Courtesy of Tony

Fans of legendary screen actor Tony Curtis lucked out with the warm weather Nov. 10.

Over 100 people, many of whom waited outside, turned out to Bookends on East Ridgewood Avenue to purchase a copy of Curtis’ new memoir, The Making of Some Like it Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Classic American Movie.

Everyone in attendance had his or her own special reason for being there.

"My father would force me to watch his [favorite] movies as a kid," Joe DeProspero of Butler said. "Some Like It Hot was the one gem in a group of forgettables. They don’t make comedies like that anymore."

DeProspero was there with his sister to get the book autographed as a Christmas present for their father.

Though the purpose of the event was to promote this book in particular, Curtis was more than willing to sign any other memorabilia fans had, such as photos and DVDs. Some attendees chose to turn the tables by bringing gifts for the actor himself. 

"These are for me?" he asked Herb Bernstein of Monsey, N.Y., who had made two giant photo mosaics of the actor, entirely made up of miniature Curtis photos from throughout his career. Each portrait took approximately three hours to make.

Bernstein frequently makes such works for his favorite performers whom he has the opportunity to meet, "It’s my way of saying thank you to them, also." 

Curtis brought more to share with him that evening than simply his signature and charming smile. Mere feet before the signing table was a display of Curtis’ paintings and sketches, and another with beautifully polished horseshoes decorated with multicolored beads and feathers.

All proceeds earned from both sets of items benefit the Shiloh Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, which the Curtises founded near their Nevada home to rescue and rehabilitate horses slated for slaughter.

One series of the actor’s paintings was solely of cats, which he appropriately named “Cats Helping Horses.” The decorative horseshoes, which were actually once worn by horses on the ranch, were made my volunteers. 

Amid a sea of such beautiful artwork, one piece stood out the most: a painting that Curtis had made of his costar, Marilyn Monroe. Anyone browsing the bookstore would have never thought twice that this sensual, unforgettable piece came from the hands of the kind, older gentleman sitting in the corner, blue eyes peering eagerly from under a tan cowboy hat.