AUTOGRAPH COLLECTOR TAKES HIS SHOW ON ROAD FOR LOVE OF MOVIES.Byline: Angela Randazzo Staff Writer When Ethel Barrymore was performing in a stage play in Tulsa, Okla., Joe Ackerman asked for her autograph autograph Any manuscript handwritten by its author; in common usage, a handwritten signature. Aside from its value as a collector's item, an early or corrected draft of a work may show its stages of composition or “correct” final version. . That was in 1932 and little did the young man know then that collecting celebrity autographs would become a lifelong pursuit. ``I've been a movie buff from the get-go,'' Ackerman said. ``Maybe I got it from my mother, who played the piano at the local silent movie theater, and my father, who ran the projector.'' Now 83, Ackerman has collected more than 6,000 autographs from movies stars, sports figures, and radio and TV personalities. He also has an impressive collection of more than 200 candid can·did adj. 1. Free from prejudice; impartial. 2. Characterized by openness and sincerity of expression; unreservedly straightforward: In private, I gave them my candid opinion. slide photographs of celebrities that he began snapping when he arrived in Hollywood in the early 1940s. ``The stars were more gracious gra·cious adj. 1. Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy. 2. Characterized by tact and propriety: responded to the insult with gracious humor. 3. back then. They would make time for you,'' Ackerman said. ``Of course, everything was in Hollywood back then, so they were more accessible.'' Ackerman and his wife, Marian, have presented their autograph and slide show, free of charge, to social and civic groups for the past 10 years. They were at the Moorpark Senior Center on Friday and more than 30 seniors enjoyed calling out the names of the stars as the slides were shown. ``I'm interested in classic movies and this falls right in,'' said Ann Bayer, an audience member. ``It's a thrill to see all the stars.'' Some of Ackerman's star signatures are mounted with posters of the movies that made them famous. Beside a colorful poster of ``Gone With the Wind'' are the signatures of 18 cast members including Clarke Gable gable Triangular section formed by a roof with two slopes, extending from the eaves to the ridge where the two slopes meet. It may be miniaturized over a dormer window or entranceway. , Vivien Leigh, Olivia De Havilland Olivia Mary de Havilland (born July 1, 1916) is a two-time Academy Award winning actress and is the last surviving principal cast member from Gone with the Wind. She is the sister of Academy Award winning actress Joan Fontaine. and producer David O. Selznick. ``When I brought home Clarke Gable's autograph, my wife just about fainted,'' Ackerman said. ``Gable was at a golf tournament in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. . I asked if I could take his picture and get his autograph and he said, `Sure.' '' Ackerman and his wife travel with only a small portion of their collection that includes 105 movie posters with autographs. Among the posters with cast member signatures are ``Citizen Kane'' with Orson Wells, ``Casablanca'' with Humphrey Bogart and ``The Wizard of Oz'' with Judy Garland Garland, city (1990 pop. 180,650), Dallas co., N Tex., a suburb of Dallas; inc. 1891. Since World War II, Garland has grown from an agricultural community into an important center for electronics research and for the production of electronic equipment. . Born in Oklahoma, Ackerman always had a yen to come to California. He got his chance during World War II when his asthma kept him stateside state·side adj. 1. Of or in the continental United States. 2. Alaska Of or in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. adv. Informal 1. and he signed on to work at Lockheed. ``I would work at Lockheed during the day and at night I would go out along Hollywood Boulevard For uses other than the original street, see Hollywood Boulevard (disambiguation). Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest to Vermont Avenue, where it straightens out to the theaters and collect autographs,'' he said. Ackerman and his wife met on a blind date and have been married for 45 years. The Glendale couple has five grown children and 13 grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. . The Ackermans still enjoy collecting autographs and would like to keep their collection together, perhaps finding a home for it in a museum or other public venue. ``I'm a collector. I'm not in it to make money until I need it,'' Ackerman said. ``The stars have been good to me, so I want to be nice and share my collection with everybody else.'' Also ran in CONEJO Edition CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Autograph collector Joe Ackerman, 83, shows off one of his prizes, a ``Gone With the Wind'' poster framed with the signatures of 18 cast members. (2) Visitors to the Moorpark Senior Center view Joe Ackerman's traveling display of autographs. Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News |
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