The pages are especially worth a look if you're a comic strip/sci fi fan...mouse over them to see what number they are.

I've held onto the hastily Xeroxed (and re-Xeroxed...and re-Xeroxed) pages of this 60-page chain letter for over 20 years, at first because it's filled with interesting names and drawings (again, not originals...dammit!) by famous artists, and then later because the very concept of a physical chain letter has become so antiquated.

The letters include everyone from Bette Midler to Goldie Hawn, from the late wife of Ricardo Montalban to JFK's press secretary, from publisher Joni Evans to the Hollywood Reporter's George Christy. To me, it's fascinating.

Check out the pages in the gallery above, and some notes on the pages below...

1

These are the instructions. Nobody is called “secretary” anymore except for John Kerry.

Kristine Kathryn Rusch

2

TO:

Kevin J. Anderson (b. March 27, 1962) Science fiction author

Marina Fitch (b. April 11, 1957) Science fiction writer

Paul B. Higginbotham (b. October 14, 1954) WI Court of Appeals judge (if right person)

Kij Johnson (b. January 20, 1960) Fantasy editor, creative director, writer

Marian Rusch (b. ?) Presumably related to sender

FROM:

Kristine Kathryn Rusch (b. June 4, 1960) Multi-genre/science fiction author

3

 

TO:

Batton Lash (b. ?) Comic book writer, m. to Jackie Estrada

Jackie Estrada (b. September 10, 1946) Editor, comic convention organizer, m. to Batton Lash

Kristine Kathryn Rusch (see 2)

Dean Wesley Smith (b. ?) Science fiction and novelization author

Ken Bruzenak (b. August 30, 1952) Comic-book lettering artist

FROM:

(Janet &) Michael T. Gilbert (b. May 7, 1951) Comic book artist/writer

4

TO:

John Lustig (b. January 25, 1953) Comic-book writer specializing in Disney characters

Bill Grandey (b. ?) Unknown

Michael T. Gilbert (see above)

Byron Erickson (b. February 3, 1951) Comic-book writer, editor

Cris Palomino (b. ?) Disney comics figure

FROM:

William Van Horn (b. February 15, 1939) Disney comics artist/writer, DuckTales

5

TO:

Ulrich Schroeder (Schröder) (b. ?) Disney illustrator/artist

Daan Jippes (b. 1945) Disney cartoonist

Jukka Murtosaari (b. 1963) Comic artist

Bill Van Horn (see above)

Don Rosa (b. June 29, 1951) Comic writer/illustrator of “Scrooge McDuck”

FROM:

Bob Foster (b. 1943) Creator of “Myron Moose,” storyboard artist, writer, painter

6

TO:

Floyd Norman (b. June 22, 1935) Comic book artist, including for Disney

Rick Detorie (b. ?) One Big Happy comic strip artist

Sergio Aragonés (b. September 6, 1937) Mad Magazine cartoonist/writer

Bob Foster (see above)

Patrick McDonnell (b. March 17, 1956) Mutts comic strip creator

FROM:

Scott Shaw! (b. ?) Cartoonist, Flintstones comic-book artist and comic historian

7

TO:

Susie Owens (b. May 28, 1956) Playboy Playmate, model for comic heroine “Flaxen”

Kathryn Lemieux (b. ?) Underground cartoonist, comic-strip artist, painter

Scott Shaw! (see above)

David Miller (b. ?) Comic artist

Christine Prapas (b. ?) Agent of illustrators/photographers

FROM:

Stephen Bentley (b. 1954) Creator of comic strip Herb and Jamaal

8

TO:

Stephen Bentley (see above)

Rand Carlson (b. ?) Cartoonist, co-founder of Random Arts

Greg Evans (b. November 13, 1947) Creator of comic strip Luann

Alison Fox (b. ?) Cartoon-industry figure

Terry Nowicki (b. ?) Political cartoonist

FROM:

Rick Kirkman (b. 1953) Co-creator of comic strip Baby Blues

9

TO:

Rick Kirkman (see above)

Kevin Fagan (b. June 22, 1956) Creator of comic strip Drabble

Bud Grace (b. 1944) Cartoonist, known for comic strip Ernie/The Piranha Club

Jerry Van Amerongen (b. ?) Cartoonist, creator of The Neighborhood

Dennis Awtrey (b. February 22, 1948) Retired basketball pro (if same person)

FROM:

Jerry Scott (b. May 2, 1955) Creator of comic strips Baby Blues and Zits

10

TO:

Bunny Hoest (b. 1932) “The Cartoon Lady” behind The Lockhorns, Laugh Parade & more

Art Muessig (b. ?) Unknown

Jerry Scott (see above)

