Kim Novak

Kim Novak is an actress who began her career in the 1950s. Her first few roles were uncredited, but she became known shortly after, for her roles in movies such as "Pushover" (1954) co-starring with Fred MacMurray, "Phffft!" (1954) opposite Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon, and "Picnic" (1955) co-starring with William Holden.

Ms. Novak starred in Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (1958), with James Stewart. That same year, another movie for which she may be remembered is "Bell, Book and Candle" which co-starred James Stewart again as well as Jack Lemmon. She continued starring in several other feature movies, as well as many guest appearances on tv shows, into the 1990s.

In 1985, I sent Ms. Novak this photo. She returned it within two weeks.

Joan Woodbury

Joan Woodbury was an actress in many movies from the 1930s into the 1960s. She appeared mostly in 'B' movies, including some Westerns, in which she played the heroine opposite 'cowboy' stars such as Tex Ritter and Roy Rogers.

I sent her this photo in 1983, and she signed and returned it within two weeks.

Sandy Duncan

Sandy Duncan is an actress and singer who was very active on tv from the 1960s into the 1990s. I remember her many guest appearances on tv shows. She has pixie-like qualities in her appearance and voice mannerisms.

She also had her own tv show, "The Hogan Family", in the late 1980s. This show was a continuation of actress Valerie Harper's sitcom, "Valerie", which was discontinued after Harper had some kind of dispute with the producers. Ms. Duncan's character became the star of the show and it was renamed.

It was in the late 1980s I sent her this photo, and she signed and returned it within one month.

Dennis Christopher

Dennis Christopher first came to recognition in the 1979 coming-of-age movie "Breaking Away". I liked his portrayal of the character 'Dave' and looked forward to seeing him in other movies. Some of his other prominent roles were in 1980's "Fade to Black" and 1981's "Chariots of Fire". Since that time, he has been in many other movies and tv shows.

I wrote to him in 1981, sending him two photos. He signed each and returned them promptly, within two weeks. The photos can be seen here and here. The latter he signed to me with only his first name, as if we were friends.

William Windom

William Windom is an Emmy-winning actor who's had an extensive career in movies and television.
One of his finest roles was in 1962's "To Kill a Mockingbird". A few years later, he had his own tv series, "My World and Welcome To It", for which he won his Emmy.

I'd never requested a photo from Mr. Windom during my active years of collecting, mainly because I never obtained an address for him. But in 1998, I had the pleasure of meeting him at the same banquet at which I met Gale Storm (see blog from November 18). He signed this photo for me.

Gale Storm

Gale Storm is one of Hollywood's most versatile performers. In addition to her work in movies and television, she's a successful recording artist.

In the 1940s, she appeared in many features for RKO Pictures and Monogram Pictures. She also sang in several "Soundies", 3-minute musical shorts that were shown on "movie jukeboxes".

In the 1950s, Miss Storm had a recording career, and hit the music charts with a couple of hits, "I Hear You Knockin' " and "Dark Moon". At the same time, she starred in two consecutive tv sitcoms, "My Little Margie" and "The Gale Storm Show" (the latter was also known as "Oh! Susanna").

In 1985, I sent Miss Storm this photo, to her residence in California. She signed and returned it within two weeks.

I had the pleasure of meeting Gale in 1998. She was a guest of honor at The Two Tars Tent of The Sons of the Desert Banquet on November 28th, at the Cherry Hill Holiday Inn. Here is a photo of us taken during the autograph session.

Here is a YouTube slideshow of her singing "Dark Moon".

David Seville - "Father" of "The Chipmunks"

David Seville was the stage name of Ross Bagdasarian, who was an actor, singer/songwriter and record producer. He is best remembered today for creating "The Chipmunks" - Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

The voices of the "Chipmunks" were performed by recording voices at 'normal' speed, and then speeded up on a tape recorder. Mr. Bagdasarian had used this effect on a hit record he had in 1958, "The Witch Doctor", which was also his first experiment with speeding an audio track to get the distinctive, comical, squeaky, high-pitched voices.

The 'big hit' for "David Seville and The Chipmunks" came in 1958, with the seasonal song "Christmas Don't Be Late" (also known simply as "The Chipmunk Song").

Mr. Bagdasarian died in 1972, at the young age of 52, long before I became very active in acquiring autographed photos. Over the years, I always had him on my list of 'desired autographs', and in 1995, was fortunate to buy this photo of him from a reliable autograph dealer. I recall paying about $10 for it.

Here is a link to a YouTube video of "The Chipmunk Song" from the 1960s animated tv series "The Alvin Show".

And here is a video slideshow with the original recording of "The Witch Doctor".