autographs

[sixmorereasons]

I have always been curious about how one goes about sending a fanmail to a star in hopes of getting an autograph in return. I was planning on writing Debbie Reynolds, and maybe Glenn Ford, but I'm not sure how to go about doing so. Do I just write them a letter that says how much I love their movies and that I'd like to have their autograph to have something special from the star? If I was to send one, where would I write to these stars?

Thanks in advance!

[feaito]

Six, as young lad back in the very early 1980's (I'm 37 now), when still, even some silent legends were alive, I made the firm decision of writing some classic stars to get her signed photos.

 

In those days without Internet, I looked Up the Who's Who Book, and wrote down the addresses of some stars like Irene Dunne, Kate Hepburn, Claudette Colbert, etc...and wrote to them, telling how much I loved their movies, how much I admired them, etc...from a youngster's point of view, letters writtem really from the bottom of a young classic film buff's heart

 

Result: I got three signed photographs: one by the great Bette Davis; another by the legendary Lillian Gish, written in golden ink, with a lovely dedication too; and last but not least, a lovely autographed & dedicated still of Luise Rainer.

 

Of all three, only Miss Rainer is still alive (she's 94 or 96 years old), and still lives (it seems) in Lake Lugano, Switzerland, and I think she's one of the loveliest persons/actresses. I've ever seen on-screen, upon watching her interviews in "MGM When The Lion Roars" & the one she gave for the DVD release of "The Great Ziegfeld", you can feel her "truth", her "goodness", you can look into her eyes which reflect a pure soul. She seems friendly, and let's not forget that she was the first actress to win 2 Best Actresses Academy Awards, for "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936) (as Anna Held) and "The Good Earth" (1937) (as O-Lan), a masterpiece and one of the most outstanding performances ever!

 

If you want to do it, go on...you've got nothing to lose. I did it and have those three cherished stills.

[sixmorereasons]

Ah! Thanks feaito. I'm still a young lad (15 years old).

So I did search on the internet, and every site that had Glenn Ford's address, you had to pay to access it! I am insulted.

Anyway, what do you mean Who's Who Book? I'm confused.

[feaito]

There used to be a Huge Book edited on a yearly basis?...Which contained information (data and biography) and addresses of almost all the public people in the world, actors, singers, writers, politicians, etc...I do not know if its edited anymore....Maybe you can check on your local library...It was called Who's Who (in the world)...

[feaito]

Click on this link, Sixmore...the book was edited in 2003, but is way too expensive!!!....it's a refference book, so maybe your local library has it. Check the reviews at amazon. Hope this helps!!

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0837969662/qid=1093489725/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-9742841-0487256

 

 

[sixmorereasons]

thanks so much for all of your help! I shall have to venture down to my local library.

[classicsfan1119]

I've also heard that fans have success with getting a star's autograph by purchasing their photo from a source that sells them (maybe a studio will have them), and then mailing the photo to the star and ask them to sign it for you and return it. There are several good sites on the Internet that have these photos, too, if you can afford buy from them. And, you can also look in E-Bay for people who are selling both photos and autographs of the stars, but here, too, you have to pay a fee to join E-Bay, and then for what you want to buy.

 

Hopefully, there are still a few stars out there, if you can find their addresses, who will be happy to hear from you and will send you a photo/autograph without charging you for it. Keep trying, and good luck! :)ML

[edgedrv]

I had much success in getting autographs through the mail in the 1990s. But one has to be careful. Many stars (mostly current stars) are too busy and have secretaries who can duplicate the stars signature, so what you might get is not quite the real thing. And there are a few who never return your photos, so I would not advise sending orignals. Most of the older stars that I got through the mail (Fred Astaire, Van Johnson, Ginny Sims, Lillian Gish, etc.) I know were authentic. I consider myself lucky since so many of the old time stars have passed away in recent years. As to buying autographs through the mail/stores one has to be careful that the signatures are authentic. I have seen many bogus signatures. Also, many old time stars signatures have changed over the years. In the 1990s I was lucky to have Gregory Peck sign a picture. I have seen some photos he signed back in the late 40s early 50s and his signature had changed completely.

[bansi4]

sixmorereasons have you visited the Glen Ford site? It is a great homage to the actor with super pictures.

Go to GlennFordOnline.com

There is also a place on there to email him a message.

 

For what it is worth his last address was:

 

Glenn Ford

911 Oxford Way

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

 

Good luck!

 

Mongo

[edgedrv]

In the early 90s I sent Mr. Ford several pictures which he signed and returned to me. But as of today, I think Mr. Ford is not in good health, so who can say whether he will sign pictures or not. I suppose you can e-mail him first and see if its ok to send pictures.

[zombi6422]

I collect and I recall that Glenn Ford no longer signs due to health reasons. Also I wouldn't go buying from ebay because the majority are forged.

