"Mrs. C." Replies

Marion Ross

Reference Date: September 8th





One of the nicest surprises I've gotten since my letter writing campaign began was a package personally made out and sent by actress Marion Ross, who played Marion "Mrs. C." Cunningham on the hit 1970's TV show "Happy Days."

Inside the package was a personally autographed photo of Ms. Ross, as well as a copy of her biography, written by O.H. Buzz Hagen, about growing up in Albert Lea, Minnesota called "Going Home", inscribed with a message to me. This is what it said:

Dear Chris,

Keep hungry! The Big "D" - desire, is the strongest motivation.

There is room for every type in the acting business, as many as there are types of people.

Sometimes the greatest success comes when you're much older, so hang in there - it's a lifetime plan!

Keep healthy too!

Good luck!

- Marion Ross


I sent her a thank you card the next day

A comedy genius replies

Alan Zweibel

Reference Date: August 3rd





I am a huge fan of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and have been watching since its debut in 1975. (Though I was too young to get most of the jokes back then.) One of the people who helped to shape the direction of the show was staff writer Alan Zweibel.

You may not know his name, but Mr. Zweibel has collaborated with some of the greatest comedy minds of our generation, including the late Gilda Radner, about whom he wrote a touching memoir.

In recent years, Mr. Zweibel has lent his brilliant comedic writing skills to Broadway productions like Billy Crystal's "700 Sundays" and Martin Short's "Fame Becomes Me."

I wrote to Mr. Zweibel after seeing Martin Short's show, and this is what he had to say in response:

Dear Chris -

The only words of advice I can give you is "keep rowing". Keep doing what you're doing and don't ever lose hope or get down on yourself when things look bleak. I don't know one successful person who didn't go through tough and frustrating times - even after they had experienced success.

One never knows when the phone will ring with an opportunity to change your career/life. So the best we can do is keep working at our craft so we can be prepared when that opportunity presents itself - because it will.

Good luck with everything,

-Alan Zweibel



I sent him a thank you the next day

"Flick" responds

Zack Ward

Reference Date: December 24th





On Christmas Eve, I sent letters to a few cast members of the film "A Christmas Story" which is rerun over and over again on that night. One of my favorite characters in that film is Flick, the bully that torments the hero Ralphie. Flick is famous for wearing a fur hat and having a menacing glare. This redhead struck fear into the hearts of many.

In reality, Flick was played by a very talented actor, Zack Ward. who successfully transitioned from childhood stardom to featured roles as an adult, including the hit FOX sitcom "Titus." This Summer, he will be seen in the highly anticipated sci fi flick, "Transformers", based on the toys from the 1980's.

I wrote to commend Mr. Ward on his work over the years, and to ask him for advice. This was his response, via his MySpace page:

Chris,

Wow, that's quite a compliment. Thank you.

I've got nothing pithy to say off the top of my head in regard to advice. I started really young and my mother was an actress so I watched. I think my first acting experience was dressing up in old clothes and Halloween costumes with my friends and marching around the block pretending we were a parade, in July, cause we were playing. I think playing is the key. Enjoying the process.

As a kid I didn't do it for any specific end except it was fun and I could be my literary and comic book heroes. It was freedom. The kind you only vaguely remember when you're an adult. But the light of that is why we love childrens laughter, how free it is, in a way we never are any more. I try to play. To fall in love and play. And it's hard and sucky and people are mean. But sometimes none of that matters cause I'm playing.

I gotta get some sleep, I'm rambling. But keep writing and maybe we can figure it out sometime.

Take care, and thanks again.

Zack

I replied immediately with a thank you.

A stock reply from a legendary American

Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy

Reference Date: March 17th






As an Irish-American, few people were as revered in my house as the Kennedy family. This American political dynasty has most certainly been touched by great triumph as well as great tragedy, and the current generation is continuing the proud legacy of service to their country set by their predecessors.

The "Old Guard" is still represented in Washington by the last remaining original brother, and a legendary Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy.

I wrote Senator Kennedy a letter last St. Patrick's Day, and was pleased to receive a response from him almost a year later. However, when I opened the envelope, it contained an unsigned standard form reply chronicling his life. This is what it had to say:

Dear Mr. Lucas:

Thank you for writing to me regarding my job as a United States Senator. I appreciate your interest in my career in public service and my activities as a member of the Senate.

