Monday, January 30, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Guide to TTM collecting

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Its been awhile since I did a how to TTM post so here's a quick step by step guide to our method of TTM autograph collecting to help any new collectors out there that may need a little info or help to get them started. This is an updated version of the original beginners guide post.


Step 1-Research and Address Hunting


The first thing I do is research the celeb I intend to write. I look to see what they are currently doing are they still filming movie and shows or are they retired. When trying for musicians and bands maby there out on tour so sending to the venue might be the best place to try. I then look for addresses. I'd rather use a management address but sometimes only a private address is available. I look at there signing habits. Do they even sign autographs for fans. Some big name celebs wont sign period. Some get tired of signing or seeing the items they thought they signed for true fans for sell on eBay so they just stop signing all together. Luckily alot of celebs still do sign TTM. When researching addresses a good place for beginners to start is www.fanmail.biz. There are better sites like www.startiger.com but its requires a fee to join but its worth the price. Then there's the Sports Card Forum and an entire world of TTM blogs and Facebook pages with people sharing addresses. Since fanmail is a free site its a great place to start, but i recommend StarTiger even with having to pay it has more current addresses and forums that actually help members out. With enough online research you can find at least one contact address or email for about any celeb. For current sports stars try sending it to the teams stadium or training facility during spring training or during the regular season.


Step 2-What do you want signed


After I have my info and addresses then comes what I think is the hardest part. What do I want signed. We usually send 4x6 photos but others prefer 8x10s and others use 3x5 index cards. Some collectors send baseballs to everyone to have signed its really a matter of sending what you like. Choosing the perfect picture to get signed can be the hardest part. You want one that you like but it also needs to have lighter area for the celeb to sign. Some will sign with silver or gold sharpies that show up well on darker pictures but unless you send your own most will return in black sharpie. Sometimes they use silver sharpies or paint pens but not to often. That's why I always try to choose pictures with a lighter background behind the celeb so they have a good area that they can sign in. For athletes sports cards are a great thing to have signed if you have them laying around you might at well try to get some signed. We also send alot of the DVD and bluray covers from our favorite films to be signed and Authors are usually happy to sign a copy of there book.


Step 3-Stamps and Envelopes


So after I have what the item I want signed the next step I do is get my request envelope and my SASE or self addressed stamped envelope ready. For envelopes we primarily use 4 1/8 inch by 9 1/2 inch strip and seal envelopes they fit 4x6 pictures perfectly and no licking or water to seal the envelope. I address the envelope to the celebs with my address in the return area and there's in the proper place. For my SASE I put my address in both spots to insure it returns to me no matter what. This way even if it doesn't have proper return postage it will still return to me postage due and not be sent back to the celeb. Then I write PLEASE DO NOT BEND on the front and back of the envelope. Then I put proper postage on both. For our 4x6 photos usually one stamp per envelope works. That covers our 2-3 pictures, letter and our SASE and one stamp is plenty for our return of just a couple pictures. For attempts in the US just regular postage stamps will do but for the overseas requests you need Global forever stamps. My post office said that if US Global stamps can't be found you can just use regular postage stamps for send to overseas. Its usually around $1.20 to mail the regular size white or small brown envelopes overseas but its always best to have the post office weigh it just to make sure.


Top envelope is an example for sending your TTM requests
Bottom envelope is an example of the SASE for the return
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Step 4-Writing your letter of request


Now its time to write that letter. I usually write a full front page letter sometimes a front and back depending on how big a fan I am but usually try to keep it at a single front page that way I don't take up to much time. We send sincere handwritten letters to the celebs and not just a generic can I have your autograph form letter. Sometimes that's all it takes but id rather be sincere its worked better for us. I write them thanking them for all the joy they have given us over the years. I tell them exactly why we are fans and not just we loved you in such and such movie. We tell them exactly how there work has touched our lives and thank them for it. After all that towards the end I add my request for an autograph followed by please and thanking them again for everything especially there time. Now for really huge celebs or extremely rare or harder to obtain people we write 2-4 page letters. Sometimes it just takes the right letter to move them to sign and sometimes is still a waist of time and stamps you just never know. Remember nothing is ever guaranteed.


