Leon Askin was an Austrian-born veteran actor of the stage and movies for many years before he entered tv in the 1950s. He appeared on many shows in a variety of roles, both dramatic and comedic. Mr. Askin was adept at playing foreign characters who'd speak English but with a strong accent.
While I'd seen him in various movie and tv roles, it is as the character 'General Burkhalter' in the 1960s tv sitcom "Hogan's Heroes" for which I'll remember him.
In early February 1982, I sent Mr. Askin this photo, in character as 'General Burkhalter', to his residence in Beverly Hills, California. He returned it within two weeks.
Some years later, Mr. Askin returned to his native Austria where he continued to act and direct. He even had/has his personal website. The website is still online, and apparently is being maintained by somebody since Mr. Askin's death in Vienna in 2005, at age 97.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Mary Treen
Mary Treen was a character actress who began her career on the vaudeville stage, and from there continued on to theater and movie and tv. Her movie career began in the 1930s in many uncredited roles. As audiences continued to recognize her, she eventually was given screen credit for whichever roles she played.
Ms. Treen was seen on many tv shows during the 1960s, '70s and '80s and was always fun to watch.
I wrote to Ms. Treen, at her Newport Beach, California residence, in 1982, requesting a photo. She sent this photo, within two weeks. It's signed on the upper left, in the dark portion of the photo.
Ms. Treen was seen on many tv shows during the 1960s, '70s and '80s and was always fun to watch.
I wrote to Ms. Treen, at her Newport Beach, California residence, in 1982, requesting a photo. She sent this photo, within two weeks. It's signed on the upper left, in the dark portion of the photo.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Butterfly McQueen - 'Prissy' in "Gone With the Wind"
Butterfly McQueen was an actress who is best remembered for her role in 1939's "Gone With the Wind", as the young maid Prissy. She went on to appear in a handful of movies and several tv shows over the years.
In 1982, a friend who'd been collecting autographed photos for many years provided me with Miss McQueen's address, which was on West 144th Street in New York City's Harlem. I sent her this photo as 'Prissy', and she returned it to me within two weeks.
I'd heard from people who'd met her and/or talked to her by phone, that Miss McQueen was a very sweet lady who enjoyed being remembered for her movie role of many years earlier. This dear lady had a tragic end. In 1995, while living in Augusta, Georgia where she maintained a home during winter months, she attempted to light a kerosene heater, and it malfunctioned and burst into flames. She received burns over most of her body, and died a few days later. Her body was donated to medical science.
In 1982, a friend who'd been collecting autographed photos for many years provided me with Miss McQueen's address, which was on West 144th Street in New York City's Harlem. I sent her this photo as 'Prissy', and she returned it to me within two weeks.
I'd heard from people who'd met her and/or talked to her by phone, that Miss McQueen was a very sweet lady who enjoyed being remembered for her movie role of many years earlier. This dear lady had a tragic end. In 1995, while living in Augusta, Georgia where she maintained a home during winter months, she attempted to light a kerosene heater, and it malfunctioned and burst into flames. She received burns over most of her body, and died a few days later. Her body was donated to medical science.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Henry Jones
Henry Jones was an actor best known for his character roles. He was active in movies from the 1940s, and tv shows from the 1950s into the 1990s. He is probably best remembered for his role as the father-in-law on the 1970s sitcom "Phyllis" which starred Cloris Leachman.
I wrote to Mr. Jones in 1982, to his residence in Los Angeles, requesting a photo. He sent this photo within one month.
I wrote to Mr. Jones in 1982, to his residence in Los Angeles, requesting a photo. He sent this photo within one month.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Frances McCoy.....Search Ended
Welcome Back! I took a much-needed break from blogging, during the month of August, and now I'm back, with a new posting three times a week - Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I appreciate the comments people have made about my blog, and about my autographed photo collection in general, and I hope every reader will find future postings as informative and entertaining too.
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On Thursday evening, August 21, 2008, the nearly 20-year search for actress Frances McCoy ended. Fellow 'Three Stooges supporting players' researcher Frank Reighter sent me a scan of a news article in a 1943 issue of the military publication, The Stars and Stripes. He found it in a section of the genealogy website Ancestry.com. The article was about a USO entertainment troupe touring Europe to entertain U.S. armed services personnel. One of the entertainers was "singer Frances McCoy, of New York". Reference was made to Miss McCoy looking for her brother, T/Sgt. Harry Popper, who was in the Air Corps. A photograph of Frances with some other people was included in the article.
