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Fats Domino - One spring afternoon in 1998 I was sitting in the Acme Oyster Bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans slurping (what else?) ersters on the half-shell when I looked up and there was Little Richard, in the flesh. When I called out his name, he paused and said: "Nope, not me. But I am a musician." Now somewhat embarrassed, but still not altogether convinced that the man wasn't trying to dodge another autograph seeker, I asked what group he played with. "Fats Domino," was the response. "He's back there now, playing the poker machines." I let a decent interval pass, then got up and walked back to an alcove off the end of the bar. And there (dare I again say 'in the flesh?")...was a very convincing resemblance of Fats Domino... all by his lonesome and festooned with gold chains and bracelets, pulling the lever. I sat down on the stool next to him, put a fiver in the machine, and said: "Howya doing, Fats?" He turned to me, nodded and smiled. I played the machine for maybe a minute, not knowing what else to say, when the same man with whom I had spoken earlier suddenly appeared with half a Po-Boy sandwich, which he handed to Fats with the comment: "Here ya are, ma' man. Extra mayo, like you asked for" "Thanks, Richard," Fats replied. I looked up and Little Richard looked back. "And I got ketchup on my face," he said, and we both had a hearty laugh.
T. W. - Posted: February 22, 2007

Annette Funicello and the other Mousekeeters - Disneyland in Anaheim had just opened and I was thrilled to be there for my 9th or 10th birthday with my Mom and brother. At the end of a very long "E-Ticket" kind of day we discovered that Mom's car battery was dead. We trudged across the parking lot to the Disneyland Hotel to phone my Dad for help. While waiting for my Dad, we all went out to the hotel playground. To our utter astomishment, there was Annette, Tommy, Cubby, Karen, Darlene and I don't even remember who else. Only the idols of my childhood. Nobody was a bigger Mickey Mouse Club fan than me. We all just played and pushed each other on the swings and were kids together. They were great. Really unaffected, great kids. No 10-year-old could ask for a better birthday present!
Priscilla - Posted: January 21, 2007

Mel Brooks - Circa 1981, I was walking down Madison Avenue in New York City with my cousin -- we had just come from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I saw this familiar looking man walking towards us, but I couldn't fetch his name from my head. I got a little flustered, thinking he was a friend of my parents and that I was going to embarrass myself by forgetting his name. So, I took charge as he walked by thrusting out my hand for a shake, stating, "Hi, I'm Michael, Tom and Maria's son." He didn't hesitate. He shook my hand and said with a smile, "Hi. Mel Brooks. Max and Kitty's son." Then he kept walking along with his friend. I guess he'd been through stuff like that before. Anyway, the cape he was wearing should have been a dead giveaway. Cheers.
Michael - Posted: November 2, 2006

Debbie Harry - In 1987 when I was living in Manhattan I passed Debbie Harry of Blondie on the street once, and as I passed her she happened to be pointing and saying to her companion "That's where I saw Joanne Woodward."
- Posted: September 4, 2006

Joe DiMaggio - In November of 1991, I had to fly from San Francisco to Philadelphia for some training on some new point-of-sale equipment. While waiting for my luggage, I noticed a distinguished gentleman who looked familiar surrounded by a small group of people. After the crowd cleared, I recognized the man as Joltin' Joe himself. I smiled at him and nodded and he did the same to me. I had heard he was a very private man who really didn't like to be bothered. A few months later I was at the Presidio Golf Club installing the equipment and who came in and sat at the bar but....Joltin' Joe! He looked at me with a puzzled gaze as if he recognized me from somewhere. I said "Philadelphia, waiting for luggage, Mr. DiMaggio." He snapped his fingers, said "That's it!" He sipped his drink in silence and left. After that, while on service calls at the club, I would often see Mr. DiMaggio, usually sitting by himself. He never failed to smile and say hello. The last time I saw him was a few years before he passed away. He had finished his drink and left the empty glass and bar napkin on the counter. As I got ready to leave, the bartender handed me the napkin and said, "Joe told me to give this to you." On the napkin was his autograph with the inscription, "I know you were too respective of my privacy to ask for this." WOW!
R.A.S. - Posted: August 19, 2006

Jonathan Harris - My father was CEO of several symphonies over the years and sometimes hired celebrities to appear as guests. One day (about 15 years ago) he called and said he was taking Jonathan Harris to dinner and would I like to come? Of course! But my then-boyfriend/now-husband decided he'd pass. We went to a little restaurant in a small town in Michigan and Jonathan was simply stunning. He was not recognized when we arrived. The waitress was noticeably annoyed when he ordered his steak "this thick," his drink with "a drop of..." and his potato with a different cheese than on the menu. During dinner, he regaled my family with amusing stories of his life in his wonderfully dramatic way to the point that we could not stop our loud laughter. (How we managed to eat, I'll never know!) The few people in the room with us withdrew to the other dining room, casting disgusted looks at us as they left. About halfway through the meal, someone must have finally identified him because the waitress suddenly began fawning and asking if he wanted another of those just-so drinks. People in the other room began leaning in their seats, trying not to look too obvious as they goggled through the doorway. When we got up to leave, he graciously shook hands with the kitchen staff and the few others brave enough to come out of the other room. He obviously loved the attention and told us that he was looking forward to appearing at a sci-fi convention because "it's wonderful to be worshipped for a weekend." Jonathan was a true thespian and an utter delight. I've never laughed so hard in my life as I did at that dinner. My husband is still kicking himself for not going!
T. H. Cox - Posted: August 5, 2006

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