Step 5-Mail and wait


So you have your pictures and you're envelopes ready and you've written the letter now its time to neatly put it all in your request envelope, dont forget the items to be signed, the request letter and a SASE then seal it all up and make sure to check that proper postage is on both then drop it in you mail box and wait and sometimes wait some more lol. Sometimes your lucky and it only takes a week or two but usually it takes months or even a year or more before you might get a reply. Usually the bigger the celeb the longer the wait but not always the case because its all in the luck of the draw when they pull your letter out of the huge fan mail pile and reply.


Step 6-log book and tips


So after I send my letter a handy thing I like to do is keep a log book. I write the celebs name and date I sent the request along with the address I used in the book and that way I can mark the date when and if its returned. Another tip is I dont hesitate once I find a working address I get a letter out the next day. A celebs signing habits can change and they can stop signing at anytime or the address can get abused and stop working you just never know and when its an older celeb I dont waste time getting my request out to them they because like I said anything can happen. They may develop health issues that can stop them from signing or maby just get tired of signing after all these years. Remember it's there choice to sign for us fans its not something they have to do but I always appreciate the ones who do and I'm sure they appreciate us fans or they wouldn't reply at all.


Well that's how we do it I hope this helps any new collectors looking to get into TTM autograph collecting. Ill be back every Saturday with the weekly TTM success post with new autographs and tested addresses.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #81

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Welcome back to another weekly TTM success post. I hope you all had a great week. Sadly we lost several legends this week when Mary Tyler Moore passed away at the age of 80 and one of my favorite actors John hurt passed away at the age of 77. I wanted to talk a little about writing your fan letter / autograph request letter. Some people just print out a generic form letter for autograph requests. This is a simple letter that is pretty much the same thing over and over with fill in the blanks for the celebs name saying how big of a fan they are and they loved the celeb in this or that movie or show and then asking for an autograph and sometimes that's all it takes. For me I personally feel like a sincere handwritten letter is the better option. Normally I try to write a full front page letter. That's usually plenty of room for a little buttering up and the all important autograph request. Like I mentioned I try to keep it at one page because I know the celebs time is important and I dont want to take up more than I have to. For rare signers or mega celebs I usually make an exception and write a longer letter anything from 2-4 page's trying to persuade that elusive signer out of a little time and ink. These are usually more personal letters and sometimes it pays off but not always as nothing in this hobby is guaranteed. Take the little extra time and write a heartfelt handwritten fan letter. Even if the celebs don't read our letters someone is reading them so maby if its moving enough the secretary or assistant will pass it along to its intended target. Remember no celeb has to sign for us but they take the time to appreciate us fans by signing that autograph we want so at least we can take the time to show our appreciation by handwriting our letters. Anyways that's how we do it and on the plus side Winter get more practice at writing and my handwriting has greatly improved over the years with all the practice I get. Now on to this weeks TTM successes. Monday brought one success with a quick ten day turn around for music legend Chuck Leavell. He was a member of The Allman Brothers Band and has been touring with bands like The Stones for years and he's a very cool addition to our music collection. Tuesday brought a great Star Trek return from Louise Sorel and with a quick seven days to return. One day I'm going to frame all the signed episode mini posters together so I love it when they return signed. Thursday brought three great returns. First after just over six months we received our picture and an extra picture back signed from legendary actor Ben Kingsley. Next a cool "Aliens" return when we received both pictures back signed from Mark Rolston and after only four months and he even wrote a thank you note on our letter. To finish off this great mail day another "Star Trek" cast member Antoinette Bower signed both pictures we sent and it took her two months to return. Friday brought two more great returns. First after only three months we received both pictures back signed from Gavin MacLeod to add to our "Love Boat" cast. To finish off the day Winter received a signed post card from Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone after sending a request about a month ago. This is how it showed up just a signed postcard luckily the signature arrived ok. Saturday brought one last amazing return for the week when we received both pictures back signed from Patrick Wayne a great actor and son of the legendary John Wayne and only took him ten days to return. That's it for this week. Everyone have a great graphing weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and addresses and we are now on Facebook just search @cavemansttm to check that out and don't forget to enter the autograph giveaway contest before it end on February 2nd for more information just click Here.


