• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Thousands Turn Out To See Celebrities At Ultimate Collectibles Show

Posted: Oct 5th 2009 By: CMBurnham

With more than 100 celebrities, pro wrestlers and sports icons on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures, thousands of area residents turned out for the Ultimate Collectibles and Autograph Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on Saturday.

Eric Poppel, promoter for Majestic Productions, said that he was pleased to see so many people come through the doors of the center first thing Saturday morning.

"We've had an excellent turnout today," Poppel said. "It's been a good crowd and they are getting the chance to meet a lot of their favorite celebrities and sports stars. Today has been extremely busy and we are looking forward to another great crowd on Sunday."

The two-day event ends at 5 p.m. today.

The perimeter of the hall was filled with vendor tables selling collectibles such as miniature football helmets and various memorabilia to be purchased for autographs by the plethora of guests.

Attendees of the event had their choice of meeting and greeting with a whole host of individuals from television, movies, sports and sports entertainment.

Some of the celebrities that appeared Saturday included rapper/actor Ice-T and his wife Coco, Scotty Shwartz ("A Christmas Story"), Mark Metcalf ("Animal House"), Larry Thomas (Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld"), Erika Eleniak and Donna D'Errico ("Baywatch"), and Adrianne Curry ("My Fair Brady").

As far as athletes go, former Philadelphia Phillies Jim Bunning, Garry Maddox, Rick Wise, Art Mahaffey, Jim "Kitty" Kaat, and 1993 Phillies hero Pete Incaviglia were popular with show attendees.

Football greats present included former Chicago Bear Dan Hampton and former Eagles Buddy Ryan, Roman Gabriel, Vince Papale, Brian Mitchell, Barrett Brooks, Frank LeMaster, Bill Bradley, Mike Quick, Tom Dempsey, Maxie Baughan, Bill Bergey, Pete Retzlaff and Harold Carmichael.

One of the longest lines at the show was for former Eagle Tommy McDonald, who said he was happy to see so many fans.

"I'm having such a great time," McDonald said while signing a Hall of Fame football helmet. "It feels good to see so many fans up close like this."

Cindy Williams, Shirley from TV's "Laverne & Shirley," flew in from Los Angeles late Friday night for the event.

"I haven't done a show like this in quite a while," Williams said. "I was recently out doing a play. I like doing shows and people are so sweet. The fans make me happy."

Pro wrestler Rick "The Dog-Faced Gremlin" Steiner left his real estate business and construction company in Michigan to meet and greet fans.

"I'm enjoying myself," Steiner said. "I come to these shows once in a while. I like meeting the fans and talking old school wrestling with them. I have three boys at home who want me to get autographs of some of the football players today."

One individual who rarely makes show appearances is none other than Antonio Fargas, otherwise known as Huggy Bear from "Starsky & Hutch." Also appearing with Fargas is a replica of the Ford Gran Torino from the show.

"It's a good time seeing a lot of people that I grew up watching and some I've worked with," Fargas said. "I don't do many shows because less is more. It's not like I'm a snob. I never seeked out the limelight. Money is not my motivation. This is my way of saying thank you to the fans. I'm still working and I have a lot of family commitments."

Very enthusiastic in meeting her fans was pro wrestler/Playboy model Traci Brooks.

"I love this so much," Brooks said. "Conventions are so much fun. I saw Ice-T and his wife Coco. This month I'm doing four conventions. I've been in love with wrestling since I was 6 years old. I'm a Playboy model and I'm living a dream."

Pro wrestler Brian "The Blue Meanie" Heffron simply said he was having a blast on Saturday.

"I get to meet all of the fans. I come out here, chill and see lots of cool things," Heffron said. "I'm a people watcher. This is pretty cool. It is like watching the Phillies when you were younger, and next thing you know you are up to bat with them. I'm fortunate that the fans took to me and this is where I'm at."

David Harris, who starred as Cochise in the '70s cult classic film "The Warriors," said he loves meeting both older and new fans of the movie.

"We just had a Warriors reunion in New Jersey," Harris said. "We got to meet fans who love the movie. I never thought the movie would be a cult classic. I get fan mail from all around the world.

"The video game came out last year and that was good. I got to do the voice of my character in the game. I'm also an action figure as well. All of this from a movie that was shot in five months near Coney Island in New York."

It wasn't only attendees who were more than eager to meet the celebrities at the show, as pro wrestlers Brian Knobbs of the Nasty Boys and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake both said they enjoy running into old friends at these shows.

"It's so good to see old friends and make some new ones," Knobbs said. "We don't get to see each other all of the time like we used to do when we were traveling."

"I live in Boston now and I drove four hours to be here," Beefcake said. "I love making appearances like this to see old buddies."

Most of the celebrities and athletes who appeared on Saturday will be appearing again today at the show. Also scheduled for today are appearances from former Phillies John Denny, Al Holland and Todd Pratt; David Faustino (Bud Bundy from "Married With Children"); pro wrestlers Ken Shamrock, Candice Michelle, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Ivan Putski, Kevin Thorn, Lance Storm, Steve Blackman, Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, Sonjay Dutt; and others.

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center is located at 100 Station Ave., with free on-site parking.

For more information about the event, contact Majestic Productions at 610-269-7225.

Tags: Rick Steiner