Mr. Friedkin was back in his hometown (and mine) Chicago last April at the central library giving a free lecture and book signing. He actually sold out of books so I was glad I got there early. I can't ever remember paying the full price on a book jacket before, but it was worth it for a signed first edition. The man was very hospitable, and vowed not to leave the theatre before everyone had been spoken to or had a keepsake signed and/or a picture taken.
My three items signed were his memoir, a copy of The Exorcist on DVD, and of course The French Connection on blu-ray. Interestingly, the French Connection had a rubber stamp signature as part of the cover which he jokingly noted he had already signed! And then he signed it personally right under the rubber stamp.
