One of the first autographs I received after delving into the hobby in early 1985 was from Audrey Meadows, who played the role of Alice in one of my favorite television series The Honeymooners. I sent out the request sometime in mid-May and the photo returned on May 31. She was kind enough to sign a cast shot in bold, beautiful purple, along with a pair of notecards.
A couple of months later on July 10, I sent the photo on to Jackie Gleason along with an original lobby card from The Sting II and, again, two notecards. All these items came back on August 5 personally signed by Mr. Gleason, along with an additional autographed portrait.
Despite the fact that I was already facing a potential lost autograph of the My Little Margie principals (see here), and words of caution from my Mom about taking the risk, I decided to go for the other two cast members.
I had heard that Joyce Randolph was miffed at Gleason and the other cast members for not inviting her to partake in the reunion shows of the late 1970’s, instead employing a member of the later color Miami Beach episodes, Jane Kean. My theory, as silly as it was, was that I didn’t want to make her feel like the last one to sign the photo – and therefore less important – provoking her not return it. So I went for her next. On August 13, with trembling hands, I put my signed photo back in the mailbox.
My fears proved to be unfounded. On August 21 – just one week later, I received my picture back. She not only signed the photo (and two notecards) but was kind enough to enclose a signed photocopy of an article about the release of the Honeymooners Lost Episodes, a craze that was gripping Honeymooners fans around this time period.
The Art Carney experience was even scarier. Bob had told me that he was a willing signer so I sent it off on December 11, 1985. About a week later, it came back with a “wrong address” label on it. I re-verified with Bob the correct address and tried again on Feb. 25, 1986. This time I didn’t see it again…until December 19 of that year! And again, it came back with a return address label. I decided to give up.
But as I renewed my interest in sending for autographs in the Summer of 1988, I mustered the gumption to try yet again. This time I sent it out on August 6, 1988 and got it back August 12 – just a week later. And it was signed!! I later realized that Art Carney was one of the all-time great signers through the mail, not only signing an addtional two postcards and two notecards in this particular package, but over the years signing nearly 25 photos for me!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, proves that gambling pays.
For more autographs from the 1985 collection, click here…
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