Authenticity is Everything
National Lampoon Radio Hour 1973 Cast Signed Birthday Card Created by Gilda Radner - Pre-SNL Era - John Belushi, Bill Murray Harold Ramis
Lightning has struck me twice apparently. I'm in the middle of moving downstate to the St Louis area and will create a full write up on this item soon. I'm beyond excited though and wanted to post my newest find to share with everyone - and what a fitting home it will be given to compliment the original cast SNL vinyl I completed earlier this year. Seriously I can not believe my luck.
After meeting Jane Curtin back in February to finish off my SNL vinyl cover, (https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/history-of-our-comp...) I sat there in awe and told myself nothing can ever top this moment. well... Last week, one of my old eBay notifications popped up for Harold Ramis. I laughed of course because its always just more forgeries or expensive items. I was right.. but something made me keep scrolling down into eBay's suggested similar items. And there it was. A newly listed 10 day auction for $850 with offers considered.
We are in the process of moving and I'm traveling through areas of spotty or even non existent internet at times. This auction would have killed me to plan everything just right to make sure I was the winner. I couldn't take the anxiety. I made the seller an offer for the bid price. There were only 2 watchers so far but views were piling up. I knew if the right person saw this who knew how special this item was, it would be gone. The listing title had only all last names and it never came up in the regular searches for any single name in particular. I remained patient even though the views were starting to pile up, there was still only 2 watchers. My offer expired the next day . eBay said another competitive offer was made and I prayed it was a lowball. I resubmitted my $850 offer and the seller responded saying he was considering it. after some back and forth, we agreed on $950 and the auction ended there, 8 days early..
Ill go into more detail about this item in another post. Wondering if this should go into the Historical Autographs and Documents discussion? Anyways here it is
Supposedly hand created by Gilda Radner. I'm still trying to verify that as best I can.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on
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That is truly awesome!! I only recently learned about how the National Lampoon Radio Hour had several original SNL cast members before SNL became a thing. Very cool. Also includes the 2 deceased ones of the original 7 (or 8) cast members. Once you have those two on a piece it is theatrically possible to get the other 6. Not sure though if that’s a good idea because this piece is from an earlier era and those other people (as far as I know) weren’t involved with this radio show. But either way, super cool.
I saw an SNL LP similar to yours for sale on RRAuction but it only had 3 signatures but only included one of the deceased ones so it would be impossible to complete that album. It was signed by John Belushi, Laraine Newman, and Dan Aykroyd. Bidding is already past $2000 (before premium) and it still has over two weeks to go. https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/351627107490515-nbcs-...
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Permalink Reply by Jason H on
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Chevy Chase may be the only addition id consider but probably not. It may even have the opposite effect and decrease this items value. Since this was a card created to remain in that core group. It it has so much historical value and adding a modern signature now i think would destroy it in a way. There is a reason why Chevy (or others) didn't sign in the first place. Overall I agree with you. This item was finished the moment it was handed to Dale unless he himself had Chevy or someone else sign it on a later date. Its not my place to deem who is worthy as an extra signature.
I've tried to contact every possible crew member still alive who is associated with the show. Still searching for more names but I think I've hit a dead end. Hopefully someone responds now and I just have to be patient.
My best bet for someone accessible seems to be Tom Leopold who is still active on social media and has a website to order a book from by contacting him through email. Paul Jacobs is around but had a heart attack about 6 years ago which seems to have drastically affected his short term memory but there's a post from a few years ago saying his longterm memory isnt the greatest either.. He and his wife were at a meet and greet event earlier this year. They are another Longshot though. Christopher Cerf is probably the second best option.
I feel its now my duty to determine every signer and recreate the story behind this card. This will be such a fun project to work on and has a great amount of importance. This single item could be an iconic symbol that represents the very beginning of a major turning point in American comedy if handled correctly.
I'm still in disbelief
Thanks for linking that cover on RR. It will be fun to watch.
If anyone is interested, you can still listen to all 59 episodes of the National Lampoon Radio Hour free here
https://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Comedy&serie...
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That’s a very interesting project you are working on. I hope you can contact/find those people and figure out everyone that signed it and the stories behind it. Good luck!
Thanks for linking us to the radio show episodes. I might check those out sometime. Sounds interesting since it’s the very early origins of some of SNL’s original cast stars.
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I spent the weekend packing stuff for a busy week ahead but had a lot of time to research a bit more. Spent a huge effort locating Gildas handwriting to try to compare with DALE ANGLUND'S BIRTHDAY CARD written on the side. I can not find examples of her writing block style with a similar purpose void of a slant. I did however find a quick non handwriting style that still has a slant. This is only used as a clue but the A, D and especially R does resemble her style. Im unable to rule her out from actually creating this card which in itself is a very good sign. I can keep moving forward. .
I have located Janis Hirsch. There are false reports that she died in 23 of cancer. She is alive and well in Beverly Hills. She does have an Instagram but so far im not able to make contact. I also found her private residence and will send out a letter with pictures of this item if im unable to make contact another way.
