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| Susan Olsen (Cindy from "The Brady Bunch"), me and my friend John Gomez |
So, okay. I have a bit of an eccentric hobby that involves meeting celebrities, getting their autographs and (hopefully) getting a picture taken with them. I've always had a love of movies/TV. I've meet celebrities in the past over the years, gotten a few autographs, etc. While that was cool and all, it was nothing like the hobby it would become as an adult.
The "hobby" really started back in the MySpace days. On MySpace, I "met" and "befriended" Geri Reischl. Who? Geri had been a child actress in the '70's. She had been in numerous commercials (possibly best known commercially as Dorothy in the Oz-themed CRISPY WHEATS AND RAISINS cereal ads). She was also in a few horror flicks ("BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN" and "I DISMEMBER MAMA"). But by and large, she is probably best known as "Fake Jan" Brady on "THE BRADY BUNCH VARIETY HOUR." Yes, "Fake Jan", as the "Real Jan" (Eve Plumb) refused to do the show and Geri was cast in her place. Although there have been other fake Bradys ("Fake Cindy" in "A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS" and "Fake Marcia" in "THE BRADYS"), Geri was the first Fake Brady and became somewhat of a pop cultural icon.
I "met" Geri on MySpace when she was fairly new on it. We hit it off right away and chatted a lot. Through Geri I also "met" Susan Olsen and we hit it off as well. I've lost track of both of them these days and now, they both have more that 100,000 friends on Facebook. But back in the MySpace day, we had some fun times.
"THE BRADY BUNCH" had always been "my show". I loved it. Fake Jan was also an enigma. A few years before MySpace, I had found Geri through another website and she had sent me an autographed photo. But as we got to know each other through MySpace and the opportunity to actually meet her at a celebrity autograph show in Buena Park was coming up, I couldn't NOT go. I had to meet my friend Geri/"Fake Jan". I was actually NERVOUS going to that show--my first celebrity show. I was so nervous that I hoovered around Geri a lot that day...and had her watch my crap. Ha!
Here are Geri and I back at that first show in January 2007.
At that same show, I also got to meet MICKEY ROONEY and...
RON HARPER, star of the "PLANET OF THE APES" TV series and "Uncle Jack" on the third season of the original "LAND OF THE LOST" TV series.
LISA LORING, who played Wednesday Addams on the original "ADDAMS FAMILY".
BYRON CHERRY (He was Coy Duke on "THE DUKES OF HAZZARD the year the REAL Dukes went on strike. Ha!)
CHRISTOPHER ATKINS and KRISTY MCNICHOL.
The show was very under attended. It was really sad. And all of the celebrities (some I had never heard of before) were all looking hungrily at you, almost begging with their eyes for you to come and see them. I especially remember Lydia Cornell from the 80's show "TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT" sitting behind a table just as you walked into one of the two rooms of stars that made up the show, looking up at me as I walked in, smiling and batting her eyelashes. All I could do was look away and keep going past her. I mentioned this seeming desperation of the celebrities to Geri and she likened these kinds of shows to a celebrity garage sale...and it truly was. Once demanding a good salary, these has beens were now hoping to peddle autographed photos for $20 a pop. But still, it was swell to "meet" them. Other celebrities I met that day (but was too nervous and unseasoned to have gotten pictures with (although I did get autographed pictures from) include ANGELA CARTWRIGHT, HEATHER MENZIES, MARTA KRISTEN, and CANDY CLARK.
ANGELA CARTWRIGHT, (best known for playing Penny on "LOST IN SPACE"), and HEATHER MENZIES had played some of the Von Trapp children in "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" and were seated with the other movie "siblings". I approached Menzies first. I had her sign a photo of herself from the "LOGAN'S RUN" TV series. She was kind of rude. When she sat down again, she dismissed me off to her "SOUND OF MUSIC" cast mates as "A Trekkie". Uh, hello? Wrong show.
