If a celebrity's death is sudden or violent, of course there will be a sudden rush to get some memorabilia. If the celebrity is no longer, well, such a celebrity, the passing will still trigger a few kneejerk days of nostalgia.
Those that have traveled the signing circuit, turning up at various comic-cons and autograph shows, may have out-signed the demand. They sit at a table and modestly, graciously offer the minimum ($20 usually) just to have a pleasant, leisurely day of meeting fans and getting some attention. Most of them even sign for free via the mail.
Carol Lynley? By all accounts a very nice lady who signed a lot of stills from "Poseidon Adventure," and some pert portraits. Carol was given a song to sing in the film, but no, she was dubbed. When her career was dipping a bit, she went nude in a 1965 issue of Playboy, which few well-known actresses did at that time. Slighty pervy collectors would bring her a Playboy to sign:
A look inside the magazine? Well, Carol was a busty model, but her slim butt and thick legs were better left clothed for the imagination.
A few random odd notes:
A big deal at the time, Carol Lynley and Carroll Baker starred in bad movie bios of Jean Harlow. Who would emerge as the box office star? Neither. Both were...bad movie bios of Jean Harlow.
A model in her teens, Carol wanted to use the name Carolyn Lee for movie work. There was already an actress by that name, so she cleverly came up with the similar sounding Carol Lynley.
Lynley's film career took off with the controversial "Blue Denim." Like other "shocking" movies that pioneered nudity, rough language, or some kind of sexual topic (see: "Return to Peyton Place" with Tuesday Weld, the oh-so-alarming "The Moon is Blue" or don't bother...) that one lost steam and is forgotten today. Like Tina Louise in "God's Little Acre," one "socko" eyebrow raising film role does not always lead to a sizzling Monroe or Bardot career in film after film.
When she died last week, there was a feeble ripple on eBay. A few low-priced items sold:
Dozens and dozens of items, languishing in autograph dealer stores, have remained unsold and are not likely to ever sell unless the prices are drastically lowered. Even then, they'll only sell to collectors who have to collect everything. There were a lot of blonde actresses back then, as there are now. Diane McBain tries to get $25 mail order to sign a picture (she's now living in the Motion Picture home, which might suggest that autograph profits are slight). She noted to her handful of Facebook followers that she was sometimes mistaken for Carol Lynley, and that she sympathized when Carol's career began to decline.
As Walter Egan sang, in a fanboy ode to "Tuesday Weld" that referenced some of the others: "Never mind Sandra Dee and Yvette Mimieux. Forget Carol Lynley 'cause she never will do. If you see Connie Stevens just take her away, 'cause they can't hold a candle to to to to Tuesday." He left out Stella Stevens. Dorothy Provine, anyone? Peggie Castle was good, too.
As they say, the work lives on, and maybe a film class screens 'Blue Denim' once in a while, and who knows, even 'The Maltese Bippy.' Meanwhile, lots of autographed items for sale on eBay...maybe the prices will lower in a few months.
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