Tenth Anniversary of Jack Larson's Passing

Above, the Superman Plaque Dedication in August 2014
in Tarzana as covered by the Los Angeles Daily News.

Jim Nolt of The Adventures Continue posted on Facebook that it was ten years ago today that Jack Larson, who immortalized the character of Jimmy Olsen on the Adventures of Superman, passed away.

He died at his home in Brentwood, California.

A memorial service was held at UCLA a few months later at the James Bridges Theater, which I attended. Afterwards, several of us went over to the Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank, within walking distance of Warner Bros. Studios. 

Above, the memorial booklet.

It is hard to believe that ten years has passed.  

"Stamp Day For Superman" Poster

Here's something I've never seen before. It is a poster promoting "Stamp Day For Superman" that was to get kids to save saving stamps with George Reeves, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, John Hamilton, Tris Coffin and Billy Nelson. It was initially released in 1954 by the U.S. Treasury Department. The poster's artwork was by Al Plastino. The poster was sold by Hake's Auctions.

"Stamp Day For Superman" was not part of the syndication package of the Adventures of Superman television show. It is now a public domain film. It is included in the DVD set that was released some years back.

Thanks to Kirk Hastings for posting the poster on Facebook.

Here's the film:

Superman 1951 Location

During the 1951 season of the Adventures of Superman, in the "Secret of Superman" episode, there is a stock footage shot of a police car with the Barclay Apartments in the background.

Here is a screen capture from the episode:

I did some checking and the Barclay Apartments are still in existence. They are located at 706 S Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA near Wilshire Blvd.

This photo is from the Apartment Guide website:

Ten Years Since Superman Celebration

Above, the plaque dedication in Tarzana.

Thanks to Brian McKernan for posting the following, this almost slipped by me.

He wrote:

August 15, 2014: Hard to believe it’s been ten years now since I had the honor of being part of the group that gathered at the Beverly Garland Hotel in North Hollywood for a weekend to observe the 100th birthday of Adventures of Superman actor George Reeves and the co-creators of the Superman character, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The entire event was organized by Adventures Continue creator Jim Nolt, with help from Armand Vaquer, Jared Copenhaver, and many others. It began with the placing of a commemorative plaque in Tarzana on Saturday, Aug. 16 to mark the 1953 filming of location shots for the television episode “The Man Who Could Read Minds.”

Later that day was a luncheon with VIP speakers including: Laura Siegel Larson, daughter of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel; Jimmy Olsen actor Jack Larson; series actors Beverly Washburn and Ruta Lee; Stephanie Shayne (daughter of Inspector Henderson actor Robert Shayne); John Hamilton (son of fictional Daily Planet editor actor John Hamilton); Paul Bernbaum, the screenwriter for Hollywoodland (the 2006 movie about George Reeves); John Rockwell, star of the filmed 1961 Superboy pilot; and many others. 

Above, Jack Larson addresses the attendees at the plaque dedication. By the Daily News.

The plaque dedication in Tarzana and the luncheon in North Hollywood were well-attended and enjoyable. We even got some press coverage thanks to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Unfortunately, during the past ten years, we have lost a few who attended: Jack Larson, Gene LeBell, Ted Newsom, John Hamilton Jr. (son of Perry White). (If I have missed anyone, feel free to post their names in the comments.)  

Since then, the plaque was re-located a few feet from its original spot with better anchoring.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson addresses the luncheon attendees. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The plaque location:

Above, from Roadside America.

Superman Plaque Dedication 9th Anniversary

Above, the Adventures of Superman plaque on September 23, 2022. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication in Tarzana, California.

This was posted by Brian McKernan on Facebook:

August 16, 2014: Fans of The Adventures of Superman TV series dedicate a plaque in Tarzana, California, where location shots for the 1953 second-season episode “The Man Who Could Read Minds” were filmed.

From left is Jack Larson (TV’s original Jimmy Olsen), fan Steven Kirk, Jacqueline Hamilton (granddaughter of “Perry White” actor John R. Hamilton), actress Beverly Washburn (child actress in Superman and the Mole Men), Adventures Continue president/event organizer Jim Nolt, and Adventures Continue associate/monument supervisor Armand Vaquer. Kneeling: Stephanie Shayne (daughter of “Inspector Henderson” actor Robert Shayne) and Laura Siegel Larson (daughter of Superman writer/co-creator Jerry Siegel). Photo by Steve Friedman.

