Hi everyone-new to site

[Ronny_G]

Hi everyone! I'm new here, but I've been lurking for a while.
I enjoyed reading everybody's posts, and was impressed with everyone's successes, so thought I'd join in on the fun!
The first fan letter I ever sent was to Elizabeth Montgomery in the 1980s. After about 3 attempts, she sent me back an autographed photo! It was a big thrill, and a day I will never forget. I can still recall opening up the mailbox, and seeing her name on the corner of the envelope. I know it sounds silly, but I felt like we had crossed paths in a way, and I had entered her world.
After I moved to California, I obtained most of my other autographs through celebrity autograph shows and book signings, but haven't written through the mail much.
Last week, I had surgery and was off work for a week. I had a lot of free time while I recovered, so thought I'd send out a couple of letters to people who's work I admire. I used the addresses found on this website. I was polite and included a SASE.
Well, today I received my first reply! I opened the mailbox and inside was an envelope from actor Richard Bull (Little House on the Prairie). The same feelings of excitement came over me and I couldn't wait to get inside and tear open up the envelope! I'll post the picture in the success topic thread.
Nowadays, people don't write letters like they used to. Everything is done through emails or facebook.
It really is a good feeling to get a good old-fashioned handwritten letter in the mailbox, and I hope the celebrities feel the same way, too.

[RYAN-J]

Happy to have you on here Ronny G!! Hope you're doing well from your surgery!! I've been collecting for over 12 years now TTM and IP and I can honestly say this is the best hobby I've ever had!! well.....pretty much the only hobby I've ever had!

I too love going out to the mailbox each day and seeing my SASE's come back, it's like Christmas morning everytime I see one! I totally wish I lived in California, you probably get to see many celebrities if your in an area where they frequent.

Hope you enjoy the site! I'll warn ya though, their's a few trouble members on here, which I'm sure you'll run across from time to time in different topics, but we do still have some genuine members who are in this hobby for the fun of it like I am, and not out to make money or scam people.

RYAN-J

[Ronny_G]

Thanks for the welcome, Ryan. I'm originally from Michigan, too!
Sorry to hear about the troublemakers on the board, but I guess they are everywhere. I've encountered a few on some other boards and I tend to ignore them.
I have seen a lot of celebrities out in public-- mostly reality stars or younger actors. I never ask for their autograph. I'm mainly interested in the older stars from the 1960s-1980s that I grew up watching on TV. Most of the celebrities I like are old and retired now--or dead!

[RYAN-J]

wow, no kidding! that's pretty cool! I have a friend named Bob who also collects a lot of the stars signatures from the 60's-80's, he's a HUGE fan of all the old TV shows and sitcoms from back in the day.

RYAN-J

[parlamentetfanErik]

welcome to the forum Ronny G! super cool that you've collected sence the 80s! I started to collect autographs TTM last year I'd wish I herd about this hobby sooner. I've never met a big hollywood star because I live in Sweden and not so many famous stars come here to a movie premiere ect, I wish I lived in the U.S. I remember the thrill of my first autograph success, I still feel it when I open my mail but it's never the same as the first success.


and you can call me Erik

[marksautographs]

welcome!! I hope you have as much fun as I have!! I love this hobby of collecting autographs!

Wow! you've been collecting for a long time. I just started last october!

[Orby's blue angel]

Welcome! Your Elizabeth Montgomery success is quite an acheivement. How did you know where to write to her? And I totally agree with your statement about letters, so nice and "old fashioned". And me, as you, are mostly interested to writing to classic actors and singers, but sadly many are no more. I wish I would've found this site years ago. Better late than never though. Well, Happy Collecting!!

[Ronny_G]

Thanks, Mark and Eric!

Angel--back in the 1970s and 1980s, there used to be a monthly celebrity magazine called "Rona Barrett's Hollywood". My friend used to have a subscription, and they sent her a free booklet of celebrity addresses as a gift, so that is how I got Elizabeth Montgomery's address.
Sometimes other movie magazines had a section on where to write to celebrities.
That is how I remember things used to be before computers.

[daveyrocks!]

hi!

im new too - and i can really relate to your issue with wanting mostly old or dead actors. some of my prized autos are from classic horror stars. conrad veidt is one of my holy grails, and i had to buy his as he died in 1940, but i wanted him as he was in the film widely considered to be the first horror film in 1919, and i did my college degree studying horror.

i feel the same way about boris karloff and anthony perkins.

nice to know its not just me!