Dame Maggie Smith

When I write someone in Europe I do not send a self-addressed-stamped-envelope. Rather, I send a self-addressed-envelope and I include enough international postage (in the form of IRCs) that person to whom I've written can apply it towards postage in their own country. The postage someone uses can tell you a lot about the person to whom you have written. Such was the case with Dame Maggie Smith. Her envelope (which I still have) had postage stamps which showed an old woman, bent over a cauldron with the caption, "The Witches." Having famously played the head witch of Hogwarts in one of the greatest movie franchises of all time has apparently not dulled the great Dame's humor in any shape or form. So taken was I by the postage that I kept the envelope along with the thank you note that came with it. To boot, the note said, "With compliments!"

Now, what can you say about Dame Maggie that has not already been spoken, uttered, whispered or written of with fawning awe? Because of this simple fact I had a very hard time in writing Dame Maggie since I did not wish to put to paper the exact same things she must hear and read on an almost constant basis. So, I thought long and hard as I wished for my letter to be original.

After much consideration it dawned on me that Dame Maggie may have starred in a great many movies that I loved but only one of those movies could be considered in my top ten favorite movies of all time. Thus, I fashioned my letter around the one movie that so influenced an impressionable young man as he was about to leave his small town of Grover's Corners for the big city.

The year was 1987 and the movie was The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.

It is all but impossible to do such a movie justice with a relatively short post. Filled throughout with self imposed quiet dignity, Judith Hearne is anything but when she is behind the closed doors of her room late at night. Filled with bitter memories, the knowledge of lost opportunities and the pain of loneliness Miss Hearne drinks. A lot.

Whenever Miss Hearne arrives in her new room at a new boarding house, there are only two things the spinster piano teacher treasures enough to display with outward pride, yet secret contempt. Both are framed pictures. One is of The Sacred Heart. The other is of her mother.

The movie never shies from expressing the fact that Miss Hearne has done as much (if not more) to destroy her life as circumstances and fate ever did. The movie is gut-wrenching, painful and so filled with despair that one wishes for any little bit of joy to come Miss Hearne's way. When it seems it finally does it takes all of about five minutes to start screaming at the screen, "He's a bum! Run!"

Now, you might think it odd that such a film would take root within the heart of a happy, go-lucky, young man of 20 as he was heading off to finally meet his destiny in the big city. Well, it is not really odd. After all, they teach all children two things back in Grover's Corners. The first, strangers with candy is probably not a good thing. The second, don't end up a spinster, piano teacher living in a boarding house who drinks way too much at night until you start singing, "When you're happy, Oh, when you're happy, the whole world smiles with you!"

Hmm, I guess that advice makes more sense when you are from Grover's Corners.

Still!, the point the movie makes is that you cannot blame everything on the past. At some point you have to pull yourself up, dust yourself off and as they say in Hollywood, "Git-er done." After all, if you spend your life complaining about what's happened you sort of lose track of the good things that might be coming your way. And, for an impressionable and naive young man heading off to the big city that was very good advice indeed: Always keep your eyes open for something better coming over the horizon.

Dame Smith must have liked the letter. I sent several pictures for her to pick from. The one she picked is from one of my Top 20 films, and a movie that never fails to take my breath away: A Room With a View. 

With compliments, Dame Maggie! Cheers!

Richard Chamberlain

As a child growing up and going to school in Grover's Corners, I would wait with anticipation for the bell to ring at 3:30 pm sharp. I would count the seconds from about 2:30 pm onward. Once the bell rang, I grabbed my books and ran out the front doors of the building. From there I would run through the woods and straight to my grand-mother's house who lived only about a half mile from Grover's Corners Elementary. There were two reasons for the rush. The first reason was Dark Shadows. The second reason was Dr. Kildare.

