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Beverly Garland's Hollywood Collectors and Celebrities Show
June 29th - 30th, 2002 - This show was by far the most different event I have ever attended. It reminded me of an “I Love Lucy” episode, where she and Ethel arrive in Hollywood and the first thing on their minds is “Where are the movie stars?” In fact, Lucy asks the bellhop, “Isn’t there a place, like a watering hole, where stars all gather together at the same time?” Well too bad for Lucy that the Hollywood Collectors Show wasn’t around back then, because it is exactly that, a watering hole for stars. Ok, some of these stars aren’t current day celebrities, but still they are celebrities.
The first night there we (my kids and I), ate in the hotel restaurant. The had a live band there not a rock band but more like a Tommy Dorsey style band. It was pretty good and next to us there was a long table, obviously friends of the band and some celebrities. I recognized a few and could name less. Chuck McCann was one of people there at that table. He was a childhood favorite of mine. Back in New York he had a kid’s show where he did his thing and showed cartoons. I think his show was on WNEW but I’m not sure, (which was channel five back in the 60's). I told my kids who he was and of course I had to preface that with a mini lecture on “ TV before cable and Cartoon Network.” I didn’t approach him because he doesn’t seem to be an approachable kind of guy and besides he was eating. I never do that kind of stuff, bother people when they’re eating. Because the next thing you know they are staring at you through potted plants and then you accidently make the waiter dump a tray of spaghetti all over them. Who wants that! Also there was Brenda Vaccaro, she was wearing a sweat suit and looked a little plump. Other than that she looked okay.
The next day and first day of the show I stopped in the “Celebrity Room” where they had tables lined up with stars and name plates in case you didn’t recognize them. Most you wouldn’t know them by name, but you would remember their faces. My favorites were Ken Osmond “Eddie Haskell” and Frank Bank “Clarence ‘Lumpy’ Rutherford.” They were both by far the nicest people there. They were regular guys that didn’t try to give you the business.
Here's Frank Bank "Lumpy" and my three daughters
Most of the celebrities there reacted in two ways, either they liked my “Morbid Curiosity” or they hated it and me like poison. The celebs that seemed to disapprove the most where:
Loretta Swit (M.A.S.H.) who smiled politely but then gave me a look
Joyce Bulifant (Mary Tyler Moore) shot me dirty looks for two days!
She was the worst one there. Like I would put her in my book or site if she died. Pl -ease!
I wouldn't dare talk to Jamie Farr who was there, because I had had a bad experience with him in Miami.
I was at the Seaquarium with a girl friend and her two kids. Mind you this is in the mid-80's when M.A.S.H. was pretty popular. This is before he became the has-been of today. Well my friend's kids recognized him and ran up to him requesting an autograph and he flatly said, "No I don't do autographs." What a jerk to do that to a couple of kids. Yeah, I insulted him. Sorry I couldn't control myself.
A really nice person was June Lockhart, she was so professional. She got there early and stayed late. Instead of snubbing people she was absolutely very polite. I felt sorry for her having to answer stupid dopey questions. Like, “How come Lassie didn’t rescue the Jupiter 2 when it got lost in space?”
Barbara Eden looked really good and was perhaps the most popular celebrity there. I’m sure she raked it in that weekend. I think she was charging $50 an autograph picture and there was a line around the building waiting for her. That lady rarely looked up, she was steady signing all those photos one right after the other. God Bless her. It’s amazing that she is out and about after losing her son. I’d be rolled up in a fetal position if that had happened to one of my kids.
Greg Evigan,49, from “B.J. and the Bear” and “My Two Dads”, HOT, HOT, HOT! I bumped into him outside and he was really nice.
Here’s a name you’d probably say who? Michael Callan. You might remember him from the movie “Cat Ballou.” I personally remember him from a “Happy Days” episode where Fonzie and Ritchie get drafted into the military and he’s the recruiting sergeant. Well he complimented me on my Cadillac. That’s my big claim to fame.
It was a lot of fun and I wish I had taken more pics. Next time I will. I felt a little awkward taking photos there. Everyone seemed uptight about getting their picture taken unless you paid them.
I’ll be at the October 4th and 5th Show so if you would like to meet me and get your book signed come see me.