George Townson (b. ?) Unknown

Mort Walker (b. September 3, 1923) Creator of comic strip Beetle Bailey

FROM:

Bil Keane (October 5, 1922—November 8, 2011) Creator of comic strip The Family Circus

11

TO:

John McMeel (b. ?) Co-founder of Andrews McMeel

Bill Hinds (b. April 21, 1950) Sports cartoonist

Bil Keane (see above)

Tom Wilson (August 1, 1931—September 16, 2011) Creator of comic strip Ziggy

Tom Rutledge (b. ?) Comic gallerist

FROM:

Bill Amend (b. September 20, 1962) Creator of comic strip FoxTrot

12

TO:

Cathy Guisewite (b. September 5, 1950) Creator of comic strip Cathy

Bill Amend (see above)

Kevin Kallaugher (b. March 23, 1955) Political cartoonist

Pat Oliphant (b. July 24, 1935) Editorial cartoonist

Mike Peters (b. October 9, 1943) Creator of comic strip Mother Goose and Grimm

FROM:

Barbara Dale (b. ?) Alternative greeting card CEO

The Big Chill (1983), written by Kasdan

13

TO:

Ruth Breslin (b. ?) Unknown

Debbie Broder (b. ?)  Unknown

Barbara Dale (see above)

Megan Williams (b. ?) Unknown

Beverly Grillo (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Meg Kasdan (b. ?) Actress, screenwriter, wife of Lawrence (b. January 14, 1949)—Meg is the person who sent the letter into the comic/artist/sci fi/fantasy community, via Barbara Dale (see above)

14 

TO:

Ronnie Benson (b. ?) Unknown

Joe Freilich (b. ?) Unknown

Lin Benedek (b. ?) Psychotherapist and writer

Deborah Leschin (b. ?) Film writer and producer

Meg Kasdan (see above) 

FROM:

Barbara Benedek (b. ?) Screenwriter, co-writer of The Big Chill, wife of agent Peter (b. ?)

15

TO:

Barbara Benedek (see above)

Paul Sinclaire (b. ?) Unknown

Sally Hill Maslansky (b. ?) HuffPost blogger, wife of Paul (b. November 23, 1933)

Marion Segal (1934—December 22, 2011) Producer, editor, screenwriter, ex of George (b. February 13, 1934)

Christine Meleo (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Susan Harris (b. October 28, 1940) Producer & writer, The Golden Girls, Soap, Benson

16

TO:

Diane English (b. 1948) Producer & writer, Murphy Brown

Susan Harris (see above)

Linda Johnsson (b. ?) Writer

Wendy Finerman (b. 1960) Producer of Forrest Gump and The Devil Wears Prada

Isaac Mizrahi (b. October 14, 1961) Fashion designer & TV personality

FROM:

Lisa N. Eisner (B. April 6, 1957) Photojournalist, artist, actress in The Kids Are All Right

17

TO:

Paulette Dufault (b. ?) Possibly an Elizabeth Arden VP (if same person)

David Lynch (b. January 20, 1946) Legendary filmmaker

Lisa Eisner (see above)

Raven Metzner (b. ?) Producer and writer

Barbara Nessim (b. 1939) Artist and illustrator

FROM:

Sheila Metzner (b. ?) Fine-arts photographer—Metzner seems to be the person who sends the letter into Hollywood.

I want Candy...

18

TO:

Joe Spellman (b. ?) Possibly an artist (if same person)

Candice Bergen (b. May 9, 1946) Film and TV actress

Donna Karan (b. October 2, 1948) Fashion designer

Tama Janowitz (b. April 12, 1957) Novelist and short story writer

Sheila Metzner (see above)

FROM:

Robert Lee Morris (b. ?) Jewelry designer and sculptor.

19

TO:

Courtney Chamine (b. ?) Unknown

Robert Lee Morris (see above)

Degen Pener (b. ?) Hollywood Reporter editor

Carol Wong (b. ?) Unknown

Carol Ronchetti (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Bayly Ledes (b. ?) Beauty-industry expert and writer

20

TO:

Kathy Leventhal (b. ?) Unknown

Ann Gottlieb (b. ?) Fragrance expert

Anne Fuchs (b. ?) Businesswoman, publisher of Vogue, Woman's Day, Elle

Claudia Thomas (b. ?) Unknown

Bayly Ledes (see above)

FROM:

Adrienne Fontanella (b. ?) President Mattel-Girls Division

21

TO:

