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Post by MyTatuo on Apr 25, 2005 15:01:02 GMT -5
www.greatestamericanhero.com/images/Burbank_Apr_2005/Yes, I know, we all have this image of how much younger Katt and Culp should look. Trust me, they look much better in person. I mean, look at me in the pictures; in person I'm actually very skinny with non-thinning hair! I arrived about noon, paid my $15 entry, and then I walked all the way around that place, and the only people I recognized were Lou "Hulk" Ferrigno and Richard "Jaws" Kiel. (Later I saw Allyce "DiPesto" Beasley and met Claudia "Jennifer" Wells, another of my 80's crushes besides Sellecca.) I figure, great, they may only be here for an hour each day and I missed them... So I walk down the center aisle, toward where some professional photogs were snapping shots of...I thought it was the day's big draw, Burt "Robin" Ward. But no, they were getting some shots of the two stars of an obscure 80's superhero show, who were at that moment actually in close proximity to each other. Over the shoulders of the photographers, I spotted Katt and his long hair first (NOT smiling for the cameras that I could see), standing near the table where Culp was sitting. I, of course, wet my pants (figuratively) and waited patiently (picture Homer Simpson dancing on tiptoes and waving his wrists like he has to pee)... I turn back and the photographers, and Katt, are gone. Hmm. So I wait my turn and shake Culp's hand. He is very courteous and asks my name, and I tell him what a fan of TGAH I am, and how I'm the webmaster of GreatestAmericanHero.com. The Website. On the Internet. Computers? At this point his agent(?) asks me more about the site (which she has never seen ("How does that work, you just type in greatestamericanhero.com?"), and then I grab a B&W photo of 'Maxwell' for an autograph. Culp perks up and says, "Here's a shot of Maxwell from the pilot." A color shot of Culp holding the "automatic toothpick" at the Immaculate Heart mansion. "Do you want them both signed?" That's when I find out the prices: $20 for B&W signed photos, $25 for color shots, and $10 to sign what you brought in. And stupid me brought $100. Without my asking, since I was getting two, they gave me the color for the B&W price. (For those of you saying "tw-tw-twenty DOLLARS?!? EACH?!?" I would have paid $50 to shake their hands! You weren't there, man! You don't KNOW!) After telling Culp what an absolute pleasure it was to meet him (sincerely), I started another circuit looking for Katt, and I'm surprised I didn't trip over him the first time I walked around; he was right on an inside corner. Now is when I really started to shake like a schoolgirl. To compose myself, before I went to Katt's table, I called greenguy to GLOAT! COMING UP NEXT: MYTATUO MEETS WILLIAM KATT! Stay tuned...
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Post by ThatGirl on Apr 25, 2005 15:12:31 GMT -5
WOW! Those are fantastic! Congratulations!
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Lupin
Agent
I'm a good Fed.
Posts: 180
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Post by Lupin on Apr 25, 2005 15:29:20 GMT -5
Absolutely awesome! What a great experience, man! I wish I were there too. Congratulations!
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magicjammies
Agent
Im getting a treehouse with a bunch of elves around it
Posts: 214
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Post by magicjammies on Apr 25, 2005 17:00:03 GMT -5
excellent pictures.glad someone got to go.cant wait to hear about you meeting Mr Katt
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Post by JediKnightRockstar on Apr 27, 2005 14:23:40 GMT -5
You know, I've seen many stars of show separated at cons. At Wondercon in SF, CA, they had Galatica Classic star Richard Hatch at a table with Margot Kidder, meanwhile, Herbert Jefferson(co-star Boomer) was at a table at the far end of the lobby.
You should've put all of us on this board on a school bus, and take us this on a school "field trip."(How many field trips did Ralph take his class on anyway and how lucky were they?! In my highschool, we were lucky if we got one per year!!)
Hope you told William Katt about how life has imitated art in the "Heroes" episode, as Mr. Katt (and Robert Culp too) became our Lone Ranger.
