Autograph Hell

For years, Scott Smith had tried to find the woman who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Oct. 17, 1960. Model Dolores Greer died last month. The search for a Los Angeles woman who 53 years ago was a Sports Illustrated cover girl has ended sadly for a collector of autographs from cover subjects. Model Dolores Greer, 81, died last month on the same day that cover autograph collector Scott Smith was being interviewed by The Times. Greer's obituary appeared in Sunday's Times. The saga of Smith's search for the model who illustrated the magazine's Oct. 17, 1960, cover story on the "new look in sports clothes" has spanned more than three decades. The retired New Jersey investment banker and corporate debt specialist has collected the signatures of 4,413 individuals who have been featured on 2,913 of the sports magazine's covers. He figures he has the autographs of 95% of all cover subjects. Tuesday's s...

For all you baseball fans out there gearing up for the start of a new season, here is a celebrity photograph from my collection you'll appreciate.   For those of you that don't recognize the photo, William "Buck" Showalter is an major league baseball manager for the Baltimore Orioles.  Showalter previously served in a similar capacity for the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers.  He was formerly a professional baseball player himself and a television analyst for ESPN.   A two-timeAmerican Leage Manager of the Year, Showalter Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time.   He helped the Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East to first place before a player's strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign.  Under his watch, my favorite team the Arizona Diamondbacks made their first-ever playoff appearance in only its second year of existence....

Really neat article worth sharing! 10 things you might not know about signatures When Chicago author Nelson Algren -- shown at his West Town home in 1947 -- signed his autograph, he liked to include a drawing of a cat. ( Tribune / October 22 , 1999 )   Jack Lew, nominated for...

Here is a picture of Kevin Sorbo and I.  I really enjoyed meeting Kevin, he was such a nice guy! Kevin David Sorbo is an best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys , Captain Dylan Hunt in Adromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.    Sorbo attended Yale University, where he studied Electrical Engineering. In order to make tuition, he began to work as a model for print and television advertising in the 1980s. For more information about my Summit Murder Mystery series, please  CLICK HERE Order my newest book Murder on Kilimanjaro by clicking  HERE Order my book Autograph Hell by clicking  HERE Follow me on twitter,  HERE 'Like' my Facebook page,  HERE Subscribe to my YouTube channel,  HERE  and  HERE  

Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, comedian, sports executive, and game show host.   After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show.   Carey has appeared in several films, television series, music videos, a made-for-television film, and a computer game. He has hosted the television game show The Price Is Right since 2007. I love this picture of Drew and I together and really enjoyed meeting him.  Such a friendly guy!   For more information about my Summit Murder Mystery series, please  CLICK HERE Order my newest book Murder on Kilimanjaro by clicking  HERE Order my book Autograph Hell by clicking  HERE Follow me on twitter,  HERE 'Like' my Facebook page,  HERE Subscribe to my YouTube channel,  HERE  and  HERE

For a limited time only Irion Books is offering Divorce Hell , Remodeling Hell , Autograph Hell , Car Dealer Hell and Roadkill Cooking for Campers for the cost of mailing ONLY in exchange for an honest review! We are more than happy to send the book media mail, which would be $3.00.  If interested, just Paypal your $3 payment to uspark@cox.net and we will get the book out to you right away! Learn the history of divorce and how you can save your marriage with Divorce Hell ! Autograph Hell will reveal the true story behind autograph collecting, how to avoid getting caught up in "authentication" schemes and how to collect the right way. Car Dealer Hell is a book anyone should read before buying a new car.  Full of inside knowledge that will help you avoid pitfalls and traps and walk into your next car buying experience armed and ready to take on any car salesman! Save thousands of dollars and headaches with Remodeling Hell .  Even if you a...

If you are like me, you've collected autographs for years and have built up quite a collection.  I have albums upon albums full of my coveted autographed pictures, and closets full of autographed books and memorabilia.  I love it.  I was recently asked what my most prized autograph is and I had to think about that for a while.  That is a hard question because each one has a story and is special in its own way.  I love my autographed picture with President Reagan but I also love my signed boxing gloves my Mohammed Ali!   Tell me what your most coveted autograph is!

I came across this article and thought it was a good one to share!  We all know that preserving your photos is very important!  What is the point of collecting autographs if the photos become faded and start to deteriorate in a few years because you don't handle them properly?  Take a look at these autograph preservation tips! 1. Acid free is the way to go - Whether you choose plastic bags, cardboard folders or frames to display your autographs, you need to make sure that the material you use is acid free. Standard bags, folders and frames are made with materials that release acids over time. These acids can make your photographs and other memorabilia fade and disintegrate. Make sure that the products that you buy to store your autographs is clearly labeled acid-free. If the package doesn't specify that, don't trust it with your photos. 2. Keep humidity low - Humidity causes moisture which can be devastating to paper products like photographs. To keep your...

I received a very nice review from a fan and fellow autograph collector who has only just begun to reading Autograph Hell!  I thought I would share with you the excerpt and remind you that if you read Autograph Hell and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate you sharing your review on Amazon .  If you haven't read Autograph Hell yet, what are you waiting for?  Order your copy now!   Are reliable sources really reliable?  These and other questions raised by readers who’ve collected autographs for years.  Dennis writes…. “Classless authenticators, I suspect, have started a blood-thirsty autograph war between good & the dark side.”  In reply, Charles reminds Dennis of three words by Ronald Regan, “Trust - but verify.”  Autograph Hell is a great resource to collectors everywhere.   - September 15, 2011 Thank you very much Dennis for reaching out and contacting me!  I look forward to reading your review when you've finished Autogra...

Above: Charles G. Irion, Cindy Zimmerman, Chef Eddie October will be an exciting month and will consist of two events for Irion Books LLC. and Autograph Hell - The Truth About Collecting! The first event is part of the Lunch and Learn series and will take place on October 13th at Eddie's House in Scottsdale. The Lunch and Learn series will be hosted by Cindy Zimmerman, the founder of Writing in Style. The series focuses on written communication and the power it holds. Charles G. Irion will be speaking about his book Autograph Hell. Eddie's House is located at 7042 E. Indian School Rd. in Scottsdale, Ariz. and will take place from 12pm - 2pm. To make a reservation please click here. The second event is part of the Dine and Discuss series at Café ZuZu on October 20th at 6:30pm. The Dine and Discuss series is also hosted by Cindy Zimmerman. Irion is a special guest and will be speaking along side Zimmerman with attendees on the realities behind autograph collecting: "i...