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Chuck Leavell
c/o Evergreen Arts
665 Charlane Drive
Dry Beach, GA 31020
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Louise Sorel
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Ben Kingsley
Independent Talent Group Ltd.
40 Whitfield Street
London W1T 2RH
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Mark Rolston
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Antoinette Bower
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Gavin MacLeod
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Michael Cartellone
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Patrick Wayne
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Friday, January 27, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Friday Favorites

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Welcome back for another Friday Favorites. Every Friday we share a few of our favorite autographs from our collection. Some can be TTM and some are In Person or purchased favorites but as always if its a TTM favorite and the address is still valid I'll add that also. This week in honor of one of my favorite films it's an all "Dune" favorites. So enjoy and I'll be back tomorrow with this weeks TTM successes with new autographs and tested addresses and you can now find Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs on Facebook just search @cavemansttm or the blog name to find it.



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Kyle Maclachlan
7985 Santa Monica Blvd.
#109-209
Los Angeles, CA 90046
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Patrick Stewart
Independent Talent Group Ltd.
40 Whitfield Street
London W1T 2RH
UK
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Dean Stockwell
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Sting
c/o Universal Music
364-366 Kensington High Street
London W14 8NS
UK
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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Mid Week Addresses.

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Welcome back to another mid week TTM address post. Every Wednesday we share a few of the current working TTM addresses we've run across since last week's post. We haven't tested these yet some we will but others have recently had success using them. So get writing and I'll be back Friday with the favorites and Saturday with this weeks TTM success post with new autographs and tested addresses. Don't forget to enter the autograph giveaway contest before it ends February 2nd you can find more information Here. I have also started a facebook page for Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs just search the blog name or @cavemansttm on Facebook if you want to check that out.


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Geoff Bodine
812 Whimsical Ln.
Malabar, FL 32950-3104
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Donnie Allison
355 Qual Dr.
Salisbury, NC 28147
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Russell Durham Comegys
c/o People Store
645 Lambert Drive
Atlanta, GA 30324
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Huey Lewis
c/o Huey Lewis and the News
P.o. Box 819
Mill Valley, CA 94942
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Drew Carey
c/o Price Is Right
CBS Television City
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
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Don Bluth
c/o Bluth Group Ltd.
P.o. Box 55328
Phoenix, AZ 85032
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Steven Hawley
3303 Calvin Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
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Andra Martin
10947 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034-7015
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Katie Leung
Curtis Brown Group Ltd.
Haymarket House
5th Floor
28-29 Haymarket
London SW1Y 4SP
UK
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President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
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(Before you write remember The White House only sends out autopen or pre printed facsimile signatures.)
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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #80

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Welcome back to another weekly TTM success post. I hope everyone had a great graphing week. Gene Cernan the commander of Apollo 17 and the last astronaut to step on the Lunar surface passed away this week at the age of 82 and we also lost actor Miguel Ferrer this week at the age of 61. I get alot of questions from newer collectors asking about the authenticity of an autograph they want to buy or trade for. Im always willing to help when i can and if not I try to point them in the right direction to find someone who can help. I hate to see people getting ripped off by purchasing horrible fake autographs so here's a few things to keep in mind before you purchase. Take your time and don't rush into the deal. Do your homework and research the signature, the signer, the item that's signed and most importantly the seller. This is a step I see alot of newer collectors skip. If you're looking on Ebay see what else the seller has to offer. Is this someone that has a seemingly unlimited supply of rare autographs for prices that are just to good to be true? If the deal just seems to good to be true then chances are you're getting scammed. Don't be afraid to ask questions before you buy. When, where and how the autograph was obtained are all good questions to start with. Does the seller have a good rating and reputation? If it's a seller that's in a group like the many Facebook autograph groups that are out there ask the other members of the group if they have ever dealt with the seller. This is just a few things you can do to help avoid the many fakes for sale out there. I recommend doing this even if the autographs already been authenticated by PSA or JSA or another 3rd party authenticator because everyone can make mistakes and I just always feel better having done all my homework and research before I purchase an autograph. Now on to this weeks TTM successes. Friday brought the first and only return of the week when after just over two months we received both pictures back signed from Seth MacFarlane. We're huge fans of "Family Guy" and "American Dad" so it's super cool to finally get a full signature reply from Seth and he even sent an extra signed thank you note. That's it for this week. Everyone have a great graphing weekend and ill be back next week with more TTM autographs and addresses and don't forget you have until February 2nd 2017 to enter the autograph giveaway contest. Look for the special blog post for more info or enter directly from Here