Nancy Novogrod (b. ?) Longtime Travel + Leisure EIC

Dina Merrill (b. December 29, 1923) Actress, socialite

Shirley Lord (b. ?) Senior Editor, Vogue

Christy Ferer (b. ?) Vidicom CEO and public servant, 9/11 widow

Adrienne Fontanella (see above)

FROM:

Annemarie Cairns (b. ?) CEO Cairs & Associates PR

22

TO:

Carolyn Englefield (b. ?) Editor, Veranda.com

Annemarie Cairns (see above)

Lady Camilla Mackeson (b. ?) Chanel PR

Anthony Dias Blue (b. January 5, 1941) Author, food/wine specialist

Beverly Russell (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Jane Ellis (b. ?) House Beautiful editor

23

TO:

Maggie Buckley (b. ?) Unknown

Brian Ashford-Russell (b. ?) Business-world CEO

Jane Ellis (see above)

Kathy Jenkins (b. ?) Unknown

Mai Hallingby (b. ?) NYC socialite

FROM:

Julia Hartley (b. ?) Financial executive at Hambrecht & Quist—Hartley is the person who kicks the letter into the world of NYC design and publishing.

24

TO:

Julia Hallingby (b. ?) Unknown

Sarah Davidson (b. ?) Unknown

Chris Pallaris (b. ?) Business consultant (if same person)

Amber Turner (b. ?) Unknown

Kristy Roos (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Barrie Lyons (b. ?) Financial executive at Hambrecht & Quist

25

TO:

Patty Allman (b. ?) Unknown

Elizabeth Nordinger (b. ?) Unknown

Janie Pit (sp.?) (b.?) Unknown

Stephanie McCann (b. ?) Unknown

Barrie Lyons (see above)

FROM:

Amy (Stickney) Boyce (b. ?) Unknown

26

TO:

Amy Stickney Boyce (see above)

Carole Shorenstein Hays (b. September 15, 1948) Theatrical producer

Mary Grace Kaufman (b. ?) Unknown

Stacy Pinelli (b. ?) Unknown

Charlene Dallas Turan (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Julie Shafer (b. ?) Graphic designer

27

TO:

Ann Evans (b. ?) Unknown

Laurie Murphy (b. ?) Unknown

Julie Shafer (see above)

Doris Yuen (b. ?) Unknown

Catherine Belmont (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Jo Kaufman (b. ?) Unknown

28

TO:

John Berggruen (b. ?) Gallerist

Beatrice Bowles (b. ?) Unknown

Jo Kaufman (see above)

Alex Mehran (b. ?) Unknown

Paul Pelosi (b. April 15, 1940) Businessman, husband of Nancy Pelosi (b. March 26, 1940)

FROM:

Susie McBaine (b. ?) Socialite

29

TO:

Angie Brown (b. ?) Unknown

Susie McBaine (see above)

Jackie McIntosh (b. ?) Unknown

Stephanie Warberg (b. ?) Unknown

Chiqui Woolworth (b. ?) Interior decorator

FROM:

Virginia Franche Price (b. ?) Violinist (if same person)

30

TO:

Kathleen Alioto (b.?) Educator and Democratic politician

Ann Getty (b. ?) Interior designer

Debby Magowan (b. ?) Wife of former managing general partner of the Giants, Peter (b. 1942)

Cricket Price (b. ?) Unknown

Jo Schuman (b.?) Beach Blanket Bingo producer

FROM:

Sharon Owsley (b. ?) Socialite

Wasn't she still a Republican 20 years ago?

31

TO:

Sharon Owsley (see above)

Blaine Trump (b.?) Socialite

Arianna Huffington (b. July 15, 1950) HuffingtonPost founder

Sarah Giles (b. ?) Unknown

Wilma Bernstein (b. ?) Socialite

FROM:

Chris Boskin (b. ?) Worth Magazine publishing executive

32

TO:

Chris Boskin (see above)

Michael Fuchs (b. March 9, 1946) HBO producer

Peggy Siega (b.?) PR executive

Deborah Norville (b. August 8, 1958) TV anchor

Eleanore Kennedy (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Adrienne Vittadini (b. 1945) Fashion designer

33

TO:

Joni Evans (b. 1942) Book publisher and literary agent

Barry Kieselstein-Cord (b. ?) Designer, artist, lifestyle brand creator

Arie Kopelman (b. ?) Historic preservationist

Martin Puris (b. ?) Advertising legend

Adrienne Vittadini (see above)

FROM:

Judy Price (b. ?) Unknown

34

TO:

Judy Price (see above)

Carlotta Florio (b. ?) Unknown

Hollace Davids (b. ?) Events planner/Universal Pictures Marketing

Keith Estabrook (b. ?) Marketing executive

Cathy Lehrfeld (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

George Christy (b. 1937) Disgraced Hollywood Reporter columnist

35

TO:

George Christy (see above)

FROM:

Martin Crowley (?—?) Deceased liquor impresario

There is no link between 36A and 35, so the chain (in my possession) is broken. Of all the following letters, only 36A & 36B, 41A & 41B and 46A & 46B are connected to each other. The others are stand-alones. I'm not sure why I would not have any connections between them, but since quite a few have famous names.

