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Permalink Reply by James on July 19, 2018 at 9:35pm

I saw a video on YouTube, from about a year ago I think, of George Lucas refusing to sign autographs for several people as he was exiting a building and getting into a car.  Now these were clearly professionals autograph chasers looking to make money and Lucas knew it.  He told one guy, “You know why I have money and you don’t?  Because I worked.”  (I’m paraphrasing.)  The chaser replied, “But I can’t make movies, Mr. Lucas.”  Lucas said, “Sure you can.”  Lucas told someone with him, “These aren’t fans.  They just want to sell the autographs at $200 a pop. (Often more than that.)  

Anyway, there’s more to it.  But the bottom line is that Lucas doesn’t like the professionals.  Later, I watched another video of him signing autographs for fans and chasers alike.  He said, “Hey I just gave that guy $1000!” 

I can definitely understand the frustration with the professional autograph chasers.  I’m sure it’s a challenge trying to separate the pros from the real fans.  However, in the case of WS, wow, he doesn’t even seem to appreciate his fans even.  Or maybe he’s just getting cranky with age.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick1977 on July 19, 2018 at 10:03pm

Well if you see the video of pros in New York or LA area it is close to war what they do. I do use their work too I confess. I live in germany and often don't have the opportunity to get a graph myself. But there are differences between the pros. Giovanni of the Lucas clip has a lot of success but is also very aggressiv and anoying what ended up for him at the hospital just recently because he got beaten up. But most people don't care they buy the shittiest graphs from them and I mean the ones you have no chance to get a TPA.
For me this business is the reason to that most graphs of modern stars look like s***. Have you seen the clip of Bale signing at a airport to a crown of about 30-50 people I guess he signed 100 graphs at least. Prices for that are very very low on ebay and maybe when he comes to town again none of the pros cares anymore as there is not money to be made, maybe that is the solutions for the celebs to stay clear of them. I wonder too how many pro graphers are still waiting for Springsteen at his broadway show, I bet not as many as in the beginning as prices are falling.

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Permalink Reply by James on July 20, 2018 at 1:11am

I can’t deny it...I’ve used the pros myself.  I have what I believe is a nice Star Wars signed album, signed by Lucas, Ford, John Williams, Fisher, Hamill, Daniels, Mayhew, Tim Rose, and Bullock.  It came with a PSA LOA.  The guy I bought it from is a professional chaser.  I know, at the very least, he got Lucas, Ford, and Williams in the streets.  He even sent me a 5-second video of John Williams signing my exact album outside somewhere in Boston I believe.  The others he may have gotten at shows.  The autographs are nice for the most part.  The Ford is slightly abbreviated, and of course, Lucas gave the large “CL” looking thing.  But without this chaser, I wouldn’t have this piece.

I agree, though, that these chasers are at least partly responsible for the onslaught of ugly, abbreviated autographs.  Some chasers end up getting simply terrible looking drivel that is very difficult to determine authenticity.  Some stuff on eBay may actually be real, but because the autograph is so terrible it has no chance of passing a TPA, unless a big client sends it to a TPA that he does a lot of business with.  There’s obviously a lot of questionable squiggles that do get passed by TPAs.  Some people, however, take a chance and buy it at a very low price.  Many other people, on the other hand, say...no way.  I’ll wait until I find something nicer.  

So the chasers do provide a service for fans who can’t access the stars, but they often leave many celebs feeling jaded about the whole process.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on July 20, 2018 at 4:49am

I can understand why Mr. Shatner feels the way he does. It would get tiring when everywhere you go you are hounded. No privacy.

Some autograph chasers are flat out rude and that doesn't help the cause.

If collectors not stop buying scribbles and rushed signatures that would help.

When TPA services stop authenticating scribbles that would help.

But lack of respect, kindness, and compassion seems to be lacking in today's world. Not just between celebrities and the public. But in everyday life of the common man.

The Internet and social media has been the biggest contributor to this issue. Way too many people are all about me, me, me.

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Permalink Reply by posterguy on July 20, 2018 at 1:12pm

George Sanders didnt care for the NY autograph hounds according to a 1946 (!) article I read , lol

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Permalink Reply by James on July 20, 2018 at 5:40pm

The more I think about it, I’m very inclined to give Captain Kirk a pass.  I mean, look, the man is now 87.  There are a lot of people at that age that are far from enjoying life in a nursing home.  At that age, I’m sure your mortality crosses your mind frequently.  It’s very realistic to imagine he may have no more than 10 years left; so spending time with family is probably a top priority.  Heck, he might even have severe arthritis for all we know.  But he’s paid his dues by now.  He certainly doesn’t need to waste his time signing anymore autographs, particularly if he was reasonable about it when he was younger.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on July 20, 2018 at 6:00pm

My view point is no one should feel obligated to sign an autograph. Fame has it's price though. Autograph seekers have no right to demand an autograph nor to behave rudely.

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Permalink Reply by James on July 20, 2018 at 8:09pm

Some people say that dealing with autograph seekers is part of the price of fame.  I think that’s somewhat true up to a point.  Certainly, celebs don’t have to sign anything, but I think it’s in their interest to try to be kind to their fans because without the fans, they have no celebrity.  But fans absolutely shouldn’t be rude or believe they have a RIGHT to get an autograph.  If a celeb decides he/she is going to sign five autographs or none at all on this one particular occasion and that’s it...well that’s it.  The celebs also have a right to some peace and quiet too.  

A few months ago when I was caught up in the NCAA Tournament, as an autograph collector, something that Charles Barkley said really stood out no matter how unrealistic it might be.  Barkley said that celebrities should NEVER turn down a request from a fan for an autograph.  He said it was an honor that someone thinks so highly of you to want your autograph.  Moreover, Barkley said it ticked him off when he saw celebrities turn fans away. I thought...what a guy!  I thought it was a very nice opinion to put out there, although I think it’s pretty unrealistic, especially depending on one’s level of star status.  That wouldn’t be realistic for someone like Madonna, Michael Jordan, or many others.  Still, it was nice to hear Barkley tell about how much he appreciated his fans.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board on July 20, 2018 at 10:15pm

Read the blog I just wrote about this! Dang it...I didn't know somebody else already covered the story here.

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