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Seth MacFarlane
Family Guy Studios
c/o Fox Television
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
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Friday, January 20, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Friday Favorites

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Welcome back for another Friday Favorites. Every Friday we share a few of our favorite autographs from our amazing collection. Some are TTM other can be In Person or purchased favorites but as always if its a TTM favorite and the address is still valid I'll add that also. This week it's a few of our favorite signed Index Cards. So enjoy and I'll be back tomorrow with this weeks TTM successes with new autographs and tested addresses.


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Deforest Kelley
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Shirley Temple
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Fats Domino
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Tom Bunk
1 Argyll Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10804
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James Leavelle
1221 Colonel Drive
Garland, TX 75043-1374
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Bill Cosby
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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Mid Week Addresses

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Welcome back to another mid week TTM address post. Every Wednesday I share a few of the current working addresses we've run across during our never ending search for good TTM addresses to write to. We haven't tested these yet some we will but others have recently had success using these. So get writing and I'll be back Friday with the favorites and Saturday with this weeks TTM success post with new autographs and tested addresses. I'm also doing an autograph giveaway contest you can find the special blog post with more info and enter or you can enter directly from HERE!


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James Chen
c/o Nicolosi & Co. Inc.
150 West 25th Street
Suite 1200
New York, NY 10001
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Jean Reno
SMTSCD Productions
Jean Reno
88 Washington Place
Apt. 4C
New York, NY 10011-9142
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Heart
c/o Peters Management
P.o. Box 1710
Topanga, CA 90290
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Dwier Brown
P.o. Box 964
Ojai, CA 93024
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Brandi Chastain
1661 University Way
San Jose, CA 95126-1555
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Jan De Bont
The Blue Tulip, Inc.
501 S. Beverly Drive
3rd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-4562
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Chuck Leavell
c/o Evergreen Arts
665 Charlane Drive
Dry Branch, GA 31020
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George Wyner
3450 Laurie Place
Studio City, CA 91604
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Ed Jones
1 Lost Valley Drive
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
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Bonnie Tyler
Bonner Weg 34
63110 Rodgau
Germany
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Monday, January 16, 2017

Autograph Giveaway contest

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Contest has Ended thanks to everyone who entered.
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To celebrate Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #80 being my 250th post I'm giving my readers and Twitter followers a chance to win a New Orleans Saints Quarterback Luke McCown autograph that was obtained In Person at this year's Saints Training Camp that we attended click HERE to enter or look for the contest on Twitter. Must be following me on Twitter @cavewv to win. Contest ends February 2 2017. Good luck everyone and thanks for checking our TTM blog out every week.