36A

TO:

Joel Bennett (b. ?) Lawyer

Louis Esbin (b. ?) Lawyer

Gregg Gann (b. ?) Unknown

Selwyn Herson (b.  ?) Executive Chair, NextLeft, Inc.

Cliff Schulz (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Richard S. Kolodny (b. ?) Medical CEO/lawyer

36B

TO:

Jerry Kavulic (b. ?) Unknown

Richard S. Kolodny (see above)

Steven U. Parker (b. ?) Financial-sector executive

Daniel J. Taylor (b. ?) Unknown

Aurmond A. Watkins, Jr. (b. ?) Oil executive

FROM:

John Samore, Jr. (b. circa 1946) CPA

The horror of it all: Handsome Mark Damon

37A

TO:

Moshe Diamant (b. ?) Film executive who, with Eduard(o?) Sarlui, sued over termination

Andy Pfeffer (b. ?) Unknown

Willie Benson (b. ?) Unknown

Mark Damon (b. April 22, 1933) Roger Corman-movie actor, Western star and producer

Nancy Halloran (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Eduard Sarlui (b. ?) Film executive who, with Moshe Diamant, sued over termination

Fun with Dickie & Jane

38A

TO:

Jane Powell Moore (b. April 1, 1929) Actress and wife of child star/PR exec Dickie Moore (b. September 12, 1925)

Sandra Hiller (b. ?) Unknown

Barbara Rickles (b. ?) Wife of insult comic Don Rickles (b. May 8, 1926)

Kathy Offenhauser (b. ?) Socialite

Loni Anderson Reynolds (b. August 5, 1945) TV actress, ex-wife of Burt Reynolds (b. February 11, 1936)

FROM:

Georgiana Montalban (September 10, 1924—November 13, 2007) Actress and wife of Ricardo Montalban (November 25, 1920—January 14, 2009)

39A

TO:

David Zucker (b. October 16, 1947) Comic writer and producer of Airplane! (1980)

Jerry Zucker (b. March 11, 1950) Comic writer and producer of Airplane! (1980)

Jim Abrahams (b. May 10, 1944) Comic director of Airplane! (1980), Ruthless People (1986), Big Business (1988)

Arthur Hiller (b. November 22, 1923) Director of Love Story (1970), Making Love (1982), Outrageous Fortune (1987)

Francis Ford Coppola (b. April 7, 1939) Producer, director, writer of The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979)

FROM:

Bette Midler (b. December 1, 1945) Legendary singer and actress

40A

TO:

Larry Gelbart (February 25, 1928—September 11, 2009)  TV writer of M*A*S*H (1972—1983)

Sam Goldwyn, Jr. (b. September 7, 1925) Producer

Clifford Irving (b. November 5, 1930) Reporter and novelist

Larry Turman (b. November 28, 1926) Producer of The Graduate (1967) and American History X (1998)

Dick Carroll (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

Ernest Lehman (b. December 8, 1915—July 2, 2005) Legendary screenwriter of North by Northwest (1959)

41A

TO:

Sam Schwartz (b. ?) Producer, co-founder of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

Mike Gorfaine (b. ?) Producer, co-founder of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

James Newton Howard (b. June 9, 1951) Film composer

Lonnie Sill (b. ?) Musician

Greg Sill (b. ?) Musician

FROM:

Joel Sill (b.?) Musician, composer

Twee's company

42A

TO:

Bud Yorkin (b. February 22, 1926) Prolific TV poducer, director, writer

James Caan (b. March 26, 1940) Actor

Dori Brenner (December 16, 1946—September 16, 2000) Actress, Altered States (1980)

Norman Fell (March 24, 1924—December 14, 1998) Actor, Three's Company

Joel Sill (see above)

FROM:

Mark Rydell (b. March 23, 1929) Actor, director of The Rose (1979), On Golden Pond (1981) and For the Boys (1991)

43A

TO:

Patrick Wachsberger (b. ?) Producer, writer and assistant director

Menahem Golan (May 31, 1929—August 8, 2014) Prolific B-movie producer

Charles W. Fries (b. September 30, 1928) Producer, film executive

Stephen Friedman (March 15, 1937—October 4, 1996) Producer of The Last Picture Show (1971)

