The Terrible Catsafterme

It was a distinct privilege to be able to meet Lucille Hardy Price, the widow of one of my two biggest idols, Oliver Hardy. I can’t say that I really ever got the chance to know her, as she passed away in 1986 before I had thrust myself into interviewing and getting to know some of the celebrites who worked with Laurel and Hardy and in the Our Gang Comedies. But I feel as if I am very acquainted with her because of the many interviews with her that I have read and seen, as well as first-hand accounts from many of my friends who certainly did know her. Read the rest of this entry »

I may not have ever seen one single solitary episode of Dennis the Menace in my entire life, but I certainly know an iconic television show when hear about it. That’s why I had no qualms about shelling out twenty bucks or so to have my friend Bob Satterfield pick me up the photo at left that had been signed by Jay North and Jeannie Russell – that is Dennis Mitchell and Margaret Wade from the classic series – when they were making a joint appearance at one of the Hollywood Collectors Shows. Read the rest of this entry »

My autograph collecting didn’t exactly get off to a rip-roaring start in the first months of 1986, but there were some cool ones that I added to my collection nonetheless. Following the great Jim Brady autograph that I’ve already shown, I posted a letter to Jean Darling on January 16 after receiving her package in the mail and she reponded on February 4 (see here). Then on January 21, I sent out two requests – one to Bob Hope (which yielded a return of a secretarial signature on February 5), and one to Ray Bolger (which yielded three photos, some of which can be seen here). Read the rest of this entry »

Of all of the celebrites I’ve met who worked with Laurel and Hardy, none can really approach the magnitude of Anita Garvin. When celebrities were gathered for the Hollywood ’80 Sons of the Desert convention in Los Angeles, Anita Garvin was truly the last of the living members of the Laurel and Hardy Stock Company, an informal title applied to those performers who frequently starred in the boys’ films. Anita worked in a whopping eleven films with Stan and Babe, twice portraying Stan’s wife and once as Ollie’s girlfriend. This doesn’t even take into account her numerous appearances with Charley Chase and the Our Gang – and an attempt by Hal Roach to form a female comedy team along the lines of L&H, using Anita with Marion Byron. Read the rest of this entry »

My batting average is 0 for 2 in getting a photo snapped with grandchildren of the Presidents this year. In August, I missed the chance to be photographed with John Tyler’s grandson Harrison, the owner of Tyler’s former estate, because he was on his way out of town. On November 28, 2007, I missed a photo op with Jenna Bush, granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush, thanks to the inexcusable ineptitude of the guy standing in line behind me. To look at the bright side, at least I got to meet the lovely Jenna and get her autograph. Read the rest of this entry »