Thursday, November 19, 2009

Possible Last Autograph of John F. Kennedy

What was possibly the last autograph signed by President John F. Kennedy sold recently at an auction with other items linked to his assassination.

He signed the front page of the Dallas Morning News on November 22, 1963 for a maid named Jan White. He had just entered the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce to give a breakfast speech. Later that day he was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The date of Kennedy's assassination was on the paper near his signature.

The winning bid of $39,000 was placed by Joe Maddalena, president and owner of Profiles in History in Calabassas, California.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Autograph Hounds: A Look Back to 1988

Autograph Hounds Rate the Rich, Famous and Approachable

THE NEW MEXICAN Santa Fe. N.M.,
Friday, November 18. 1988

By SUZANNE BOYNTON

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Clint Eastwood
and Sylvester Stallone are surprisingly
approachable.

Barbara Stanwyck is reported to have
walked off a set recently, but her fans find
her friendly and accommodating.
Nobody has an unkind word about
Robert Wagner or Jimmy Stewart.
Jerry Lewis is great with "his kids," but
fans seeking autographs are more likely
to get verbal abuse.

These are the findings of the readers of
Autograph Collectors' Magazine, founded
by Joe Kraus of Stockton a couple of
years ago when the newspaper he had
been editing folded. He says the magazine
has a circulation of 10,000 worldwide
and believes there are at least that
many more active collectors.
"All autograph collectors have complained
about how bad celebrities treat
them," said Kraus.

Last year, he invited readers to send in
their votes for the 10-best and 10-worst
stars from the autograph hound's point of
view.

"Madonna and Sean Penn almost made
it as a husband-and-wife team last year,
but Madonna lost out to somebody else
by a point or two. She may make this
year's list, though," he said.
The voting isn't yet complete for this
year's lists, which will be published in the
next edition'.

Kraus said a pattern has emerged: the
biggest, oldest stars treat fans be,st, while
the neophytes are worst.
"Clint Eastwood you'd think would be
hard to approach. He's not. He's great.
Sylvester Stallone — no problem. Molly
Ringwald is the worst thing that ever
came along for autograph collectors."
Paul Newman says he quit signing
autographs when a hound followed him
into a public restroom stall, said Kraus.
"He hasn't signed a single autograph in
public since that we know of," Kraus said.
Kraus doesn't condone this level of
persistence, and says he would not do
anything illegal.

"All you're trying to do is get a
signature," he said, with less intensity
than many collectors apparently feel. But
' he says the reluctance of many stars to
sign has "forced" autograph hunters to
use subterfuge and even to resort to an
occasional illegal entry.

"Autograph collectors would be great
candidates for the Secret Service or
Mission Impossible," he added. "They
really know how to get in where other
people can't."

Celebrity golf tournaments are great
places to collect autographs without
having to sneak, said Kraus.
"Take the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
There may be as many as 50 celebrities
from all walks of life."

The same goes for the Dinah Shore and
Bing Crosby tournaments, and the John
Denver Ski Classic at Tahoe.
"Put these annual things 'on your
calendar," he suggests to serious collectors.
The Academy Awards may be the
biggest single gathering of heavenly
bodies under one roof, but that's the
problem — too big, says Kraus. "Some do
real well there, but I steer away from it."

Although he's collected' autographs
since he was 12 (he admits to being in his
late 40s now), Kraus has never had to
climb a fence or hang out in a hotel lobby
to get one. His work as a newspaperman
before starting the magazine also gives
him an entree with visiting dignitaries.

"Celebrities as well as collectors will
tell you this: East Coast collectors and
East Coast stars are a problem. Back
there, collectors seem to go out of their
ways to do bad things to stars, and stars
treat the fans terribly," he said.
Some celebrities won't deal with autograph
hunters at all as a result, he said.
On the West Coast, by contrast, said
Kraus, "fans are courteous and say thank
you, and West Coast celebrities tend to
feel autograph hunters are not a problem.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Beatles Autographs at Auction

An autograph auction at Colwyn Bay, North Wales was estimated to bring in £200-£300. The collection went for £3,500.

The auction included some of the most popular performers of the 1960s. The autographs were collected by John Rees during the time that he worked on Thank Your Lucky Stars. He used the autographs as payment on his account at a delicatessen near the studio.

The Beatles appeared on Thank Your Lucky Stars in January 1963. They signed the book at their second appearance on February 17, 1963.

Five of the autographs.



The Beatles




Cliff Richard




The Rolling Stones




Rolf Harris




The Shadows

Friday, July 17, 2009

Neil Armstrong Signed Bank Check

A bank check signed by Neil Armstrong on the same day he left for the moon has been sold for $27,350, forty years to the day after it was written. It was auctioned by R&R Auction of Amherst, N.H. The high bidder was Jack Staub, an engineer from Newport Beach, CA. California.

The $10.50 check was payment for money borrowed from NASA manager Harold Collins. Armstrong told Collins not to cash the check because he was coming back.

The 17 day auction set a record for a single Neil Armstrong autograph.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Why George Harrison Forged Beatles Autographs







Seems George Harrison might have been the best at forging the autographs of the Beatles. Read the story here:

Why George Signed for the Other Beatles

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Photos of Beatles Signing Autographs



The Beatles signed many thousands of autographs. One might not think that considering all the forgeries out there, but the simple fact is that supply, as vast as it, is very small compared to demand. And do doubt demand will grow as more autographs find their way into permanent collections.

During their early years as a group, the Beatles were very free with their autographs. They must have signed many thousands before they ever hit America. By the time they hit America and Beatlemania was in full swing, they were still signing, albeit for a lucky few at the right place at the right time.

After they went their separate ways, it wasn't impossible to get an autograph from John, Paul George and Ringo. In fact, John was murdered while signing his Double Fantasy album for his assassin Mark David Chapman. Ringo even signed autographs though the mail up until a few months ago. Paul, while not really accessible due to his wealth and fame, had rather be friendly to fans than not. George was also said to be very pleasant in public.

Here are some photos of the Beatles signing. Only Ringo is missing.

http://meetthebeatlesforreal.blogspot.com/2009/05/signing-autographs.html

Jon & Kate Plus 8 - $20 for an Autograph, Yikes



The Adventures of Jon and Kate and their eight kids does not entertain me. I can see how others might like the show, but $150 to talk to her. $20 for an autograph? Guess this is what the Octa-Mom had in mind?

"In the May 25 issue, on sale now, Kevin and Jodi reveal how the TV mom of twins and sextuplets spends months away from home promoting her two books (one more, a cookbook, is due in October) and loading up on speaking engagements, for which she commands $3,000 an hour. She also charges fans $150 per person for special meet-and-greet tea parties and even makes fans pay $20 for autographs!

Note to Kate: The biggest stars in the world - including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - don’t charge for autographs.."

http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/jon-and-kate-gosselin-getting-divorced/


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