Staffan Ahrenberg (b. ?) Actor, producer of Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

FROM:

Patrick Bastin (b. ?) Unknown

44A

TO:

Marianne Tatascione (b. ?) Unknown

Barbara Sinatra (b. October 16, 1927) Former showgirl, widow of Zeppo Marx (February 25, 1901—November 30, 1979) and Frank Sinatra (December 12, 1915—May 14, 1998)

Dinah Shore (February 29, 1916—February 24, 1994) Singer, actress, legendary talk-show host

Cyd Charisse (March 8, 1922—June 17, 2008) Actress and Golden Age of Hollywood dancer

Anne Douglas (b. May 13, 1930) Producer, wife of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas (b. December 9, 1916)

FROM:

Bernice Korshak (b.?) Wife of deceased mob lawyer Sidney (June 6, 1907—January 20, 1996)

45A

TO:

Anne Kaplin (b. ?) Unknown

Peggy Grossman (b. ?) Unknown

Anne Haigh (b. ?) Unknown

Philip Dominick (b. ?) Unknown

Jeff Burkhart (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

? Robertson (b?) Unknown

46A

TO:

Judy Ovitz (b. ?) Wife of Disney executive Mike (b. December 14, 1946)

Kathy Checchi (b. ?) Wife of business executive/Democratic gubernatorial candidate from California Alfred Checchi (b. June 6, 1948)

Lilly Tartikoff (b. June 23, 1953) Widow of TV executive Brandon (January 13, 1949—August 27, 1997)

Jane Eisner (b. ?) Wife of Disney CEO Michael (b. March 7, 1942)

Susan Miller (b. ?) Possibly the TV/film producer, possibly a member of the Disney-Miller family

FROM:

Michael Eisner (see above)

Sandy Chers and Chers alike.

46B

TO:

Michael Eisner (see above)

Jeffrey Katzenberg (b. December 21, 1950) Disney and DreamWorks executive

Ricardo Mestres (b. ?) Producer under Jeffrey Katzenberg

David Hoberman (b. ?) TV and film producer

Donald De Line (b. ?) Producer and film executive

FROM:

Sandy Gallin (b. 1940) Colorful producer and talent manager

You in danger of receiving a chain letter, girl.

47A

TO:

David Geffen (b. February 21, 1943) Producer and philanthropist

Whoopi Goldberg (b. November 13, 1955) Oscar-winning actress and The View moderator

Goldie Hawn (b. November 21, 1945) Oscar-winning film and TV actress

Pat Kingsley (b. May 7, 1932) One of the most famous publicity executives in history

Laura Moskowitz (b. ?) Horror producer

FROM:

Sally Field (b. November 6, 1946) Oscar-winning, Emmy-winning film and TV actress

48A

TO:

Paula Weinstein (b. ?) Producer

Frank Wells (March 4, 1932—April 3, 1994) Disney president, died in a helicopter crash

Michael Ovitz (b. December 14, 1946) Talent agent, CAA co-founder

Melanie Griffith (b. August 9, 1957) Actress

Stephen Rivers (February 17, 1955—June 8, 2010) Publicist for Jane Fonda (b. December 21, 1937), Michael Ovitz (see above), many more, and political activist

FROM:

Jane Fonda (see above) Oscar-winning actress, Hollywood royalty, activist

49A

TO:

Sally Quinn (b. July 1, 1941) Author and religious journalist

Elizabeth St(evens?) (b. ?) Unknown

El(?) (b. ?) Unknown

Elizabeth Becker (b. ?) Author and journalist

Shawn (?) King Hope (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

? (b. ?) Unknown

50A

TO:

Dick Holbrooke (April 24, 1941—December 13, 2010) Diplomat, investment banker

Peter Osnos (b. ?) Publisher

Toni Goodale (b. ?) Fund-raising/management consultant

Jim Hoge (b. 1935) Editor of Foreign Affairs

Lynn Stein (b. ?) Unknown

FROM:

? (b. ?) Unknown

Salinger on the right with an icon of the left

51A

TO:

Herb Caen (April 3, 1916—February 2, 1997) San Francisco journalist

Art Buchwald (October 20, 1925—January 17, 2007) Washington Post humorist, satirist, litigant over the creation of Coming to America (1988)

Philippe Labro (b. August 27, 1936) Author, director

Edmund Reggie (July 19, 1926—November 19, 2013) Democratic politican, Kennedy relative by marriage

Smith Bagley (1935—January 2, 2010) Democratic fundraiser, socialite

FROM:

Pierre Salinger (June 14, 1925—October 16, 2004) White House Press Secretary, TWA 800 conspiracy theorist, expat