Event Coverage Barris = Low Class

I have Howdy's autograph!

 

That's how I got my autograph!! .........and then I charged him ten bucks to have his picture tahen with me!

 

I met George at a Boston World of Wheels Show in the late 90's. NO ONE was paying any attention to him,so I walked up and asked for his autograph. He pulled out a 6x10 of him with the "Batmobile"; signed it and thanked me and my buddy for coming over to see him. How times change !!!

That was the same show that Ed Roth attended for the last time. He was "hawking" his artwork and not many people were paying any attention to him. I was way too intimidated by him to even talk to him. I don't know why. He p***ed away the following year.

Glenn

 

Same here. Garlits made everyone stand around and then it was noted that auto's would be $10. If you bought a T-shirt he would sign it for the price of a shirt. Garlits didn't even acknowledge you were there.

To be fair, I'm sure he has signed countless thousands of things and after awhile it gets old.

Two things though. Tommy Ivo was right across from Garlits. He brought a stack of 5X7 pics that he would give you and then sign it for free. He would then thank you so much for taking the time to come by and see him.

I would have fluffed it all off except Ohio George came up to Garlits and wanted him to sign a diecast. Garlits gave him a hard time and wanted to charge him $10. Now maybe there is a history there, I don't know but it went over poorly in my eyes.

 

At Cleveland Autorama, I paid him 10 bux for a signed Batmobile pick (for the shop),we talked about my small business and he looked at some of my shifter balls and was very complimetary.

He also posed for a pic with me.

I also paid Starbird and Norm Grabowski for signed pictures. I am paying for the print and autograph,,,,,I have had personal items signed and never was asked for cash

But this was my favorite of Barris, he said "Gotta go, important business to do!" so I took this pic.

 

Thats a high price autograph for a great promoter, if we were talkin Sam,he would be able to charge whatever he wanted.(but I dont think he would of ever charged.)I have lost most respect (not all but most) after I witnessed what he chose for the Barris (best Kustom) car up at Santa Maria this year.

 

It had to have something to do with the event- charging for a sig.
Barris was walking around the Thunderfest Car Show in Covina Saturday afternoon/evening. Wasn't announced he would be there (that I know of).
He was by himself & signing everything handed to him. He was friendly, smiling & signing for free.

 

This is all just another reason why society is on the decline.

What went wrong?

i have my theories, but you go ahead first.

 

The ten bucks is the fee for his hand time, it spends the rest of the time patting himself on the back.

 

I can't help. For some reason the blood has all left my head.

 

I have had nothing but good experiences with Barris, and he has been very generous in his shop, giving me alot of stuff (photos, pamphlets, etc.). I imagine he was $igning for charity that day, although he at times does 'sign for cash'... I think depending if he is getting paid for being at the event, or whatever the details.

I went to a Barris event a couple of years ago, going there figuring he was signing for cash, which he was. I brought a huge box of stuff, including an authentic Barris '"relic" I wanted to show him. Sure enough he was charging, and this was shortly after the Hot Wheels 1/18 Batmobile was released. His signature was $10, but $20 on a Batmobile toy. Of course I gulped, but figured he might croak tomorrow, and I had seen his signed 1/18s sell for $100 on Feebay, so I said, 'eh... what the hell'. I handed over $40, and told his lady/keeper I wanted him to sign two 1/18 Batmobiles, and she said...no, that's $20. I sez, 'not $20 each?', she says no, $20 for as many signatures as I want. Well, I had brought along like 20-30 Barris items altogether (my original intention was to strike a deal with him, anyway)- 15 Batmobiles, a couple of Munster Koaches, a couple of Dragulas, a couple of Batman model kits, some books, photos, etc. . He signed it all for $20 total, and I was happy as a clam.

Needless to say, I sold a few of the items shortly thereafter and was quickly back in the black again. Thanks, Uncle George...

 

ha, GB was at the Me*** Auction last week. I got one of his photos signed for my buddy Povertyflats. No charge.

I have had even better times when Linda Vaugn comes to Me***.

Perhaps they are paid to attend and don't need to charge

 

im not a big fan of getting autgraphs either, but when some ask you for an autograph that is a different story. last month my self and 2 other djs were asked to dj a major nightclub here in town, we made flyers, promoted, and had a good turn out, but what really caught me off guard was when a few people asked me for my autograph on the flyer. this tolaly tripped me out, i was in total shock that some one wanted MY autograph. so, i signed 3 flyers, 2 girls and one guy(who might of been gay, but not that there is anything wrong with that). its a crazzzzzzy thing when someone asks you for your autograph, maybe next time i should charge

 

This is prob why he charges because he knows you are turning the stuff around and selling it...

 

Dude.....do you ever work? ........

