radio show host
Cool Ghoul, tv horror host
Dave Bainbridge, musician
Dave Dorman, artist
Dave Sim, artist
Dick DeBartolo, Mad magazine writer
Dick Giordano, artist
Ed Gardner, "Archie" of Duffy's Tavern
EG Marshall, actor, host of CBS Radio Mystery Theater
Everett Raymond Kinstler, artist
Fred Allen, radio humorist
Forry Ackerman, editor Famous Monsters magazine
Gene Colan, artist
Himan Brown, creator of Inner Sanctum, CBS Radio Mystery Theater
Ian Anderson, musician
James Bama, artist
Jeffrey Jones, artist
Jim Steranko, artist
John Byrne, artist
John Michael Talbot, musician
Jorma Kaukonen, musician
Kathryn Kuhlman, evangelist
Kerry Livgren, musician
Leslie West, musician
Lloyd Ostendorf, artist/Lincoln historian
Lost Dogs, music group:
  Michael Roe
  Gene Eugene
  Terry Taylor
  Derri Daughtery
Mark Harmon, musician
Martin Barre, musician
Mel Blanc, voice artist
Michael Golden, artist
Michael Kaluta, artist
Michael Roe, musician
Mickey Mantle, ballplayer
Mike Mignola, artist
Mike Ploog, artist
Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson
One Bad Pig, music group
P. Craig Russell, artist
Pete Rose, ballplayer
Ray Bradbury, author
Raymond Edward Johnson, host of Inner Sanctum
Robert Fripp, musician
Sergio Aragones, artist
Steve Howe, musician
Steve Taylor, musician
Terry Taylor. musician
Tonio K, musician
Vincent Price, actor

Thanks,
Mike

[Jscareshock]

Mike, that's a nice collection.  Keep it DRY.

[Illoman]

Thanks, Jscareshock. I only collect signatures from people whose art I enjoy, or whose art has meant something in a personal way to me.

Mike