On Friday night, I made the cross-state trip to the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy, Illinois, to catch-up with actor Matt Dillon as he arrived for his appearance the next day at Ebertfest in Champaign. Dillon was the second passenger off the plane. I greeted him as he exited the escalator, and for a moment, I believe he thought I was his driver. I asked for a photo and he obliged. As my friend, Mark, asked for a photo, Dillon replied, "OK, let's just do this." He posed for Mark and then signed one item for each of us. It was clear that it was a "one" autograph night for Dillon. As he was signing my 8 x 10 from Crash, I tried to chat with him about his running and his favorite places to run in Manhattan. Unfortunately, he didn't feel much like talking. 
On April 17, Legendary singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson stopped by the Bottleneck Blues Bar at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri. And, thanks to my friend, Mark, we got to see his show for free. Following his 90-minute set, Kristofferson reappeared in the Bar to meet fans who attended the show (you had to have that magical “hand stamp”). He was in a great mood as he chatted up fans, signed autographs, and took photographs.
A few weeks earlier, I was expecting a quick down and back trip to Lambert St. Louis International Airport to meet Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. However, it turned into an extra couple of hours in the terminal as their flight was delayed almost two hours. Upon arrival, I walked with them and several other collectors as the duo made their way to baggage claim. Mandy was accommodating as he posed for this photograph and signed an 8 x 10. Patti, on the other hand, just wouldn't take a photograph. She said she had no makeup and her hair was a mess. It didn't look that way to me. She just wouldn't budge. This made the fourth time I've tried for the photo. Maybe next time? Nevertheless, Patti did sign an 8 x 10 for the collection.
Finally, on March 28, Richard Dreyfuss was about a mile from my home. He was appearing, along with Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, at a special Lincoln Bicenntennial program at Illinois College. Following the program, both signed autographs and posed for photos with just about everyone who wanted the opportunity. Dreyfuss signed a photo of us taken two years earlier at a Shakespeare Festival private reception in St. Louis. He had a little trouble recalling the event, but he liked the photo and joked "well, at least we both look good." Holzer, meanwhile, took a liking to the photograph too. Afterwards, he signed an 8 x 10 shot for me and posed for the picture below. He then said, "Now, you'll have to find me next year so I can sign OUR photo."
