The Terrible Catsafterme

The final installment of the autograph book that I acquired from former Our Gang member Mildred Kornman in 2005, if not the most valuable third of the book, is certainly the most interesting. What is also interesting is that there are two pages at the end of the signatures that have been torn out, as well as one in the midst of the signed pages. I asked Mildred if she recalled what these might have been. It makes the imagination run wild, or some celeb might have needed a piece of scrap paper. All part of the fun and mystery of early Hollywood. Read the rest of this entry »

I had always hoped to get a chance to meet Charles Martin Smith. Not just because of his ultra-memorable and hilarious role as Terry the Toad in American Graffiti. Not just because of his great part in the film version of The Untouchables. Not just for his very early appearance on The Brady Bunch. Not just because he was Carter Pike’s brother Lyman on Picket Fences. Not just because he directed the premier episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I wanted to meet Charles Martin Smith because as a teenager, he was a member of the Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy appreciation society. Read the rest of this entry »

What follows is the second dozen signatures that can be found in the autograph book that belonged to Our Gang member Mildred Kornman (seen at right) when she was a child (began here). This middle portion is the least exciting to me, although there are a couple gems mixed in there. Only the first two signatures here had a film actually noted in the book. The rest of the signatures are subject to my speculation as to what film’s set they were signed on (if they were in fact signed on a movie set at all) – based on films being made at the time that starred these particular actors. Read the rest of this entry »

When my friend Jimmy and I visited former Our Gang member Mildred Kornman at her home in San Diego on October 4, 2005, one of the wonderful pieces of memorabilia that she shared with us was a little autograph book that she had had many celebrities sign during the 1930’s. 35 celebrities with 35 signatures to be exact. Mildred was the younger sister of silent Our Gang leading lady Mary Kornman and the daughter of still photographer Gene Kornman. So she had good reason to be visiting movies sets and was occasionally employed as an extra. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not much of a fan of the zombie-genre, but I know a classic cult flick when I see one. Night of the Living Dead is one such example. This was filmed in 1968 in black and white on a shoestring budget by newcomer film director George Romero. He would go on to direct a plethora of such films, some landing in the ballpark of success, others wallowing in left field. Among the better titles that he directed were Creepshow, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and The Dark Half. He even has a cameo appearance as an FBI agent in The Silence of the Lambs.  Read the rest of this entry »