Seated next to Menzies was Cartwright. I had her sign a "LOST IN SPACE" photo. I started talking to her about "BEYOND THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE", and she was instantly embarrassed and uncomfortable. Why? Yes, the movie was a box office bomb, but what else had she done in the 25 years since then? Not much--if anything. To get me to shut up about her disaster movie (and I really only mentioned it--hardly said anything), she quickly told me that Marta (Kristen, her "sister" from "LOST IN SPACE") was across the room. Just as she was about to sit down, a plate of taquitos was brought over to their group and she dived into it.
Sitting next to Cartwright was her "SOUND OF MUSIC" sister, Liesl, CHARMIAN CARR. Ms. Carr was looking up and smiling at me, fully expecting, I am sure, for me to ask for her autograph as well. I mean, hello? She is Lisel, dammit.
Pass.
I was very nervous and passed by MARTA KRISTEN's spot several times before getting the nerve up to talk to her. I got an autographed photo and had a wonderful conversation with her. She was so very friendly and still so beautiful. She seemed to think we knew one another already (I think she had just subconsciously seen me passing her table several times. Ha!). I really liked her and regretted later not having my photo taken with her.
When I approached CANDY CLARK, she was engrossed in a newspaper and did not notice I was standing in front of her for the longest time. She was ultimately embarrassed when she did notice me and felt compelled to hold my hand while we chatted to make up for it. (She had lotioned up her hands--eew. Didn't like that slippery feeling). I had her sign a photo of herself from "AMERICAN GRAFFITI", but instead of talking about that movie, I chatted with her about "AMITYVILLE 3D". She said the set was incredible. They had basically re-built the entire Amityville house in Mexico. I wonder if that set still stands today?
Somewhere I have a photo (I found it---It's below) I took on the (not so) sly of FRANK (Lumpy Rutherford) BANK and KEN (Eddie Haskell) OSMOND from "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" at a Denny's across the street from the hotel where the celebrity show was held. I had been having breakfast there before the show, as were they. (Byron Cherry was also there). Osmond was staring at me when I took the picture, giving me the stink eye. Later, at the show, he was staring me down every time I passed him by. I should have maybe gotten their autographs as well, but I only had so much money on me.
Since that first show, the hobby really took hold in me. Here are some other has beens, er...celebrities I've had the pleasure of meeting:
BUTCH PATRICK, a.k.a. Eddie Munster from THE MUNSTERS.
Eddie's cousin, Marilyn Munster, PAT PRIEST (Marilyn #2).
JUNE LOCKHART from "LOST IN SPACE"
Robot B9 from "LOST IN SPACE".
MARK GODDARD, aka Major Don West from "LOST IN SPACE"
The ever-gorgeous MARTA KRISTEN (finally!)
BILL MUMY ("Danger, Will Roberston!")
"DYNASTY" is one of my all-time favorite shows. At various times, different cast members have been at these shows. Imagine my incredible thrill of getting to meet Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan herself, JOAN COLLINS.
GORDON THOMPSON, a.k.a Adam Carrington.
I had already met GORDON THOMPSON once before when I had a chance to meet LEANN HUNLEY, who played Dana Waring Carrington, Adam's wife, on "DYNASTY". Thompson was there and sort of inserted himself into the conversation, so I had to fork out extra cash for another photo with him as well. But that is okay. It is kind of surreal having a photo of me with Dana and Adam.
Oh my stars! I LOVED Sable Colby. She was the best thing about the "DYNASTY" spin-off, "THE COLBYS". I'm so glad the producers brought her back onto "DYNASTY" once "THE COLBYS" was laid to rest. STEPHANIE BEACHAM was marvelous in the part and charming in person.
AL CORLEY, Steven Carrington #1.
CATHERINE OXENBERG, Amanda Carrington.
PAMELA SUE MARTIN, the original Fallon Carrington.
MICHAEL NADER, otherwise known as Dex Dexter. He was extremely nice and generous.
Steven Carrington #2, JACK COLEMAN
JOHN JAMES, aka Jeff Colby. It was he who told me that THE COLBYS was finally to be released on DVD.
