This simply had to be the title of this posting – namely, because it’s something I so wished I had thought to say to Denise Nickerson during our encounter at the Saturday, September 25, 2010, Hollywood Celebrity Show in Chicago. Denise obviously played Violet Beauregarde, the gum-chewing young lady who turns into a blueberry, in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and became the second of the Wonka kids that I got the chance to meet this year. Just three to go.
Although no roles either before or after Willy Wonka really lived up to this memorable role, she did have a recurring role in Dark Shadows, joined the cast of the Electric Company, and played Peter Brady’s girlfriend Pamela in an episode of The Brady Bunch. She was considered for the leading role in The Exorcist, but her parents pulled her out of contention due to the film’s subject matter.
Although her character was addicted to gum, the real Denise Nickerson wasn’t as addicted to money. Of all of the celebs at the Chicago show, she was the best deal. For $20, she was offering a signed photo, a signed golden ticket, and a picture with her. But the real kicker was that when I asked her handler how much it would be for her to sign my photo from Willy Wonka that I had already gotten signed by her TV Dad Leonard Stone, she responded “I’ll sign it for free.” Okay, that’s just unheard of in today’s world of collector shows.
Of course, knowing how kind she must be, I took full advantage by having her pose for a picture with my sister Denise (as seen here). I was so impressed with her generosity that I forgot to tell her: “Violet, you’re wearing violet, Violet.” Kindhearted or not, I’m thinking she probably still wouldn’t have found it funny.
Celebs of the Fall 2010 Chicago collector show will continue…
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