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Coronavirus and Autographs

I do movie reviews for a few different TV and radio stations. One of my favorite is easily Chip Franklin's show on KGO 810 AM in San Francisco. If you're in the area, I highly recommend you listen (even if I'm not one of his guests).

He had me on last week talking about if the coronavirus is having an affect on movie theatres. I told him I hadn't noticed it. Of course, most of the time I watch movies to review, they're screened just for the critics, or we're sent a screening link or DVD to watch int he comfort of our home. I do see movies a few times a month in the theatres after they're released, and the crowds haven't seemed to have gotten smaller. I said, "But, I've always hated when the person behind me spends 3 minutes trying to open their Red Vines a few inches from my ears. I also hate when someone coughs and I feel that hot air hit the back of my head. I remember as a kid, hearing that you're most likely to get lice from the back of a movie theatre chair. Now we're worrying about coronavirus."

After that segment I said to my wife, "I bet coronavirus is going to hurt autograph collectors." So many celebrities hate stopping anyway, for various reasons (a million selfies, autograph dealers with multiple items).

I remember when I got Melissa Ethridge to sign her great debut record, she wanted to use her own Sharpie. Mark Knoppfler (Dire Straits)...wanted to use his own pen and wanted to stay seated in his van.

Jethro Tull singer/flutist Ian Anderson, usually doesn't stop, unless you really pester him. And he'll quickly sign one item, and usually has his own pen.

Well, in the sports page this morning, I read about the NBA telling their players that to help with the spread of coronavirus, they should not high five people, and should not stop to sign autographs. They claimed that not only is it a big crowd, but they're handing you balls, jerseys, and pens.

So...good luck if you're trying to get a signature in the next few weeks.

Tags: Chip Franklin, Dire Straits, KGO 810 AM, Melissa Ethridge, NBA, coronavirus autographs

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Comment by Mike Shepherd on March 3, 2020 at 4:11pm: I recently watched a woman on the news report that she purchased 20 cases of water at Costco. She was concerned that she may be forced to remain indoors sometime in the near future. I did not realize that remaining indoors would prevent her faucet from working properly. People are nuts.

Comment by Josh Board on March 3, 2020 at 9:16pm: I know. It's insane. Preppers are now prepping, but for a different reason.

Comment by Josh Board on March 4, 2020 at 8:31am: Now the Yankees are the latest to stop with the autographs: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/yankees-changing-the-way-they-...

Comment by Jason Strecker on March 8, 2020 at 9:35am: It is starting to hit some conventions. On markedout.com which lists a lot of conventions there's a thread noting which conventions are affected. One convention was totally cancelled, one adopted a "no touch" meet and greet policy and one of the wrestling conventions had a few cancellations citing the virus concerns.

Comment by john on March 9, 2020 at 5:11pm: THE media is so blowing this out of proportion. this is a sickness like a cold but bigger....chances of getting that sick and dying according to the readdict is just a matter of time. no matter what is happening they seem to think the sky is falling and it is interfering on all our lives.

son's school closing wedneday to focus on how to get info to kids in event of a long term closing. there are no cases in my town which is brilliant!! my old HS is closed til the 19 bc there was a positive case..a faculty member.

for us that are into cons this time of year is really tough with last minute decisions to postpone.

i dont mind catching it if l wasn't already sick with a syndrome which could affect the immune system (FMS)

i have left the house a total of 3x in 4 years--other than dr visits

last pleasure time out was past june and for the life of me I caught a cold--I was a teacher and HAD the abilitiy to just be a carrier with dealing with all the kids over the years. I want to try Chiller Theatre at end april but l cant see that happening when this virus gets worse before it gets better. I see seatle postponed and most area St Paddy's day are cancelled..i have family over in Ireland and they have also cancelled..