At one show they had a photo op I could not pass up. I know this is only a photo of a photo, but I am pictured above (hidden in the back, third from the right) with the "DYNASTY" cast that was there that day. It cost me $300 (!!!) for this photo. MAXWELL CAULFIELD (aka Myles Colby on the far right) was so kind and helpful. They were trying to rush me through. I believe I was the last one in line for this group shot and there were a zillion other people waiting for other shots with other stars. The whole thing was over in about a minute. But Mr. Caulfield was kind enough to make me feel welcome. He took all of the crap I was carrying and set it aside for me. Very kind. I wish I had a chance to get a photo with him later on, but I never saw him again after that moment.
VARLA JEAN MERMAN is a drag queen...but a famous one. I LOVE Varla. Although she is a character, I do think of "her" as a real person. Played by JEFFREY ROBERSON, I first encountered Varla in a stage show ("The Very Worst of Varla Jean Merman") years ago when I was living in San Francisco. I had no interest in drag queens...and still don't, for the most part. However, a friend dragged several of us off to see the show (Why not?) and I LOVED it. Since that show, every chance I've had to see Varla, I have gone.
I have seen VARLA JEAN MERMAN now maybe five or six (or seven?) times. The photo above was from her show "UNDER THE BIG TOP". Varla was in a movie called "GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS", which all of us who went and saw that very first show of hers went and saw the film together. We loved that as well. The film was hilarious and introduced us to other drag stars, EVIE HARRIS and COCO PERU.
Although I have never gotten to meet EVIE HARRIS (yet), I was fortunate enough to get to meet and see COCO PERU perform. As with Varla, I think of Coco as a real person, even though she is really CLINTON LEUPP. There is a sequel in the works to GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS. It was filmed back in 2011 and was supposed to be called GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS 2012. That was 5 years ago and... (crickets)...we are still waiting. I mention this only because I am supposed to be in it. YES, really. Although I do not know what I am supposed to be watching, footage of a 2011 me watching something on a computer screen should be (hopefully) in the final cut of the film...should there ever be a final cut. We will see...
Oh my stars! It's GUNTHER! Who? GUNTHER (AND THE SUNSHINE GIRLS) is a Swedish singer with some great pop tunes. He was in concert in San Francisco once when I was still working for The Fresno Bee. I did an article on him and got myself an interview with him via email and then got to meet him backstage after the show. The show was fun (but I was sure they were lip syncing) and it was a great experience for me...but Erich (who had gone with me) and I missed the last BART back across the Bay and spent a grueling night trying to get home via bus. It was AWFUL.
GREGORY HARRISON... Is there a nicer, more approachable celebrity out there? Oh my stars. He was so very kind. He chatted with my friend John and I for quite a while.
Here is another favorite photo of mine. Here I am with MARGARET PELLIGRENI. She was one of the original Munchkins in "THE WIZARD OF OZ". I am on my knees for this photo. She was dressed in Munchkin garb and is hugging me because she was saying she was so cold. What a great honor to have hugged a Munchkin. She passed away a few years back. Although I do not have a photo with him, I also met another Munchkin, JERRY MAREN (one of the Lollipop Guild) at one of these shows.
Although I loved KNOTS LANDING, I had no intention of getting KEVIN DOBSON's autograph the day he was there. As I was wondering around, I saw him getting so frustrated because all of the other autograph hounds were just passing him by, one after the other. Poor guy. I went over and he was happy.
Oh my stars! ROSE MARIE was still alive? The co-star of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW is an all-time classic. Despite being in a wheel chair, I decided I had to meet her. Who knew how long she'd be around? She still is. As I write this, she is 93 years young. Zowie!
ERIK ESTRADA! Ha! I met ERIK ESTRADA. How fab is that?
You may not recognize the name SID HAIG, but he has been in a lot of movies--mostly exploitation and horror. He is also from Fresno. I had once done an article on him with a phone interview that appeared in The Fresno Bee's IMAGINE magazine. He had never received a copy of the magazine and when I went to get an autographed photo, I gave him a copy of the article.
KAREN VALENTINE
She was everywhere in the 1970s...and then disappeared.
She was everywhere in the 1970s...and then disappeared.