The year was 1975. At the time Dark Shadows was played in reruns which ran in 30 minute segments every afternoon from Monday through Friday. Dr. Kildare was also in reruns at the time and the show started at 4:00 pm. If I ran extremely fast I could reach my grand-mother's house just as the opening credits (with the eerie music) were ending. I would position myself cross-legged on the floor before the television and would not move until Dark Shadows was over. The moment the show ended I would jump up, grab a PBJ sandwich, a glass of milk and run back to the TV where Dr. Kildare was beginning to play.

Though I loved Dark Shadows with all my heart, it was Dr. Kildare I could not and would not do without.

Now, this may come as a shock, I know, but I loved Mr. Richard Chamberlain. In my school note-books I used to write "Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chamberlain" and I would draw little hearts, stars, and clovers around the names.

For an impressionable young boy growing up in a small town the thought of a big city filled with Dr. Kildares (and especially Richard Chamberlains!) gave my heart palpitations.

Such is the mind of an 8 year old. Of course I grew out of all that childish nonsense. Well, that is until I was 16. The year was 1983 and a little mini-series called The Thorn Birds swept the nation. Needless to say I was back to writing "Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chamberlain" and I would draw little hearts, stars, and clovers around the names all over again!

When I wrote Richard Chamberlain recently I explained the exact same story as I have written here today. I had sent Mr. Chamberlain a host of pictures (about 9 or 10, more or less) of him. The bulk of the pictures had him shirtless, or wielding a sword or cradling a rifle, perhaps, astride a horse? I think. I was so nervous writing the letter and getting the pictures and the envelope just so that the memory is a blur. (I may have even spritzed a little lavender cologne on the envelope, but I really can't be certain.)

It only took about 2 to 3 weeks to receive my reply. Mr. Chamberlain did not sign any of my pictures (I can't imagine why) but he did dedicate and sign one of his own. I also kept the envelope. It could be my imagination, but from the envelope I detected just a hint of lilacs! Hmm

Mr. Chamberlain will be remembered for a great many things. He has contributed so much to film and television, and only recently, to social awareness too. It all makes me think, was there something I recognized in Richard Chamberlain all those years ago that made my little 8 year old heart race whenever I saw Dr. Kildare?

I may never have the answer to that question. Still, I do have my autographed picture of Mr. Richard Chamberlain to keep me company while I continue to ponder the possible answers to the question.

Pauline Collins

Pauline Collins has not stopped working since the 1970s. The lady is everywhere. Sadly, her work is most often on display in the U.K. Because of that her fame has not spread as far and as wide as many of her contemporaries. Today, U.S. citizens will most often catch Ms. Collins on Brit TV imports such as Doctor Who as Queen Victoria, or on Merlin, as Alice or even starring in a Woody Allen vehicle.

Still, there is one bit of work that American audiences will always recognize Ms. Collins for: Shirley Valentine.

Shirley Valentine is a coming of age story. The fact that the heroine is 43 years old and feels that she is way too old to come of age never stops the movie. Once she realizes that her duties as a wife and mother are over she sets out, against the wishes of her husband and children, to find herself once more during a holiday in Greece.

The movie is peppered throughout with Shirley's small acts of kindness. Shirley also displays a classy though fairly shy demeanor that is tempered only by the pragmatism that comes with experience and with age.

As a holiday in Greece turns into a way of life in Greece, Shirley learns that having yourself for company -and enjoying it- beats out being surrounded by people who profess to love you so long as you meet all the conditions they have in store for you.

Originally Shirley Valentine was produced as a one woman show for the stage. Having transferred the role from stage to screen, Ms. Collins never disappoints. Though the film offers a large cast of characters, Ms. Collins never wavers in making the audience believe they are the only one in the room. In fact, she makes certain to bring the audience in on her little joke as she slowly pretends to  "loop di loop." (That's Shirley-speak for bonkers!)

On stage Shirley's imaginary friend is "wall." In the movie "wall" becomes the audience. When Shirley makes you believe you are her imaginary friend, a real relationship is struck between Shirley and the individual members of her audience. When this happens you cannot help but care for the character since you now have an actual emotional investment in seeing her grow.

