Wow. Sgt John F Allan's story saddened me. But I remember this quote and he lived again by you bringing his story to many: "They say you die twice. Once when you stop breathing and the second, a bit later on, when somebody mentions your name for the last time." - Bansky
By golly, you can't beat real history! I recently purchased the book that you wrote about The potter's House and that whole experience. After watching your series on that experience,I was inspired to try and see if I could find it from EBay and I treasure it! You did such a wonderful job writing the book and putting it together. Truly, you are not just another handsome face!
My mamas heart broke at his stories end. We take it for granted how good we have it despite the political unrest these days. Merry Christmas to you and your family
I love how you looked at the car and the watch amongst all the celebrities. True Alex fashion. A couple years ago i was faced with some belongings "nobody wanted". They are in a storage tub in the garage. I could not just drop someones life off at a thrift shop. Im so happy these items went to you because we know they will find the right home. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. It was very touching to hear his story. Wouldn’t it be great to read some of these to students on Veterans Day.
Another great collection of historical and very personal items. Sadly families do peter out. Glad you got to pass this material along for posterity. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Alexander .
I live across the river from Rosemary Clooney's hometown. Her brother Nick was an anchorman on the news for years. You might have heard of his son, George.
I'd also say that you certainly hit the jackbox as Marilyn genuine hand signed 8 x 10's start arounf $2,500 and go into the $30 to $50 THOUSAND dollar price ranges! Definitely have it graded before you sell it! Merry Christmas! You have a nice Christmas present there!
Even today, a Marylin Monroe Autographed photo, ( Depending on the rarity of the photo) can range from hundreds into the thousands of Dollars. The true icons of the industry will literally live on forever. This lady had extraordinary taste in the actresses and actors she collected. Alexander , your luck is amazing. All the best for your family at Christmas, and happiness in the new Year.
Our oldest son is in the USAF and our second son will be heading off to Marine bootcamp in about 6 weeks. Thank you for reading snippets of the letters from the serviceman. My heart sank as I learned he sadly did not survive.😢 His generation of young servicemembers were brave, hardy folks deserving of honor. It's touching that someone cared enough to create the book or pay to have it made to preserve his legacy. Hope you can find a person or group of people who cherishes those medals and the accompanying book of letters. Perhaps a veteran's association or museum.
That actress is Piper Laurie. that exact image can be found online (but that photo to "Mary Lynn" is "no longer available". seems this was Piper's publicity photo she would sign and give out. Cool piece, Alex
@@_._._DJ_._._ i need to learn how to use that. I just guessed based on the signature. That’s why i thought i was wrong. Ha ha. Its sad. I cant name a single movie of hers. Thanks for the confirmation.
I think even you might be in for a shock with the Monroe photo. Given that it appears to be the dress from Gentleman Prefer Blondes and in an unusual colour, that could easily be north of $30,000.
Perhaps "Piper Laurie" is your mystery actress? Really enjoyed today's nostalgic content Alexander. Merry Christmas and a most happy and healthy new year to you Melissa, Steven, Jason, and Abigail. Thanks for another year of terrific content!
I hope you can find a museum or archive who will take them and they will not be lost to history. Thank you for sharing this young man and his great service.
wow!!! what a find!!! and of course the scrap book!!! as usual great finds alex!! no dought you will get a good profit only of that merilyn signature!!! don't forget to put your thumbs up guys!!!
I wonder if Sgt John F Allan's Co, Bn, Regt or whatever the GB tank units were called may have a museum or if the group has carried on to modern times they may have persons who would be glad to get the book and/or medals sent to them. I was a US Marine and know that the home base for the various units often have a museum to house things from sailors, soldiers, and Marines who have passed. I would be glad to help pay postage if you found the organization and they wanted to recieve the items. Thank you for taking care of items like Sgt. Alan's and giving them the respect they deserve. I always like your videos - thanks again. .
That book is amazing! I would have loved to have one from my own family member! Like from my grandma, who taught in the little schoolhouse in Abitibi around the 1920s.