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One Winner randomly selected will win this
Luke McCown
New Orleans Saints #7
Autograph
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Congratulations @benjami67764394
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Contest has ended watch for Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs for the upcoming 100th weekly TTM success post for another upcoming contest.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #79




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Welcome back to another weekly TTM success post. Sadly we lost an amazing author this week when William Peter Blatty passed away. Blatty who wrote the book and film screenplay "'The Exorcist" was 89. So a signed or endorsed check can be a great way to add to your collection but make sure you do your homework because I'm now seeing dealers that are selling fake reproduction checks. These checks look like the real deal with signatures from legends like Babe Ruth or Marilyn Monroe just to name a few but are actually nothing more than high quality fake copies being sold anywhere from $25 to $50. So if your thinking about purchasing a signed check on sites like EBay make sure you look at the description and do your research to make sure what you're purchasing is actually authentic. Now on to this weeks TTM successes. Monday brought a cool return when I finally received my fist attempt to Rod Stewart back after a three year wait. We had totally given up on this one and I had rewrote a year later then Winter rewrote a while after that and now all three have finally returned. Tuesday brought a great reply from Teri Garr who signed both our Star Trek pictures and it only took her one month to return. Thursday brought another great Star Trek return when we received both pictures back signed from Marj Dusay. She even signed one on the front and back and took just over two weeks to return. Friday brought yet another amazing Star Trek return when we received both pictures back signed from Roger Perry and after only two weeks. This success has also just pushed my collection total up to 1500 autographs so his return is an extra special one for me. Saturday brought one last return for the week when we received our "SOAP" DVD cover that was already signed by Diana Canova back signed by Billy Crystal. This might be an autopenned signature because IV been hearing that he's sending all fan mail to Spanky Taylor now so ill have to do some more research. Well unfortunately I did some investigating and it appears Billy Crystal has stopped signing. There's been a bunch of returns this week and they all look to have returned autopenned from Spanky. Everyone I have looked at is identical to ours and under a lens you can definitely see the markings of an AP. He used to sign some. We got him to sign two a good while ago but I guess he's finally finished signing. IT took just over six months for this one to return. That's it for this week. Have a great weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and addresses and don't forget Monday is a federal holiday here in the States so no mail.






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Rod Stewart
Stiefel Entertainment
21731 Ventura Blvd.
Suite 300
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
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Teri Garr
c/o Brillstein Entertainment Partners
9150 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 350
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
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Marj Dusay
140 W. 58th Street
New York, NY 10019
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Roger Perry
71151 Sunny Lane
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
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Billy Crystal-AP
(fan mail now being forwarded to Spanky Taylor for AutoPen signatures)
860 Chautauqua Blvd.
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272-3801
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Friday, January 13, 2017

Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Friday Favorites

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Welcome back for another Friday Favorites. Every Friday we share a few of our favorite autographs from our collection. Some are TTM others can be In Person or Purchased favorites but as always if its a TTM favorite and the address is still valid I'll add that also. I have always loved movie posters. As I kid my local VHS video store always saved the old movie posters for me when they replaced them with the new release posters. While posters look amazing signed they take up alot of room to display and are costly for TTM attempts so I started printing smaller 4x6 versions of the movie posters and sent those out to get signed. So this week it's a few of our favorite signed mini movie posters. So enjoy and I'll be back tomorrow with this weeks TTM successes with new autographs and tested addresses.


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Ruta Lee
Judy Diamond
19231-1 Index Street
Porter Ranch, CA 91326
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Bob Gale

c/o David Saunders

405 S Beverly Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

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John Carpenter
Storm Kings Productions
8033 W. Sunset Blvd.
#1044
Hollywood, CA 90046
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Sean S. Cunningham
Crystal Lake Entertainment
4420 Hayvenhurst Ave.
Encino, CA 91346
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Julie Adams
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Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Special Friday the 13th bonus post

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Welcome to a special Friday the 13th bonus post. I'm a huge horror fan and Friday the 13th has always been my favorite horror franchise. I can't wait for the new movie that's hopefully coming out this year it's always fun to see Jason Voorhees in action. So enjoy a few of our Friday the 13th autographs on this first Friday the 13th of 2017 and I'll be back tomorrow with this weeks TTM successes.


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Sean S. Cunningham
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Victor Miller
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Harry Manfredini
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Betsey Palmer
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Kane Hodder
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Thom Mathews
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Johnny Hock
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Larry Zerner
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Amy Steel
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Bill Randolph
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Bob DeSimone
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Cheri Maugans
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Rob Hedden
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Peter Mark Richman
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Ted White
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