Backstreet Boy Watching in CT

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Jul 03, 2001 Source: ctnow.com Submitted By: Gina Cates This Guy's Bush Watching, Backstreet Boy Watching, Everywhere Watching It was Wednesday, Day 1 of the Backstreet Boys' visit to Hartford, and Michael Kasmar, who runs an online autograph-memorabilia business in South Windsor (AutographPros.com), was on the case. Oh, was he on the case. His job is to follow these guys and other celebrities, get autographs, get pictures. That can mean following them from their first pickle to their final burp. AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter were in Hartford Wednesday. Howie D (that's Howie Dorough) and Kevin Richardson were back in New York, reportedly, for New York Yankee Derek Jeter's birthday party. Kasmar had a busy schedule, following AJ to Bowl-A-Rama in Newington; Brian to Carbone's in Hartford; and checking on Shaggy, who opened for Backstreet, he said, who showed up in a Porsche. They all stayed at The Goodwin Hotel. He watched AJ having dinner at McDonald's downtown, Nick eating at Wendy's at the Civic Center; then he was on the chase of AJ at Black-Eyed Sally's BBQ & Blues, downtown. On Friday, he watched Howie D. dining at Tapas on Ann Street, AJ at Wendy's just before the concert, and after the Friday night concert, Howie D, Nick and AJ at Bowl-A-Rama, again. (What's with all the bowling?) Kasmar started collecting autographs through the mail as a kid, when super baseball stars like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio handed them out for free. Kasmar was forced to sell that collection, but now, he said, he's "back with a vengeance.'' He goes to concerts, and he stands outside backdoor entrances of TV shows in New York like David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. Among the 2,000 autographs he has are: Lauren Bacall, Christine Aguilera, Tony Bennett, Drew Barrymore, BB King (he signs only Gibson guitars), Bo Diddley (he signs only reproductions of his signature red guitar), Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Linda Blair (she signed cans of soup), and Paul Newman ("that was a notch in my belt''). Prince won't sign unless you ask him by his real name, Kasmar said. Madonna would only pose for a picture, "very tough'' for autographs. And his next autograph prey? It's Gene Wilder, who's now appearing at the Westport Country Playhouse. Kasmar has a Willie Wonka poster he wants him to sign. Kasmar thinks he's been pretty lucky getting autographs. His secret?: "I just watch their eyes.'' And, we guess also, keep your eyes on their burgers and bowling shoes. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: johnanz http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Submitted by: Hans Thomsen Michael Kasmar....! He is the person behind Photograp-pros on eBay. Here he persistantly sells hundreds of autograph reprints. This however are never clear from the item titles. Words like "UNIQE", "RARE" are frequently seen in the titles. How can his copies be RARE....?! We are a lot of people here that have had enough of this character. We are in contacts with lawyers in Vernon, CT in order to turn every stone. Take care Hans Comment on this item. Next Item: Backstreet Boy Yearns For Acting Action Prev Item: We Are Family