We enjoyed seeing everything... I was going to tell you Piper Laurie, but I see a lot of people already have. Keep checking those Estate Sales...those are always fun to go to!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
You can still just write to some celebrities. I wrote to Betty White shortly before her death, and she sent a picture of her holding her cat. It was autographed by Ms. White with my name on it. She also enclosed a handwritten letter on stationary marked “From the desk of Betty White…”
in 1992/3 i was in 6th grade, i think i wrote a letter to arnold schwarzenegger to invite him to join us on a school camp. quite sure we never got a response. but crazier things have happened...
The unknown actress was Piper Laurie. Lovely actress of the 50's. The medals & war memorabilia would be nice archived with his unit or in a museum. TFS. Merry Christmas to you all from snowy Ont.
So Sgt. Jack Allan died in a POW camp. One wonders how. According to the dates it looks like he died about a month after sending that last letter, but six months before the letter arrived back home. It must have been spooky to receive the letter months after they were informed of his death.
Very sad that not one member of his family wishes to remember him by keeping his metals. Personally, I would display the metals alongside his photo. A definite conversation starter and it would keep his memory alive. I prefer family items to display over some knickknacks from TJ max.
His niece had them until now but she’s moving into retirement home and there are no family members that can take care of them. Thanks to Alex, we know who Jack was ❤
That was fantastic! And book with the letters and the album with all the signed pictures. I would not be able to sell the little book or the Album..😊 Great finds by the way,Alex.👌🏻🫶🏼
The narrative and medals are a wonderful bit of history. Maybe you could donate to a museum so that “Jack’s story” can be shared with more folks. Just an idea. A military academy may also be interested.
The Military metals and the booklet of Sgt. John F. Allen should all go to a Military History museum kept together. It’s so sad the young man never made it home.
I think that Marylin Monroe picture may be worth a lot. I'm really , really curious about what a picture like that may be worth. Please keep us updated ! Thanks, and Merry Christmas !
For sure it is a newer wig and the fabric looks newer, the teddy bear hair would look more like the lions hair I would think. So yes perhaps a newer doll. I enjoyed watching you go through these interesting keepsakes. Keeping the memories alive.
I immensely enjoyed this. Sad when family doesn't want to treasure the gentleman's history.😢 I was amazed at the scrapbooks!!!! Aside from most everyone in them, I was excited to see Ester W. Pic!!! I loved watching her in her swimming movies!!! She's got an amazing back story!❤❤❤
That was an amazing video!!! I LOVED the war book, although sad ending. I'm wondering if they ever found out exactly what he died of? Then the movie star stuff.. I love stuff like that. So cool. I love just finding scrapbooks to use for my paper art. Not that I would use those pictures! But old letters and ads, are fun to use.
I love the Military keepsakes. The book of letters is absolutely beautiful. First hand knowledge of what he was going thru. Very sad at the end. Heartbreaking. I personally would not be able to bring myself to sell it.
As a young girl, I wrote for photos too! I did get some from Bonanza, and an autographed pic from Cher. Sadly I sold them years ago. The addresses were in the back of Teen magazine.
So much fun! In the early 90s there were a few teens magazines that had a column of 'Mail Message with your Favorite Artist' My guy cousins, girl cousins, siblings and I mailed to our fav artists such as ATeens, S Club 7, Backstreet Boys, Christina Perri, etc. We each got a signed letter back or a photograph. Sadly, many of my belongings either ended up in the landfill or sold off. My foster family sent me off and my two siblings to a school in another country. When we came back home during vacation time, our things were gone. I was so mad, especially since those signed pictures took us years to collect and compile. Don't ever sell your future collection until you know it's full value to you. Happy Holidays, friend.
What a gold mine for anyone who might be doing any relative ancestry research. A historical society in some area would be extremely pleased to get this self published history record. Hope you are able to find it a good forever home.
It looks like his mother kept all his letters And the pictures and stuff he sent home, then had them assembled into this really nice little book as a memorial.
The picture of the actress could be Piper Laurie. Probably best known to my generation as the mother of Carrie Wight in the movie 'Carrie' written by Stephen King. A nod to the Marilyn picture... my great-uncle had one and was told me any Marilyn Monroe picture signed in red was her actual autograph. He got his in person. His first wife worked at a studio (maybe MGM?) anyway, while other pictures were signed by secretaries and such, NO one was allowed to sign with red ink but her.
