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Angeles Based Fan Mail And Fan Club Service

Mail Mann is one of a small handful of companies that has taken over a job once handled solely by movie studios. Years ago, that mail was seen as a very important gauge of an actor's popularity, said veteran publicist Lee Solters. Now it's all about the box office: You're bankable or you're not bankable.

Named for its founder, Mackie Mann, a child actor who grew up to be a producer of TV commercials, Mail Mann was launched 25 years ago. A friend who was a talent agent asked me if I knew anyone who did fan mail, recalled Ms. Mann. She had a client, Peter Reckell, who's on 'Days of Our Lives.' At the time he was very big, a teen heartthrob, and I said I'd look into it. I started looking and I couldn't find anyone -- and I thought, hmmm.

She began Mail Mann in her garage, handling Mr. Reckell's correspondence, and soon signed up David Hasselhoff, then the star of the series Knight Rider. Ms. Mann's husband, a dolly grip, was very helpful with client recruitment. When he went on location, he would talk to stars about my business, she said. I got a lot of people that way.