This photo from the liner notes of “Pleasure Victim” is seared into my memory. Note that she is credited with Vocals and BJs!
A local band had a huge national hit back when my sister was a tween. She, being the resourceful and assertive person that she is, even back then, looked up one band member in the phone book. This would have been in the very early 70s, I believe. And she called him up. And interrupted him when he was with a girl. And he was not pleased.
Several years ago my daughter, when she was 8 or 9, was obsessed with Reece Witherspoon and watched and re-watched Legally Blonde. I suggested she write her a fan letter, which she did. We enclosed a photo of my daughter and I really, really hoped she’d get something back from her, even a form letter. Nothing! We had better luck with the governor, whom she wrote when a story appeared in the paper about a cat in the governor’s mansion. I would have loved to hear back from her because I personally admired her work as June Carter in Walk the Line.
I had better luck with Dave Barry, whom I sent a newspaper clipping of a man who gave his wife an obscene amount of roses. It was just the thing I thought he’d enjoy writing about. He never did, but I got a (apparently genuinely) signed postcard back, notifying me that I was an official Alert Reader and I probably should seek medical attention.
I also wrote to Roger Ebert, pointing out an inconsistency I noticed in two of his reviews. He emailed me back, defending himself — but I still think he was hedging. (In his review of Godzilla he said that in Jurassic Park we looked upon the dinosaurs “with wonder” … in his JP review he mostly blasted Speilberg for cramming the dinos down our throats early and often, no mention of wonder anywhere.) I printed out the email and hope I’ve still got it around somewhere.
I also wrote an unsent fan letter to John Irving when I was in college. I certainly hope I destroyed it because I burn with embarrassment when I think what a fawning, self-congratulating thing it was, telling him that I too was a writer and doing my best to impress him just what a fantastic writer I was. Gah.
For some reason, I read that as “I wrote 141 fan letters to Isaac Asimov,” and was wondering why he didn’t take out an order of protection against you!
I wrote a letter to Loretta Young some 25 years ago because I needed a quote for a book I was writing. Every other person I contacted responded; she was the only one I never heard from. Some of the others were reasonably famous, too.
See, this is why Serifs Are Vital Everytime (SAVE). Join our crusade—get the free bumper sticker. Don’t let the sansserifists take them away!
When I was about ten or so I wrote a fan letter to Dan Marino.
Couple weeks later I got a black and white 8x10 that was signed by him. There wasn’t a note or anything but it was signed in green and really doesn’t look like a stamp.
Still have that somewhere…
While I enjoy the entertainment of many actors, musicians, authors and so forth, it never once ocurred to me to “bother” them for an autograph or picture.
I suppose it has to do with my experiences as a ute. My mom owned a travel agency in Nashville, TN, where I grew up. Being the largest in town, many of her clients were country music or television stars. Back in ancient times, one had to actually hand-write - and later print - airline tickets or similar travel docs. Often, she would grab a stack of tickets and deliver them to star’s home or office on our way home. She’d stop, I’d run give Mr. Cash his ticket & jump back in the car.
Mrs. Canon? That’s Minnie Pearl to you! Nice lady.
When I started driving, and got even more delivery duties, I met every Nashville star imaginable, and always just left with a “have a nice day.” Porter Wagner -one of my faves as a child - would chat or get me a Coke, but I never lingered or bothered anyone ever.
Even as a teenager, and spending the limited time I did with folks, I could still see that these were just regular people who really valued their privacy. Certainly some were more gregarious than others, but you know when you’re intruding on someone’s world. A bag of letters a day would be a huge PITA.
I’ve worked for a retired NFL legend for many years, and you can’t believe the volume of letters he gets even years after his height as a celebrity, TV star and more. Most ask for money for a great opportunity, some for an autograph, some are just thanks for the memories and a small number of threats. I deal with those!
We have lunch or dinner most days, and most people leave him alone, although you can see people at other tables, or walking in the mall recognize him & stare.
Makes me wonder why anyone would want to be a famous mega-star.
I just want the money & babes. Everyone else - go away!
I wrote once to John Williams, the composer about featuring all his famous film music on several Sunday afternoon radio shows, and he not only wrote me back but gave me plenty of sound bites. Won me an Associated Press Radio award for Best Feature. His letter and the sound bites have been saved. he used to go by “Johnny Williams”.
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Nice post.Congratulations on the Associated Press award too;I wasn’t expecting that.
That is your full time job? Sounds like a fascinating experience in its way. Wish I could hear more stories, or if you could start an Ask The _____ thread, but without giving away the name would be tough…
Funny to see this thread… just a couple of hours ago I dashed off a short, admiring fan letter to the guy who hosts a radio show I’ve been listening to for 30 years (I figured it was time). Within an hour I got a short but warm personal response. I was glad to sort of close the loop after all these years.
I saw the famed Thoroughbred racehorse John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park a number of years ago. I was astounded when they said he gets quite a volume of fan mail — mostly from people full of gratitude for the money he won them. (He was euthanized in 2007.)
I’m pretty sure that they were messing with you.
I’ve written a couple. I’ve never gotten replies – I’ve never asked for them. It takes a lot to make me write things out longhand, and usually if I do, it’s because I want to thank someone for producing a piece of media that has, for whatever reason, meant a lot to me. I don’t really need an answer to that.
I’ve had some surprise success getting people to volley back on Twitter, though. I never expect a reply to tweets either, but damned if I don’t get them from time to time. It mostly seems to be a matter of luck, or guessing when someone famous will be bored enough to be staring at their iPhone.
Nope. I saw the Christmas and birthday cards he’d gotten too.
Years ago, on another message board, I responded to a post made by Wil Wheaton, who was an occasional poster there. He PM’d me. I replied. He asked me for my email address and we corresponded back and forth for a few months.
It was a bit stressful. Each email I sent was rewritten/edited many times. He seemed like a truly cool guy.
I’ve had a few conversations with Jane Wiedlin (of the GoGo’s) on Twitter.
I also entered a contest on Twitter and won a signed Melissa & Joey postcard (signed by Melissa Joan Hart) and was in a couple of conversations with her as well.
Finally, I mentioned to Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) about his show being the first concert I ever went to (they were opening for Iron Maiden). I told him the town and year and he remembered the tour and posted a response about what an awesome tour that was.
I don’t follow many really famous folk on Twitter as they are largely a bit dull, but I once replied to Russell Crowe as he was describing the sunrise in Australia. I sent him a pic of the sunset happening where I was in Scotland with a brief comment, and there was a bit of friendly back and forth. He also RTed my pic!* It’s such a strange feeling having a wee chat with someone like Crowe on the the other side of the planet, in a sort of “Wow, the modern world, eh?” way.
- my follower count quickly jumped by a hundred or so. All spam-bots though
No big secret.
We have a lot of fun in our office. My wife has been his assistant for over 22 years.
I do IT and studio stuff there, taping training videos and more. He’s a fun guy to hang around with.