And here it is: I go all over the country tracking down celebrities from something really cool, and then all of the sudden after I’ve collected them all, they all show up in one place together. Yes, a tale as old as time. Or there’s the Beauty and the Beast connection, if you prefer. Either one could apply here. As a Disney animation fan, I love getting to meet actors and actresses who voiced the film and no where was that more exciting than meeting the three principals from Beauty and the Beast, the 1991 feature that was part of the so-called “Disney Renaissance” that really helped propel Disney animated features back into the public consciousness again.
The tale begins with Belle herself, who was voiced by Paige O’Hara. Her background before Beauty and the Beast was as a Broadway actress, and in fact Belle was her first motion picture ‘role’. She provided both the speaking and singing voice of Belle in the initial film and then went on to reprise the role in several direct-to-video films and video games.
She has stayed remarkable inactive in animated film, although she did have a part in the Disney film Enchanted, and just this year did a voice in the Yo Gabba Gabba! movie. In any case, her role as Belle was significant enough to keep her famous for the rest of her life as a genuine Disney classic.
I got to meet her when she appeared at the Chicago Hollywood Show on September 7, 2013. At the time her autograph was an extremely reasonable $25 and it included a free photo – with both me and Carolyn. It was a sweet encounter… and I wondered if I’d ever be adding The Beast’s autograph to the photo.
Next up was another prominent actor from the film… but not The Beast. Although when it comes to characterization, Gaston might have been even more desirable as the haughtiest most pompous individual to ever be animated. The actor’s name was Richard White, and his background too comes from the stage. He was even a trained opera singer, which is not that big of a surprise considering Gaston’s booming voice.
My encounter with Richard White came at the Spring Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 6, 2015. The prices had already started to eke up, as he was $25 for the signed photo and an additional $5 for a photo with him, but this was more than manageable, especially considering he too let Carolyn get a picture with him for free.
At this point I really didn’t hold out a lot of hope for getting The Beast to sign the photo that I had obtained from Paige O’Hara, but as I should have learned by now in this hobby, dreams can easily come true… and often do.
Robby Benson had not only voiced The Beast, but had been one of those teenage staples that were frequently served in my monthly 16 Magazine purchases of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s (remember… I bought them for the KISS articles). In fact it was always hard for me to reconcile that the teen who came to prominence for Ice Castles was the same guy behind that gruff snarling voice of The Beast.
When he was announced to be a guest at the October 24, 2015 Chiller Theater Show, it pretty much clinched the fact that I’d be heading to Parsippany to greet him. In fact – as I was saying – he was there with Paige O’Hara and Richard White as well, so had I been patient I could have got them all in one place. BUT it is worth noting that the prices had inflated once again.
The cost was now $30 for the autograph and an additional $20 for the photo op, and I’m sure this was something that some of the fans didn’t mind paying. Luckily enough for me, I only needed Robby so that’s the only one I picked up that day.
And now I can say I’m inordinately pleased with both my autograph and photo op collection of the three principal performers from Beauty and the Beast. And I lived happily ever after…
Celebrities from the 2013 Chicago Hollywood Show will continue…
Celebrities from the 2015 Spring Fanboy Expo will continue…
Celebrities from the 2015 Fall Chiller Theater will continue…
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