Dad was a stagehand and used to get me backstage for stuff when I was a kid. He explained that he was there to work and I was there as a lucky guest and that the performers were not to be bothered. There would be no autographs or pictures unless they were offered by the performer. I worked as a stagehand later and had to explain to the rules to a few new guys.


I've always liked Bill Russell's take and have had a few nice conversations with famous folks:

“In the middle of my playing career, I decided to stop signing autographs. In part, my feelings about autographs is based upon my belief that I’d rather meet someone who approaches me respectfully, talk to them for a minute and look them in the eye, rather than participate in the momentary ritual of signing something, never looking at the person I’m signing something for, never getting to know them, and then moving on.”

quote:

Originally posted by Browndrake:
Count me in as another guy who couldn't care less about autographs these days. I didn't always feel that way but I find that as I get older it just becomes more crap to find a home for. I also think that as I've gotten older famous people just don't hold any mystique for me. They're just people, same as me, working their way through life. I cannot think of any autograph I would wait in line for or seek to obtain.

I do have some signed WWII aviation artwork that I purchased when I was in my mid 20's. At the time, I bought it thinking it would be a cool long term investment that I could enjoy throughout the years. Indeed, it may be worth something someday, but probably not in my lifetime. One of my favorite pieces is a beautiful representation of (4) P-40's flying low across a river in China. It is signed by 16 members of the original Flying Tigers. It is hanging in my house and I truly appreciate the artwork and what it represents. I'm glad I have it but I don't see myself buying anything else like that in the future.

I have several Robert Taylor, James Dietz and a Trudjian or 2 prints hanging in my house,

my favorite is Taylor's Balloon Buster, signed by H. Botterel, the WWI Pilot,


I also have a framed copy of the art for Chandler's Death from Afar 1st book, signed by Carlos Hathcock,
as well as several of Norman and Rocky Chandler's books that are autographed (most personalized to me)

I really don't recognize "famous" people. I've been places and people will say, "Hey, there's so-and-so." I'll look and think, "How did you even recognize them?"

I don't know why that is; I remember people's faces and names in regular life.

My wife jokes that I could share an elevator with the Queen of England and not recognize her.

Don't care about autographs, or celebrities in general.

Autographs are like any other collectible - the allure is in the eye of the collector.

I can see autographs as being something that was touched or done by someone the person respects or admires - like a signed letter from Abraham Lincoln or something along those lines. Some people worship celebrities and having a part of them is the allure.

I don't really get it, but I don't get a lot of other things that people collect either - cars, watches, crystal glasses, signs, etc. I'm sure most people wouldn't understand someone collecting guns either. To each his own.

I had a mickey mantle signed ball. I got the ball from a Cleveland Indians vs Yankees game in the early 80s. A few years later I had Mickey sign it. It was one of my most prized possessions as a kid. However I didn't treat it as such and it was signed with a blue ball point pen. The ink fadded over time till it was almost nonexsistent.

I'm with JALLEN as well.

Have autographs from folks that I spoke to for some time, then at the close of the meeting asked them to sign a program, or photo, etc.

Gen Schwartzkoff and Chuck Yeager, who I met in Reno at an SCI Convention. My FIL once bought Yeager a beer at the Officers club, somewhere in England during WW2. Later on they were friends as they kept acft at the same little FBO in No Cal, near the Nut Tree. So had something in common.

Elmer Keith's signature on a few letters from the late 1970's. And on a few of his books he signed for me when I visited him at his home in Salmon, ID.

Sean Connery's autograph along with the rest of the main members of "The Untouchables".

Had a baseball signed by many of the 1962 season NY Yankees. Unfortunately all of the signatures faded away. Went out on the field after a game. The players would sign gloves, bats, balls, etc....for the kids. For FREE. Try THAT today!

Been around some Famous folks, but always felt asking for an autograph was an imposition.

I got quite a few actor and country singer autographs for my sister back in the 90's and early 2000's working part time event and movie security gigs. She hung all of them in her classrooom (jr. high teacher). Her students thought it was cool.

I could have cared less. I was there to get paid and enjoy the concert(s).

Double tap. Posting from iPhone.

Never cared, never will. I have some memories but don't care about autographs or memorabilia, especially of celebrities, sports, entertainment or otherwise. I may enjoy performances but generally regard the people in disdain.

Back in the 1950's, my father took me to the Indy 500 a few times and I got autographs of my favorite drivers of the time. Shortly after I got the autographs, every one that gave me their autograph died in a racing accident. Things were much more dangerous back them. I lost interest in getting autographs. Today I feel silly asking for an autograph and won’t do it. Not even a quick selfie.

For the most part autographs mean nothing to me and I love the scam Disney pulls with the books they sell for the characters to sign...That said, I have 4 autographed items that mean something to me:

1) Tony Robbins - I have done several of his courses and have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He signed a page from my notebook which is now on my office wall.

2) Mac MacAnally - When Margaritaville opened in AZ one fo my friends bands hired me to shoot them playing the grand opening. They went on after Buffett and Mac. Buffett promptly high tailed it out of there but while I was backstage puttign some gear together I looked to my right and mac was just hanging around listening to the local band. We had a beer and chatted before I got busy. He signed my pass.

3) Dr. Wayne Dyer - My ex wife and I were huge fans of his work and one day while driving in Palm Beach we noticed the car in front of us had a tag that read "Eykis" (one of his books). We pulled along side and it was him so i wrote "Hi Dr Dyer" on a piece of paper and held it up...at the next light he rolled down the window and handed us a signed copy of his book.