Christopher Cerf worked with this group but since his signature is not included, he may not be aware of its existence. Regardless, i found him on Facebook and sent him a message asking if he would be willing to help out. He just celebrated his birthday and created a post the other day. Hopefully he comes through in some way.
I'm hoping this will catch the eye of someone who knows more about the show and all people involved. Going to try writing these updates regularly so I stay organized. We have our own craziness going on here with a lot on my mind over the next few weeks.. Also to bump this thread to find more people with knowledge. All opinions and tips are of course welcome from anyone.
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Permalink Reply by JK on
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Very interesting piece.
A few random thoughts...
To me, there are no other signatures to add. It's a piece from a specific event/occassion so it was complete the moment it was handed to Dale.
Speaking about the recipient, is there any information on him? I couldn't find much more than what you mentioned, although he may have co-authored a book with Janis Hirsch. (Of course, if he is still around he might decide his card went missing and he wants it back.)
Any chance Joyce is the Cue Girl, as in the person giving cues to the show's participants?
Also, technically speaking, if Dale was in his 27th year as the card states then it was his 26th birthday they were celebrating. The birthday comes as that year is ending. Of course, it would be common to not view it that way.
I have to wonder if the lack of any internet presence for Dale means that he passed away in the pre-internet age. 🙁
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I am incredibly excited to say that I followed the paper trail of who bought and sold this item before ending up in my hands. They all worked with me. Im now in talks with the original owner who was asked to sell this by Dale. I will be very picky sharing information she gives going forward but this is important content.
Dale is no longer with us. And these are his friend's exact words
"Dale was born in 1948. (Or 1947)
He worked on the Lemmings Shows off Broadway and brought Belushi to NYC. Eventually it morphed into Lampoon. The program was sent in previous email so you can see his connection to Gilda and the other cast members.He briefly shared a brownstone with Gilda. The signers of the card were a close knit group for a time. Until they went to SNL.Dale was a dear friend. He became quite ill and asked me to sell the item you have to raise some funds and knowing his prognosis was not good. "To clear confusion, she sent me a photo of the pamphlet in a previous email only to show a connection to Dale. She wasn't aware of all the information I had gathered so far.
I'm trying to establish provenance now and am asking if its verifiable that Gilda created this card and the "artwork"
I've been close to tears many times. This is something bigger than most would ever realize. I may have to dust off my videographer skills and create a documentary. I believe I have plenty of content with my SNL vinyl adventures. Things happen for a reason. At least I'd like to think so because, seriously, what are the odds of this falling into the hands of someone with a completed vinyl signed by the original cast. Not only that but who else would be willing to roll up their sleeves and put in the work to research?? The odds must be similar to winning the lotto
To reply to your post, I agree with you. This will never be altered. Nothing will ever be added. Im sad that it was cut but believe Dale himself made the cut for display purposes. The sellers state it remained exactly how they received it.
These 2 pieces do match together as originally one peice and I can verify this, and will in a new write up. I was confused at first with the cards 1st page ending. I quickly read it as "i'm" and wasn't aware of the idiom god bless 'im.. i had never seen it written down and felt there was possibly a page missing. I was so happy to realize I was wrong
Thats also an interesting take about the 27th year. I believe this peice is still early and from the radio show because of John Hechtman's signature. I can not find info of him being in the show
I don't believe it says Joyce the cuegirl it really looks more like cougirl. But that is a great catch and I'll look into it. I'll post a clearer picture of that autograph
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Thx for the clearer image. Definitely not "cue". Could it possibly be "coat"?
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Haha I could see that as maybe a gag to add a coat girl especially if this was during the Broadway show. For radio hour though, would they have had a coat girl? I'm not so sure its coat though but it is fun to think about.
Im quickly connecting dots. And just now I received a tip from one of Christopher Cerf's friends on Facebook.
Young julie is probably Julie Simmons, now Julie Simmons-Lynch who has an Instagram. I just sent a message with info asking if she could verify.
"Julie Simmons (later Julie Simmons-Lynch) is the daughter of National Lampoon publisher Matty Simmons, and she worked behind the scenes during the era of the groundbreaking National Lampoon Radio Hour in 1973-1974
In the Office: During the early-to-mid 1970s heyday of the Radio Hour and related projects, Julie was closely connected to the inner workings of the office and mailrooms where scripts, tapes, and production materials for the show were handled.
She is 69 now so must have been 16 -17? Young julie would fit
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After more extensive research, the only Joyce I could connect with this group would potentially be Joyce Sloan who discovered Belushi at College of DuPage (which I myself attended for film), Radner and many others... she was primarily second city but what I get from research is she was a mother-like figure to many for who she found.
From what I've read, it would make sense that she may have brought some of this group from second city chicago to NY and stayed with them for a while.. here's one link explaining more
https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/topofthetimes/ct-live-0205-joyc...
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Joyce Jurnovoy is another I found who worked with National Lampoon at this time but I can't find info of working with this group specifically
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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on
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This piece really makes my day.
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