The Champ is here!

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali returned to Toronto, Canada for the first time in almost a decade on November 19th. The Champ was making the single night visit to the city for an appearance at an annual David Foster Foundation benefit Gala.

It was a much quieter return to Toronto for Ali considering the fanfare that accompanied his last visit during 2002, when Ali appeared at Toronto’s Skydome for an Argos football game and press conference (with fellow boxing champions Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, & George Chuvalo!)

From the first time meeting Ali during an appearance in Detroit during 1996, HoundsTV has had the pleasure of seeing The Greatest a few times over the years and witness him autograph some very beautiful pieces of memorabilia for the autograph Hounds.

RELATED: Muhummad Ali autographed boxing glove. Signed “aka Cassius Clay” from Cleveland National.

But on Muhammad’s latest visit to Toronto towards the end of 2010, it’s evident the Parkinson’s disease Ali was diagnosed with many years ago has now slowed his body considerably. On arrival to his downtown Toronto hotel a few hours before his scheduled appearance at the David Foster hosted benefit – Muhammad had to be helped from the car into the hotel by wife Yolanda and another person supporting him on each side.

When Ali last visited Toronto in late 2002 – it was very public and many cameras captured that special scene. But Muhammad Ali’s 2010 visit was private and low-key. And unlike last time, very few photographers even managed to capture a shot of Ali in the city. The Champ didn’t appear before photographers assembled for the red carpet arrivals at the David Foster fundrasier and it was asked repeatedly by representatives accompanying Ali at the event that people who approach Ali – please don’t ask for autographs.

YouTube: It was a much more public appearance for Muhammad Ali on his last visit to Toronto during late 2002. Ali arrived to great fanfare, and signed autographs for the collectors.

RELATED: Muhummad Ali autographed boxing glove. Signed “aka Cassius Clay” from Cleveland National.

One special time is certainly in Cleveland during 1997. When we heard that Ali was going to be the featured autograph guest at The National, we got the HoundsTVmobile going and made the journey to Cleveland for America’s biggest memorabilia show of the year.

One of the nicer pieces I had Muhammad Ali autograph was this official Everlast leather boxing glove [ $1,995 ] signed “Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay.” In these early autograph days for HoundsTV there was limited opportunties to ask the Champ to add his original name inscription.

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ITEM: MUHAMMAD ALI signed Everlast boxing glove with “aka Cassius Clay” inscription – (Signed in medium black sharpie. HoundsTV watermark graphic does not appear on actual item.)
PRICE: $1,995.00 CAN + $50.00 (S&H in North America.)
SIGNED: March, 1997 – The National, Cleveland, Ohio

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

HoundsTV had to get up pretty early in the morning to catch up with the Big Bang Theory’s breakout star, and recent Emmy winner Jim Parsons. Parsons, along with co-stars Simon Helberg (Howard) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) were making the first stop of many media engagements at a local radio station.

On exit, Jim Parsons was nice about signing this officially licensed, large sized, blue “It’s Not Cartoons… It’s Anime!” T-shirt [ $150.00 CAN] Big Bang Theory writers and Parsons have created one truly memorable character in Dr. Sheldon Cooper – who have now spawned a mini pop/geek culture T-shirt industry based from the success of the show.

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ITEM: JIM PARSONS autogrpahed Dr. Sheldon Cooper BIG BANG THEORY T-SHIRT – (Size: Large, Signed in blue sharpie on T-shirt. HoundsTV watermark graphic does not appear on actual item.)
PRICE: $150.00 CAN + $20.00 (S&H in North America.)
SIGNED: October 7, 2010 – Toronto, Canada

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

HoundsTV was able to catch up to Clint Eastwood on his arrival into the city the day before. Leaving the private airfield, Mr Eastwood was very kind to stop and beautifully autograph this 26″ x 38″ movie poster of “Dirty Harry” [ $995.00 CAN ] – one of Clint’s most famous roles. This poster is an exact reprint of the official 1971 release poster and features the graphic artwork of legendary movie poster designer Bill Gold. This was the first in the series of iconic “Dirty” Harry Callahan movies.

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Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

Bieber was spotted by fans enjoying ice-cream with his bodyguard in the Yonge Dundas area. They tried moving quickly through the building crowd that started to follow them. Justin and crew, who have gotten used to escaping mobs of teenage girls – quickly found entry to the Eaton Centre underground parking and disappeared.

It was Paul’s first trip back to Toronto in five years and the Sunday night concert was only Macca’s 10th show in Canada as a solo artist since 1976.

And that anticipation was met as a rash of autograph collectors and their crews descended upon Toronto all in hopes of achieving that coveted Sir Paul signature. Unknown to most, McCartney actually arrived in the city late Saturday afternoon and rehearsed at a venue close to the ACC. While McCartney was pleasant with a smile and wave to the few collectors present at this practice venue – he didn’t sign any autographs on the way in or out.

When McCartney arrived back to his Toronto hotel after the first show – There was just too many people for Macca’s people to even consider him signing.

It would turn out that McCartney would only sign once for the hounds on that trip to Toronto, and that’s just before Paul exited the city at the private airfield after the second show. While close to 100 collectors raced to meet Macca, he ended up signing for just over a quarter of them – and they were some very nice signatures indeed.

And I and some helpers were fortunate to get some nice items signed. Like this Capitol Records issue of the Beatles, RUBBER SOUL. While this album shows some wear it is considered one of the most critically acclaimed releases in the Beatles discography. Paul McCartney beautifully signed the album cover in black sharpie after the show in Toronto.

A NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS OF PAUL SIGNING: HoundsTV always strives to provide photographic proof of our celebrity encounters. Paul McCartney can be difficult to shoot on some occasions. Most times, Paul’s security requests NO PHOTOS be taken when Paul is signing for the collectors. As the presence of cameras has disrupted signings in the past and to respect the wishes of Mr. McCartney – photos of Paul signing can be rare. But we have got them many times before.

