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 Statue News Brings Back Memories

Above, DC Comics Vice President Paul Levitz and Joanne Siegel at  the
 "Superman Week" luncheon at Cafe Pinot in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

News about the proposed Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster Tribute Plaza and the upcoming press conference on Thursday brought back memories.

First off, it reminded me of the "Superman Week" ceremony and luncheon held at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in July 2001. 

This was the event that fans of the Adventures of Superman gathered for the ceremony that was attended by Joanne Siegel, widow of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, and their daughter Laura Siegel Larson along with Jack Larson, Noel Neill, Robert Rockwell, Jeff Corey, DC Comics Vice President Paul Levitz and others. The event was hosted by then-Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Following the ceremony, the attendees held a luncheon at Cafe Pinot. Paul Levitz graciously picked up the tab for the luncheon.

Above, the 2014 Adventures of Superman plaque dedication.
Laura Siegel Larson is kneeling in front in blue.

Then, in 2014, a plaque dedication was held in Tarzana, California honoring the cast of the Adventures of Superman focusing on the episode, "The Man Who Could Read Minds", in 1953 in which all of the cast members participated in a location shoot there. This was followed by a luncheon at the Beverly Garland Hotel. Laura Siegel Larson also attended these events.

Roadside America posted the location of the plaque (for those who wish to go see it) here.

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.

One Year Ago

Above, Jack Larson autographs a comic book for Cisco Sanz-Agero. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One year ago today, two of the main events for the Superman Celebration took place.

First, the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication was held in Tarzana where a location shoot took place in 1953 involving all of the show's cast members for the episode, "The Man Who Could Read Minds."

Above, Jack Larson address the plaque dedication ceremony audience. Photo by Steven Kirk.

Above, the plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Second, a luncheon was held at the Beverly Garland Hotel in Studio City. 

Above, Jacqueline Hamilton and John Hamilton Jr. talk with Jack Larson at the luncheon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson, daughter of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, addresses the luncheon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There was one other event that took place the next day. It was a tour of the Pasadena Playhouse where George Reeves began his acting career.

It was a weekend that fans still are savoring.

Looks Like I'll Have To Go To Cleveland...

Above, the prototype of the proposed statue of Superman. Photo by Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer.

It has been announced that a new statue of the Man of Steel to honor the creation of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster will be erected in Cleveland, Ohio, their hometown.

Cleveland.com reported:

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Looks like Cleveland will be getting a Superman statue -- finally. 

A larger-than-life statue of a flying Superman is on track to be erected near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as part of the elevated walkway that will connect downtown Cleveland to the lakefront. 

The statue will be about five miles from the Glenville neighborhood where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman in the early 1930s.

Richard Pace, of Cumberland Development who is co-developing 20 acres of city-owned land at North Coast Harbor with Trammell Crow Co. of Dallas, said the burnished steel statue of Superman is long overdue.

According to the article, statues of Siegel and Shuster, along with a statue of Joanne Siegel (Mrs. Jerry Siegel) who was the model for Lois Lane, will be looking up at Superman.

Above, Joanne Siegel with Paul Levitz of DC Comics in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thankfully, Joanne Siegel was made aware of the planned statue before her death.

Jerry Siegel's daughter, Laura Siegel of Los Angeles, got a peek at the Superman statue prototype several years ago. She showed pictures to her mother shortly before her death.

"She was delighted and it brought tears to her eyes that her long-held wish of a statue in Cleveland honoring Superman and his creators was going to become a reality," Laura said of her mother. "She was deeply touched and honored that her likeness will be included."

Above, Laura Siegel Larson last summer in Studio City. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Looks like I'll have to go to Cleveland for the dedication ceremonies when the time comes.

To read more, go here. 

The Neverending Battle For Superman

Above, the very first published Superman story appeared in the first issue of Action Comics.

Just about everyone knows that the character of Superman/Clark Kent was created by two Cleveland, Ohio boys, Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster.

Siegel did the writing and Shuster did the illustrating.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson at the Superman Celebration luncheon last August. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After receiving no success in having Superman picked up by a publisher, the Superman character was picked up by a publisher (now known as DC Comics) and the rest is history.

But there's much more to the history.

Sedgwick Law has posted a history of the legal battles between Siegel & Shuster (and their heirs) and DC Comics.

