The Terrible Catsafterme

Brad's Musings and Meanderings

random acts of quoting

"Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain." - George McFly, "Back to the Future"

honey3.jpgOne of the first autographs I received after delving into the hobby in early 1985 was from Audrey Meadows, who played the role of Alice in one of my favorite television series The Honeymooners. I sent out the request sometime in mid-May and the photo returned on May 31. She was kind enough to sign a cast shot in bold, beautiful purple, along with a pair of notecards.   

A couple of months later on July 10, I sent the photo on to Jackie Gleason along with an original lobby card from The Sting II and, again, two notecards. All these items came back on August 5 personally signed by Mr. Gleason, along with an additional autographed portrait.

Despite the fact that I was already facing a potential lost autograph of the My Little Margie principals (see here), and words of caution from my Mom about taking the risk, I decided to go for the other two cast members.

I had heard that Joyce Randolph was miffed at Gleason and the other cast members for not inviting her to partake in the reunion shows of the late 1970’s, instead employing a member of the later color Miami Beach episodes, Jane Kean. My theory, as silly as it was, was that I didn’t want to make her feel like the last one to sign the photo – and therefore less important – provoking her not return it. So I went for her next. On August 13, with trembling hands, I put my signed photo back in the mailbox.

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My fears proved to be unfounded. On August 21 – just one week later, I received my picture back. She not only signed the photo (and two notecards) but was kind enough to enclose a signed photocopy of an article about the release of the Honeymooners Lost Episodes, a craze that was gripping Honeymooners fans around this time period.

The Art Carney experience was even scarier. Bob had told me that he was a willing signer so I sent it off on December 11, 1985. About a week later, it came back with a “wrong address” label on it. I re-verified with Bob the correct address and tried again on Feb. 25, 1986. This time I didn’t see it again…until December 19 of that year! And again, it came back with a return address label. I decided to give up.

But as I renewed my interest in sending for autographs in the Summer of 1988, I mustered the gumption to try yet again. This time I sent it out on August 6, 1988 and got it back August 12 – just a week later. And it was signed!! I later realized that Art Carney was one of the all-time great signers through the mail, not only signing an addtional two postcards and two notecards in this particular package, but over the years signing nearly 25 photos for me!

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And that, ladies and gentlemen, proves that gambling pays.

For more autographs from the 1985 collection, click here… 

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