The Terrible Catsafterme

I knew that it would behoove me to bring along a large wad of cash to the Hollywood Show held at the Burbank Mariott Hotel and Convention Center on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2010. The collector and celebrity show in Burbank must certainly be one of the largest in the country. The one on this date was the fifth one I’ve attended over the past five years (seventh total) and I must say that it was the best show I’ve seen to date. I usually pontificate on the greediness of the some of the celebrities, but I’m going to spare you that this time. After all, no matter if there were a few putzes in the mix, I came away happy…albeit much poorer.

My bank account would have taken a much greater hit had there not been so many celebrities who I have met in the past. To wit: Joe Dallesandro, Cubby O’Brien, Tommy Kirk, Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins, Paul Le Mat, Stella Stevens, Traci Lords, Susan Olsen, Dick Van Patten, Larry Thomas, and William Sanderson. Then there were a few celebrities there whom I teetered on the edge of getting autographs and photos from – but ultimately didn’t: Kitten Navidad, Jake Busey, Charlene Tilton, and Cheryl Tiegs. And there were two whom I wanted, but they didn’t show up: Johnny Crawford and Butch Patrick. (Remarkably, I had just passed Butch in the airport the day before, unbeknownst to me). These were my money savers. My big regret of the show was bypassing James McArthur, not being aware of his Disney connection.

But there were more – many, many more – who made me a money spender. Two of the show’s reunions, The Last American Virgin and Stargate: Atlantis, didn’t interest me much. The Mickey Mouse Club reunion was of mild interest. And I would have been interested in the American Graffiti reunion had I not just been to a better one in Chicago last October. But there were plenty more to keep me busy, as I pulled the wallet out, pulled the cash out, and gawking over a really cool line-up of stars. You can begin the trail of these celebrity encounters here.

The day began a little less expensive. Bob and I were up and out the door by 8am, bypassing the traditional hotel breakfast buffet and instead heading to Denny’s across the street from the hotel for a nice Grand Slamwich. We went back to the room once we had finished and waited as we approached the show’s opening time at 10:00am. Since the line is always long to get in, we headed down around 9:30 and were surprised that we were granted early admission (and free) admission since we were staying at the hotel. We were given a two-day wristband that we weren’t supposed to take off between Saturday and Sunday. I, however, demonstrated my limber wrist by squeezing out of the band and back in for Sunday. Aren’t you jealous?

With a nice Grand Slamwich and Bob, who is enjoying his sausage

We stayed at the show for about three and a half hours, meandering amongst the celebrities and gawking at some of the freaky fans. Surprisingly, I didn’t see anyone (non-celebrity) I knew, with the sole exception being my pal Steve Cox. Okay, so he’s kind of a celebrity. He writes books. I also didn’t do any browsing of the memorabilia tables, having reserved my wad of cash for the celebrity attendees.

With buddy Steve Cox

We headed out around 1:30, and drove toward Hollywood Boulevard. Bob dropped me off in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and I lined up for the ‘stand-by’ tickets for Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest. This was all part of the Turner Classic Movies festival going on throughout four theaters in Hollywood, which featured screenings of classic movies, usually attended by or introduced by celebrities from the movie. Tickets to attend all of the shows (although they overlapped each other) were quite expensive, so stand-by tickets could be purchased for each movie for $20. We made it in, no sweat.

Since I couldn’t get near this star during my last visit, I chose to pose with Michael Jackson’s star this time

Poster for the TCM Classic Film Festival outside the Chinese Theatre

At Grauman’s once again, this time actually going inside

The film schedule at the various theaters: naturally I’m pointing at North By Northwest

My first time inside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

This was a most excellent showing of my very favorite movie. For starters, I had never seen this film on the big screen and they were presenting the recent digital restoration. And secondly, TCM host Robert Osborne was interviewing two stars form the movie – Eva Marie Saint and Martin Landau – before the film. I greeted and got a photo with Robert Osborne both before and after the interview. And what’s more I was able to meet both of the celebs from the film as well. Click on their respective names to see these encounters. Overall, an amazing experience – despite the fact that when I went to get my popcorn and soda at the counter and they asked for my I.D. for a credit card purchase, I realized that my drivers license was nowhere to be found. Alas, a challenge for the week.

With TCM host Robert Osborne

We left the Chinese Theatre about 5:30 after the movie ended. Right next door, a new Hard Rock Cafe had been put in – but unfortunately the restaurant portion was not yet open. We browsed the Rock Shop and I called my Mom to see if her friend “My Friend Connie” needed any memorabilia. Although this Hard Rock Cafe is in the heart of Hollywood, they told us that this one is being named as the Los Angeles Hard Rock, in order not to step on the toes of the other Hollywood Hard Rock (seen here). But muddying the water was the fact that they were selling Hollywood memorabilia…go figure.