Though there are many both hilarious ("well you can tickle my tits till Tuesday") and tender moments throughout the film, one of my favorite scenes is a quiet conversation between Shirley and an old school chum played by none other than Ms. Joanna Lumley. Not to give too much away, Ms. Lumley's character is hardly an "air hostess." The scene slowly moves from awkward silence, to hilarity and then slowly turns back in a moving and sad new direction. Both ladies discover they had both secretly envied the other. Had they known their true feelings it is quite possible they would not have spent the intervening years alone, each wondering what became of her own youth.

Shirley Valentine garnered Ms. Collins an Oscar nomination. For good reason too. It would be impossible to imagine anyone else in the part. But, it would also be incredibly difficult to cast that role with an actress that did not have Ms. Collin's skills in the emotional toolkit department. To put it bluntly, the lady has some serious acting chops.

When I was picking a picture to send her I could not stop myself and chose this one from Shirley Valentine. In her case I also sent another picture. I included one of her as Alice in Merlin.

Both pictures are framed. One overlooks the house from the mantle on the fireplace, and the other keeps watch over me at work. Whenever I look at either picture I am always reminded to never stop dreaming.

Because of Shirley Valentine and because of Ms. Collin's flawless contributions over the years, both will always be great favorites for little boys growing up in Grover's Corners.

Write to someone you love.

It is very common to find someone who gets the autographed picture bug writing to anyone and everyone. Sadly, often they find when they receive their autograph in the mail they do not know who it is that has replied. That is, they don't recognize the picture let alone the handwriting or the signature!

Now, there are collectors and then there are collectors. True collectors don't write to strangers. Rather, they write to people who have meant something to them during the course of their life. That is, people whom they know. In my own case I happen to write to women I idolize or men I find incredibly attractive. Either way, when I write them I let them know exactly what it is I love about their body of work (or just plain body!) and how it has influenced me throughout the course of my own life.

Sometimes it's the character an actor or actress plays that I love. I've discovered on a number of occasions that I LOVE a given character but care very little for the actor or actress who plays that character; Buffy and Buck Rogers come to mind. Then there are occasions when I've discovered the actor or actress who plays a character (or series of characters) is the true object of my affection; Gordon Thomson, Piper Laurie, Pauline Collins, Lee Majors and Maggie Smith come to mind. Then there are times when I've realized that the actor or actress feels uncomfortable with their status and yet feels indebted somehow to the legend they have created and truly care about what legacy is left behind. Because of that, they go a little further to show their appreciation. In this instance I think of people I've contacted like Esther Williams, Joan Rivers, John Travolta, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.

When you open up that envelope and you see what is inside you can glimpse -if only briefly- the true personality that was behind a dedication or, sometimes, just a signature on a photograph.

This series of dynamics which is described above takes place when a fan letter is sent out and when the requested autographed picture is returned in the self-addressed-stamped-envelope.

Some stars care about their fans. Sadly, some don't. The ones that care will go a little extra mile to show you they appreciate adoration, or kind words, or maybe just strolling down memory lane with them. Regardless, the stars that care will give you a little extra something. Even if that little extra something is only sincere gratitude. Sometimes they actually write a letter back, or send one of their own pictures along with yours, or give you such an awesome dedication you are going to frame that picture and stare at it for the rest of your life.

When I write someone, whomever that might be, I always pour my heart into the letter. To do that I explain what they have meant to me during my own travels in life. Sometimes I explain what a given movie, or TV show gave me at a time when I needed to express joy, or tears, or laughter or anger. That's what actors do: they express feelings. I think it is appreciated when you acknowledge their skill.

I will never write to someone I care nothing for. Today, I'm slowly falling in love with a host of brand new TV shows and I'm slowly acquainting myself with a bunch of up and coming young actors and actresses in movies who now influence the way I view and experience life in the modern era. After all, far from Grover's Corners, the 21st century can feel alien and sterile at times.

