I was at a movie screening of “The Current War” (good movie), and my wife was laughing at how a movie involving Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, could involve autographs (Edison is asked, on three different occasions, to sign an autograph; one of those times being a doctor who came to treat his wife). I got home and turned on the news, and it was a less pleasant autograph story.

In San Diego, the Starlight Bowl amphitheater is being renovated. It’s the place Crosby, Stills, and Nash played their first show (and photos from that are on their first album sleeve). Someone doing a fundraiser for them, has collected multiple autographed guitars to auction off. Two weeks before Tom Petty died, when he played in town, he got the entire band to sign. That sold for $15,000. Well….they hadn’t sold the other autographed guitars, and the other night, the place was broken into.

It’s estimated that $50,000 worth of stuff was stolen, and a lot of autographed guitars. What I’m wondering is...will the thieves get what those guitars would have sold for? Obviously, if they sold them to pawn shops, they’d be caught. And not paid nearly what they’re worth. And, you can’t just put these on eBay.

The thieves must have also been hungry. They took food and drinks, as well as video equipment and things worth money.

Some of the autographed guitars includes one by the B-52s, Styx, Keb’ Mo’, War, and fellow San Diegan Jason Mraz. Perhaps Mraz will hear about this story and donate some cash to help restore the classic venue in the beautiful and historic Balboa Park.