Here's a snippet:

By now, the story behind Superman’s origins is well-known.  Created by teenagers Joseph Shuster and Jerry Siegel in the 1930s, Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938.  Shortly thereafter, Shuster and Siegel reportedly sold to what is now DC Comics their rights to the Action Comics storyline, including the Superman character as he then existed, for $130.00 and additional, annual “work for hire” payments for supplying material to DC Comics.  Superman would, of course, then go on to become one of the most well-recognized and financially successful characters in comic book history, generating millions of dollars in subsequent sales, spin-offs, movies and merchandise.  In the years that followed, both Shuster and Siegel would attempt to regain ownership of Superman and a more appropriate share in DC’s profits from the booming franchise.  Ultimately, various lawsuits, settlements and copyright extensions restored their names to the Superman comics’ credit pages, and deals were made to provide pensions and other compensation for the co-creators’ heirs.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster have both passed on. The battle has been taken up by their heirs, most notably Jerry Siegel's daughter, Laura Siegel Larson.

To read "the rest of the story" (as the late Paul Harvey used to say), go here. 

2014: Good times with good people!

Above, at the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in February.

Above, the Superman plaque dedication in August. Daily News photo.

Adventures of Superman Plaque: Three Months Later

Three months ago today, the Adventures of Superman plaque was dedicated in a ceremony in Tarzana, California that was attended by Jack (Jimmy Olsen) Larson, Beverly Washburn, Laura Siegel Larson, Stephanie Shayne Parkin, Jacqueline Hamilton and many fans.

Yesterday, I drove over to the plaque to check on it and found that the grass around it has grown back in quite nicely.

Here's the plaque right after it was installed at 5400 Wilbur Ave., Tarzana in August:

Here's the plaque on November 15:

Unfortunately, I didn't have any cleaning supplies with me to shine it up when I stopped by.

To see the plaque's listing at Roadside America, go here.

Superman Plaque Dedication Photo Surfaces

Above, (standing, left to right) Steve Kirk, Jack Larson, Jaqueline Hamilton, Beverly Washburn, Jim Nolt
 and your truly. Kneeling (left to right), Stephanie Shayne and Laura Siegel Larson. Photo by Jim Walsh.

It has been nearly three months since the Superman Celebration took place on the weekend of August 16. The celebration included the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication in Tarzana honoring the 100th birthdays of George Reeves, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This took place at the location shoot site of the 1953 episode, "The Man Who Could Read Minds."

The other main events of that weekend was the luncheon at the Beverly Garland Hotel in North Hollywood and a tour of the Pasadena Playhouse.

A photo from the plaque dedication has surfaced this week by Jim Walsh. It is a group shot of Superman Celebration committee members Steve Kirk, Jim Nolt and yours truly with Jack Larson, Beverly Washburn, Stephanie Shayne Parkin, Jacqueline Hamilton and Laura Siegel Larson after the plaque was unveiled. Unfortunately, the plaque can't be seen in the photo, but it is a nice photo nevertheless.

So, here's the plaque:

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

Copy of Action Comics No. 1 Sells For $3.2 Million

Above, Action Comics No. 1.

One has to wonder how many people who were kids during the late-1930s who collected comic books, and had theirs tossed into the trash can by their mothers, are now kicking themselves.

Last week, it was reported by Cleveland.com that a near-pristine copy of Action Comics No. 1 was sold on eBay for a whopping $3.2 million.

They wrote:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A near-perfect copy of "Action Comics" No. 1 featuring the first appearance of Superman in 1938, sold on eBay this weekend for a staggering $3.2 million. 

The comic was created by Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in their Glenville homes and originally sold for 10 cents. The creators tried to sell the concept to publishers around the country for five years, getting nothing but rejection. One publisher said the idea of a super man was too ridiculous. 

Hard to believe the book was sold on eBay and not through one of the prestige New York auction houses, but it worked. Part of the profits will go to The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. 

The previous record price for a copy of "Action Comics" No. 1 was a mere $2.1 million. It was a copy once owned by actor and comic buff Nicolas Cage.

The record sale came eight days after Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's daughter Laura attended the Superman Celebration events in Los Angeles. The sale would have been an interesting topic of discussion had it occurred before.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson, daughter of Jerry Siegel, addresses the Superman Celebration Luncheon August 16. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

More Superman Celebration 2014 Photos

Here are more photos from last Saturday's Adventures of Superman plaque dedication and luncheon.

Above, fans gathering for the plaque dedication in Tarzana. The word was that Inspector Henderson
came by earlier and put up the police tape but had to leave on a call. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jim Nolt being interviewed by Dana Bartholomew of the Daily News. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jack Larson greets Beverly Washburn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Stephanie Shayne Parkin addresses the gathering. Photo by Steven Kirk.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson addresses the dedication attendees. Photo by Steven Kirk.

Above, Superman luncheon attendees in line for the registration table at the Beverly Garland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jack Larson's 56th year reunion with John Hamilton, Jr. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, author Gary Grossman autographing copies of his book, Superman: Serial To Cereal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Superman Plaque Dedication Group Shot

One of my favorite photos of the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication was taken by the Daily News staff photographer John McCoy. Here, just after the plaque was unveiled, a group of us posed with the plaque.