Now, writing younger actors is different than what I'm used to. I might think Jennifer Lawrence or Amanda Seyfried are awe inspiring, yet I don't idolize them. I love the characters they have created and the trajectories their careers are taking. Following that same train of thought, I might think Justin Hartley and Chris Hemsworth are super hot, yet, I'm not attracted to them!

Back in Grover's Corners we used to call this situation, "The Middle Trap." That is, you are still too young to think old, but way to old to think young!

Whatever you do, when you write a celebrity, pour your heart into it. Whether typed or handwritten (both work but handwritten is best!) speak with sincerity and feeling. Be kind, be incredibly polite, but also explain the reason why she or he means so much to you.

Always keep this in mind: Letters still mean a lot. Emails are a dime a dozen! Half the world cannot afford postage and the other half that can does not want to pay for it! Because of that, a self-addressed-stamped-envelope can go a very long way. If writing outside your own country include IRCs (International reply coupons) that are accepted by any post office and sold by the USPS. They will allow for someone outside the U.S. to purchase local stamps to reply to YOUR letter. If you truly care about that person than go the extra mile to prove it.

Vera Miles

Oh, Vera, my Vera.

Ms. Vera Miles never attained the level of fame that so many of her contemporaries enjoyed. Rather, as an up and coming Hollywood starlet, she constantly managed to sidetrack the studio -and hence, her own career!- in order to fulfill her own life's priorities. Whether by design, fate or even happenstance, Ms. Miles managed to divert her own star trajectory, though often in a very positive,  uplifting and joyous new direction.

If a film called for worldly, smart, beautiful, sophisticated and almost seductive, you can be sure Ms. Miles was at the top of anyone's list of coveted actresses for the part. Her own blend of smart, sophisticated and beautiful left many an impressionable boy's mind wander back in Grover's Corners. After all, some of the clothes she wore (and the shoes!) were to die for. I can think of at least a half dozen boys back in the day that would sit around the TV and watch a movie (or TV show) starring Ms. Miles. All the while they wondered about the following questions: How can she walk in those things? How can she look so good after running through the woods in heels with a strangler chasing her? How can she stay so cool when someone is trying to kill her? and finally, How many ways can she think of to try and catch the bad guy and still not break a sweat or wrinkle that dress let alone smudge her makeup?

Though she had an extensive career, she will always be remembered primarily for two roles. The first is the famous (and infamous) movie, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. In it she plays the caring and worried sister of good-girl gone slightly bad, Janet Leigh. On the hunt for her missing sister she inadvertently stumbles into the evil which is found at the Bate's Motel.

The second role she will always have linked to her is in the Susan Hayward vehicle, Back Street. Always a favorite back in Grover's Corners, the film centers around a fashion designer, Hayward, in love with a married man. The man in question is none other than Ms. Mile's character's husband. In it she plays the beautiful and sophisticated (and incredibly drunk!) wife of the man caught between two women.

Though there is no way to do the film justice in a short post, the movie's best scene takes place while Hayward's character is put in her place in a most embarrassing and public way by the woman who happens to be married to the man Hayward loves. Needless to say, Vera Miles steals the scene and steals the movie in the process. Anyone who watches Back Street can expect two things to come to mind: a) Is he crazy? Look at her! She's gorgeous! She's just a little drunk! And, b) How the hell can the movie end like that with those two brats! :-) (If you watch it, you will think the same things!)

When I searched for the perfect picture to send to Ms. Miles I happened on the one below. In it Ms. Miles is both glamorous and pensive all at once. Hardly sad, she looks like a woman thinking about all of life's possibilities and how to best tackle them.

Ms. Miles had many a start -and then sputter- on her rise to the top. Due to marriage, pregnancy, family, or divorce, she made it a point of putting her own life first. Due to this simple law of survival, she eventually turned her back on Hollywood. Ms. Miles has been married to two of the most handsome men the planet has ever produced, and she has had beautiful children and grand-children. Through it all she has been beautiful, resolute, sophisticated and incredibly smart. For those things alone she will always be a beacon of light to all young boys in Grover's Corners where she is openly worshiped as a true cinematic goddess.

