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My William Shatner Story

Last night here in Auckland, New Zealand I went to the "Shatner Downunder" talking tour in a theatre here.

I didn't know he just doesn't do the signing of merchandise thing anymore. There was the VERY expensive option of buying a VIP ticket, around $385 which I didn't do, wasn't even sure what it was. I found out at the end of the night.

As some of you know on here I am trying to authenticate a signed cast photo which includes Shatner's autograph.

I mostly enjoyed the show, funny anecdotes, dramatic episodes in his life, interspersed with relevant video clips. He did tell a rather horrible story about a horse he owned, I still don't get the point of that one. So depressingly sad the way he treated that horse. Anyway.

Before the show started, a guitar duo played gentle classic/latin type music, I knew one of the musicians, since that's how I earn a living as well, and it's a very small industry.

End of the night everyone was leaving and the VIP seat holders were told to stay.

I haven't been an autograph hound for about 30 years - ha ha. I casually walked into the VIP area along with others returning from the rest room. Things have changed and aren't as friendly as they used to be. Fair enough though I suppose, those people paid big bucks and they were getting goodie bags. I explained I wasn't interested in any of that, just 5 seconds of his time. Yeh, that didn't wash, got swiftly led out.

Then I went to the merch area for the support act and I wound up talking to the musician that I knew. They were selling their CD. This chap's name is Jol and I showed him the cast photo I had with me, realizing I didn't have a chance of actually encountering Mr Shatner. At this point, it was all over.

He glanced at the photo and said "that is his signature, I see him signing all the time" - Jol has been on tour throughout the Pacific region with him and has a couple more dates to go. However, he is a musician, not an auto expert. Still he had not a shred of doubt. I felt a bit awkward, said goodbye and left.

As I went around the back of the building to go to the carpark there was a well lit glass box room on the back of the building and in there waiting with about five people was Will Shatner. So I went towards it and he exited just as I got there, on his own, carrying bags. So I approached him and asked him could he please look at something to authenticate his own signature. I knew I didn't have a chance, from his body language, but was already committed.

End of a not very interesting or productive story was, he didn't even look directly at me, never mind the photo and said "I'm not doing that". So he just went on his way to a car and I ducked off. Boy do I feel silly.

Anyway, last resort. Who do I pay to authenticate this cast photo, or not. Otherwise I am going to sell it for an extremely low fee on Ebay $1 reserve, as I am kind of off Shatner and the whole thing.

I am absolutely convinced it is authentic and I don't mind spending money on getting it authenticated, but who does this that has the solid reputation as an authentication house?

I am also going to sell all my other autographs, most are signed personally to me. I have Kate Bush, Diana Dors, Joni Mitchell and her touring band (great musicians), Cold Chisel (Australian rock band), Little River Band (Australian) The Pretenders, original lineup, (two of them died within six months). I'm just going to keep my Marilyn Monroe.

If anyone is interested, let me know. All were signed in person to me, in front of me.

Tags: DeForrest, Joni, Kelly, Leonard, Mitchell, Nimoy, Pretenders, Shatner, Star, The, More…Trek, William, cast, original

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 7:15pm

How have you distinguished this from a copy print? The Doohan is a much later version, as is the Kelley, medium aside. Barret and Rodenberry were not married until after the series ended.

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on October 13, 2018 at 7:34pm

So you are leaning towards the 1979 date as well?

I was mistaken about Majel & Gene being married of course. Grace Whitney said they married later, in her bio, but was sure they were an item when she was let go. I really liked her, she was really memorable.

In regards to a copy print? do you mean this a copy of an authentic signing. It's a somewhat yellowed actual photo and I can see the pen on the page and the pressure etc.

I just dug out my auto book and I see I have Russell Ferrante, keyboardist from The Yellowjackets, Robben Ford (toured with Joni Mitchell), Vinnie Colaiuta, drummer, who worked with Frank Zappa, still tours with Sting. Michael Landau, guitarist.

Also Wynton Rufer a, at one time, world famous NZ soccer player.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 7:55pm

By copy print I mean without the signatures, why do you think this is a fan club 8x10 from 1968 or so? It would be 50 years old. I would need to see other examples - the borders, a negative number...I can see it is not the normal pose used/signed most frequently.

No, I am not leaning toward a 1979 signing. I attach a 1980 Shatner contract signature.

Click for the full image:

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 8:10pm

Here is a 1977 Shatner contract signature:

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on October 13, 2018 at 8:16pm

Hi Eric, I don't know about it being a fan club thing. It is an 8x10 though.

I found a similar Shatner signature here, do you think this signature is real?

Attachments: No photo uploads here

sTARTREK.jpg, 62 KB

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 8:25pm

Yes, but somewhat atypical and quite legible (the "a" in Shatner for example). Special signing there as you can see. Look at the others as well. Yours just gives me the wrong vibe. It may well be good but odd. I'd pass. The Nimoy appears so unusual.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 8:17pm

And a Kelley from the 80's:

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on October 13, 2018 at 8:26pm

My DeForest Kelley is great I think,compared to above, and the To Scott all perfectly written as well. What do you think of the cast photo that is signed in the post above me? especially in regards to Shatner? The photo is clearly from 1979 (I post the comparison here again). This must be real right? and Shatner is so similar except he has broken his signature into two lines here.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 13, 2018 at 8:38pm

As I said, the Shatner is a bit atypical and legible - all are special/extra nicely signed.

Here is your Kelley (inverted to black for ease) with one of mine:

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on October 13, 2018 at 9:40pm

Ah ha, I see, yes my DeForest Kelley is not vertical to the camera, back about 30 degrees so it looks a little slanted.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 14, 2018 at 12:49pm

I tried to make them close - if I aligned the vertical in "D" or in "K" the baseline would swing up to the right even more. This could be age - his signature deteriorated some time before his death in 1999 (or 97?) But this would mean a 1990's signing for Kelley.

Permalink Reply by goodcat on October 13, 2018 at 9:57pm