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DEAR JOHN...a study of John Belushi's autograph and a personal search!

John Belushi shone bright and burned out in only 33 short years on this Earth. He is rightly considered an American comedy icon and so his autographs are highly sought after items. The trouble is that the man who lived a wild and fast life also had a wildly signing style. Now I’m only an amateur collector, and I’ve tried doing my research, and although there are characteristics to his signature, he can be very tricky to give a definitive on. Obviously taking into consideration the changes in signing over his years of fame, quick signings, documents and checks, he’s still a tricky one.

The following is my tale to discover if I have a genuine Belushi or not.

First of all, let’s have a look at some (what I would consider to be) 99.9% genuine Belushi signings.

Firstly some signed documents:

Here is a very confident and quite complex signature; an all in one movement for ‘John’ continuing into an ‘A’ for his middle name ‘Adam’ (which appears in earlier examples of his signings and official documents) Then his surname is another all in one movement, this time rounded with lots of swirls. The ‘B’ starts with the straight line downwards, then twists back up to the top veering left and then he continues into the two front loops of the ‘B’ and then back again and into the ‘e’ and a nice loop for the ‘L’ a tight swirl for the ‘u’ and ‘s’, another loop for the ‘h and then finishes with the dot of the ‘I’ that floats out to the right hand side of the signature.

Another contract signed faster, The ‘J’ a bit more pointed in this example, still with the ‘A’ for Adam, and the Belushi is stretched and less flourished, probably to fit into this document. Still that dot over the ‘I’ out to the right. And both names written in single, deliberate movements.

Next up is a nice example of a check from 1972. A little looser, back to the more rounded style, still with the middle ‘A’ but the ‘Belushi’ is leaning to the right a little. There is a break after the ‘s’, which seldom occurs and the dot once more.

This group signing from SNL cast in 1977 features a much simpler signing style, he’s dropped the ‘A’ and this time there’s less of a lean to the left on the ‘J’ of John and the trademark ‘I’ dot still floating off the very end.(in the middle of the document)

This check from the same year and the lean to the left is back and that dot over the ‘I’ as a little dash to the right.

This dot/ dash I believe is an important trait in spotting a genuine Belushi (isn’t it the same with Stan Laurel, where a genuine one always has a dot after the signature? Something that forgers often missed.)

Then there’s this hastily signed membership card, yet there’s that ’A’ and of course the dot again!

Another card:

Now a couple of more informal versions of his signing styles. A signed receipt with a much simpler ‘John’ but it still has a twist in the ‘o’:

And this in-person from a respected document specialist, this time with the John above the Belushi and with a flamboyant swirl underneath.

So there you have it, lots of variation, but a few stand out features;

A lean to the left

Both ‘John’ and ‘Belushi’ written in one movement.

The bottom of the ‘B’ twisting back and sweeping into the rounded ‘e’

The twisting ‘s’

And that tell tale ‘dot’ over the ‘I’ at the end.

Now onto the obvious fakes to compare to:

This site ‘Memorabilia Autographs’ are hawking a large number of these forgeries, from 200 to 400 dollars. This is the most common forgery of his signature out there.

Memorabilia Autographs

This one on Ebay is currently passing this one off. Not a bad attempt to copy his movement, but not right

Ebay

This pick guard is pretty shameless:

Now onto my own purchase, I bought this on Ebay back in 2005. And I am under no allusions that it could be a fake, but it has always bugged me, as just when I write it off, I see something that makes me think it could be genuine.

Firstly it seems like a very elaborate fake, now, I’m not stupid enough to think that forgers won’t go to great lengths to cheat us collectors, but still. Why fake these three names in particular; Bill Murray, John Belushi and Gilda Radner (whom the autograph hunter wasn't sure who it was, hence the question mark after her name). Surely Dan Aykroyd would serve you better to forge alongside Belushi? More bucks for sure.

And the confidence in which the Belushi signature is executed has always made me wonder, a forger could certainly have gone for a simpler version of his signature and there is no hesitation at all in the line, it has that lean to the left and has that all important dot over the ‘I’.

