The Best Place to Meet a Movie or TV Star: Ever Wanted to Rub Elbows with the Stars? You Can!

Have you ever wanted to ask Debbie Reynolds about her role in "Singin' In the Rain?" Ever wanted to have your picture taken with Mickey Rooney or ask him what it was like to work with Judy Garland?

Although Hollywood has a worldwide image as the place where the stars hang out, anyone who has spent any time in Southern California can tell you that actually spotting celebrities in their natural habitat can be a time-consuming and frustrating pursuit.

So where do the stars really hang out? You can try chasing them down at various premieres, clubs or restaurants, or you can simply attend the Hollywood Collectibles and Celebrities Show held four times each year in Burbank, California.

At each show, seventy (70) or more celebrities gather to meet fans, pose for photos and sign autographs.

Guests range from Hollywood legends like Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds, Janet Leigh, Charlton Heston and Jane Russell to more current names like Pee Wee Herman, Henry Winkler and Lindsay Wagner. Also represented are pro athletes like Ken Norton; media celebrities like Tonya Harding and even the up-and-comer or two (Hillary Duff made an appearance here just before she hit the big time.)

Held at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, in addition to the celebrity guests each show offers a room full of dealers selling all sorts of Hollywood memorabilia. In one corner you may find a rare "North By Northwest" Alfred Hitchcock lobby card going for $700, and on the other side of the room you can buy photos from Hollywood's golden age for $1 a piece.

The best part of the show is the casual atmosphere that allows you to approach and talk to many of the celebrity guests. Most are happy to answer questions, pose for photos and sign autographs for a nominal fee. And the guests aren't necessarily the only celebrities in the room. At past shows many non-guest celebrities have been found wandering the room including the likes of Gene Autry, Mel Torme, Gary Owens, Hugh Hefner and many others.