Growing up in my family, I was taught the importance of public service. My father served as Ambassador to Great Britain and my grandfather served in Congress and as Mayor of Boston. My brother Jack was elected to Congress in 1946, when I was 14 years old, and I found his service very inspiring.

My first actual experiences in politics involved working in my brother's campaigns for the Senate in 1952 and 1958. When he decided to run for the Presidency in 1960, I worked as his campaign coordinator for the western United States. After President Kennedy was elected, I went to work as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and in 1962, I made the decision to run for the United States Senate.

Since then, I have been honored that the people of Massachusetts have chosen to continue to elect me to serve them in the Senate. In that time, I have served as the Chairman of both the Judiciary and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees, and also as a member of the Armed Services and Joint Economic Committees.

Throughout my 40 years in the Senate, I have been dedicated to advancing the causes that are of concern to the people of Massachusetts, and the nation. I have also tried to continue in the tradition of public service by my brothers to make the dreams and ideals of this country a reality.

Thank you again for writing to me about these issues. I appreciate your interest and I send my best wishes for the future.

Sincerely

Edward M. Kennedy


I sent him a thank you the next day

The numbers are in (part 1)

Well, I've been tallying the numbers from my 2006 "letter a day" project, and they are even larger than I imagined.

The grand total of letters written was 1,200

That works out to over 3 letters a day. (I got ambitious, what can I say?)

It's also 23 letters a week. (My printer ink had to be changed quite often.)

The response rate is not quite what I had expected. I've gotten 95 replies, which is less than 10 percent. That being said, we're only a few weeks into the new year, and I expect to get many more by June (which is when the first draft of my book aboit this project is due) bringing the total closer to the anticipated 20 percent.

In the next few days I'm going to break the numbers down by occupation, gender (I was criticized for not contacting enough females, but as I was going over my list, there were a great number of females on it) and month by month.

Thanks for your interest in my project!

- Chris Lucas

Don't lick a frozen pole!!!

Scott Schwartz

Reference Date: December 24th


One of the most ubiquitous child actors in the early 1980's was Scott Schwartz, who had a starring role opposite Richard Pryor in "The Toy", and as a mini tycoon in "Kidco." He had a supporting role in what would become his most well known film, 1983's "A Christmas Story."

This film, which did almost no business in theaters, has become a holiday perennial and is run in a 24 hour marathon on Christmas Eve.

Mr. Schwartz, who played Flick in the film, and is most famous for the scene where he licks a frozen flagpole and gets his tongue stuck, has avoided many of the pitfalls that child actors get into, and has built a successful career since then. If you read posts about him on the internet, he's constantly being referred to as one of the nicest guys in show business. I agree with this point, as he was kind enough to respond to my letter via his MySpace page. Here is the transcript:

Chris,

The only words of wisdom I can give you is be patient.

Patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait...

Really, it's all a matter of luck. 99% of the time, it's nothing you can ever control to get a job/acting gig etc.

Thanks for your kind words and being a fan of the work I have done.. Always appreciated.

No one ever gave me particular words of wisdom, just that I should always keep my head up and if that one particular role I wanted went to someone else, there was a reason for it.

I've never thought of myself as a role model, just a regular guy like everyone else and with the modest success I have had to always remain the same.

Be good to those who care for you, remember your friends will always be there if you treat them like they treat you, never forget where you come from and know that no one knows what the future holds.

Have a great 2007 & beyond!

Scott

I sent him a thank you immediately.

A reply from the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI


Reference date: April 14th





I grew up in a Catholic household (My Grandmother and Father were extremely devout, saying the Rosary each morning) and I attended 12 years of Catholic School. Our house featured a prominent picture of the Pope in our living room.

In my lifetime, there were only three Popes, Paul VI (who I vaguely remember) John Paul I (who only lasted a few months) and John Paul II, perhaps the most famous Pope ever. When John Paul II pased away in 2005, his successor was his right hand man, Cardinal Ratzinger from Germany, who took the name Pope Benedict XVI.

