The Terrible Catsafterme

I had had some cake the night before at The Smoke House courtesy of my friends, but other than that, I pretty much forgot that Sunday, October 2, 2005 was even my birthday. The day was packed with things to do so there wasn’t time to think of such things. We kicked off the morning with a nice hearty breakfast at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center where we had stayed the night. We had a great buffet, but best of all, we dined with two former Our Gang members Patsy Barry and Joy Wurgaft Lane, whose husbands treated us. Read the rest of this entry »

It was the during the Hollywood Collectors Show during the Summer of 1995 that I got to meet Russell Johnson, better known as the Professor from Gilligan’s Island. In fact, author Stephen Cox had escorted him to the show and it was here that I first met Steve. And if Russell was the Professor, then I was the class dunce. Today I question both why I didn’t get him to sign a photo from the well-known Gilligan’s Island, and more importantly, why I would not think to get my photo taken with him. Read the rest of this entry »

Thomas Jefferson, our third American President from 1801-1809 was quite an eccentric and unique individual based on some of the things I learned during our visit to sites pertaining to him in Virginia. I’m currently reading his autobiography which makes it clear that he considers his primary achievement to have been his authorship of The Declaration of Independence rather that his Presidency. In addition, he was an architect, archaeologist, political philosopher, writer, scholar, horticulturist, inventor, paleontologist, and statesman. However he is best defined, he remains an enormous icon in American History and one definitely worth scoping out in my Presidential studies. Read the rest of this entry »

Let me clarify this…My first foray into collecting autographs from the stars of The Andy Griffith Show occurred on December 11, 1985. I had sent out seven autographs requests the day before and I followed it up on the 11th with five additional letters. Two of them were unsuccessful due to having the wrong addresses – Tim Conway and Art Carney (again). But three were quite successful, one of them being Don Knotts. Read the rest of this entry »