One of my assignments at The Fresno Bee involved me covering an attempt for the Guinness Book of World Record's world's longest sandwich. It was sponsored by one of the Subway sandwich franchised shops in the area. MAX GAIL and MARLA GIBBS were there to add a dash of Hollywood to the day.
It is no secret that WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is one of my favorite films. Hello? How could it not be after Mr. Wonka has been so kind to me on his slot machines (see the NEW ORLEANS tales HERE). When I had a chance to meet the Wonka kids, how could I not jump at the chance? Here I am with Charlie Bucket himself, PETER OSTRUM.
Violet Beauregard aka DENISE NICKERSON
Veruca Salt, JULIE DAWN COLE
Mike Teevee, PARIS THEMMEN
Agustus Gloop, MICHAEL BOLLNER (complete with lederhosen!)
ROBERT RUSTLER, star of "VAMP" and "A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2"
BARBARA PARKINS from one of my all-time faves, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. Wow!
Although her nose got washed out in the flash (GRR!), here I am with PIPER LAURIE, star of "TWIN PEAKS" and "CARRIE". My friend Scott was a HUGE "CARRIE" fan. I got an autographed photo of her for him and had her write "I can see your dirty pillows" on the photo. I got the same autographed photo from her, but she neglected to repeat the "dirty pillows" salutation. Drat.
I love this photo as well. Here I am, all 6 foot 3 inches of me, with MICHU, the world's smallest man. I remember seeing MICHU when he was with Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus back in the '70s. Later on, he played "ALF" in the scenes were the alien had to walk around (otherwise he was a puppet). Adieu, Michu. He passed away a while back.
GREG EVIGAN of "BJ AND THE BEAR" and "MY TWO DADS". Mr. Evigan figures into the cruise stories mentioned in my post about my 80s photos. I hope to get to those tales someday.
DAWN WELLS, aka MaryAnn from "GILLIGAN'S ISLAND" and looking GREAT!
RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN
I had never seen DANIEL GODDARD in anything before this photo was taken...and I STILL haven't. Ha! I was with my friend John and we were near his table...and he just walked over and started talking to us. Okay...there goes another $20. Actually, he was very nice and personable. I knew who he was only because I had purchased (but have still not gotten around to watching) the BEASTMASTER TV series (based on the movie of the same name). He is the lead in the show.
Oh my stars! It's Danny Partridge himself, DANNY BONADUCE.
Holy Bat fan's dream! It's BATGIRL, YVONNE CRAIG. I feel lucky to have had this opportunity to meet her. She has since passed away. The day I met her, I also had a chance to meet Batman (ADAM WEST), Robin (BURT WARD) and Catwoman #1 (JULIE NEWMAR), but I can't find those photos anywhere.
Hold the phone, it's ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS! Golly, it's DYANNE THORNE!
"FLASH GORDON"'s SAM J. JONES
And Flash's gal, Dale Arden, MELODY ANDERSON
JOHN SAXON. He looks great here, but I felt bad for him. He seemed very frail, very befuddled and confused. It was a pleasure to meet him, though.
MARTIN LANDAU
My friend Trin and I with SALLY KELLERMAN.
Here is VERONICA CARTWRIGHT from "THE BIRDS" and "ALIEN".
I almost passed on meeting WILLIAM SCHALLERT. After all, there is only so much money you can waste on meeting celebrities. However, in his case, I am awfully glad I decided to meet him. He was fun. When meeting the man who played Patty Duke's father on "THE PATTY DUKE SHOW" as well as many other parts, I playfully said, "I know you still see Patty from time to time. (Patty Duke was there in the next room that day) But do you ever see Cathy?" (Cathy was Patty's identical twin cousin from Ireland on the show). Not batting an eye, he played right along. "That bitch," he said. "She never calls, never comes for the holidays." etc etc etc. It was a hoot. He is gone now, too.
PATTY DUKE... What a great thrill to meet here. She was Neely O'Hara, the best part of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. I know Patty Duke thought of herself as a great actress, especially since she won an Oscar for her performance in "THE MIRACLE WORKER". But she was in a LOT of crap---which I love her for. Hello? "CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW", "LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY", "THE SWARM", "AMITYVILLE: THE EVIL ESCAPES". Wow! Her death was a surprise, too. Glad I got to meet her when I did.