Photo: John McCoy, Daily News staff photographer.

Standing from left are actor Jack "Jimmy Olsen" Larson, Superman celebration committee member Steven Kirk, Jacqueline Hamilton (granddaughter of John "Perry White" Hamilton), actress Beverly Washburn, Superman celebration committee head honcho Jim Nolt and your truly. Kneeling, from left, is Stephanie Shayne Parkin (daughter of Bob "Inspector Henderson" Shayne) and Laura Siegel Larson (daughter of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel).

A big "thank-you" to the Daily News, especially reporter Dana Bartholomew and John McCoy, for their excellent coverage of the plaque dedication!

The Superman Luncheon At The Beverly Garland Hotel

Above, Jack Larson talks with Jacqueline and John Hamilton, Jr.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Another event took place on Saturday following the Adventures of Superman plaque dedication. A luncheon was held at the Beverly Garland Hotel in North Hollywood to celebrate the show and honor George Reeves, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster for their 100th birthdays this year.

Above, screenwriter (Hollywoodland) Paul Bernbaum and Armand in the hotel bar.

The luncheon was attended by 200 fans and celebrities. They included actor Jack Larson, actresses Ruta Lee, Beverly Washburn and Stephanie Shayne Parkin and actor/stuntman/wrestler Gene LeBell. I sat with LeBell during the luncheon and we talked about my dad's meeting George Reeves at a Los Angeles area gym where Reeves practiced judo and my dad boxed. I can see why George Reeves liked LeBell, he's quite a character!

Above, Gene LeBell and Armand.

Before the luncheon, I talked with Hollywoodland screenwriter Paul Bernbaum in the hotel bar. It was a good and lively conversation and we were joined by Don Rhoden, who started The Adventures Continue fan magazine.

Above, Gary Grossman chatting with Jack Larson. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The luncheon was an enjoyable event. Each attendee was given a commemorative coin that included the images of Reeves and Siegel & Shuster.

Above, the video greetings by Alejandro Vacio. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speakers included Beverly Washburn, Laura Siegel Larson, Ruta Lee, Brian McKernan, Paul Bernbaum, Jim Beaver, a video greeting by Alejandro Vacio (whose father was George Reeves's best friend, Natividad Vacio), Stephanie Shayne Parkin, Edward Lozzi, Larry Ward, Bruce Dettman and Gene LeBell. The program ended with video clips of some of the best scenes of Jack Larson and John Hamilton.  Following the video, Jack Larson addressed the luncheon.

Above, Jack Larson talking with Ted Newsom and Jim Beaver. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The luncheon was also attended by John Hamilton, Jr., his wife and daughter. This was the first time Jack Larson has seen John Hamilton, Jr. since 1958. The Hamiltons seemed to enjoy the program.

Above, some of the displays of Superman and George Reeves memorabilia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Actress Ruta Lee spoke of the Superman episode she appeared in. She appeared as a teen dancer in the 1953 episode, "My Friend Superman."

Above, actress Ruta Lee. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Actor Jim Beaver spoke on what George Reeves has meant to him over the years.

Above, actor/author Jim Beaver. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Screenwriter Paul Bernbaum spoke of the making of Hollywoodland and of his disappointment that the movie didn't show George Reeves's benevolent side, although that was in the original script.

Above, screenwriter Paul Bernbaum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Stephanie Shayne Parkin spoke of her father's role as Inspector Henderson and what it was like to visit Disneyland when one of her parents was a big celebrity.

Above, Stephanie Shayne Parkin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Edward Lozzi spoke of his life living at the estate of Toni Mannix and brought along a brochure that Toni Mannix helped design for George Reeves.

Above, Edward Lozzi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Wrestler/stuntman/actor Gene LeBell spoke on his friendship with George Reeves.

Above, Gene LeBell. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Biographer Larry Ward spoke of the current life of Noel Neil, who now lives in an Arizona assisted-living home at age 93.

Above, Larry Ward. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Actress Beverly Washburn spoke on working with George Reeves twice during her career.

Above, Beverly Washburn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Laura Siegel Larson spoke on what Superman has meant to pop culture, her father's enjoyment in writing on the Bizarro World in the early 1960s for DC Comics and of her father's influence on her writing.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jack Larson spoke on his work as Jimmy Olsen on the show and what it was like to have to adjust to becoming famous virtually overnight in New York once the show began airing on television.

Above, Jack Larson. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The luncheon also included displays of Superman and George Reeves memorabilia.