[classicsfan1119]

For those of you saying to beware forged signatures, I'm curious to know how you can tell when a signature has been forged? How would most fans ever be able to know the difference between a legitimate signature and a forged one? Have you any tips? ML

[feaito]

Some specialists may know how to distinguish; I've checked some tips at the website of one of the most respectable dealers of all kinds of memorabilia, letters of historical figures, signed vintage portraits, collectibles, etc...."Profiles in History" www.profilesinhistory.com, they've got catalogs, images, etc.

 

So I feel that first one has to have money to buy these "vintage" signed stills, and second: you ought to buy this kind of stuff from respected dealers, who guarantee the authenticity of the material.

 

Someone mentioned that nowadays some stars do not sign their stills, but someone else does....It's no new "practise". In the old days, many stars, had secretaries, who signed stills and answered fan-mail on their behalfs.

 

I've got 21 vintage stills from the mid 1940's signed by such stars as Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, etc, around 1945-1947, and I know they must be authentic, because they belonged to my country's ambassador in the USA, during that period of time, and they're dedicated to him!!! I've got them as a gift from a dear relative, who bought them many, many years ago at an auction of all his belongings...there was even some correspondence between the ambasador's wife and Dal? or Picasso....

 

I must say that I compared Bette Davis'signature on the photograph she dedicated to the aforementioned amabassador with the one written on the still she sent to me in the early '80s (some 40 years later), and they're very much alike...

 

Still, I think, that someone may have the luck of getting a signed photograph from a classic star (Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Luise Rainer, etc.) if you write to them, with truth, telling them how much you admire their work, how much you've enjoyed their movies, how important they've been in your life....from the bottom of your heart...

 

I did that as a young lad, and I even had not seen any of Lillian Gish's films, but boy!!...Had I read a lot about her!!, Her work with D.W. Griffith, her masterpieces directed by Sjostrom at MGM, the story about the filming of La Boheme, How she ended her contract with MGM, her way of living, her rise to stardom, etc....I admired her so much, that words came out of my mind & heart, I was 14 or 15 years old....and she sent me back the most greatly dedicated (to me) still I own: For...."with every fond wish and remembrance, Lillian Gish"... the writing shows it was written by a person of some age, so I'm sure it was dear Ms. Gish.

 

[edgedrv]

classicfan1119, this is a tough one. I'd say most of the old time stars do their own autographs, especially the retired ones. In the 90s I had gotten such stars as Claudette Colbert, Myrna Loy, James Stewart, Vincent Price, etc. through the mail. Since these actors were no longer working there was probably no need for a secretary and they signed everything themselves. I even got a typed letter from Katharine Hepburn signed with her scratchy signature. I know these signatures were authentic. I sent Cyd Charisse some photos in the mail and she did sign them. I also met her in person and the autograph she gave me was the same. And as I said previously some stars signatures have changed greatly over the years. (See my previous comments on Gregory Peck.) There have been a few times I bought autographs: Olivia de Havilland, Anne Baxer and Irene Dunne. But I consulted with someone who was familar with those signatures. Sending through the mail, one has nothing to lose. One has to be very careful only in buying autographs since they could be forgeries. Most of the autographs I have obtained were in-person. That is the only way one can know for sure.

[sixmorereasons]

Oh! Thank you everybody for your help! I received an email from Peter Ford today. He told me Glenn was not in good enough health to sign autographs anymore, but he has ones they sell for 80 dollars (to benefit some library). He also told me to check on ebay and send the link to him to check if they are authentic. What a nice guy!

[feaito]

Edge you're right, the problem with classic stars' autographs is not what they have signed when they were retired, like the ones you mention, but with the autographed stills, they "supposedly" signed back in their glory days, many of them could have been signed by secretaries, especially committed for that task, thus the importance of buying from serious dealers, when it comes to "Vintage signed portraits" or "Vintage autographs", made in the 1930's, 1940's or 1950's for example. Because it seems that a Lana Turner signed still from let's say 1945, would be more valuable than a Lana Turner signed still from 1987.

[classicsfan1119]

"Edge", thanks for your comments back to me (us). I have to agree that the only "safe" way to collect an autograph is to collect it in person, or to have the authenticity verified by a specialist prior to purchasing it from anyone else. And, yes, I did already take note of how Greg Peck's signature had changed over the years, and that you knew both signatures you had collected were authentic. I can certainly attest to the fact that my own signature has evolved through various changes over the years. Makes me wonder, however, if even the "specialists" are taking this into account when they verify authenticity?

 

And, "Six"....it's nice to learn that you heard back from Peter Ford, and that he is willing to help you make sure you don't get burned if you buy Glenn's signature from a different source. I'm happy for you!

 

ML

 

 

[bansi4]

I believe that the autographed 8x10 I have of Joan Crawford is legit since I wrote to her at her New York apartment during the last months of her life.