Hey, here I am with my dear friend CHRISTA POLKINHORN. She is an author. I try to see her whenever I am in L.A. Cheers, dah-ling!
I loved "CHARLIE'S ANGELS". I've been lucky enough to meet two of them. Here I am with Angel #5 (Tiffany Wells), SHELLEY HACK
"THE BRADY BUNCH". I love this show (and all of its spin-offs/sequels) so much, I feel almost like a long-lost Brady relative. At this show, when I was standing in front of SUSAN OLSEN, she looked up at me and recognized me right away. "Monster!" she said. Ha! I'd meet Susan another time with my friend John (the photo on the top of this post). And she made a fun little video with me during that show (see the videos on the post about my friend John Gomez called "A Visitor Comes to Monster A GoGo Headquarters"). But this time, she introduced me to her Brady brethren. MIKE LOOKINLAND thought he had met me before. I wish. CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT was cordial as was BARRY WILLIAMS.
Later that same day, Susan and I also posed with ROBBIE RIST, aka Cousin Oliver.
Andy Warhol's superstar, JOE DALLESANDRO
One-time James Bond ("ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE"), GEORGE LAZENBY
HENRY "The Fonz" WINKLER
I ran into some of Susan and Geri's friends at one show. I recognized them from posts the girls had made and I introduced myself. ZACK MILAN (left) is an actor and stand-in. He played the henchman who steals the Batmobile (Yes, he got to drive it!) in the TV reunion movie, "BACK TO THE BATCAVE". BILL MORGAN (right) is an author. He has a series of books out on collectibles associated with movie and TV shows.
TONY MORAN is best known for playing the momentarily unmasked Michael Myers in the original HALLOWEEN. (The rest of the time, Michael Myers was played by someone else. ha!)
Another perk from my years writing for The Fresno Bee was getting to meet/interview GRACE LEE WHITNEY in her Oakhurst home. She starred in, among other things, the first half of the first season of the original "STAR TREK" and appeared in several of the reunion movies as well. She has also passed on.
And ANOTHER Bee perk was getting to meet Keith Partridge, er, um... DAVID CASSIDY before a concert.
Another Bee interview with original Mouseketeer KAREN PENDLETON.
EEEK! How did I survive this encounter? Here I am surrounded by Michael Myers ("HALLOWEEN 4" and "HALLOWEEN 6") and Leatherface ("TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3"). I mean, GEORGE WILBUR (left) and R.A. MIHAILOFF (right).
I look like hell, but...oh my gosh! I got to meet one of my all time idols, director JOHN WATERS. WOW!
DEAN CAIN
60's TV Tarzan, RON ELY
Yikes! It's the "BAD SEED" herself, PATTY MCCORMICK
SHIRLEY JONES (of "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY" and her husband MARTY INGELS. Chris (BRIAN FOSTER) and Tracy (SUZANNE CROUGH) were also there, but I passed on getting their signatures/photos with them. Who knew little Tracy would be the first Partridge to go...?
John and I with RIP TAYLOR
BRANDON CRUZ, aka Eddie from the TV series "THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER"
ANTONIO SABATO JR.
LINDA BLAIR
Nellie Olsen from "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE", ALISON ARNGRIM
70's British scream queen and Bond girl CAROLINE MUNRO
TAB HUNTER
BARBARA EDEN
LEE MERIWETHER former Miss America, one-time Catwoman (in the 1966 BATMAN movie), co-star of THE TIME TUNNEL and, probably best known, for BARNABY JONES.
DAVID HEDISON (of the original "THE FLY", "VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA":, "THE COLBYS" and twice as James Bond's FBI pal Felix Leiter in "LIVE AND LET DIE" and "LICENSE TO KILL".)
I do have a few other photos elsewhere...I just haven't been able to find them as of yet. When I do, I'll post them.
Thanks for looking.
CHEERS!
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