Eric Booth - Prolific Autograph Hunter

A remarkable collection of autographs assembled over a lifetime by Worsley Mesnes resident Eric Booth (1939–2025) was sold by Ewbank's Auctions of Woking, Surrey, on 24 July 2026, bringing to public attention one of the most impressive private collections of entertainment memorabilia ever created by a Wigan collector. 

Many people in Wigan will remember the excitement of a trip to the Ritz Cinema. For Eric Booth, those visits sparked a passion that would stay with him for the rest of his life and result in an extraordinary collection of around 2,500 autographs from some of the biggest names in film, television, music and theatre. 

Eric's fascination with film stars began when he was just six years old. Along with a friend, he regularly attended the Ritz Cinema in Wigan, captivated by the glamour of Hollywood and the larger-than-life personalities appearing on the screen. By the age of ten, the two boys were already collecting and trading autographs of film stars, a hobby that had its roots in an earlier collection started by Eric's father. Over the following decades, Eric expanded upon those foundations to create a collection of exceptional scale and importance.

As the years passed, his passion grew into a lifelong pursuit. Living in Wigan, far from the bright lights of Hollywood, never discouraged him. Instead, Eric developed an extraordinary determination to connect with the stars he admired. After building up a network of contacts and friendships within the film industry, autograph collecting became almost a full-time occupation. These connections enabled him to obtain addresses and establish correspondence with actors, actresses, musicians and television personalities from around the world. 

Friends and family recall Eric spending hours at his typewriter, carefully composing letters to film stars and their agents. He would enclose photographs and return envelopes, hoping for a signed reply. If a response did not arrive, Eric was not afraid to follow it up with a telephone call. Day after day, year after year, he pursued his hobby with remarkable enthusiasm and dedication. 

His efforts were rewarded with an extraordinary collection spanning more than 100 years of entertainment history. Built between the 1940s and the early 2000s, the collection contains around 2,500 autographs, most obtained directly from the celebrities themselves. 

Many are signed photographs dedicated personally to Eric or his daughter, while others are accompanied by letters from the stars or their representatives, providing a fascinating glimpse into the world of entertainment and celebrity correspondence.

The collection includes some of the greatest names in entertainment history. Among them are Judy Garland, Charlie Chaplin, Harrison Ford, Laurel and Hardy, Clark Gable, Rudolph Valentino and many more. Together they represent a century of popular culture and chart the evolution of cinema, television and music across generations. 

Eric, who died in early 2026, left behind not only an extraordinary collection but also a record of a lifetime spent pursuing a passion. What makes the collection particularly special is not simply the famous names it contains, but the story behind it. This was the achievement of a Wigan man whose dedication, persistence and love of cinema enabled him to build connections with some of the world's most celebrated entertainers. In an age before the internet, email and social media, every autograph required research, patience, letter writing and often considerable perseverance. 

The sale at Ewbank's Auctions attracted considerable interest because collections of this scale, quality and provenance rarely come onto the market. Aside from a small number of personal favourites retained by the family, Eric's collection remained largely intact throughout his lifetime, making it an exceptional record of both entertainment history and one man's dedication to his hobby.

For the people of Wigan, the collection is far more than an assembly of signatures. It is a reminder of a local man whose childhood fascination with the stars of the silver screen grew into a lifetime achievement. From the seats of the Ritz Cinema to correspondence with some of the most famous names in the world, Eric Booth's collection stands as a testament to what passion, perseverance and enthusiasm can accomplish.

Some of Eric's autographs

Source:

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