 

I introduced my son to Paul Lemat at the Primer Nats a few years back. Bought a few of his pic's for my sons,$5 each. Then he asked my son if he had a car there and my son said yes. He said "Let's go see it!". My son freaked out,and we walked over to his Shoebox. Paul says,"open it up so I can sit in her". He then pulled put his sharpee and signed the dash! His handler said "that will be another $5" and Paul said "********! it's free...". My son still tells his friends about it!

 

great story!

 

Yep. But I was honest and told him that's what I was doing. What else would I do with 15 Batmobiles? He didn't care, and he got paid. I bet he made a couple grand signing stuff that day. And good for him.

 

Cool to read a positive story. Indeed Lemat seems like a good guy.

I met him once and another guy was telling his son all about AG and who Paul Lemat is.

The guy tells Lemat that he wishes he would be in another movie like AG. Lemat doesn't miss a beat and says "Yeah, me too".

 

This is true, and it ain't for $10 either. Having said that, Shelby's autograph money goes for heart surgeries to kids who cannot afford them, it saves a LOT of lives annually, so to that end, I think it's money well spent. Not only that, but having CS's signature on your Shelby Mustang/Cobra/whatever does boost the value somewhat. I was lucky and got to meet him and many other '60's Ford legends for a free autograph session a few years back. Contrary to what anyone else says, I found Mr Shelby to be a great guy, and very polite.

 

Ok well if you all want to ***** about Barris a little more me,my wife and my son all went to The World of Wheels in Chicago this year and waited patiently in line for an hour to meet Barris I brought my dash in for my 32 Chevy and when i got up there to have him sign it he ask's if it was mine and then proceeded to tell me it was going to cost me 20 bucks to sign! So here i stood with my little boy disappointed but handed him 20 and he signed it then asked if we would like a picture with him i wanted to spit in his face! I went last year and met Jimmy Shine for the first time and i idolize that guy i wish i had the talent he has but anyways it was me and my dad that went together,Well we finally make our way up to see Shine and ask him to sign my dash and we talked for what seemed like 20 Minutes and charged no one nothing to sign anything or talk to anyone! Jimmy is the man he made me feel like we were old friends and told me and my dad how he was happy to see a father and son together at a show and that he was happy to hear that he is an inspiration to someone!

On a side note i met Gene Winfield 3 or 4 years ago at the Rockin rods on Route 66 show in bloomington il and he was just as cool to talk to and made me feel good to know i got into cars for the right reasons!

 

everyday 7am til 6pm mandatory...Mondays are light...then I come home to a pregnant wife... oh yeah I am going to be a dad in april!!!

 

Ive got a lotta stuff signed by Mr.Barris and he has never asked for a dime.He has always been very nice and talked about what was going on be it a girls nice **** or the show we were at,No matter what people say He's been great with me over the last 20-30 years Ive run into him.......something else was at play.........JMO

 

I'll add my George Barris stories to this thread...

The first time I met him was at the 50th GNRS and had him sign my ticket stubs.Nice guy,really likes to talk about "his" cars
Saw him again in '08 at the Guitar Geek Festival in Anaheim and he signed a pic of the Fireball 500 for Free.
His Prod Mgr Tony told me next time I'm in Anaheim to give him a call and I'll get a shop tour.
The last time was at the Sacramento Autorama earlier this year.Was still approachable and had time to talk.
I wasn't charged for any of his autographs,I guess it's all about "timing".

 

I don't know if you guys have ever heard the reason why Paul Newman stopped signing autographs! There were two instances...
#1- A guy followed him into a restroom and asked him to sign an autograph,WHILE HE WAS PEEING!!!!
#2-A lady asked him to hold her dog for a picture! He said that was it!

BUT!!!!! If you ran into him at a racetrack,he sometimes would sign things...

 

Exactly.

Boyd signed one of his books for me at a car show when I was 20 years old.... & then offered me a job. I took it. That autograph still doesn't mean much to me but I wouldn't take anything for the experience & the friendship. A late night, one-on-one dinner or breakfast with the Saturday morning crew was priceless & really gave you a chance to know the man. He was a good friend.

I bought a t-shirt from Roth once & he signed it before he handed it over. I never wore it. Threatened to frame it but never did. Maybe my kids will want it someday.

Grabowski sells his autograph everywhere he goes. I've never bought one from him but he got in my pocket for a shift knob. That's OK. It's far cooler than an autograph anyway.

Barris is a clown & I think I'd smack Garlits if he ever took a Sharpie to my dash.

JH

 

I thought his son is on here now.

Brian

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=56675

Brett Barris - Director of Marketing

Brian

 

I would only pay for an autograph if the proceeds went towards helping sick kids in need.. which I have done..

As For Mr Barris, or any other Custom Car Builder.. I dont know any of them to say any thing bad. and Have No reason too.. ..

 

Nope it was Winfields and Watsons gig and they were signing everything under the sun!!!! FOR FREE