The Terrible Catsafterme

Even if I had never seen a silent Our Gang film at that point, I could never forget the infectious smile and genuine friendliness that radiated from Ernest “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison when I first encountered him at the Our Gang reunion autograph session at Hollywood ’80. One of the kindest and most sincere men who I have ever met, Sunshine Sammy holds the distinction of being the first black actor ever signed to a long-term movie contract. His producer Hal Roach signed him to his own comedy series in 1919, which led to his eventual starring in the Our Gang series. Read the rest of this entry »

I could go on lamenting from now until doomsday about how few photos I had taken of me with various celebrities who attended the same Hollywood Collectors Shows as I did in both 1995 and 1997  – but it wouldn’t change the fact that it remains exceptionally difficult to conjure up the facts of exactly who I met and when. Especially considering that I had obtained so many of their autographs before the shows that I often I would simply walk by them without acknowledging them, lest they attempt to sell me an autograph that I already owned. When it comes to some of the cast members from the TV show My Three Sons, I’m fairly certain that it went down like this: Read the rest of this entry »

Mom and Dad were still separated as of Christmas 1985 but that did not stop us from all getting together on Christmas Eve with Dad’s side of the family…Bill, Dottie, Lora, & Robby, Grandma & Oscar, Arline & Carl, and Harold. It does not appear that there are any photos from this gathering – and I can’t remember much specific from it – but if it was like all of the other Christmas Eves of the past, it was met with much anticipation. Although we generally opened a few gift on this night (one from each of my parents, Grandma Range’s gift, and small ones from Bill & Dottie and Arline & Carl), the gathering was more about the celebration. Read the rest of this entry »