In this case it was at the Chiller Theatre show in Parsippany, New Jersey on April 27, 2013. I had incorrectly assumed that Larry Wilcox, who played Jonathan “Jon” Baker opposite Erik Estrada as Ponch in the TV motorcycle cop series CHiPs. It would have seemed like a no-brainer that he would have been at a show or two, especially one where Estrada was appearing. But this show just ended up being the first one that he had been asked to – at least according to him. And right away he was clearly in the swing of some rather expensive pricing: $25 for an autograph, $15 for a photo with him. But there was no way that I wasn’t going to complete the set.
He was a very friendly guy, and I naturally recommended that he attend the Hollywood Show in Los Angeles. He seemed quite receptive and sure enough it wasn’t long before he showed up there as a guest. And just recently (the very weekend that I just passed as I write this in fact), he finally was at a real CHiPs reunion with Erik Estrada and other cast members. I didn’t attend that one, so I’ll have to be happy with my separate photo with Estrada (as seen here).
Whether I was there are not, I’m happy they finally go together. For those of us lucky enough to grow up in the 70’s, CHiPs was one of those shows, no matter how silly it could be sometimes, that will never be forgotten.
Celebrity encounters from the Spring 2013 Chiller Theatre show will continue…
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