The Tablecloth
It's all in a name
Story by Bob Kerpel
Photography by Jannet Walsh
Ocala Life Magazine © Star-Banner 2005-2007
It started in 1929 with the signature of John Barrymore, "The Great Profile," and continues through today, this ongoing collection of autographs of the world's greatest legends in entertainment, sports, science and medicine.
The signatures are written on a tablecloth.
Walter Light, Jr. says that when filled, it will be the wish come true of his mother, the late Olga "Joy" Light. Her wish was to preserve the memory of these celebrities and she chose a fine old, Irish linen tablecloth as the canvas. She wanted something that could be viewed at a single glance, her son explains.
Today there are almost 700 signatures on the tablecloth.
Joy began her unique hobby with the autographs of stars of America's newborn silver screen. These movie stars did personal appearance tours passing through St. Louis where her husband, Walter, was the most successful motion picture salesman on "Film Row."
It was his occupation that gave Joy access to these stars and she collected autographs from 75 of them. Then she branched out to sports figures like Dizzy Dean and Jack Dempsey, then added bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman and Ted Lewis - all between 1929 and 1944, the year she passed away.
"The Tablecloth," as it came to be known, was then passed to her son, Walter Jr. Being a busy musician with a hectic schedule, he packed the tablecloth away in a drawer where it languished for 39 years.
In 1983, Walter came across the cloth again, and remembering his mother's wish, he decided to renew her quest in search of more world-famous autographs.
And what success he's had, adding other unique personalities such as Billy Graham and Marcel Marceau, then Nobel Prize winners Jonas Salk, President Jimmy Carter and Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Once garnered, each autograph is carefully embroidered into the cloth "as signed" to be preserved for posterity.
Walter has stories to go with these events, like George Burns quipping, "Did Charlie McCarthy sign it?"
"Right under Mortimer Snerd," Walter said.
And Steve Allen's secretary popping in as the multi-talented man was bent to sign, saying, "Jayne's on the phone. Wants to know if you intend to wear your tux tonight?"
"Yes," Steve shot back, "but tell her, no shoes."
These are the tales Walter regales his audiences with in his Talk-and-Slide shows. But the story he enjoys telling most relates to his visit with President Ronald Reagan. That visit, says Walter, was a meeting that became a bond.
Somehow we got to talking about the Presidents favorite name, which was Lucky. He named his dog Lucky. His ranch was on Lake Lucky. He was delighted to learn that my nickname was "Lucky," that I called my band Lucky Light, that our birthdays, his Feb. 6 and mine Feb. 7, were just a day apart, that we were both of Irish blood. And on and on. We spent an hour in rapt conversation over our surprising similarities. "I was most impressed with the diamond horseshoe tie pin he wore for our appointment." In the end he called in his photographer to capture the event. "It was a day I'll never forget," Walter says.
To read through these signatures, as the signers themselves often said, is to jog one's memory of times gone by and then marvel at the names of Present-day celebrities. The sheer number and mix of signatures of famous people is astounding.
See the signature of Joe Louis and relive the crowds pouring down from the stands on his retaking the world heavyweight crown from Max Schmeling with a first round knockout.
Spot Jimmy Doolittle's name and feel your pride build on recalling his daring retaliation of Tokyo for Hirohito's attack on Pearl Harbor. Spy Bobby Thompson and thrill again to his incredible, crowd-rousing ninth-inning homer that pulled the 1951 Series out of the bag for the New York Giants.
An hour can go by quickly unnoticed reading The Tablecloth of memories.
Just as songs stir our memories, so does pondering these legends on linen. The signatures conjure up recollections of where we were and what we were doing during the years, seasons and days at the height of their triumphs.
Now, 77 years after its inception, real estate on The Tablecloth is finally growing sparse. Along with photographs authenticating the autographs, each has its own signature pen "retired." There are vignettes of every signing captured in writing. Walter believes his "Gathering of Legends" is destined to claim its spot in history.
When the last space is filled the job will be done, and with that, Walter Light, Jr. will have fulfilled his mother's greatest wish.