With Regis Philbin's last scheduled appearance on Live! With Regis & Kelly to air Friday, the beloved television star's signing of his book, "How I Got This Way," made for a unique atmosphere at the Book Revue in Huntington.

Nearly a thousand fans weathered the rain to come out and meet the popular TV personality and express their gratitude for his decades of work on the morning show, "Live! With Regis & Kelly," formerly "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee," which began in 1988.

"It took me longer to get here than it did to write the book," said Philbin to the large audience gathered inside the store.

Although the star's arrival was delayed some by traffic on the Long Island Expressway enroute to the New York Avenue store, fans, who began lining up at about 1 p.m. were pleased.

"I think the people were happy and it's a great turnout," said store co-owner Robert Klein.

Philbin's appearances on TV date back to the early 1960's, earning him a sport in the Guiness Book Of World Records for the most time spent in front of camera, ever.