Piper Laurie, your mystery actress, was popular in the 50's. She died in 2023, aged 91. Later generations might remember her in her role as the religious fanatic mom in Carrie.
Memoirs like Sgt. Jack Allan's can be invaluable for people doing genealogy research. I was able to discover a great deal about my great grandfather thanks to a memoir from another man in his same company. Hopefully the family already submitted a copy to a military museum, but if not, it should be.
Anywhere from $2,000 up to $20,000 or more at the right auction for a genuine signed Monroe 8 x 10, depending on condition. The personalised ones, e.g. "To Joan" tend to go for much more than the plain signatures. Being signed in red makes it more authentic too, and with the provonance and history you have there it would defintiely sell. Quite a find.
I found the letters written to his mother by Sgt. John F. Allen very interesting! So much history in this video....I have letters written to my mom (RIP) in this time period!! The scrapbook was interesting as well.Looking forward to an update on the autographed photo of Marilyn Monroe! One just never knows what one will come across in their hunt for treasures!!! 🎄⛄Merry Christmas Alexander, Melissa, & family...all the best in the New Year!!! 🎄⛄
Wow! Nice find, Alex. Not to mention all of the other autographs and promotional items. I would think some of those Elvis things in particular could be quite desirable. I recently found a signed letter from John Barrymore (Drew's great-grandfather).
Very interesting video ! I hope you get news on the Marilyn photo ! I agree with other comments that it might be worth looking into publishing the soldiers book with the relatives permission , with Amazon free publishing it would be some time invested but no cash !
It would be nice to have that book published so others could read it. Maybe contact someone to see if that would be able to happen. For example McNally Robinson, etc.
Wow, that's so sad, His mother never got to see him again nor did he ever get to come home. Bought tears to my eyes.
He was such a loving son. Then the page turns and he was gone.
Horrifyingly so...
There were sooo many..
Wow. Sgt John F Allan's story saddened me. But I remember this quote and he lived again by you bringing his story to many:
"They say you die twice. Once when you stop breathing and the second, a bit later on, when somebody mentions your name for the last time." - Bansky
Sgt. John F. Allan lived an honorable life. Wow, what a story...
Merry Christmas everyone 🎄
He wrote fine letters. Nice that someone published them. Letter writing is a lost art.
By golly, you can't beat real history!
I recently purchased the book that you wrote about The potter's House and that whole experience.
After watching your series on that experience,I was inspired to try and see if I could find it from EBay and I treasure it! You did such a wonderful job writing the book and putting it together.
Truly, you are not just another handsome face!
My mamas heart broke at his stories end. We take it for granted how good we have it despite the political unrest these days. Merry Christmas to you and your family
I love how you looked at the car and the watch amongst all the celebrities. True Alex fashion. A couple years ago i was faced with some belongings "nobody wanted". They are in a storage tub in the garage. I could not just drop someones life off at a thrift shop. Im so happy these items went to you because we know they will find the right home. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
I love the history, thank you for sharing his story
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. It was very touching to hear his story. Wouldn’t it be great to read some of these to students on Veterans Day.
Greatly enjoying a peek into the life of Sgt. John Allen. So sad that he died in captivity.
That Lion is awesome 👌
Another great collection of historical and very personal items. Sadly families do peter out. Glad you got to pass this material along for posterity.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Alexander .
I live across the river from Rosemary Clooney's hometown. Her brother Nick was an anchorman on the news for years. You might have heard of his son, George.
George isn't her son, I am pretty sure that is his aunt. AND NEVER mind I read that last sentence wrong.. LOL
Thanks for all the excellent videos in 2024🙏Looking forward to more in 2025. Merry Christmas🎄
Alex your videos tell such an amazing story. Thanks for your one of a kind RUclips channel!!
I'd also say that you certainly hit the jackbox as Marilyn genuine hand signed 8 x 10's start arounf $2,500 and go into the $30 to $50 THOUSAND dollar price ranges! Definitely have it graded before you sell it! Merry Christmas! You have a nice Christmas present there!
Even today, a Marylin Monroe Autographed photo, ( Depending on the rarity of the photo) can range from hundreds into the thousands of Dollars. The true icons of the industry will literally live on forever. This lady had extraordinary taste in the actresses and actors she collected. Alexander , your luck is amazing. All the best for your family at Christmas, and happiness in the new Year.