With this new information, that her family name was "Popper", I proceeded to research the vast resources at Ancestry.com and found her family in the 1930 US Census, living in New York City. With an approximate birth year for Harry, I then was able to locate his date of death and an obituary. The obit mentioned several survivors, but Frances was not one of them. There were a few children of Harry's, though, and I located his daughter Victoria, living in California. I called, and she confirmed that her aunt was indeed Frances McCoy, the actress who appeared in 1930's "Soup to Nuts", the first screen appearance of a group of comics who would later be known as The Three Stooges. Victoria was pleasantly surprised that people are interested in her aunt's career, and we had a lengthy conversation during which she told me some vital family history.
Frances was born in Poland, on December 25, 1910 (some sources give the year as 1912), as Franya Popowsky. Her parents were Sam and Yetta Popowsky (this name was later 'Americanized' to 'Popper'). Her family emigrated to the U.S. in about 1913-1914 and lived in New York City, until they moved to Los Angeles in 1930. Frances, who'd become a stage actress in NYC, was offered movie roles. While her movie career never took off as hoped, she continued performing in a few movie musical shorts and nightclub revues, until she married and left the business.
As Frances Katchen, she died on June 20, 1976, a resident of River Edge, New Jersey.
Frank will continue communicating with Frances' niece to obtain more information about her career, photos, etc.
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On Thursday evening, August 21, 2008, the nearly 20-year search for actress Frances McCoy ended. Fellow 'Three Stooges supporting players' researcher Frank Reighter sent me a scan of a news article in a 1943 issue of the military publication, The Stars and Stripes. He found it in a section of the genealogy website Ancestry.com. The article was about a USO entertainment troupe touring Europe to entertain U.S. armed services personnel. One of the entertainers was "singer Frances McCoy, of New York". Reference was made to Miss McCoy looking for her brother, T/Sgt. Harry Popper, who was in the Air Corps. A photograph of Frances with some other people was included in the article.
With this new information, that her family name was "Popper", I proceeded to research the vast resources at Ancestry.com and found her family in the 1930 US Census, living in New York City. With an approximate birth year for Harry, I then was able to locate his date of death and an obituary. The obit mentioned several survivors, but Frances was not one of them. There were a few children of Harry's, though, and I located his daughter Victoria, living in California. I called, and she confirmed that her aunt was indeed Frances McCoy, the actress who appeared in 1930's "Soup to Nuts", the first screen appearance of a group of comics who would later be known as The Three Stooges. Victoria was pleasantly surprised that people are interested in her aunt's career, and we had a lengthy conversation during which she told me some vital family history.Frances was born in Poland, on December 25, 1910 (some sources give the year as 1912), as Franya Popowsky. Her parents were Sam and Yetta Popowsky (this name was later 'Americanized' to 'Popper'). Her family emigrated to the U.S. in about 1913-1914 and lived in New York City, until they moved to Los Angeles in 1930. Frances, who'd become a stage actress in NYC, was offered movie roles. While her movie career never took off as hoped, she continued performing in a few movie musical shorts and nightclub revues, until she married and left the business.
As Frances Katchen, she died on June 20, 1976, a resident of River Edge, New Jersey.
Frank will continue communicating with Frances' niece to obtain more information about her career, photos, etc.
Friday, August 1, 2008
"Joan Crawford" Fashion Doll
This announcement is being provided as a courtesy to my friend Michelle Vogel.
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Fashion doll innovator Robert Tonner, CEO of the TONNER DOLL COMPANY, returns one of Hollywood’s greatest treasures to her ardent fans! Named one of the top ten ‘Greatest Female Stars of All Time’ by the American Film Institute, Joan Crawford is sure to be named the Greatest Fashion Doll of All Time by fans and collectors everywhere.
The new Joan Crawford Fashion Doll is accurately sculpted in an amazing likeness of the Academy Award® winner herself, in cooperation with her family. "I am very pleased to work with The Tonner Doll Company in creating the first ever, authorized Joan Crawford doll collection,” said Casey LaLonde, grandson of Ms. Crawford. “Joan Crawford fans and doll collectors worldwide will be equally delighted with this high quality, life-like and collectible doll line. Tonner's attention to detail and features will make this a much sought after collection."
The approximately 16” tall starlet is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with 13 points of articulation (neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, bustline, waist, hips, and knees), so she can recreate all of her most glamorous poses before the camera. She features high end details such hand painted facial features and hand styled, rooted saran hair.
TONNER’S Joan Crawford collection will hit specialty retail store shelves later this year. Pre-order today from any of the following authorized TONNER retailers listed below or contact us directly at the Tonner Company Store at 845-339-2960.
