Dandy Doodles : Celebrities Contribute Drawings to Benefit Students

Alan Rachins of “L.A. Law” sketched a self-portrait of a baldheaded man looking into a mirror image of himself--but with a full head of hair.

James Stewart drew “Harvey,” the invisible rabbit that only Stewart can see.

These doodles, requested from hundreds of celebrities by the Cal State Long Beach Theater Arts Department, will be sold to the highest bidder Feb 23. Proceeds will be used to send as many as 25 students to the third annual International Shakespeare Festival in Shanghai.

Susan Short, the department’s administrative director, said auction organizers are surprised by the outpouring of contributions from celebrities. Of the 200 requests made, Short said, nearly 50 have resulted in contributions. With new drawings arriving every day, they expect to have at least 100 items by auction time.

Stewart’s doodle is expected to fetch between $500 and $1,000.

“I can see Harvey in the light right there sitting next to me,” the actor said, adding that he is probably the only person in America who knows exactly what the rabbit looks like. The invisible rabbit has played opposite Stewart for more than 30 years in the play and film “Harvey.”

Dozens of other doodles and some personal effects donated by film, television, sports, literary and political figures will be on the auction block.

Some of them are odd.

Actor Paul Newman sent in a crude stick drawing of a bird-like “Mrs. D. Quail.” Comedian David Letterman simply wrote out the word, “Wow!” and signed it. Actor Jeff Bridges contributed a sketch of a scene from Hamlet. Playwright Neil Simon sent the outline of a “smiley” face with glasses.

Some celebrities explained why they contributed.

Abigail Van Buren, who writes the nationally syndicated “Dear Abby” column, said she found it easier to comply with the request than to ignore it.

“It takes less time and energy to pitch in and do something than to try and find an excuse for not doing it,” she said. “Sometimes the easiest way around something is right through it.”

Van Buren, who said she frequently doodles while talking on the telephone, contributed the graceful drawing of a young woman’s face with ruby red lips.

“I don’t get too creative when I doodle,” she said. “Picasso I’m not.”

Rachins, who plays Douglas Brackman on “L.A. Law,” said he responded to the request because “it seemed like a benign idea and something that might be pleasant for all involved, including me.”

In addition to the picture of himself gazing into the mirror, the actor contributed a sketch of himself holding a balloon bearing the face of Elvis Presley.

Gregory Peck submitted a pair of old silk ties with a note assuring bidders that he had worn them. Robert Redford sent an autographed photo of himself. Joe Montana, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, contributed an autographed team sweat shirt.

Some of the turndowns were as interesting as the auction items.

Actress Suzanne Pleshette called to say that she could not doodle for the Cal State Long Beach fund-raiser because she was already doodling regularly for another cause. Kathleen Osborne, executive assistant to former President Ronald Reagan, wrote to reject the request for doodles because, she said, “Mrs. Reagan does not doodle, and President Reagan has not been doodling for some time.”

Instead, Osborne wrote, the Reagans would be happy to contribute a set of personalized bookmarks.

Students hope to raise the more than $60,000 it will cost to send the troupe of actors to the 10-day festival.

“We will send as many as we can pay for,” Short said.