I can hardly believe it has been 40 years ago that I first met Michael Landon. It started out as a bet between me and my friend. She was tired of hearing me moan the blues about never meeting my first crush. She told me to just go for it! All I would be out is airfare and hotel, and maybe I would get lucky enough to meet him!
Mike was hosting the finals of the Junior Miss Pageant in Mobile, Alabama. I thought at least I could see him on stage for the telecast. I decided it would be better to have some type of credentials (real or not). I knew a contact for a local newspaper, and asked her if I could get some type of ID to at least show I was going to report back to them about the pageant. The only thing I had was a business card showing the name of the newspaper and the editor’s name. (Wow, that’s a real “in”….)
I had a long flight from Cincinnati to Mobile, with multiple stops. It took most of the day for me to arrive there in early evening. As luck would have it, I was standing in line to get off the plane, and I looked out the window. There HE was! I would know his hair anywhere, even though he was a quite a distance away, standing out on the tarmac. He was surrounded by the Trail Miss Southern Belles, so I first saw their gowns and one man in the middle of them! I quickly was getting my Instamatic Camera with flash cube attached out of my purse, as I was running down the staircase!
I went outside the terminal, and Mike was getting into a station wagon (!). No limo for him, I guess.
I managed to snap a few more pictures.
I presented my great “credentials” at the registration table, and was given a temporary pass to wear. (This pass is still in my possession to this day.) I tried to blend in with the families that were there to watch their girls who were vying for the title. It really wasn’t difficult, and I was there for hours watching Mike do run-throughs of the questions and lines he had to say on camera for the finals.
I had to strain my ears sometimes to hear what he was saying He would be telling jokes to the crew, and relating stories, etc. I wish I could remember everything he said. He wore his tuxedo jacket with his jeans. I think the reason was for the color cameras. It looked odd, but very cute. He had on bell bottom jeans and boots.
When they took their lunch break, I went outside by the main doors. The guard was friendly, and I asked him if he would take my picture with Mike when he returned from lunch? He said sure, not a problem.
I’ll never forget seeing him from about a block away, walking down the sidewalk from the hotel. There was nobody there, and he was alone walking back to the auditorium. He was so nice, even though I was a nervous wreck. (Please, don’t make an idiot out of yourself…) He signed my autograph book, and I told him I had waited thirteen years to meet him! He just laughed and said “OK”, what’s your name? Uhhhh – oh yeah….hmmm? I loved watching him sign my book with his back-handed writing that I had noticed all the years on the show.