She was also kind enough to correspond with me from her place in California with notes written on the blue stationary she was noted for and always signing them.

Miss Crawford was certainly a star devoted to her many fans throughout the years.

Oh...and I didn't have to pay for the lovely photo.

 

Mongo

[zombi6422]

Hi,

Identifying a real from a fake on ebay in paticular is rather easy. There are several warning signs you can see in a matter of seconds.

#1: Check the autograph seller's other auction. If he has 500 other autographs up at once, don't bid.

#2: If you see that the seller keeps the bidder's identity hidden, that is a good sign that the person doesn't want you to contact the bidder for some mischievous reason. Don't bid.

#3: Feedback is practically worthless in seller's on ebay because you will find out that even the people who sell everything forged will have great positive feedback. So again, if they have 500 index cards signed up for sale don't bid.

#4: Also worthless, is certificates of authenticity or any other kind of thing saying it has been checked for legitimacy.

#5: This is some simple facts. Ball point pens weren't invented until 1944. Felt tip pens weren't until the 50's. Sharpies didn't become popular in autograph signings until the 80's eventhough they were invented around the mid 70's. For instance, I cannot tell you how many Judy Garland signatures I have seen on ebay signed in a sharpie selling for hundreds of dollars. Hellllo. She died before these were even invented.

 

I can give you a million other tips on finding authentic ones but I will end there. E-mail me if you have other questions.

[classicsfan1119]

Good tips! I can add that I had a signed sport card for a famous football player, and also the "certificate of authenticity" that came with it, and when I took both of them to our local sport card dealer to sell this card for at least what I had paid for it, I was told that the "certificate" meant nothing and to keep my card. For collectors, it's definitely a "buyer beware" world out there.

[feaito]

Mongo is right, Joan Crawford, was exceptional on that count, I read that since her stardom days, she always signed personally all of her stills, and that she had a high regard for her fans, throughout her life, and answered every letter sent to her.

 

It's so sad that so many classic stars are dead now, I'd been so happy if I had gotten signed stills from Claudette Colbert and Irene Dunne, but they never answered my letters. For me, the value of this stuff is "sentimental". I'd never sell my signed stills, not for "all the money in the world", beacuse they really mean a lot for me, more than money can buy.

 

Well at least got three stills, sent specifically to me ('cos the others were a gift), and in the ole' romantic way (and for free!).

[classicsfan1119]

Hi Mongo! I agree with you about Joan Crawford, and that she was one star who really valued her fans, and you very likely do have her signature on that photo. Nice, too, that you got a letter back from her. No matter what people have come to think of this woman today, she was totally devoted to her fans (knowing that without them her career might have been much different, and very happy to thank them for their support), and it's really a shame that more stars weren't like her and also would take the time to write a letter, sign an autograph, or send a signed photo to anyone who asked. I shudder to think of all the people most of the stars these days just brush aside when approached by a fan. ML

[edgedrv]

Like Crawford, Marlene Dietrich is another who did sign all photos. In fact even towards the end I heard she opened all her own mail and signed each and every photo. And like Crawford she would occasionally write a personal note to the fan. I sent her several photos at different times and each and every one came back signed. Another great one was Audrey Hepburn. I remember seeing her on Larry King and she mentioned that she was behind with all her mail but she would eventually get to it. It took me about six months to hear from her but eventually all my photos came back signed. To this list I would add James Stewart and Vincent Price. I know Price received tons of mail requesting autographs and he never failed to answer each and every piece of mail. I'd say over 95% of old-time stars responded to my mail. I think the studios trained these stars to be good about this. Alas, today's so-called stars couldn't care less about their fans. And for some reason the newer the star the more illiterate the autograph. It is usually a scribble. Personally, I have rarely paid for an autograph. And I would think $80 sounds a bit high for a Glenn Ford autograph. If one has access to attending a collectors show, one might get a better deal.

[zombi6422]

For the one asking about Debbie Reynolds address, she now charges $30 for a signed picture which is rather sad. But, I guess that eventually happens with everyone.

[edgedrv]

In my comments below I meant to say the newer the star the more illegible the signature. As for Ms. Reynolds, this must be new, she never charged before. Does she charge if one were to send her a photo with a self-addressed envelope? In the past some stars asked for a nominal fee to go to their favorite charity, but never put the money in their own pocket. I really think this is outrageous. At one particular celebrity show in L.A. some celebs charge up to $50 for an autograph -- and I am talking about many obscure TV personalties. A word of caution: One has to be careful in not sending Ms. Reynolds original photos since she will keep them. I found out she collects on herself. Before I started in-person collecting, I sent her a gorgeous original movie still along with two others, she kept the original. So I learned a lesson from there on. One does have to be careful about this!