Norman Tuck has been a devoted fan of the movie world his entire life. Here he sits before his Judi Dench wall. Dench, a British actress, is one of Tuck's favorites whom he has twice met. Tuck plans to will his vast collection of movies and memorabilia to Slippery Rock University.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Norman Tuck never became an actor, but that doesn't mean he's not in the movies.

In fact, he considers himself to be inside every movie he watches. He memorizes plots, listens to soundtracks and feels like the actors are his friends.

Tuck said the fascination began at age 9, when the release of "Gone with the Wind" changed his life forever.

"It did something to me I'll never be able to understand," he said.

Tuck said he has viewed the movie so many times, he's lost count. At 75, he considers himself a seasoned movie buff. His small Slippery Rock apartment is crammed with movies, albums, playbills, pictures and all varieties of memorabilia.

It's 50 years of theater, according to Tuck, chronicling movies as well as live theater. When young, he traveled to New York at least once a month to see shows.

In numbers, the collection includes 3,200 movies, about 300 signed pictures of movie stars, 462 original recordings of musicals on LPs and CDs, 600 playbills — many of which are autographed — and various plates, dolls, posters and other items.

Tuck plans to will the collection to Slippery Rock University. He doesn't have any children and fears the collection wouldn't be appreciated by other family members.

"I was concerned it would be given to someone and it would be meaningless," he said.

Officials from the university have visited Tuck's mini-museum and seemed very interested in the collection, he said. They hope to display some of the items in the new performing arts center, now in the planning stages.

Tuck would also like to tape some of his stories related to movies and theater. One would include his experience as an acting student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.He attended the academy after high school for one year in 1951. He met people like Florence Henderson, Renee Taylor, Jenna Rowlands and Constance Tower, all eventually were featured in musicals, movies or television.But Tuck wasn't so fortunate. His academy director told him he would have difficulty pursuing an acting career."I didn't have the gall to ask my family to support me another year," Tuck said.He returned home, but never took over the family business like his two brothers, who both became mechanics.Instead, he pursued a variety of careers, all of which he says somehow related to acting.The first was due to his being drafted into the Army for the Korean War. As a military policeman, he was stationed in Maryland to protect an equipment testing yard."I said, 'My God, I feel like I'm going on the stage every day playing the part of a policeman,'" he said. "Maybe what God is saying to me is he's putting me on the stage of the world."Tuck was later sent to Germany, where he finished his service by posing as an investigator in civilian clothes."I never acted so much in my life," he said.When Tuck returned home, he worked as an investigator for Pennsylvania Blue Shield.

In 1970, he moved to California to pursue a new career. He wanted to work for Robert Schuller, the televangelist and pastor known through his weekly broadcast, "The Hour of Power," and head of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries.He was eventually hired by Schuller. In addition to organizing a volunteer program for the church organization, Tuck became a director there."We put on the 'Glory of Christmas' and the 'Glory of Easter,' two huge productions each year," he said. "I put the cast together, performed and directed."After several years, Tuck took a job at Disneyland. There he organized the training program on Main Street USA.

"When you're a cast member, you're on stage at all times. Every employee, whether in costume or behind a counter in a gift shop, needs to entertain the visitors," he said.It was at Disneyland where he finally received what he calls his "Academy Award." It was the Epitome of Jiminy Cricket Award, given to the outstanding cast member of the year.It was "better than an Oscar, because people saw me that way," he said.At 62, he returned home and worked at Regal Cinemas before embracing retirement and occasional volunteer work.Tuck said his life has been full, and he's got no regrets about not becoming a movie star."God put me on the stage of the world," he said.Without his other experiences, he wouldn't have visited London 12 times or met Judi Dench, one of his favorite actresses, for example. He also worked as an extra in "Taking Care of Business," a 1990 James Belushi film.The fact that he never got the big part hasn't tarnished his love of movies one bit. He stares at the movie collection, which lines the walls of his bedroom, each night and swears he sometimes hears the characters talking him to sleep.He hopes his collection is appreciated by generations to come. He also plans to will to the university his autobiography, "All the World's a Stage: What a Life." It's written, but not published at this time.Ed Bucha, executive director of advancement at SRU, said his collection will be appreciated.Bucha described Tuck's collection as "unbelievable.""It's also unbelievable how meticulous he's kept things," he said.

"We're trying to find a way for not only students to enjoy it but the community as well," he said.

Sound tracks in Tuck's collection from "South Pacific", his favorite musical.

Gone with the Wind figurines highlight Norman Tuck's favorite movie.

Norman Tuck loves musicals and this mask, like those worn in Phantom of the Opera, is part of his collection.

Tuck is shown with British actress Judi Dench, one of his favorite actresses, whom he had the pleasure of meeting.