Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr., was in St. Louis, MO, today at the St. Louis Home and Garden Show. Following his presentation, he happily signed autographs, posed for photos, and chatted with fans about his TV/movie work and environmental issues.

For many years, he's been the environmental leader in the Hollywood community. He currently lives near Los Angeles, in a self-sufficient home powered by solar energy. Follow the progress on his new, Platinum LEED-certified home at OnBegleyStreet.com.

Begley also serves as one of the Governors of the Motion Picture Academy.

The first celebrity photo of 2014 is . . . Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) co-founder Steve Wozniak. "Woz," as he likes to be called, invented both the Apple I and Apple II computers in the late 1970s. Wozniak was in St. Louis Tuesday night as part of the St. Louis Speaker Series at Powell Symphony Hall. He was "late," even though he arrived about 45 minutes before start time, and didn't have time to sign an autograph, but he did stop for the camera.

A recent trip to New York City allowed me a few hours to explore the Broadway scene. Here's a recap of my experiences at the stage door.
The husband and wife team of Ed Harris and Amy Madigan recently completed their appearance in The Jacksonian at the Acorn Theater. This theater can be a tough one to meet the actors. There is a front and back exit. With some advice from a fellow collector and a little luck, I managed to get photos with Ed and Amy as they left following a Friday night performance. Amy was a joy to visit with and we chatted about her role in one of my favorite movies, A Field of Dreams. Ed, meanwhile, was more reserved and quiet, but I did get him to pose.
Acting icons Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellan are starring in Waiting for Godot at the Cort Theater. Billy Crudup is a co-star. McKellan was a gentleman about posing and signing playbills, and even conversing with fans. Stewart who just doesn't pose with fans (unless he gets paid) did manage to chat now and then with fans and sign a few autographs. Crudup was a gem taking care of everyone with autographs and photos.
St. Louis native and Tony Award winning actor Norbert Leo Butz is starring in Big Fish at the Neil Simon Theater. Unfortunately, the night I stopped by, Butz couldn't speak following the day's two performances. But he did smile when I mentioned St. Louis and when he signed my playbill.
Dule Hill and Fantasia currently star in After Midnight at the Brook Atkinson Theater. Dule, known for his TV roles on The West Wing and Psych, and Fantasia, an American Idol winner, signed and posed for photos following a Sunday afternoon performance.
It was a good thing I waited around because this guy walked by the theater. Hello Elvis Costello! He's a Broadway regular.
Zachary Levi of TV's Chuck fame is the star of First Date at the Longacre Theater. Levi does things right. He signs autographs for everyone first. Then, those who want a photo with him line up along the barricade. Nice and orderly. He even has a real conversation with each fan, asking questions, thanking them for attending, etc. Others should take a lesson. 
Here's Tony-award (The Light in the Piazza) winning actress Victoria Clark after a Sunday performance of The Snow Geese at the Sam Friedman Theater. Unfortunately, the star of the now ended play, Mary Louise Parker, exited another door.
My other Broadway disappointment was a no photo policy with Daniel Craig following his performance in Betrayal at the Barrymore Theater. Craig came out to say hello to fans, shake a few hands, and explained he couldn't sign autographs (charity signed playbill auction each night) or take photos because there were so many fans. His wife and co-star, Rachel Weisz, left through the theater's back door.

Time to get busy on some updates!

Here are the guys from the Mannheim Steamroller "Red Tour" following their concert December 16 at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield. It was the first time I've seen the guys meet and greet fans following their show. That was a nice touch! They signed autographs for everyone who waited and stuck around a few extra minutes for photos for those who wanted.


PGA legend Fuzzy Zoeller was in St. Louis November 24 to promote his new premium vodka. Zoeller, one of only three golfers to win the Masters in their first attempt, signed autographs and posed with fans at a Sunday morning brunch at the Market Pub House.



I had a nice visit with NCAA record holder Jack Taylor, November 23, following his team's victory over Illinois College in Jacksonville. The Grinnell College junior holds the record for most points scored in a single college basketball game, 138, last year versus Faith Baptist Bible College. He also scored the NCAA's third-highest total of 109 in a game earlier this year. Taylor signed several action 8x10s and added the 138 inscription on each.


This 80's pop star made a RARE appearance in St. Louis November 9. Thomas Dolby was in concert at Blueberry Hill, promoting his new Invisible Lighthouse film project. Dolby, known for his mega-hit, "She Blinded Me With Science," stopped for a small group of fans as he exited his tour bus for a late afternoon sound check. He signed a couple of 8x10s and a CD for my collection.

A little later in the evening, I caught up with legendary country music group, Alabama, as they headed to their sold out show at the Fox Theater. Each member of the group took a moment to stop and pose for the camera. In order is Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook.

 

 

Country music group, Gloriana, took care of fans following their concert this afternoon at the Beardstown Fall Fun Festival. The trio of brothers Mike and Tom Gossin and Rachel Reinert emerged from their tour bus a few minutes after the show to chat with fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures, like this one above. The group earned their first platinum single earlier this year with "(Kissed You) Good Night."

Here's Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and founding member and lead vocalist of Jefferson Airplane, Marty Balin, following his performance September 21, 2013, at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield. Balin was gracious with the autographs, signing several 8x10s, several albums, and a program. He also jumped in front of the camera for this shot.

I Dream of Jeannie and sure enough, dreams do come true!

Here's actress Barbara Eden at today's Hollywood Collector's Show in Rosemont, Illinois. The 82-year-old movie and TV actress whose work spans six decades, signed autographs, posed for photos, and visited fans throughout the morning and afternoon hours.
















One of her I Dream of Jeannie co-stars, Bill Daily, who played astronaut Roger Healey in the series, was stationed next to Eden. Daily, who grew up in Chicago, shared tales of his career performing as the bass player in Liberace's band. Daily is also famous for his role as airline pilot Howard Borden in the Bob Newhart Show. In addition, he recalled his fondness for working with baseball broadcasters Jack Buck and Harry Carey on charity events in St. Louis and Chicago.