I sent the item to John Hickey at Heritage Auctions, who was very helpful and ran it by Steve Grad at PSA/DNA at no extra cost and I was simply told ‘all no good.’ Now I have the utmost respect for their work, but it continued to bug me and nine years later it still does! Particularly as PSA Autograph facts have this one posted as a genuine example.

PSA facts

Here are two studies I’ve done on my own autograph. One shows all three SNL cast comparisons.

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And finally another look alongside two genuine and similar in style Belushi’s.

So, there you have it, what do you guys think? Am I chasing a dream and need to save up and buy another, or could I have a genuine Belushi in my collection? I’d love to know what you think? And no need to spare my feelings, I’m still getting over that Jackie Gleason secretarial I have hanging on my wall!!

And at the very least, anyone looking to buy a Belushi have a little resource here on site.

Tags: Belushi, Bill, Gilda, John, Live, Murray, Night, Radner, SNL, Saturday

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bam Miller on August 6, 2014 at 6:31pm

Is that supposed to be Ray Charles signature?? I seen Ray Charles signature and it sort of matches this, however, its an obvious fake, the choice of marker looks too modern, again, John never signed his name in that style, neither did Dan, Dan's is more legible and neat.

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Permalink Reply by Micko on June 5, 2014 at 3:59pm

Another interesting Belushi autograph, and rare that it is a genuine Blues Brothers promo photo signed in person

Description from RR Auction :Uncommon glossy 9.5 x 7 French promotional photo from The Blues Brothers, showing Jake and Elwood Blues with Ray Charles, signed and inscribed in blue ballpoint, “Gunnar, Drive carefully and stay out of jail, John Belushi.” Trimmed top edge, staple holes to borders and corners, and a bit of trivial skipping to signature and inscription, otherwise fine condition. Originally obtained by Swedish film journalist Gunnar Rehlin. Belushi is notoriously scarce in signed photos, particularly from his signature role.

Yet another slightly different 'J' in the John part.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on June 10, 2014 at 9:20am

This is my first post, but I have read thru many posts here for years. Some people from this site have come looking for me on other sites in order to have Star Wars items authenticated, now you should be able to find me right here.

If this attachment worked you should see John's last American Express credit card and a newspaper signed during Mardi Gras while SNL filmed down there.

Hopefully they help to add to the confusion.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 10, 2014 at 11:16am

Pete,

What a nice surprise to see you here. You are going to be a great addition to our site.

Welcome aboard!

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Permalink Reply by Micko on June 17, 2014 at 1:28pm

Hi Pete,

Thanks so much for sharing! I love the Amex card, what a brilliant piece of history! And that sig on the back only adds to my continuing confusion. But thanks so much!!

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Permalink Reply by Micko on July 4, 2014 at 11:37pm

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Permalink Reply by Bam Miller on August 6, 2014 at 6:32pm

Pete, I envy you :O nice signatures!! =D

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Permalink Reply by Irene Breznak on June 12, 2014 at 8:48am

Hi Micko, You present some good points. I am as confused as you are now. :) I did have the fortunate experience of running into John Belushi and Laraine Newman in the early 80's at the broadway play, Dracula. He signed my playbill, so I know for a fact that this autograph is authentic. Maybe it will help (or maybe it will confuse you more. :( )

Good luck. I really hope your purchase is real.

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Permalink Reply by Micko on June 17, 2014 at 1:24pm

Hi Irene,

Thanks so much for this valuable in person addition and with the John on top of the Belushi which is like the one I have. I'll probably never know for sure whether mine is genuine or a fake. But thanks for sharing!

Micko

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Permalink Reply by Irene Breznak on June 17, 2014 at 3:59pm

What would be interesting is if I sent my autograph ,which I KNOW is real, to the same expert that you sent yours to and see if he/she claims that it is a fake. :)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 17, 2014 at 4:42pm

I think your Belushi wouldn't have hard time being approved by PSA or JSA. Love it.

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Permalink Reply by Micko on June 18, 2014 at 10:17am

I would be very interested to see the results of that experiment, but as Steve said yours would probably get a thumbs up, even though it is once again another variation on his signing style. Thing is you have the story to back it up, I only have a feeling that mine could be okay, but I'm just not sure?!