Yes but personalized autographs usually are not worth as much unless the autographs are very rare!
Our oldest son is in the USAF and our second son will be heading off to Marine bootcamp in about 6 weeks. Thank you for reading snippets of the letters from the serviceman. My heart sank as I learned he sadly did not survive.😢 His generation of young servicemembers were brave, hardy folks deserving of honor. It's touching that someone cared enough to create the book or pay to have it made to preserve his legacy. Hope you can find a person or group of people who cherishes those medals and the accompanying book of letters. Perhaps a veteran's association or museum.
An Eyetie was an Italian, and Jerry, of course, a German.
That actress is Piper Laurie. that exact image can be found online (but that photo to "Mary Lynn" is "no longer available". seems this was Piper's publicity photo she would sign and give out. Cool piece, Alex
I think the one with the dog was Piper Laurie. But i could be wrong.
I think so as well
Correct... Google lens for the win!
@@_._._DJ_._._ i need to learn how to use that. I just guessed based on the signature. That’s why i thought i was wrong. Ha ha. Its sad. I cant name a single movie of hers. Thanks for the confirmation.
You’re right
I agree
Merry Christmas to you all from holland
I think even you might be in for a shock with the Monroe photo.
Given that it appears to be the dress from Gentleman Prefer Blondes and in an unusual colour, that could easily be north of $30,000.
Perhaps "Piper Laurie" is your mystery actress? Really enjoyed today's nostalgic content Alexander. Merry Christmas and a most happy and healthy new year to you Melissa, Steven, Jason, and Abigail. Thanks for another year of terrific content!
Merry Christmas to you and your loving family. May God bless you all✨
What an awesome keepsake to have
If there is a military museum or National Archives, I would donate the awards/badges and journal. That is an amazing piece of history.
I hope you can find a museum or archive who will take them and they will not be lost to history. Thank you for sharing this young man and his great service.
I saw 1 Marilyn Monroe like yours that sold for $7,400.00 here in the US.
Very cool video
The auto graph book was cool but I was intrigued with your reading of that young man's journal; I did cry when you finished reading. 😔
Hello I love your work
wow!!! what a find!!! and of course the scrap book!!! as usual great finds alex!! no dought you will get a good profit only of that merilyn signature!!! don't forget to put your thumbs up guys!!!
I wonder if Sgt John F Allan's Co, Bn, Regt or whatever the GB tank units were called may have a museum or if the group has carried on to modern times they may have persons who would be glad to get the book and/or medals sent to them. I was a US Marine and know that the home base for the various units often have a museum to house things from sailors, soldiers, and Marines who have passed. I would be glad to help pay postage if you found the organization and they wanted to recieve the items. Thank you for taking care of items like Sgt. Alan's and giving them the respect they deserve. I always like your videos - thanks again. .
That book is amazing! I would have loved to have one from my own family member! Like from my grandma, who taught in the little schoolhouse in Abitibi around the 1920s.
Wow, that was really enlightening Alex, great finds, but better history. Thanks!
We enjoyed seeing everything... I was going to tell you Piper Laurie, but I see a lot of people already have. Keep checking those Estate Sales...those are always fun to go to!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love that book ! Wow
I would think the best place for the published letters and militaria would be a museum of some type. It’s an amazing piece of history
Merry Christmas Alex and family!
Such neat stuff! And what a sweet little lion!
Great find!!
the quality of those photos is stunning to me
That book is so cool from Mr Allen , I would love to read it.❤
Thankyou for shareing this ,very interesting .
Wishing your family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!🎉
Super cool 😎! Thanks for sharing
You can still just write to some celebrities. I wrote to Betty White shortly before her death, and she sent a picture of her holding her cat. It was autographed by Ms. White with my name on it. She also enclosed a handwritten letter on stationary marked “From the desk of Betty White…”
in 1992/3 i was in 6th grade, i think i wrote a letter to arnold schwarzenegger to invite him to join us on a school camp. quite sure we never got a response. but crazier things have happened...