                                                             

Since the 2014 dedication, the plaque has been moved to the corner, which, I think, is a better spot for it with better anchoring. If memory serves, it was moved in 2018.

Here's the plaque today (photo shot last September):

Remembering Noel Neill

Above, a "Superman Week" group shot with Noel Neill (in the Superman shirt) with yours
 truly standing behind her in July 2001. Photo courtesy of Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Actress Noel Neill (1920 - 2016) has the sole distinction of playing Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane to two different actors playing the Man of Steel, Kirk Alyn and George Reeves. I first met her in July 2001 when we held the "Superman Week" ceremony with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors celebrating 50 years of television's Adventures of Superman.

Do You Remember has an article on Neill that remembers her contributions to the live-action Superman mythos. 

It begins with:

Actress Noel Neill, who was born on November 25, 1920, and would have been celebrating her 103rd birthday this year, holds a unique place in the history of Superman: she is the only actress to have played reporter Lois Lane opposite two different actors portraying the Man of Steel, Kirk Alyn and George Reeves.

A successful model in her teens, she was reportedly the second most popular pin-up girl for soldiers in World War II, right behind Betty Grable. She spent a number of years starring in B-features for Monogram Pictures. In 1945 producer Sam Katzman cast her in his series of “Teen Agers” musical comedies as aggressive high school newspaper reporter Betty Rogers. As such, she’d already proven herself to Katzman when he decided to turn the comic book superhero Superman into the star of a pair of movie serials — the weekly chapter plays that fans would go to the theatres to check out each Saturday — Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) and needed someone to play reporter Lois Lane.

Above, the Noel Neill "Lois Lane" statue in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Jack Larson's 95th Birthday

Above, Jack Larson and George Reeves.

Today would have been the 95th birthday of Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen in the Adventures of Superman television show of the 1950s. 

He was born on February 8, 1928 in Los Angeles. He passed away on September 20, 2015.

It is interesting to me that he was a few months older than my dad, who passed away in 1999. He, too, would have turned 95 this year. 

Above, Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Jack Larson at the "Superman Week"
ceremony on July 10, 2001. Photo courtesy of the office of Supervisor Antonovich.

The last time I saw Jack Larson was on August 16, 2014 at the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication in Tarzana, California and the luncheon that followed in Studio City. He seemed in good health for his age that day.

The Los Angeles Daily News published an article on the plaque dedication and Larson and I wound up in an accompanying photo in the print edition (below).

Happy 95th birthday, Jack!

Real People In Adventures of Superman

It is not too often that real-life people get a mention or "appear" in a fictional television show.

The Adventures of Superman of the 1950s is a case in point.

In 1951, in the "Stolen Costume" episode, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was mentioned by Clark Kent's detective friend Candy.

Then, in 1953, an image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appeared on the cover of a magazine at a "London" newsstand in the "A Ghost For Scotland Yard" episode.

Here's a capture of the newsstand featuring Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson):

Here's the magazine (can you spot it in the photo above?): 

"Adventures of Superman" Plaque Database Listings

Above, article on the plaque dedication by the Daily News.

Last night, I was perusing around online and I came upon some postings about the Adventures of Superman plaque we dedicated in Tarzana, California in August 2014.

I wasn't planning on saying anything until two years from now when the tenth anniversary of that dedication arrives. It is even hard to believe that in two months, eight years will have passed since the dedication. But since many aren't aware the plaque even exists, even though the dedication did get some good press, I thought it would be a good time to note some websites who have posted information on the plaque and where it's located so they can go see it.

Above, the Adventures of Superman plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I should note for posterity that two who were at the dedication, one as a participant and one as a spectator, are no longer with us. They being Jack Larson, who helped made the Adventures of Superman the classic television show it is with his portrayal as Jimmy Olsen and Ted Newsom, whose knowledge of entertainment history educated many over the years. Actress Noel Neill couldn't attend the dedication due to her fragile health at the time but was well aware of the plaque, is also no longer with us.

I was checking around for websites that posted listings about the plaque, some I've already posted about, and found some more.

The first is Roadside America. I have posted about their listing before, but here is their listing about the plaque: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/44540.

