Harry many thanks but before i address your kind comments on my association with character actors ill answer delicate as it is your question about the mysterious autograph celebrity.i only mentioned him indirectly to illustrate one thing. Unlike Reta Shaw Alan Hale and every well known character actor who went unnoticed by critics but loved by us fans, this one time big star had no class that day i stood in line waiting for the autograph. ive done this for years, traveling to get an autograoh in my homestate of any great star. Im not being coy or cute but Harry its obvious i cant say the name just like its obvious it can only be ONE PERSON im talking about. WE all know if we lived thru the condept of commerical television 1947-present there is acknowledged by critics and fans alike the all time NO ONE television show ever.It sickens me as it would any decent american or human being to see how bad off an actor can be if he must reply on booze to get him thru an autograph session.i was tipped off in advance to be prepared for this.but when i saw it and then saw him laughing up a storm smiling joking, hey folks i wasnt born yesterday its obvious it was the drinking that made him so SOCIABLE that day. i walked away in utter disgust. and you would do. his drinking by the way has been well documented all over the media for years and years.Dont take my word for it.There is only one all time television series that racked up emmys after emmys after emmys and no folks its not our beloved TAGS.And i didnt care much for katherine hepburn turning me away for an autograph. that is nones surprise.im not surprised. Harry think about it. the answer is staring right at you and everyone in the face.somethings are just so obvious.i gave enough hints trust me.On character actors. ive known personally upwards to 65 1965-present.what present?The TAGS alumni Charles Lane was the very very last character actor to die a year ago. funny but obits didnt dare mention that. there is no i repeat no more character actors from 30's alive today. if you know any tell me because ive racked my brains and i nor anyone else can come up with any. CHarles Lane Petticoat Junction Dennis the Menace co star ,the actor from Its a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was the last surviving character and supporting actor frok 1930s dying at 102. what a grand man .thank god fans and critics picked up on his contribution before he passed on. And thank goodness for character supporting stars many who went on to play on TAGS. Their names are forever etched into the hearts of movie goers,these character supporting players the backbone of any given film,unsung heros .we see them and we cry laugh or feel like welcoming a friend into our home, their family be it Claude Aiken Walter Brennen so very dear at the Brown Derby, Leonard Barr Deans Martin Uncle who did guest spots on the Odd Couple.he was a hotel the Sheraton sitting inlobby waiting for someone to reconize him in 1979.i reconized right away. i jumped for joy. oh did this dear sweet being love the attention.Tom did you see me on The Odd Couple last night with George Montgomery?I was the report/did you see me botch my line and they left it in.?I concurred. And that goofey looking face of his ready for a laugh. .Harold Russell the only actor to win an two academy awards for the same role.Try to figure that out foks but its true.FOr Best years of our Lives.He was Homer in real life.what a dear man til the end. he only made 3 films altogether but we know him allright.Hope Summers told me in 1975 that during the Homicidal filming in 1961 with James Uncle Ollie Weathersfield, they knew his graphic death sscene with her screaming uncontrobally might not get past the censors. BIll Castle took a chance ,it made Pyscho a classic itself look pale in comparison.But sadly she too toldmeclose as Frances Bavier and her were n TAGS, Hope lost all contact after the show ended its run.And Frances left Mayberry RFD after a year or two to simply get away from it all. Hope was crushed that Frances closed all doors to her.But again in her defence folks i got to speak up for these beloved STARS Frances was Aunt BEE to a t.when she heard me rool off her credits by phone she was so overwhelmed she invited me to call anytime.i did 6 more times .And once when i called, guess who was coming over?Anita Corsaut. She thought the world of Anita.we all do.I dont want to steer too far off the course but then again these actors many of them have connections to TAGS.Jack E Leonard the Mouth that Roared was the real thing. And funnier by phone.My last call to him months before he died of diabetes in 1972 he told me Don Rickles was only one out there to keep his type of rapid humor alive. Frank Faylen Herbie Faye,Hillary Brooke,Irene Tedrow Robert Harris George Chandler Mike Mazurki Marvin Miller the star of the Millionaire who gave us fans a check for one million dollars of good luck,Victor Killian, tragiccally murdered James Flavin, Roy Roberts from TAGS what a dear man too contrary to his tough tv film image.remember he was out to get ANDY,Eddie Foy, my dear friend of 15 yrs legendary radio tv film announcer actor Harry von Zell,Jerry lewis Ann B Davis from BRADY BUNCH.Her and twin sister still living thank god leonid shirley booth, Benny Rubin even latecomer Foster Brooks be it Cagney,Diretrich,Peck,Bergeman,Irene Dunne,Lee J Cobb,Onslow Stevens,Fulton J Sheen Ed Asner, Eve Arden, big or small they were all so dear. id supply the photo ,pay for postage and half the time theyd send me their own 8 by 10 personally autographed after reading my standard 4-6 pag letter where i went in full detail about their career. i think thats what got their attention, the lengh of my letters like my e mails. i get carry away like Jan Clayton said in 1973 but she admitted You sure do love us performers.And so do all of you Mayberry fans. Im no one special and im not saying that to feel good. i didnt do anything anyone couldnt had done. the only difference is i set out to do it i had the time on my side i made the effort. if va man climbs the highest mountain bravvo but folks we can do it do if we apply ourselves to it. And unlike today back in 60s and 70s these character actors were listed right in Whos Who in America address home address and all or simply in the L.A . directory. .Time for me to call it a day. i want others to get onboard and post their thoughts. but Harry thank you and everyone who appreciates character actors the unsung heros of films and tv .without them even the greatest of films could not survive . bless them all. Finallyone of the most beloved character actresses Mary Wicks said it best. in 1979 . "Were the backbone of american films but we always get lost in the shuffle.but we can go home and sleep at night knowing we gave every scene the shot in the arm a good doctor can to make it better. When Mary died calls went to her following her success in Sister Act. she was in harness til the day she died. .This is why I have a fondess for these character supporting actors.theyre more like us the regular joe on the street. Its back to the drawing board. Col tim over and out. ps rereading this i errored. i have Jerry Lewis s autographb but I meant to type Jerry Lester and its leonid kinsky the russian actor from Casablanca. _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