I wrote to the Holy Father on Good Friday last year, not knowing whether I'd get a response. I was pleased to receive a message from his Secretary of State, on Vatican stationery, on the Pope's behalf. The letter included a personally autographed photo of the Pope.

This is what the letter had to say:

Dear Chris,

The Holy Father has received your letter and he has asked me to send you this reply.

The sentiments which prompted you to write are very much appreciated, but I trust you will understand that it is not possible for him to dictate answers to all the individual letters sent to him by people throughout the world.

His Holiness will remember you and your family in his prayers. He sends cordial good wishes for your letter writing project and book.

Yours sincerely, ­

Monsignor Gabriele Caccia


I sent him a thank you the next day.

A Grammy winner responds

Janis Ian

Reference Date: October 11th






One of the most famous singers of the 1970's was Janis Ian. Her song, "At Seventeen' about the coming of age of a young girl is still being played today.

She is still active as a musician, and has a website for fans to read the latest information about her life and career. It's www.JanisIan.com

Ms. Ian also has the distinction of being the very first musical guest on the premiere episode of "Saturday Night Live."

I was happy to get this email from her just a few days ago.

Chris,

Thank you for the kind words.

Pretty much any advice I might be able to give would already be in the articles on my site. I hope you find them helpful.

Good luck!

Best,

Janis

I sent her a thank you email immediately

My new year's resolution

OK, this is 9 days late, but I'm posting my resolution for 2007.

I picked an ambitious one for 2006, to write a letter a day and chronicle the results. (which you are reading at this moment.)

I recently got an email from a girl in Hoston,Texas named Candice, who has her own blog, Houston Daily Photo (Houston-daily-photo.blogspot.com) which chronicles life in Houston. (I've never visited Houston, but she does such a great job, I can't wait to get there.)

Candice asked me what my resolution for 2007 would be.

This was the answer I gave her:

The best thing I can do in 2007 would be to resolve to follow the advice I've gotten from my 2006 correspondents, who have been long distance mentors. Their words of wisdom have meant a lot to me, and will help me to be a better husband, father, actor, and all around person.

What are your resolutions? I'd love to hear.

- Chris

The first response of 2007!

Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins)


Reference Date: November 7th





Though I've stopped writing a letter a day, I still expect responses to fill my mailbox in 2007, especially from letters that were mailed late in the year (November, December.)

This first one comes from an extremely talented actress, Ashley Brown, who faced the incredibly daunting task of filling the shoes of the legendary Julie Andrews, as she took over the iconic role of Mary Poppins in the new Broadway Production.

Ms. Brown is not that far removed from college, but she has achieved incredible success in just a short time. Her meteoric rise to stardom is due to the amazing amount of talent she displays while putting her own unique mark on the role of everyone's favorite nanny.

Ms. Brown has a bright future ahead of her, and I was delighted to get a handwritten response from her on embossed Mary Poppins stationery.

This is what she had to say:

Chris,

Thank you for your letter. I am so happy that you love the show so much.

This business is tough, but if you love it enough to keep going things will happen.

Most importantly, keep true to who you are. Never let anyone tell you to be different than who you are.

Always audition with what you do best, and if you don't get that role, you will get another.

Get as much experience as possible. There is a lot of theater work out there.

Don't limit yourself, EVER!!

Good luck to you!

Love,

Ashley Brown



I sent her a thank you card the next day.

A note from Chris Lucas

Thanks for visiting my blog!







Happy New Year everyone.

2007 already has one week in the books, and I took that week to reflect on 2006, and my letter writing project.

In the coming days, I'll post exact numbers, but I managed to write well over 1,000 letters and got close to 100 responses.

My hope was to have a 20% response rate, meaning I've gotten to half my goal, but there are still letters coming in, and I expect them to come well into 2007, and perhaps 2008.

I am not giving up on writing letters. Every week in 2007, I will continue to post a list of correspondence from that week in response to events, anniversaries or other things that strike my fancy.

I will also post some responses I've gotten from notable people in years prior to 2006, when I used to write once a month or so.

Thanks again for visiting. I hope you will keep reading.

- Chris Lucas