Where to get a celebrity's address?

Back in the day (late 70s or early 80s) when I started writing celebrities, I would go to the public library to do research on a celebrity and their contact information before ever attempting to contact them. Back then there were only 3 main networks, CBS, NBC and ABC. Their studio locations were public information and it was relatively easy to write anyone so long as you knew the network (and address) their show was produced with. As such, it was relatively easy to write to anyone. My first 4 letters ever were to Bea Arthur (I loved Maude though I will never understand how I could get the humor at such a young age) Larry Hagman, I loved Dallas, Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner of Wonder Woman. Everyone wrote back within a few months. Back then you had to rely on an actor or actress to send their own original picture and not one of one's choosing unless a magazine or newspaper clipping was sent along. Still, a self-addressed stamped envelope was, is and always will be just plain good manners. It would have been the summer of 1978 or 1979. I was still not a teenager and I had 4 new autographed pictures and a love affair with a hobby was born.

As Felix, err...Rex, illustrates in the picture below, waiting next to a star (a blank one at that!) on the walk of fame, shows NO shame. The star will be filled with a name. If not today, then maybe tomorrow.

Today, in the digital era getting contact information for a celebrity is rather easy. There are many web-sites on the net that specialize in such things. My opinion on 97% of all of them is stay away from them. The bulk of such sites make their money off of expensive membership dues (monthly or yearly) or, worse still, they charge the unsuspecting victim, err... "customer," for each individual celebrity address. I've seen prices of $2 per address and I've seen prices of $20 per address! To make matters worse there is no guarantee the address is current, let alone legit.

So, what is a fan to do? Well, there are some really good sites one can frequent for information. Better yet, they are on the up-and-up.

Good sites to visit for information are http://www.fanmail.biz/ and http://www.startiger.com/ . Fanmail.biz is totally free, though their search engine can take forever sometimes. With startiger.com there is a small monthly fee of $4.99 US. If you use the site A LOT, they may charge you a total of $10 per month but the service it offers is priceless.

With fanmail.biz the catch is you should post scans of the autographed pictures you receive along with a scan of the envelope the picture came in. The catch does not sound too bad. Sadly, they have a host of "concerned trolls" waiting to tell you your picture is a fake. If you post successes so that others may follow suit but either don't have a scanner or refuse to submit to the barage that eventually comes from the concerned trolls, you can still get attacked. If your excuse is constantly, "no scanner," the trolls claws come out.

Now, with startiger.com the setup is different. Startiger.com does want you to post successes. However, they have somewhere in the neighborhood of a few hundred-thousand members world-wide. Rarely will someone comment negatively since your success goes under that celebrity's address as just one more success, much the same way a failure is listed with a specific address. What is different between startiger.com and fanmail.biz, is that with fanmail.biz your success is listed under your profile and not the celebrity's profile.

Another way to look at it is that with fanmail.biz the world knows when you get a success or a failure. With startiger.com the world knows when a celebrity's address has been verified as valid once more!

Startiger.com also allows you to keep track of every letter you send out and it also allows you to keep score on successes and failures. Startiger.com also provides emails, online forums relating to different topics that collectors can share on. Startiger.com also allows for you to have the information and tools necessary to verify authenticity of a signature, if you so choose.

Finally, a great website for contact information is http://www.imdb.com/ . This internet movie database offers addresses of lawyers, managers, production companies and, sometimes, even a celebrity's direct email address. The problem with imdb.com is that to get that information you have to join imdb-pro. The charge is about $150 a year. Still, for a serious collector it offers contact information often not found anywhere else!

Sofia Loren

Sofia Loren was, is and always will be the ultimate, exotic and sexy screen siren. Today, well into her 80s she still does the occasional movie role. Sooner or later in the movie the sex kitten emerges. Now, how many women of advanced years can anyone think of who are capable of pulling that off. I can only think of one... Sofia.

