I’ll be honest when I say that The Munsters was really never one of my favorite sitcoms. It was okay fodder when nothing else was on, but I never really cared for the monster comedies. Perhaps I’ll give it a second look one day, but for now I’m just going to respect it as an iconic 60’s institution. Because of that respect, I’ve never passed up a chance at a good autograph or celebrity encounter opportunity involving cast members of the show.
This dates back to 1997 when I was informed by a customer shopping at the Spinning Road store where I was working that there was a toy and memorabilia expo going on at the Hara Arena in Dayton. Appearing here would be Butch Patrick, who had portrayed Eddie Munster in The Munsters. I believe he was only charging $5 per signed photo, so I picked up two of them, the one at the top of the posting and the one below. I didn’t even think to bring along a camera to get a photo with him.
The next year I was able to add an authentic Al Lewis signature to my collection by sending him $20 through the mail. This was a bit pricey for that time period, but I’m glad I got one since I never got the chance to meet him. (I also obtained a jointly signed Car 54, Where Are You? photo that had been inscribed by Al Lewis and Charlotte Rae around the same time).
Around this same time, my friend Bob picked up a nice Pat Priest – who had portrayed the disturbingly normal Marilyn Munster in the series – signed photo for me at one of the Hollywood Collectors Shows that I didn’t attend.
In 2010, I passed Butch Patrick at L.A.X. airport, but didn’t see him. Bob pointed out this fact as he picked me up at the curb. At this point all I needed was to get a picture with him.
Finally, my chance came to get pictures with both Butch Patrick and Pat Priest when they appeared at the Hollywood Show in Burbank on February 12, 2011. Butch seemed like a nice guy (although one of the other celebrities at the show would tell you otherwise; more on that later), and willingly posed for a picture with me based on the strength of me telling him that I had met him before.
With one of the photos that he had signed for me 14 years earlier
Pat Priest was equally sweet and although her prices indicated an extra fee for posing for pictures, she only collected the $20 for signing the photo at the top of the posting, and beamed her infectious smile for a picture with me.
I’m actually quite excited to give The Munsters another chance one day once I’ve obtained the two seasons of the show on DVD.
Celebrity encounters of the Winter 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
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