Do you collect, books, photos, and other memorabilia from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Silents, Classic TV, and/or Old Radio? I do and, frankly, it is one of the greatest joys in my life. Naturally it’s eclipsed by faith and family, but other than that, it’s one of the “top dogs” when it comes to putting a smile on my face.
I collect books and movies of absolutely everyone from the Golden Age of Hollywood era and Classic TV, but when it comes to photos, memorabilia, old magazines, etc., I narrow the field to my absolute favorites.
My Personal “Narrowed Field of Favorites for Photos and Memorabilia” are…
ACTRESSES
- Lucille Ball
- Maureen O’Hara
- Ann-Margret
- Audrey Hepburn
- Rita Hayworth
- Barbara Stanwyck
- Dorothy Dandridge
- Marilyn Monroe
- Ava Gardner
- Ingrid Bergman
- Hattie McDaniel
- Lana Turner
- Ginger Rogers
- Katharine Hepburn
- Joan Collins
- Grace Kelly
- Barbara Eden
- June Allyson
ACTORS
- James Stewart
- Melvyn Douglas
- Buster Keaton
- Humphrey Bogart
- Charlie Chaplin
- Bob Hope
- Abbott & Costello
- Lauren & Hardy
- Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
- John Wayne
- Gene Kelly
- Henry Fonda
TV SHOW AND RADIO COLLECTIBLES
- I Love Lucy
- The Golden Girls (not exactly “classic” tv but a personal all-time favorite… love me some Blanche!)
- The Beverly Hillbillies
- The Avengers
- Classic Radio Memorabilia
And that’s “narrowed!” There’s a reason I always seem to be out of money. Again, when it comes to books, there is NO narrowing – I buy and devour books related to any actor or actress. Problem is, I often fall head over heals for them and they move into the “memorabilia collectors” column! That happened with Ingrid Bergman – the more I read about her, the more I liked her. Boom! She sandwiched her way onto the list.
The Joys and Benefits of Collecting
A while back, I was unspeakably sick (Flu A and bronchitis – either is a nightmare, but both at once… especially when you have asthma… is a special walk alongside the hounds of hell). The illness knocked me completely off my feet. While trying to heal, it occurred to me that not only did watching my beloved old movies give me happiness when I needed it most, but my collections brought a great deal of distraction and joy into my days as well.
Made the hounds barking more bearable.
I got to thinking about this a few days ago after ordering a Dorothy Dandridge book – everyone should have passions and joys in their life that are purely their own. Joys that no one else has to understand – and they darn sure don’t have to approve of them. Things that…. well… put a smile on your face, sunbeams in your heart, that lift your spirits skyward – whether you have rocking pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu or not.
Some people have hobbies like golf, tennis, hiking, or bowling. At least collecting hobbies don’t depend on weather or physical abilities.
Don’t get me wrong, watching old movies/classic tv, listening to old radio programs, and collecting aren’t my only hobbies – I LIVE to cook, spend time with my family (the humans and the cats), watch baseball, read, and take long walks. Maybe that’s the secret to happiness… having multiple hobbies and interests.
As you grow older (what I consider the “fun” side of 45), you tend to get a few things figured out. One of these, for me, is the fact that the more things you surround yourself with that make you smile, the better. Life won’t always give you reasons to smile. Heck, there are some days, weeks, and even months at a time where it seems determined to make you do anything BUT smile.
That’s when you have to come through and be your own hero. Having multiple interests and joys will set you up for success and give you reasons to smile more and fret less.
If you’re new to collecting, I have a few tips to help you along the way…
- Amazon is a wonderful, wonderful place to find photographs, books, memorabilia, etc. It’s one of my favorite places to shop.
- eBay is also excellent. Simply search for your actor, actress, movie, or show and you’ll be blown away by all that’s offered. I don’t use eBay simply because I don’t like the whole bidding process. However, if I wanted something that was available as “buy now,” I’d certainly hop on that grenade.
- Have you ever heard of Ollie’s? If you have an Ollie’s near you, they are a goldmine for inexpensive books. I’ve 5 recently for the price I would have paid for one at a bookstore or online.
- Thrift stores and yard sales are also fun to check out. In addition to my Old Hollywood collectibles, I also collect pig figurines, Historical books, Agatha Christie books, vintage jewelry, Christmas ornaments and villages, and cookbooks – being on the hunt at thrift stores is downright addictive. When you find something, it’s like you’ve struck gold!
- Calendars – not only are they great fun to look at all year, you can save the pictures, frame them, and hang them on the wall. I have many Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe wall art thanks to this trick.
Are you a collector? Who or what do you collect? Leave a comment and let us know!
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