ITEM: BEATLES “RUBBER SOUL” ALBUM. Signed by PAUL McCartney on the album cover (Good condition. Album shows some wear at edges on cover. Signed in black sharpie. VERY SUITABLE FOR FRAMING. HoundsTV watermark graphic does not appear on actual item.)
PRICE: $1,300.00 CAN + $50.00 (insured & tracked S&H in North America) **Just 1 remaining in-stock.
SIGNED: August 9, 2010 – Toronto, Canada

THIS ITEM IS NOW OUT-OF-STOCK

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler has been on a book tour of late promoting his just released autobiography “My Appetite for Destruction: Sex & Drugs”

And it’s quite the story. Adler chronicles, in sometimes shocking detail, how he came to help form Guns N’ Roses which as a band went onto record one of the biggest and most memorable debut records in music history. And then Adler throws the fame and money away in a decent of serious drug abuse.

The book is worth a read for just some of the stories and observations Adler has for rock icons Steven Tyler, Slash, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and of course some great stories about the one-and-only Gn’R lead singer Axl Rose and his unique ways.

This first edition hardcover (285 pages) is signed by Steven Adler in blue sharpie on the inside title page, “Thank You. Steven Adler. Gn’R”

ITEM: STEVEN ADLER signed first edition hardcover book “My Appetite For Destruction” (NEW. Signed in blue sharpie on inside title page.)
PRICE: $49.00 CAN + $10.00 (S&H in North America)
SIGNED: August 3, 2010 – Toronto, Canada

While McCartney’s last concert in Montreal was in 1989, many did make the journey to Quebec City during the summer of 2008 when Paul played a historic concert in celebration of Quebec’s 400th anniversary. Over a quarter million people saw Paul play that day and HoundsTV was there when McCartney left the hotel.

We were there again as McCartney arrived into Montreal, Canada in the early afternoon during the day of the Bell Centre show this past week. But it was on Paul departing the city just before midnight he stopped at the private airfield and signed for the few collectors that managed to assemble there.

We got this Beatles Rarities album autographed. This is the American version released on Capitol Records and it’s best remembered for featuring the famous “butcher” cover album photo from Yesterday… and Today. Paul McCartney beautifully signed in Montreal the butcher photo which appears in the gatefold of this Rarities album.

THIS ITEM IS NOW OUT-OF-STOCK

ITEM: BEATLES “RARITIES” ALBUM. Signed by PAUL McCartney on the “Butcher” photo gatefold. (Excelllent condition. Album shows some wear at edges. Signed in blue sharpie. INCLUDES vinyl record. VERY SUITABLE FOR FRAMING. HoundsTV watermark graphic does not appear on actual item.)
PRICE: $1,650.00 CAN + $50.00 (insured & tracked S&H in North America) **Just 1 remaining in-stock.
SIGNED: August 12, 2010 – Montreal, Canada

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

HoundsTV in the past has posted stories about celebrities and pop culture icons that unfortunately pass away.

Today, HoundsTV is sad to report about another type of legend to us – an icon of the autograph collecting world passed away this month, Blair Richards of Cleveland.

Besides Blair’s love of teaching and practicing the law – Blair was a proficient traveler of the world, visiting well over hundred countries. It was on many of these journey’s that Blair collected the signatures of some of the biggest music stars in the world.

We shared many hounding adventures over the years with Blair. And it’s there HoundsTV will fondly remember the many stories shared with Blair as collectors chit-chat to waste time as you wait for the celebrity encounter. If it was a former staple of the modern music scene touring – anyone from Cheap Trick, Kansas, Supertramp, or Meatloaf – you could be sure Blair would have an interesting story of an autograph encounter with them.

Loving husband of Lena Richards. Loving son of Carole Richards Kusik (nee Kelty) (husband John), and Edward Richards. Dearest brother of Linnea Smith (nee Richards) (husband Stephen), grandson of Greye Richards and Harold (deceased) and Betty and James Kelty (both deceased). Cousin of Shannon and Derek Richards.

Blair Richards from Cleveland is certainly one of the best autograph collectors HoundsTV ever had the pleasure to work with and was taken from his wife, family, friends, and autograph hounding community at far too young of an age.

But we know Blair – and we doubt his passing will stop him from continuing his pursuits of celebrity signatures. So, a note to Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, John Bonham, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Miles Davis, and Stephen Ray Vaughan – Blair is probably going to be finding you with a stack of albums and a sharpie marker in hand real soon.

A memorial service is being held today, July 31st, in Clevelend to remember and celebrate the life of Blair Richards.

Blair getting Mick Jagger to sign a guitar in Toronto, 1999.
Blair and good friend and fellow collector Brad celebrating getting a huge haul of items signed by Roger Waters (ex of Pink Floyd) in Brazil, 2002.
Brad and Blair in Brazil.

“I was in Montreal for the F1 race and got the shock of all collecting shocks when I spotted ex-Beatle George Harrison walking out of a hotel. After getting Harrison to sign at about 7pm, not a minute later I run to a phone and call Blair and tell him I got Harrison. Phone goes dead. Not 12 hours later at 7 am all the way from Ohio, Blair drove through the night and is standing out there to graph Harrison on his guitar as George was leaving his hotel to head to F1 track. Blair got several Harrison signatures that trip to Montreal – that was vintage Blair!” – friend and fellow autograph collector Brad Byrne

(June 19, 2010) Miley Cyrus in rehearsal for co-hosting MMVA’s in Toronto. Miley will also perform “Party in the USA” and “Can’t Be Tamed” at the annual awards show on Queen St.