Fascinating finds
Amazing the history that passes through your hands, Alex. That's the kind of trust you engender with people. God Bless in the New Year ahead,
Bill Haley did not die in the plane crash with Ritchie Valens. It was the Big Bopper, Ritchie valens, and Buddy Holly. Amazing finds!
He didn't pass on it either. It was Waylon Jennings that had a spot on the plane but gave it up to the Big Bopper who was sick.
Alex, the Big Bopper photo if it is signed could be rare and valuable because his career was so short.
Such a cool find!
The unknown actress was Piper Laurie. Lovely actress of the 50's. The medals & war memorabilia would be nice archived with his unit or in a museum. TFS. Merry Christmas to you all from snowy Ont.
I think she played the mother on the movie Carrie.
@@conleykatYou're right. She did.
I guess I should have looked at the comments, before telling him I thought it was Piper Laurie! 😄
Correct. Same photo can be found online.
She was in Twin Peaks too. Amazing actress.
So Sgt. Jack Allan died in a POW camp. One wonders how. According to the dates it looks like he died about a month after sending that last letter, but six months before the letter arrived back home. It must have been spooky to receive the letter months after they were informed of his death.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your family ❤
Merry Christmas Alexander and Family.
Very sad that not one member of his family wishes to remember him by keeping his metals. Personally, I would display the metals alongside his photo. A definite conversation starter and it would keep his memory alive. I prefer family items to display over some knickknacks from TJ max.
His niece had them until now but she’s moving into retirement home and there are no family members that can take care of them. Thanks to Alex, we know who Jack was ❤
No one is left sadly. He said that a few times in the video.
What beautiful memories
The provenance for the military items makes it all priceless. Wow!
My mom would have LOVED those movie star scrapbooks. She was from that era.
Enjoyed. Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 ❤
Wow! What a find! W TG!!! Finding all those Star photos! Mary in florida!🤔😁😎🌴♥️♥️♥️
Merry Christmas to all of you and Happy New Year.
That was fantastic! And book with the letters and the album with all the signed pictures. I would not be able to sell the little book or the Album..😊 Great finds by the way,Alex.👌🏻🫶🏼
As a mom of a US Airman and a soon-to-be US Marine, I'd be able to part with the album of movie star memorabilia far easier than the military book.😢
great find! Merry Christmas Curiosity Family!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas🎄 and Happy New Year🎊. Cheers from Ontario!
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
The narrative and medals are a wonderful bit of history. Maybe you could donate to a museum so that “Jack’s story” can be shared with more folks. Just an idea. A military academy may also be interested.
Oh my gosh! Donate the military book to a veterans organization. This was a really cool episode and all that you shared was fascinating. Thank you!
The Military metals and the booklet of Sgt. John F. Allen should all go to a Military History museum kept together. It’s so sad the young man never made it home.
Merry Christmas
The photo books are priceless, I’m 75 and recognized many of the actors and actresses.
I think that Marylin Monroe picture may be worth a lot. I'm really , really curious about what a picture like that may be worth. Please keep us updated ! Thanks, and Merry Christmas !
The doll in the box looks like a repo. I love the lion.
For sure it is a newer wig and the fabric looks newer, the teddy bear hair would look more like the lions hair I would think. So yes perhaps a newer doll. I enjoyed watching you go through these interesting keepsakes. Keeping the memories alive.
Omgosh, you did far better than okay. You hit the jackpot❣️ Merry Christmas to you & yours❣️🎄🎁🎅🙏
I immensely enjoyed this. Sad when family doesn't want to treasure the gentleman's history.😢
I was amazed at the scrapbooks!!!! Aside from most everyone in them, I was excited to see Ester W. Pic!!! I loved watching her in her swimming movies!!! She's got an amazing back story!❤❤❤
No one is left.. the last member sounds elderly and moving.
That was an amazing video!!! I LOVED the war book, although sad ending. I'm wondering if they ever found out exactly what he died of? Then the movie star stuff.. I love stuff like that. So cool. I love just finding scrapbooks to use for my paper art. Not that I would use those pictures! But old letters and ads, are fun to use.
I love the Military keepsakes. The book of letters is absolutely beautiful. First hand knowledge of what he was going thru. Very sad at the end. Heartbreaking. I personally would not be able to bring myself to sell it.