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Post by MyTatuo on Apr 27, 2005 14:36:12 GMT -5
Hope you told William Katt about how life has imitated art in the "Heroes" episode, as Mr. Katt (and Robert Culp too) became our Lone Ranger. That thought actually came to my head; that I should tell Bill Katt, "I grew up on you, guy!" I was just afraid he would A) look at me like I was nuts, or B) look at me like he had no idea what I was talking about (which would be worse).
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on Apr 27, 2005 15:07:14 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm guessing Katt would, but that Culp would probably remember a line like that were he involved. So Katt didn't smile much at all, eh? He always comes across as so disinterested by the whole GAH thing. GREAT story though! Thanks for sharing.
-Frank
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Post by MyTatuo on Apr 27, 2005 16:15:29 GMT -5
So, anyway, I wait for a couple of ladies finishing up their conversation with Mr. William Katt, and then he turns to me and smiles politely. I tell him how extremely nervous I am (though I live close to L.A., the only other "celebrity" I've met was Tom "Biff" Wilson), and he said, "Why are you nervous?" He was extremely nice, which I was very happy about. The quick glimpse I saw of him at Culp's table earlier had me worried that he was perhaps not ecstatic to be there. I introduced myself as the webmaster for GreatestAmericanHero.com, and he said (are you ready for this?): <paraphrase>"Oh yeah, my kids have been to that site. I'm always seeing the site in my browser's history list"</paraphrase> Careful what you say about Bill Katt on this board, folks! His kids may be listening.... Now, 4-5 days later, I am kicking myself that I did not use my digital camera's VIDEO feature to record some of this! Maybe a cool clip I could use for a sound bite: "Hi, this is William Katt. Welcome to GreatestAmericanHero.com!" How cool would that have been. *sigh* We exchanged other pleasantries, me mentioning how much his show meant to me growing up. The person sitting with him collecting money saw my camera and offer to take our picture together. As you see, I got two because he then grabbed the B&W photo and held it up for another shot, and then autographed it for me. "Tom, thanks for the hits!" Then I mentioned that whenever he stars in or directs something for TV or movies, we can find the info easily enough on the Internet, but I asked if there was some resource to find out when he is doing something for theater, whether a Website or agent/secretary (after which he points out the lady next to him, his agent from Scott Stander & Assoc.), because we would love to put the info on the Website. He said that would be great, and told me about the movie he just directed, "Molding Clay," which is currently a finalist at the Houston Film Festival. I haven't found his current projects on the agent's Website, but I do have the agent's card, so we may be able to get current appearances by Katt on the main Website now. After getting an additional autograph for greenguy, I went back to Culp and asked for another signature, and maybe a picture with me? You can tell the difference between the pictures: Katt and I had our arms behind each other, where Culp simply stood next to me (where I thought it might be the other way around.)
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Post by TheNextGAH on Apr 27, 2005 22:52:29 GMT -5
WOW!! That's really cool that you were able to meet William and Robert. I wish I could but living on the East coast makes it hard.
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Ms_Lilacs
Agent
I'll just use the stairs.
Posts: 164
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Post by Ms_Lilacs on Apr 27, 2005 23:03:05 GMT -5
I myself am deeply jealous.
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scenario
Agent
"We all do what makes us feel good."
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Post by scenario on Apr 28, 2005 21:18:06 GMT -5
MyTatuo, awesome story and experience!!!
I really dig that you wore a RED shirt to meet those guys too. That was a nice touch.
I think meeting the actors would be so surreal and cool, far beyond meeting Stephen J. Cannell, just because we grew up watching them so much. I would LOVE to meet Connie Sellecca.
(If you wanted to scare the garbonzo beans out of William Katt, it would have been hilarious if you dressed up in the GAH suit, and had someone walking right behind you with a boom box radio playing "Believe it or Not". I bet Katt would bolt right out of there if he saw something like that. Then again, everyone probably would. One of my friends kidded me on my GAH obession and that I should have done that when I met SJC, and we had a good laugh at the possible reactions Cannell would have had if I or anyone else did something so off the wall fanatical like that. No wait, don't run away, I got super powers!)
-scenario-
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Post by MelMac on Apr 29, 2005 19:21:54 GMT -5
MyTatuo, thanks for sharing your story about the convention and the photos.