Next, is Historical Marker Database. Here is their listing: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=125644.

Nicelocal has also posted a listing about the plaque. Their listing can be reached at: https://nicelocal.com/los-angeles/cultural_places/adventures_of_superman_plaque/.

Another listing is at Geek Field Guides. Their listing can be reached at: https://www.geekfieldguides.com/superman-plaque-tarzana-california/.

For those who haven't seen the August 16, 2014 dedication, here's a four minute clip of Jack Larson's address:

Keeping The Evening Superman

Sometimes weird things happen in life.

For example, back in 2015, a group of us Adventures of Superman fans attended the memorial service for the "Greatest Jimmy Olsen of all", Jack Larson at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus. Celebrity attendees included actresses Kathleen Nolan (The Real McCoys) and Debra Winger (Urban Cowboy).

Above, a group photo with Chuck McCann. Photo courtesy of Brad Shey.

Following the services, several of us migrated over to the Smoke House Restaurant in the Burbank/Tolucca Lake area (across the street from Warner Bros. Studios) for dinner and drinks. While there, we ran into comedian Chuck McCann. Several of us had a photo taken with McCann at the restaurant bar. 

The good Lord must've been sending us a message of some sort, maybe a "thank-you" for attending Jack Larson's memorial service by keeping the evening within the theme of Superman.

How so?

Chuck McCann played Superman in a comedy skit back in the 1970s. So, if that isn't in keeping with keeping things Superman that evening, I don't know what is. 

Above, Chuck McCann as Superman in a 1970s skit.

Sadly, McCann passed away in 2018 at age 83.

Many believe "things happen for a reason". Perhaps this was one of them.

Happy Birthday, Jack Larson

Above, yours truly and Jack Larson at the plaque dedication in Tarzana. Photo by the Los Angeles Daily News.

A pause for a moment to remember actor Jack Larson, the greatest Jimmy Olsen of all.

He would have been 94 today.

Above, Jack Larson doing his famous tango in the Adventures of Superman.

By Dennis Hays:

On this date February 8, 1928 Jack Edward Larson was born in Los Angeles, California. 

Larson was an American actor, librettist, screenwriter and producer, best known for his portrayal of photographer/cub reporter Jimmy Olsen on the TV series Adventures of Superman.

Larson was born in Los Angeles of Swedish and Russian descent, and reared in Pasadena. He graduated from Montebello High School in 1945, aged 17, and has at times claimed 1933 as his birth year.

Above, Jack Larson at the Superman Celebration Luncheon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I last saw Jack Larson in August 2014 during the Superman Celebration that included a plaque dedication in Tarzana, California and a luncheon in Studio City.

Larson passed away the following year and I added his memorial service at the James Bridges Theater at UCLA.

A heavenly happy birthday to Jack Larson.

Los Angeles's Café Pinot Now Closed

Above, the Superman Week luncheon. Photo by The Adventures Continue.

It had been a while since I last thought of Café Pinot in downtown Los Angeles next to the L.A. Central Library.

Following the "Superman Week" ceremony at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in July 2001, we migrated over to Café Pinot for a luncheon. I was in charge of getting the events organized and had searched for a suitable venue for the lunch. After some checking around, I settled on Café Pinot.

Above, Paul Levitz and Joanne Siegal at the luncheon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Attendees from the Adventures of Superman included Jack Larson, Noel Neill, Robert Rockwell and Mrs. Robert (Betty) Shayne and daughter Stephanie. Also attending was Paul Levitz, who was then vice president of DC Comics and Joanne Siegal, widow of Superman creator Jerome Siegel and her daughter Laura. I remember the food was quite good.

I did a Google search a little bit ago and found that Cafe Pinot closed for good in April 2019. 

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Café Pinot, Joachim Splichal’s California-French restaurant next to the Los Angeles Central Library, is closing after nearly a quarter century. Its last day of service is Friday.

“Twenty-five years is a long time, but we’re evolving,” David Stork, Patina’s vice president of operations, said Thursday as the patio lunch crowd dissipated on a beautiful spring day. “It’s been a great run.”

Splichal opened Café Pinot in early 1995 with chef Octavio Becerra and a menu that channeled market produce and bistro favorites for the downtown and nearby theater and museum crowds.