Outside the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard, slated to fully open in July 2010. So this doesn’t count.

So which is it? Hollywood or Los Angeles?

Bob and I then asked David to meet us for dinner in Hollywood. I opted to go to the Musso & Frank Grill, which is known as the oldest restaurant in Hollywood (established in 1919). This is known as the Hollywood celebrity hangout, for both movie stars and famous authors, who purportedly wrote portions of their books in the restaurants. There was also a key scene that took place in the restaurant in Tim Burton’s classic Ed Wood. Naturally, being a Saturday, there was quite about a 45-minute wait since we didn’t have reservations. I walked over to Larry Edmunds book shop, full of Hollywood books, photos, and memorabilia. Bob waited for David, and when he arrived, they joined me in the browsing.

Getting ready to dine at Musso & Frank Grill

Fun and laughter with Bob and David

We headed back to the restaurant to claim our tables among the Hollywood elite. True to form, I had a great celebrity sighting here when David Spade emerged in the lobby. (See our encounter here). The broiled chicken was good, if unmemorable.

David, Bob, and I then headed back to Burbank – and to our Denny’s restaurant – to hang out for a nice chat over some caramel apple crisp. We stuck around there for over an hour and a half, and then Bob and I headed back to our room across the street. I stayed up until midnight or so, chatting with Erin by the hotel elevators.

We started off the next day, Sunday the 25th, back at Denny’s. This time I went with the southern omelet. By this time I had seemingly exhausted nearly every item on the menu. We were getting ready for round two at the Hollywood Show, picking up several of the celebrities (and a couple of freaky fans) whom I didn’t get the day before. It only took me about an hour to get everything I needed, and we checked out of the Marriott, heading out about 11:30.

This gentleman seems to have more than just a passing interest in the Oakland Raiders and Hulk Hogan. I see him at nearly every Hollywood Show.

 

There are really no words to describe this gentleman. I asked him if he was the real Batman. He wasn’t. At least he knew that.

From the show, we stopped at the nearby Valhalla Memorial Park to visit the grave of Oliver Hardy. As always, it is a must to stop by and visit the graves of the boys. Ollie’s plaque was looking a little worn and Bob plans on trying to get it rectified, bless his soul.

At the grave of Babe Hardy

We made a brief stop at Best Buy so that Bob could have his GPS reset before I had to use it later that week. Along the way, I arranged for Ashleigh to send me my passport, so that I might actually be able to fly home sans my driver’s license. We then swung by Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills to pay a visit to the grave of Stan Laurel (as well as Buster Keaton). Some traditions will never die, although it is atypical that I get to visit both graves on the same day.

 

Visiting with Stan

Bob and I then made our way back to Hollywood Boulevard for another great TCM festival screening, this time at the Egyptian Theatre at 2pm. The film of interest here was The Good Earth – and Academy Award winning actress Luise Rainer was the huge draw. Before the film, we parked in front of the Capitol Records building and I got photos with the Walk of Fame Stars for three of the Beatles. Paul was located elsewhere; Ringo had just been inducted earlier this year.

The ’50’ below Ringo Starr’s star represents the fact that it was introduced in 2010, the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame

George Harrison’s star

And John Lennon. Perhaps Paul is dead to them.

We were near the front of the line, but had to wait quite a while. I passed the time by talking to Erin and texting my cousin Chris who had nothing but smart alec things to say. Bob showed off his multiple-signed Academy Award winners photo to the onlookers in line.

At Grauman’s other famous theater, the Egyptian

Once we got in, it was a thrill to be able to see Luise Rainer in person (see more details by clicking her name). In fact, the interview that she gave to TCM host Robert Osborne was being filmed for later broadcasting on TCM. The filmmakers solicited various ‘reaction shots’ from the audience even before Rainer came out. After the interview, Bob and I opted to head out instead of actually watching The Good Earth. Probably a mistake, but I was hungry and ready to get back to Bob’s place in San Bernardino and turn in for the night.

With the teppanyaki chef at Mora’s

We stopped at the Mora Japanese steakhouse in Upland on the way back to his place. The shrimp and steak were great, but what really stood out was their delicious Dynamite appetizer. We got back to Bob’s place about 8pm. Bob warmed up his hot tub, which I thought was for him. I went out and soaked my feet in it while chatting on the phone. Little did I know until after the fact that he had heated it up just for me. To quote him: “That was money well spent.”

The California trip will continue…

To see the trail of celebrities from the Hollywood Show, begin here…

To see Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, David Spade, or Luise Rainer, click on their name…

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 16th, 2010 at 6:55 am and is filed under 2010's - Early, Celebrity Encounters, Famous Graves, Film Locations, Historical Locations, Laurel and Hardy, Movies, Vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.