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Fashion doll innovator Robert Tonner, CEO of the TONNER DOLL COMPANY, returns one of Hollywood’s greatest treasures to her ardent fans! Named one of the top ten ‘Greatest Female Stars of All Time’ by the American Film Institute, Joan Crawford is sure to be named the Greatest Fashion Doll of All Time by fans and collectors everywhere.
The new Joan Crawford Fashion Doll is accurately sculpted in an amazing likeness of the Academy Award® winner herself, in cooperation with her family. "I am very pleased to work with The Tonner Doll Company in creating the first ever, authorized Joan Crawford doll collection,” said Casey LaLonde, grandson of Ms. Crawford. “Joan Crawford fans and doll collectors worldwide will be equally delighted with this high quality, life-like and collectible doll line. Tonner's attention to detail and features will make this a much sought after collection."
The approximately 16” tall starlet is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with 13 points of articulation (neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, bustline, waist, hips, and knees), so she can recreate all of her most glamorous poses before the camera. She features high end details such hand painted facial features and hand styled, rooted saran hair.
TONNER’S Joan Crawford collection will hit specialty retail store shelves later this year. Pre-order today from any of the following authorized TONNER retailers listed below or contact us directly at the Tonner Company Store at 845-339-2960.
Angelic Dreamz (Canandaigua, NY) – Toll Free (800) 860-9934 or (585) 394-5450
Bearzabout (Duvall, WA) – Toll Free (800) 595-1050 or (425) 844-9100
Cherished Friends (Laureldale, PA) – (610) 921-9141
My Doll Shop (Mt. Dora, FL) – Toll Free 800-731-3090 or (352)735-3090
Two Day Dreamers (El Granada, CA) – Toll Free (888) 688-DOLL (3655) or (650) 563-9258
Descriptions:
Joan Crawford Collection Product Descriptions
The Joan Crawford Collection showcases an exceptional assortment of original fashions inspired by some of her most well-known scenes.
Joan prepares herself for her next dramatic scene, in Ready for Wardrobe. These simple yet elegant undergarments include lustrous aquamarine charmeuse slip with delicate lace trim, the ‘ever important’ pantyhose with attached knit panties, and classy faux leather Mary Jane heels.
Inspired by one of her most famous roles, comes Hollywood Starlet. Joan is swathed in a frothy concoction composed of an intricately detailed white organza top and trumpet skirt with contrast black waist tie. She comes complete with a perfectly matching ribbon headband, beaded bracelet, pantyhose, and faux leather high heels.
Joan Crawford lights up the screen as Cinema Siren! This dazzling vision consists of a finely tailored suit set which includes a long, straight cut skirt and a matching jacket accented with glamorous, plush faux fur trim. Her equally striking accessories include a chic black cap, knit gloves, pantyhose, and faux leather ankle strap high heels.
“I am just too much.” In Mad About the Hat, Joan is just that. This stunning creation includes an exquisitely detailed suit set composed of a smart, fitted jacket with lavish ruffled organza collar and faux leather belt with dazzling rhinestone buckle, and matching pencil skirt. Not to be forgotten are her sophisticated portrait hat, faux suede gloves with matching ruffled organza trim, pantyhose, and faux leather peep-toe Mary Jane heels.
“I have always known what I wanted, and that was beauty... in every form.” Jungle Red is a perfect example of beauty in the form of high quality fashion. Included in this truly glamorous ensemble is a full length, pleated chiffon dress with intricate shirred detail and striking red and white contrast, paired with a perfectly coordinated beaded bracelet and faux leather strappy heels.
To face the trials and tribulations of Hollywood, one must be dressed for success. In Publicity Shoot, Joan is ready for anything in navy blue chiffon day dress featuring meticulous details including tiny buttons, contrast organza cuffs and wide collar trimmed with ruffles, matching belt, circular flounce at the hem. A stylish cloche hat with ribbon trim, faux pearl necklace, and faux leather pumps with intricate cut-out detailing complete this handsome ensemble.
Taking a 'Blog Break"
I appreciate all of the comments about my blog, and website in general, and I know this may be disappointing news to many readers, but I'm going to take a break from posting new entries to this blog for the month of August. Sort of a 'summer vacation'.
I expect to be back to posting right after Labor Day, on September 2nd, and then the postings will be three times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Thanks for reading up to this point and please return when I do.
I expect to be back to posting right after Labor Day, on September 2nd, and then the postings will be three times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Thanks for reading up to this point and please return when I do.
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