Above, Noel Neill at Café Pinot.* Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

During the luncheon, I was fretting about collecting the money for each person's lunch, but Paul Levitz caught everyone by surprise by picking up the tab for the whole luncheon. Great guy! 

The luncheon was an enjoyable and relaxed affair and attendees to this day remember it fondly.

To read more, go here.

*The above photo of Noel Neill (and the back of Jack Larson's head) has never been published/posted before. I just scanned it and added it to the blog post.

20th Anniversary of "Superman Week"

Above, a copy of the "Superman Week" scroll. The original is at DC Comics. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one gets older, it is said that time seems to accelerate.

That certainly seems to be the case with the following.

Jim Nolt, of The Adventures Continue group page on Facebook, posted the following this morning:

July 10, 2001: The "Adventures of Superman" turned fifty years old, and "Superman Week" was proclaimed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. On hand for the ceremony were Jeff Corey, Robert Rockwell, Joanna Siegel, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, Bette Shayne, Michael Walbrecht (VP of Warner Bros. Studios), and Paul Levitz (VP of DC Comics). A luncheon was held after the ceremony at the Cafe Pinot in Los Angeles. Arrangements with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors were made by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a group shot with a painting of George Reeves. Photo courtesy of the office of Michael Antonovich.

Yeesh! Twenty years ago today! Also in attendance were Laura Siegel Larson, daughter of Superman co-creator Jerome Siegel and Stephanie Shayne, daughter of Bob Shayne (Inspector Henderson). Many Adventures of Superman fans filled the auditorium where the ceremony took place.

Above, Noel Neill and yours truly at the Kenneth Hahn
Hall of Administration in Los Angeles on July 10, 2001.

Thanks to the office of then-Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, we were able to hold the "Superman Week" celebration. All participants received a photocopy of the proclamation scroll.

5th Anniversary of Jack Larson's Passing

Above, Jack Larson at the Adventures of Superman luncheon in August 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of Jack "Jimmy Olsen" Larson (February 8, 1928 – September 20, 2015). 

Many fans of the Adventures of Superman gathered in Tarzana and Studio City for a plaque dedication and luncheon the year before. It was the last time fans were able to see Larson.

A memorial celebration was held in December 2015 at the James Bridges Theater at UCLA.

Ted Newsom, 1952 - 2020

Above, Ted Newsom seems shocked to be in a photo with a conservative at the 2012 Monsterpalooza..

I was saddened to learn this morning that actor, producer, writer, film historian and an inductee to the Classic Horror Film Board's Monster Kid Hall of Fame (did I miss anything?), Ted Newsom has passed away at 67 from cancer yesterday.

Above, Jack Larson (left) chats with Ted Newsom and Jim Beaver at the Adventures of Superman luncheon in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We last communicated a few months ago and he indicated that he wasn't doing too well. We commiserated over our ailments and I gave him some words of encouragement. Based on that conversation, it didn't come as a surprise to hear of his passing. Still, 67 is too young to go to the "Golden Hills".

I last saw him at the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication and luncheon back in 2014. I posted back in January 2015 that he was on the mend after lung surgery that removed 1/3 of a lung. I sent him a link to it and he thanked me.

Above, Ted Newsom and Armand at the 2014 Adventures of Superman plaque dedication in Tarzana, California.

Although he and I were poles opposite politically, he had a rare quality (for a liberal) of a great wit and knew his stuff about horror and science fiction. We still got along and swapped political jokes. He got a kick out of an Anthony Weiner joke I told him.

He will be missed.

"Adventures of Superman" Plaque Today

Here's a look at the Adventures of Superman plaque as it is today according to Google Maps.

When we had the plaque dedicated in August 2014, it was a few feet north of where it is now. The homeowner felt this would be a better location for it (I agree) and it was better anchored into the ground when it was relocated.

Here's a photo taken by the Los Angeles Daily News at the dedication:

The plaque when I picked it up at the monument company:

Thanks to Paul McCall for the Google Maps photo!

For more on the plaque, here's its page on The Historical Marker Database.

Allene Roberts, 1928 - 2019

Actress Allene Roberts, who appeared in several episodes of the Adventures of Superman, has passed away at age 90.