The first time I really took notice of Sofia Loren was in El Cid with Charlton Heston. At the time it was the early 80s and I was in junior high school. Being a military academy the school was not the funnest or liveliest place on the planet. That is until we got Missss Capo in history class. Just like the school, she was hardly what I would call a barrel of laughs. However, she had one redeeming quality. For history class she would every now and then play period films. This was her way of showing us the costumes and customs of the era. Thus it was that I was introduced to El Cid, and consequently Ms. Loren during a time when we were studying Spanish history.

When I was choosing a picture to send Ms. Loren I landed on this one. The picture is from The Fall of the Roman Empire. Visually stunning throughout (one of the few redeeming qualities) the film ever so gently uses red as a way to symbolize sumptuousness and decadence.

As anyone can see from the picture below, red is most definitely Ms. Loren's color!

Doris Day

Doris Day is as American as apple pie. It's kind of hard to think of a single cinematic actress that personifies the all-American-red-blooded-wholesome-girl-next-door-type. Sure, there are others like Debbie Reynolds and Sandra Dee, but I never thought either one could hold a candle to Doris Day in the all-American department. When I think of Doris Day I always immediately think of Calamity Jane. Loosely based on the real life lady, Calamity Jane, the movie set out to show that a girl can do anything a boy can and, in fact, she doesn't even need a boy to be happy. That is of course until she meets the handsomest boy whom she just can't do without! Such are messages in Hollywood movies.

When I was looking for a picture to send to Ms. Day I briefly considered sending a shot of her from CJ with a rifle. However, I figured she probably gets that picture way too much from fans. So, my followup was to send a picture with Rock Hudson. That's right I broke my own rule. Kind of. Though true, it is always preferable to send a picture with no one else in the frame except the star, the loophole is if you knew the two were close. Fact is, Ms. Day and the hunky Mr. Hudson were always good friends up till the time he passed away.

So, though at this point I don't think I'll ever get a Rock Hudson autograph (made out to me) at least I have my autographed picture of Ms. Day with Mr. Hudson in the shot.

I have other signed pictures of Ms. Day, but this one is my favorite. I always wish there had been one more Doris Day/ Rock Hudson team up. Had Mr. Hudson not passed away it is possible there may have been another. Still, we will never know.

Today Ms. Day dedicates her time to the Doris Day Animal Foundation. A life long animal lover (another reason why I love her) she has been pulling her resources for decades to take care of puppies and kitties. If I had the money I would defintely start my own dog and cat shelter. As it is, I like to contribute to her foundation whenever I can.

I will keep adding pictures (and comments) over the course of the next day or two. At some point, I promise to start adding boys. Oh, boy!

The other thing I will also start adding is instructions for collecting autographed pictures.

Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar had a pretty strong grip on pop-culture. Her name conjures visions of statuesque beauty, devilish maidens, sexy sirens and, of course, Cat Woman. For many people, and especially devotees of the Bat Man, Ms. Newmar is and always will be the Cat Woman to beat. However, by the mid 90s Ms. Newmar was no longer the #1 girl on the pop-culture block. That is when a little film called, To Wong Foo Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar came out. The iconic movie, the iconic picture and the iconic, fictitious dedication on the picture, drove Ms. Newmar to the top of the pop culture referrence list once more.

Now, some people might be content with one Julie Newmar autograph on any picture. This blogger from Grover's Corner is not one of them! :-)

I have been collecting autographed pictures for over 30 years at this point. Of course, I've often taken long breaks in between. When the movie, TWFTFEJN, came out I just HAD TO HAVE that picture. I did not rest until I found the picture and sent it to Ms. Newmar. Since then I've collected a few other pictures of Ms. Newmar.

Today Ms. Newmar sells autographed pictures on her website http://www.julienewmar.com/ . Through the site I've also gotten a few more autographed pictures.

How many autographed pictures of Julie Newmar can a simple boy from Grover's Corners have? I don't know yet, but I'll let you know when I reach that maximum number!

