MAILBOX MEMORIES · TTM AUTOGRAPHS
A little Dallas in the mail: my Cathy Podewell TTM return
A wonderful return arrived in the mail today: my custom Cathy Podewell collage, signed by Cathy herself! Along with her autograph, she added a personal message that made this addition to my collection even more special.
More than a signature
Cathy addressed the piece “To dearest Scott” and thanked me for my “very sweet note.” She also wrote that she was grateful and wished me all the best. Seeing her take the time to add those words means a lot.
This is one of the things I enjoy about TTM—through-the-mail autograph collecting. I send a letter and a print, hoping for a signature, and sometimes the return includes a little message that makes it feel much more personal. Today’s return is a perfect example.
I designed this collage to celebrate Cathy’s career, bringing different portraits together into one 8×10. Now the space I left for her autograph holds both her signature and a thoughtful reply to my letter.
Cathy Podewell as Cally Harper Ewing on Dallas
For Dallas fans, Cathy is a familiar face as Cally Harper Ewing, the young woman who became J.R. Ewing’s wife. She played Cally from 1988 to 1991, sharing the screen with Larry Hagman as J.R. during the original series’ later years.
Cally’s warmth made an interesting contrast to J.R.’s scheming, and their troubled marriage brought her into the drama surrounding the Ewing family. It’s a role that remains closely associated with Cathy’s career.
There’s a nice story behind her time on the show, too. In a 2018 interview, Cathy explained that the part was originally intended to last seven episodes. Her chemistry with Hagman helped it develop into three years of work, and she remembered him making her feel welcome in the Dallas family.
A signed custom collage, a kind personal message, and another familiar television face in my collection. Thank you, Cathy, for taking the time to write back and make this return so memorable!