From IMDb:

Allene Roberts (1928–2019)Actress 

Allene Roberts was born on September 1, 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. She was an actress, known for Bomba on Panther Island (1949), The Sign of the Ram(1948) and The Red House (1947). She was married to Ralph Cochran. She died on May 9, 2019 in Huntsville, Alabama.

She appeared in the following Adventures of Superman episodes:

"The Haunted Lighthouse" (1951)
"The Monkey Mystery" (1951)
"The Whistling Bird" (1953)

>

Jack Larson's 91st Birthday

Above, Jack Larson addresses the gathering at the August 2014 Adventures
of Superman plaque dedication in Tarzana, California. Photo by Steven Kirk.

Yesterday would have been actor Jack Larson's 91st birthday.

I find it interesting that Jack was six months older than my dad, who died in 1999 of cancer (lymphoma). At least Jack was an active senior citizen up to his death in 2015. I attended his memorial service at UCLA in December 2015.

"Adventures of Superman" Plaque Relocated

Above, the Superman plaque during the time I picked it up from Angel Memorials in Mission Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in March, I was told about the re-landscaping of the area where the Adventures of Superman plaque was placed by the property owner, Chris Sanz-Agero. The plaque is located in Tarzana, California.

He wrote:

Armand,  

I want to inform you so you don’t drive by and panic.  While landscaping we discovered the beautiful Superman plaque was not anchored to any base making it susceptible to theft.  You can see from the below photo that it was only anchored to a thin 1 inch concrete base.   

We have thus removed it for safekeeping.  We are having a contractor pour a substantial concrete base which it will be securely anchored. It will return in all its glory in approximately one month.  

Take care my friend, 

Chris, Jenna & Cisco
(“The Superman House”).  

PS: Cisco knows how special the plaque is and his signed comic book.  His loves for giant monster movies is growing and he named his new dog “Kaiju.” 

Above, the plaque and the old concrete base. Photo courtesy of Chris Sanz-Agero.

I replied with my thanks and offered to help financially with the costs of re-anchoring the plaque. When the concrete was poured, it seemed like more than an inch. Apparently, the weight of the plaque compressed it down. It was very heavy granite.

The photo below from Chris shows where the plaque had been relocated:

(Since then, I had completely forgotten all about Chris's email until I saw a photo of the plaque on Facebook.)

I hadn't heard anything further on the plaque until Superman fan Fabio Marques paid a visit to the plaque on the 59th anniversary of the death of George Reeves on June 16, 2018. 

He posted on Facebook:

On last June 16th, I was in South California, so I drove to Tarzana to honor George Reeves on the 59th Anniversary of his death. Thanks Jim Nolt and all the involved on this plaque, you made possible for me, a fan from Brazil to be able to celebrate the cast of the Adventures of Superman.

And, he posted this photo of himself and the plaque in its new location:

Above, Fabio Marques with the plaque.

From Fabio's photo, the plaque looks great at its new location!

Just for a "stroll down Memory Lane", here's a photo of Cisco and Jack Larson while Jack autographed a Jimmy Olsen page in Cisco's comic book:

Above, Cisco Sanz-Agero watches as Jack Larson autographs his comic book. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A big "thank-you to Fabio Marques for the photo of the plaque!

John Hamilton, Jr. Passes Away

Above, Jacqueline and John Hamilton, Jr. chat with Jack Larson at the
Superman Celebration luncheon in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a nice drive, I've arrived home from Albuquerque about 20 minutes ago. I only made one stop, and that was at the local "Scottish restaurant" (i.e., McDonalds) in Grants for breakfast.

Unfortunately, I was greeted by some sad news that was posted by Jim Nolt:

Janet Hamilton wrote to me this morning that John passed away after a long and painful battle with cancer. She said again that she, Jacqueline, and John were so happy to attend the luncheon in 2014 and were astounded at the outpouring of affection for John's dad and the "Adventures of Superman." They had no idea that so many people cared. I sent our condolences to Janet and Jacqueline.

It was at the 2014 Superman celebration (consisting of the Tarzana plaque dedication and the luncheon at the Beverly Garland Hotel in Studio City) that Mr. Hamilton (his father, John Hamilton, Sr., was Perry White in the Adventures of Superman) had an enjoyable reunion with Jack Larson. It was the first time John and Jack saw each other in decades.

My condolences to Janet and Jacqueline Hamilton for their loss.