4) Frank Abignale - He was a spokesperson for a client and we shot video of him. I had a copy of Catch Me If You Can" as a prop behind him and asked him to sign it at the wrap. He was a great guy and terrifyingly smart

I met Thomas Mangelsen once at his Images Gallery in Park City a few years back. I had already bought a few of his nature photographs and decided to buy another one while I was talking to him. He offered to sign it, and I gladly accepted.

I like autographs of artists or authors on their works. Other than that, I agree; I couldn't care less.

quote:

Tony Robbins - I have done several of his courses and have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He signed a page from my notebook which is now on my office wall.

Sat next to him on a flight to Palm Springs years ago. Biggest jack ass I ever met.

Ran into the entire Minnesota North Star hockey team in the airport one day. I was a huge fan then. Pulled out a legal pad and got every single ones autograph and a picture with most of them. They were very accomodating and just a bunch of rabble rouser kids at the time but then so was I.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:

quote:

Tony Robbins - I have done several of his courses and have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He signed a page from my notebook which is now on my office wall.

Sat next to him on a flight to Palm Springs years ago. Biggest jack ass I ever met.

Ran into the entire Minnesota North Star hockey team in the airport one day. I was a huge fan then. Pulled out a legal pad and got every single ones autograph and a picture with most of them. They were very accomodating and just a bunch of rabble rouser kids at the time but then so was I.

You would be a jackass too if you werre used to flying private and had to go commercial

Kidding aside, I found him him to be gracious and kind but everyone is entitltled to a shitty day.

quote:

Originally posted by Browndrake:
Count me in as another guy who couldn't care less about autographs these days. I didn't always feel that way but I find that as I get older it just becomes more crap to find a home for. I also think that as I've gotten older famous people just don't hold any mystique for me. They're just people, same as me, working their way through life. I cannot think of any autograph I would wait in line for or seek to obtain.

I do have some signed WWII aviation artwork that I purchased when I was in my mid 20's. At the time, I bought it thinking it would be a cool long term investment that I could enjoy throughout the years. Indeed, it may be worth something someday, but probably not in my lifetime. One of my favorite pieces is a beautiful representation of (4) P-40's flying low across a river in China. It is signed by 16 members of the original Flying Tigers. It is hanging in my house and I truly appreciate the artwork and what it represents. I'm glad I have it but I don't see myself buying anything else like that in the future.

I went to an airshow many years ago and I bought a pen and ink of Pappy Boyington's Corsair "Lulubelle".
I shook the hands and got the signatures (on the drawing) of the four surviving Black Sheep of VMF214 who were there.

I also had my copy of Steven Ambrose's "The Wild Blue" signed by George McGovern the year before he died.

They're probably not worth much and not of much interest to most people but I'm glad I made the effort.

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
Dad was a stagehand and used to get me backstage for stuff when I was a kid. He explained that he was there to work and I was there as a lucky guest and that the performers were not to be bothered. There would be no autographs or pictures unless they were offered by the performer. I worked as a stagehand later and had to explain to the rules to a few new guys.

Absolutely. I appeared on stage with Houston Grand Opera as a supernumerary (an operatic extra - we were always soldiers or servants) for a number of years, and there is no way I would have asked a singer for an autograph under those circumstances. We were all there to work and put on the show.

The autographs I have came from an occasion where asking was appropriate.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jhe888,

I fall somewhere in the middle on this. If it is an autograph of someone I got to know and respect, that's great. I have two books signed by authors that I knew personally and I cherish both of them. I also have a few autographs from actors and athletes that hold a special memory for one reason or another and they are a memento of that memory. However, I won't go out of my way to get the autograph of someone just because they are famous. I've only stood in a significant line for one autograph, and it just as much because my wife wanted it as for me. That was Norman Reedus at a Walker Stalker Convention a couple of years ago. He plays my favorite character on my favorite TV show so I was willing to stand in a pretty long line to get a chance to meet him and get an autograph to remember it with. Most of the others I have were either gifts or were received in a way that didn't take nearly as much effort as that one.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:

quote:

Originally posted by Browndrake:
Count me in as another guy who couldn't care less about autographs these days. I didn't always feel that way but I find that as I get older it just becomes more crap to find a home for. I also think that as I've gotten older famous people just don't hold any mystique for me. They're just people, same as me, working their way through life. I cannot think of any autograph I would wait in line for or seek to obtain.

I do have some signed WWII aviation artwork that I purchased when I was in my mid 20's. At the time, I bought it thinking it would be a cool long term investment that I could enjoy throughout the years. Indeed, it may be worth something someday, but probably not in my lifetime. One of my favorite pieces is a beautiful representation of (4) P-40's flying low across a river in China. It is signed by 16 members of the original Flying Tigers. It is hanging in my house and I truly appreciate the artwork and what it represents. I'm glad I have it but I don't see myself buying anything else like that in the future.

I have several Robert Taylor, James Dietz and a Trudjian or 2 prints hanging in my house,

my favorite is Taylor's Balloon Buster, signed by H. Botterel, the WWI Pilot,


I also have a framed copy of the art for Chandler's Death from Afar 1st book, signed by Carlos Hathcock,
as well as several of Norman and Rocky Chandler's books that are autographed (most personalized to me)

I am very fond of Dietz, although I don't have any of his prints. I do have a book of his artwork that I have poured through many times. Taylor is good as well. I am familiar with "Balloon Buster" and have to say that I think that is a nice choice.
The P-40 print that own is "Summer of '42" by John Shaw.

I also must say that the artwork signed by Carlos Hathcock would be pretty neat to have.

I'm not a collector, but I do like getting musicians' autographs. I have a few cool ones.

Nowadays I'd rather have selfies with them.