Autograph conventions offer fans the chance to meet the stars from television and movies. They offer the stars a chance to get involved in the growing business of celebrity memorabilia. At a recent convention in Los Angeles, fans bought pictures of their favorite Hollywood actors, many from movies and television series from decades ago.
One of the more recognizable people at this convention is the actress Margaret O'Brien, who started working in Hollywood in the 1940s, at the age of four.
"I did a lot of movies. was the most famous, with Judy Garland; with Elizabeth Taylor and June Allyson, Janet Leigh; with Orson Welles, and many, many more. So a lot of movies," she said.
Then came work as an adult actress in television series such as , which starred a young Clint Eastwood, and appearances in a weekly suspense series from director Alfred Hitchcock.
"And worked with Lassie, who is at this autograph show," she said.
The theatrical dog is a member of a famous Hollywood family. He is a ninth generation descendant of the collie, Pal, that appeared in the classic 1940s film . Later descendants of the dog appeared in the television series from 1954 to 1971.
Another veteran, the actress June Lockhart, played in several movies that featured the well-known dog and then, in the 1950s, co-starred in the series. She says her Hollywood contracts prevent her from speaking on radio, but a costar from her 1960s series, , was more than ready to tell his story. Bob May played a robot in the light-hearted science fiction show.
". I was the actor who played the part [of the robot]," he explained. "I did it the entire series, which is 83 episodes, three years."
Viewers never saw his face inside the robot costume, but fans are still thrilled to meet him.
A more recognizable actor, John Saxon, started in show business 50 years ago, and has appeared in many science fiction and horror films. He also played opposite kung fu star Bruce Lee in the 1973 martial arts classic . Mr. Saxon sometimes attends these autograph conventions, since he learned that movie memorabilia can be big business.
"There was a time when I paid a couple in Beverly Hills to answer my fan mail and to write notes back and sign photos," he said. "It would cost me, I think, about $500 or $600 or $700 a month to do this. Then I began finding people bringing me these photos back from shops from which they were sold, and I realized I was being inducted into a home cottage industry. "
He says he decided to get involved in the industry himself.
The convention was held at a Los Angeles hotel owned by another Hollywood star. Since 1971, the actress Beverly Garland has run a Holiday Inn near Universal Studios, and she still appears occasionally on television and in movies. She reminisces with guests about her long career.
"I did the with Frank Sinatra. The first big series that I did was called , the story of a New York police woman that we filmed in New York City," she said. Then I did ; then I did . And then I did ."I go on and on and on. Do you think I can remember everything? I'm an old lady."
Actress Marla Gibbs, who appeared in the 1970s series and a show called a decade later, says these conventions give her the chance to meet old friends from Hollywood. She is a singer as well as actress, and the event also gives her a chance to promote an upcoming recording.
"My CD should be coming out the end of September, the first of October," she said. "The name of it is , and the name of my record label is 'Forever Thirty,' because I'm forever 30."
So, it seems, are many at this convention, although most have been working in Hollywood for many decades. Organizer Mickey Sinardi says the event is partly about business and partly just for fun, even for the performers. He says a famous comedian stopped by to meet the fans.
"A lot of stars, people like Jonathan Winters, who was here earlier, and others, they don't have to come here to make a living, but they like doing it," he said. "It's a lot of fun. They come here to meet the crowd."
For Steven Christianson, a Canadian visitor who is here with his girlfriend, Kristen, the convention offered a chance to see some familiar stars, including one that he loved in his childhood. He was thrilled to meet Ron Harper, who starred in the 1970s television series .
"It was a real treat because he was not only one of the people that I'd watch every Saturday morning on the series, but I actually had a 12-inch [30-centimeter] action figure of this actor, and I think he got as much of a charge out of that as we did meeting him," he said.
Mr. Christianson bought an autographed picture of the star for $20.