When stardom is new, autograph signing can be a thrill. One night in Paris 60 year old Cary Grant and 25 year old Sophia Loren wished to go out to dinner. "But people will come up to us. I can't stand it!" said jaded Briton. "I love it," said Sophia. When they left their hotel Grant complete with his hat pulled down,dark glasses, his scarf wrapped around his face, and his huge overcoat looked like Invisible Man. Sophia looked like Sophia. As they walked streets of Paris people began to come up to her for autographs which she joyfully signed. After a few fan encounters Grant began to get jealous. Down came hat, off came glasses, coat and scarf and soon he was standing under neon lights to get noticed.

Another English actor named Grant was thrilled by his breakout stardom due to movie Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994). Hugh Grant would drive around New York looking for theaters where film was playing then get out and wait in line, happy for attention and to sign autographs. Later when he was arrested in Los Angeles for hiring prostitute Divine Brown, he turned down requests to put his signature on tabloids containing his mug shot.

Some actors just sign despite their annoyance. One time Arnold Schwarzenegger was being interviewed at a press junket when a reporter asked him for an autograph for his mother, a big no-no. The star grimaced and said,"Of course. I wouldn't want to disappoint your mother." He paused then added," I'm sure you have disappointed her enough already."

Autographs can cause internal conflicts for stars who take themselves too seriously. During making of Klute (1971) Donald Sutherland received a written request from a fan who wished for an autograph for his daughter. Sutherland showed letter to his humorless girlfriend Jane Fonda who expressed a strong opinion that he should not sign it, autographs imply that movie actors are somehow superior to others. Sutherland bowed to her philosophy and wrote a letter stating his reasons for refusing request. The man wrote him back,"Dear Mr. Sutherland, thank you for your letter. We think you are full of it but we ripped off signature and gave it to our daughter."

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Sam purchased an experimental sound system called Vita-phone. They then acquired rights to The Jazz Singer, a popular play about a young man who had a beautiful voice and is offered a Broadway career against wishes of his Old World Jewish father. In play son gave in to his father but Warner's, wishing to reach a wider audience, Americanized story by having son follow his own dreams. Star Al Jolson adlibbed dialogue," Wait a minute, wait a minute you ain't heard nothing, yet!" The Warner's were only intending singing but at last minute they impulsively kept line in film. The Jazz Singer received a standing ovation when it premiered in New York in 1927 and went on to make three and half million dollars at a time when admission costs 20 cents. The sound revolution was under way!

Movie audiences had often been loud and noisy while watching silent films. Now theater's got quiet as people strained to hear every word. Movie Theater's had to be rewired for sound, costing major studios like Paramount and Fox millions of dollars. Movies now had to film mostly at night as any passing truck noise could ruin a sound recording. " How boring!" said Mary Pickford. "At first we moved! Now everyone is standing around talking!" One enterprising actor was hired for one day's work. When director wasn't looking he let a bunch of crickets loose on set. It was five days before crew could round up chirping crickets, and actor kept on hold received five times paycheck.