It doesn’t usually work this way, but sometimes my celebrity encounter endeavors work in reverse. Instead of only sticking with the actors and actresses whom I have already seen and enjoyed in the movies, I’ll seek out their work before I get the chance to meet them, and then go from there in deciding if I want to add their autographs to my collection. Such was the case with the performers from Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, the teenage rock odyssey starring the Ramones from 1979. It was a movie I had never seen, but one I had been hearing about for years.
The movie itself didn’t disappoint one iota. It rocked. It was fun. The ladies were adorable. It had some very funny moments. And best of all, it was a time capsue of the late 1970’s. Immediately the actresses who were going to be in attendance at the Days of the Dead show in Chicago on November 18, 2012 went on my ‘must’ list.
I started off with getting a signed photo from Dey Young, who had played Kate Rambeau in the film. She was extremely cute in the movie, and she was still quite attractive in her late 50’s. Although I hadn’t recalled her in any other films, she was in at last one that I had seen: Spaceballs.
The star of the film was P.J. Soles, an old favorite whom I had met multiple times, playing beautiful young rock and roller Riff Randall. I had started off by getting a picture with her following my friend Bob getting me a signed still from Halloween. Then later I was tempted to pick up a signed photo from Stripes.
At this show, I couldn’t resist having her sign the photo from Rock ‘n’ Roll High School that I had just bought, because frankly I cannot get enough of P.J. and her exceptionally nice attitude toward her fans. She is always sweet and always accommodating for every fan, always posing for photos whether or not you buy anything…and I told her so again.
She seemed so appreciative that she suggested that we get the other two ladies from the film into a group photo. I had already made the purchase from Dey Young and she was happy to come over to P.J.’s table, and Mary Woronov, who played the main antagonist Evelyn Togar, acted on good faith and came over to pose with us as well. Such a mega-cool photo op!
Finally, I toddled over to Mary’s table to check out what she had for sale since she didn’t appear in the photo that I had already purchased. She is a noted “Cult Queen” from her work with Andy Warhol and Roger Corman, and consequently had some interesting photos to choose from, including a nude shot of her with actor Hervé Villechaize.
She had done some other interesting work such as the TV show Wings, Family Matters, and Mr. Belevedere, and films such as Dick Tracy and Looney Tunes: Back in Action – but ultimately I stuck with the shot from Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.
Even though I had just seen the movie days before my visit with these cast members, it was still a very gratifying experience to meet them all, especially together.
This concludes the celebrity encounters from the Fall 2012 Days of the Dead in Chicago. Return to the original posting here…
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