As a young girl, I wrote for photos too! I did get some from Bonanza, and an autographed pic from Cher. Sadly I sold them years ago. The addresses were in the back of Teen magazine.
So much fun! In the early 90s there were a few teens magazines that had a column of 'Mail Message with your Favorite Artist' My guy cousins, girl cousins, siblings and I mailed to our fav artists such as ATeens, S Club 7, Backstreet Boys, Christina Perri, etc. We each got a signed letter back or a photograph. Sadly, many of my belongings either ended up in the landfill or sold off. My foster family sent me off and my two siblings to a school in another country. When we came back home during vacation time, our things were gone. I was so mad, especially since those signed pictures took us years to collect and compile. Don't ever sell your future collection until you know it's full value to you.
Happy Holidays, friend.
@@hameley12 Your story makes me sad for you. I pray your sad memory is replaced with a new, joyful collection.
I thought I saw a dorris day pic in there .I would make you a offer on that one my wife is a big fan. Cheers
I believe Marilyn always signed in red ink.
What a gold mine for anyone who might be doing any relative ancestry research. A historical society in some area would be extremely pleased to get this self published history record. Hope you are able to find it a good forever home.
It looks like his mother kept all his letters And the pictures and stuff he sent home, then had them assembled into this really nice little book as a memorial.
Sad that there is no one in the family who wants these special items. I hope you can find a museum who would want the medals and the book.
School he attended?
Merry Christmas from Norway
The picture of the actress could be Piper Laurie. Probably best known to my generation as the mother of Carrie Wight in the movie 'Carrie' written by Stephen King. A nod to the Marilyn picture... my great-uncle had one and was told me any Marilyn Monroe picture signed in red was her actual autograph. He got his in person. His first wife worked at a studio (maybe MGM?) anyway, while other pictures were signed by secretaries and such, NO one was allowed to sign with red ink but her.
Piper Laurie, your mystery actress, was popular in the 50's. She died in 2023, aged 91. Later generations might remember her in her role as the religious fanatic mom in Carrie.
Also in the Twin Peaks TV series.
Really neat
Merry Christmas Melissa and Alex! Hugs and love!😊❤😊
Memoirs like Sgt. Jack Allan's can be invaluable for people doing genealogy research. I was able to discover a great deal about my great grandfather thanks to a memoir from another man in his same company. Hopefully the family already submitted a copy to a military museum, but if not, it should be.
Anywhere from $2,000 up to $20,000 or more at the right auction for a genuine signed Monroe 8 x 10, depending on condition. The personalised ones, e.g. "To Joan" tend to go for much more than the plain signatures. Being signed in red makes it more authentic too, and with the provonance and history you have there it would defintiely sell. Quite a find.
I found the letters written to his mother by Sgt. John F. Allen very interesting! So much history in this video....I have letters written to my mom (RIP) in this time period!! The scrapbook was interesting as well.Looking forward to an update on the autographed photo of Marilyn Monroe! One just never knows what one will come across in their hunt for treasures!!!
🎄⛄Merry Christmas Alexander, Melissa, & family...all the best in the New Year!!! 🎄⛄
Those autographs are awesome. And you had one of my all time favorite actor, Forrest Tucker. To me that would be worth more than 10 Marilyn Monroe's.
You were right on the car pretty sure without looking at the comments .. I definitely enjoy your channel
I would love to read the little book.
Piper Laurie is the actress you questioned.
Wow! Nice find, Alex. Not to mention all of the other autographs and promotional items. I would think some of those Elvis things in particular could be quite desirable. I recently found a signed letter from John Barrymore (Drew's great-grandfather).
Epic MM autograph.
watched an antiques roadshow episode, most signatures were signed by a studio staff member. BUT marilyn signed hers with only RED PEN!!!!!!
Betty is Betty Grable.
Very interesting video ! I hope you get news on the Marilyn photo ! I agree with other comments that it might be worth looking into publishing the soldiers book with the relatives permission , with Amazon free publishing it would be some time invested but no cash !
I had the same scrapbook.
It would be nice to have that book published so others could read it. Maybe contact someone to see if that would be able to happen. For example McNally Robinson, etc.