It's funny to read how your experience of meeting the two actors was opposite of what most people assume (Katt being a bit disinterested and Culp talk more fondly about the show). From listening to the interviews on DVD, I never thought Katt was disinterested in the show itself, only that he disliked wearing the "jammies." I understand that feeling, as I've been in a couple of plays that I loved, but hated the costumes, particularly hats.
I thought it was nice that Katt helped you find out more info about what he's doing in the theatre. The Internet has expanded our rate of getting information, and putting it on more than one site helps people find it more readily.
I also thought it was funny that Culp's agent asked if you just type in greatestamericanhero.com. It's the name of the Web site, and most people would assume that it's the address to type in. True, it doesn't always work, but it's usually the first one to try.
Thanks again for the recap.
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Post by TonyV on May 17, 2005 19:43:32 GMT -5
What a great experience that must have been for you. Thanks for sharing a great story and pictures!
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Post by enovak on May 30, 2005 21:33:05 GMT -5
Not about GAH, but conventions in general.
I share his joy, because when I was younger, living in New York, in the mid 70's I used to go to all the Star Trek conventions there. And let me tell you there is no bigger thrill that getting up close and meeting these people you idolize. I remember my Dad taking me once and staying in the hotel bar all day and then when I went to meet him he handed my a napkin with Deforest Kelley's (Dr McCoy) autograph! He had seen him in the bar and asked for an autograph for me. Gene Roddenerry was also there but his bodyguards wouldnt let anyone near him. I ran, literally, into Stanley Adams on the elevator. One time going home on the subway, I actually was sitting next to George Takei (Sulu) who asked me directions to Chinatown! Of course, then they weren't much older than when they were on tv, but i bet its a bit of a shock seeing some of your idols much older, since you have the memory and the tapes of a younger version.
And of course going to cons in 82-83 i always wore under my clothes my little red magic jammies that I had my mom make me!
And in '83, I went to Chicago for the largest Doctor Who convention in America at the time and met so many stars just wandering the halls or the lobby, and got to talk to lots of them just as person to person.
Of course in those days there was no Ebay and you didnt have to PAY to get autographs.
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Post by PamVK on Jun 1, 2005 22:39:17 GMT -5
Okay, I know I'm a little late to the party here, but I wanted to say thanks to MyTatuo for posting the details of his meetings with both William Katt and Robert Culp here. I just read this thread a week ago and was thrilled that Katt was so personable and friendly (being a long-time fan of his). So many celebs are disappointing in person, it's great that he's such a nice guy. GAH was on when I was all of 17, and I had a huge crush on Katt (wow, was he cute or what??). I remember writing to ABC complimenting them on the show, never expecting to get anything in return, only to get an autographed photo of Katt some months later, where he had also written "keep watching the show" or something like that on the back. I still have it somewhere... And I had forgotten how good the show actually was. The DVDs are bringing back a lot of good memories. Thanks again. Just one question...what does MyTatuo mean? I assume it's show-related, I just can't figure it out. Later, Pam stuck in Iowa
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on Jun 2, 2005 10:13:08 GMT -5
Yeah, if you use 3, it automatically inserts that frowny face with the 3 question marks above it, but you can always modify your post and change it to something else, know what I mean?!
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Post by PamVK on Jun 2, 2005 11:33:28 GMT -5
You can modify your post *after* you post it? How?
Just wondering,
Pam
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Lupin
Agent
I'm a good Fed.
Posts: 180
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Post by Lupin on Jun 2, 2005 13:31:08 GMT -5
You can modify your post *after* you post it? How? just go back to the thread and find your post. Next to it, on the separator line to the right, there is the option "Modify" and it appears with a bitmap file icon (??). This option is only available to the author of the post and Admins.
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Post by PamVK on Jun 2, 2005 15:43:41 GMT -5
Thanks, it worked great!!!
Plus I deleted my other post about the smileys. I may just turn them off for now.
Later!
Pam
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Lupin
Agent
I'm a good Fed.
Posts: 180
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Post by Lupin on Jun 2, 2005 16:33:24 GMT -5
Thanks, it worked great!!! you're welcome!
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