Robert Stack
Motion Picture/TV Actor
From the moment we shook hands, I knew this man and our meeting would be a most memorable one. I was able to contact Robert Stack by mail in 1991. At that time he showed a great interest in what I was doing and readily agreed to meeting with me. After my initial letter, we kept in contact and arrangements were made for my friend and photographer Beverly Buckmaster and me to meet Mr. Stack on Feb. 25, 1992 at his Bel Air, California home.
I rang the bell and his maid opened the door with Mr. Stack standing nearby. "Walter, why did you choose the back door?" was his first comment. "I have a beautiful front entrance and was looking forward to showing off my home to you. And here you are at my back door with the garbage cans and everything." What a gracious man to greet us so warmly. They led us into the huge living room where he offered to have his maid fix a drink. We chose Coke and Sprite respectively. Our light conversation covered his current acting and other activities, including his good showing in the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament.
He was proud to show us through his home and especially his trophy room. He was most proud of his marksmanship and skeet shooting awards rather than his golfing trophies. Still in his prime with lots of enthusiasm. I couldn't help thinking: "Gosh, he looks exactly like Robert Stack - the man who played Elliot Ness in THE UNTOUCHABLES."
After leaving the trophy room, he ushered us into the dining room area to a large round table. He was most anxious to see the Tablecloth completely unfolded to see the signatures. I had earlier folded the cloth and ready for him to sign. Bev. took three or four pictures as he signed a very readable signature. He also signed a card and handed the pen back. He didn't waste any time as he began helping me remove the rubberbands from the cloth as we began unfolding it to it's fullest. Of course I was flattered to see the strong interest he showed for this collection. I don't believe he missed seeing one signature as he walked around and around his large round dining room table. He could not stop marveling at the names with great amazement. He would stare and then shake his head, then continue to look again for fear he may have missed someone. My mother would have been so proud watching him so intently focused with such interest in The Tablecloth she had begun in 1929. Pausing, he again asked, "Sure you won't have that drink Walter?" His maid ready to head for the bar. "I'll have another Coke Robert. It's so early and we have that long drive back to Anaheim."
I then removed a few photo albums from the carrying case. He loved looking at these and I don't believe he missed one picture and talked about the stars as he paged through the albums. I have never seen a more intent Tablecloth Fan than Robert Stack. Beverly must have taken nine or ten pictures that morning. I even snapped one of Bev and Robert together.
It seemed like we were there for a very long time as I began gathering the various items to fold and pack for the journey back. As we shook hands Robert ushered me back to the table, looked me square in the eyes and said,; "Walter, this is the finest thing I have ever signed." I got chills and goose bumps as I listened and thoroughly enjoyed his enthusiasm about the collection. I felt like I was doing a serious movie roll with Robert Stack as the leading man. "I gotta tell you something Walter," he continued. "This is absolutely amazing what you've done here. I wish you every success in getting this Tablecloth filled." His reaction was so profound that he grabbed my arm and shook it a little saying, "Do you know that every one of us out here had the opportunity to do exactly what you are doing and not one of us did it. Not only that, but we had access to each other all the time for all those years. Thank you for inviting me to sign this. I'm so happy to be included in your wonderful collection."
To say the least, yes, I was emotionally spent listening to him like that. What a wonderful meeting with a wonderful host and Emmy winner -- Robert Stack.