I have way too many autographed pictures to frame them all. However, the picture from TWFTFEJN rests in a frame that overlooks all the goings on of my home. In the movie TWFTFEJN, the "girls" refer to the picture as "St. Wong Foo," in this home, it's "St. Julie." She watches over the dogs, cats, fish, garden and the human inhabitants, as well.

Thanks for everything Julie Newmar!

Lauren Bacall

The whole purpose of starting this blog was a way to catalog my autograph picture collection and, well, show it off! In typing the first entry I realized I had no idea which star I would write about first.

My other concern was making the blog informative for someone interested in taking up the hobby or, at the very least, listing the tools necessary to contact one or two favorite stars only.

In regards to my first concern, I wanted the first post to be of a very memorable star. I wanted it to be someone -male or female- who is normally considered a legend. As luck would have it while flipping channels last night I stumbled upon the movie, "Sex and the Single Girl." Starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood the movie had both Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall as co-stars. Though I do have authentic Tony, Natalie and Henry autographs in my collection, Ms. Bacall's was the most recent addition.   To boot, she dedicated the picture to me prior to signing it!

Now, having the picture dedicated is not always a given. Many stars will not dedicate no matter what! And, truth be told, when you are signing 30, 50, 100 or 500 autographs in one day, dedicating does interrupt the quick flow of just adding your signature to a picture. Even when you beg for a dedication in your letter of requests, many stars conveniently forget that part. Well, one way they can't forget is to place a sticky-note on the back of the picture and fold it over the top of the picture with a polite and convenient reminder. With Ms. Bacall the sticky said, "Please make out to Felix if time allows. XXOOXX"

I think the sticky notes work most of the time though not always. Oh, the hugs and kisses (XXOOXX) seem to work quite well when included in the letter of request and on the sticky-note!

As it relates to my second concern -and keeping the post informative- I made sure the picture I sent Ms. Bacall for signing was a very flattering picture of her.  After all, sending any old picture to a star might not work. The given picture might be from a film they refuse to discuss, or possibly they resent having been associated with the entire production. The given picture should never include another star in it unless you know for a fact they are or were very, very close.

Now, on to Ms. Bacall! The picture I chose is from the movie Dark Passage. Also starring Humphrey Bogart, Dark Passage was release in 1947. Critics were mixed on Mr. Bogart's performance but many were quite impressed by Ms. Bacall's.

IMDB.com describes the basic plot of the movie as, "A man convicted of murdering his wife escapes from prison and works with a woman to try and prove his innocence."

The movie is also notable for the fact that the first third of the movie is shot entirely from the point of view of Mr. Bogart's character, Vincent Parry. That is, one NEVER sees his face. Of course the movie entails some face altering and sooner or later we see Mr. Bogart's mug after bandages are removed. Eventually, too many crimes take place and they are all conveniently lined up at Mr. Parry's feet. Knowing he can never escape he plots to escape to South America leaving Mr. Bacall's character, Irene behind.

The closing shot of the movie has Mr. Parry in Peru at a nightclub with a drink in his hand. As he looks up he sees Irene across the dance floor. He gets up and walks toward her where they embrace.  

Dark Passage has never been one of my favorite movies though it is definitely one I stop to watch if I catch it. Also, in seeing the movie for the first time years ago it struck me that Bogart and Bacall have two of the most distinct voices on the planet. There's no way you can hear either voice and not know who it belongs to! For that alone I always remember Dark Passage fondly, and chose my picture of Ms. Bacall from that movie!

Whenever I receive an envelope back in the mail I never know who it is going to be from. I've considered coding my self-addressed-stamped-envelopes but eventually always dismiss the notion. After all, it does take away from the suspense. I remember when I opened Ms. Bacall's envelope earlier this year I was struck with the fact I had a living legend dedicate and sign my picture of her. I was very glad I had remembered to write her. She is 87 years of age and though apparently in robust health, she is getting on in years. As no one can live forever, and as there is always the possibility a movie star might stop autographing through the mail, I was very happy to know I had my own personalized Lauren Bacall 8x10.

Dear friends, thus concludes my first entry.