Jim Hambrick, R.I.P.

Above, Jim Hambrick in his younger days. Photo from the Super Museum Facebook page.

Sad news arrived before I left for Christmas in Lake Havasu. 

Super Museum founder Jim Hambrick passed away Sunday at age 70.

According to WPSD:

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Longtime Superman collector and founder of the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Jim Hambrick died on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 70 years old. But his family and community members say his lasting impact will survive for decades to come.

Hambrick died from heart complications after suffering a heart attack in 2016. His daughter, Morgan Siebert, said since his heart attack in 2016, Hambrick grew weaker. However, she said running the museum improved his morale, and it gave him purpose to keep it open for travelers and the Metropolis community. 

Hambrick grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Metropolis in March 1993. His passion for Superman and collecting started when he received his first Superman lunch box at 5-years-old. Siebert said over the years, he became interested in buying comic books and collectibles. When Hambrick reached 19-years-old, he was known as the world's famous Superman collector.

Hambrick's favorite portrayal of Superman is by actor George Reeves.

Above, the Super Museum in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited the Super Museum in 2016 when I attended Noel Neill's memorial service in Metropolis, Illinois.

Above, the Kirk Alyn autographed photo I obtained at Hambrick's
exhibit at Chapman College. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I first met Hambrick around 1982 when he had a traveling Superman memorabilia show, which included an authentic George Reeves Superman costume, at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange County, California. With Hambrick was the original live-action Superman actor, Kirk Alyn. I obtained Alyn's autograph at the exhibit. This was before his move to Metropolis and the founding of the Super Museum.

Above, a George Reeves color Superman costume
at the Super Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

His passing is a big loss to Superman fandom. Thanks to his family, the museum will continue.

To read more, go here.

"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 Statue Gets New Santa Hat

The Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois posted the following on November 30 on Facebook:

This reminded me of my trip to Metropolis in November 2016 to attend Noel Neill's Celebration of Life services.

Upon arrival in town, the first thing (besides the Super Museum) I saw was the Superman statue in the town square. I took photos of the statue with my Winnebago in the foreground. This was a day or so before the Santa hat was placed on it.

I took a few photos of it and had another tourist take one of me at the statue during my time there.

How To RV Across America

Above, at the Double J Campground near Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I went cross-country from Los Angeles to Metropolis, Illnois for Noel Neill's memorial service in 2016, I made reservations at some RV parks along the way. That only scratched the surface in planning the trip.

I got plenty of maps and tour books from the Automobile Club. Before leaving Los Angeles, I made sure my refrigerator was fully stocked. What was planned for a two-week trip, ended up stretching into three weeks. I had one mishap in St. Louis, Missouri that necessitated the purchase of two new tires. That cut into the funds and I had to wait out the Veterans Day holiday in Topeka, Kansas before I could replenish my cash and proceed on. Despite that, it was a good trip.

RV Life has posted an article on how to RV across America.

It begins with:

So you finally have the time to RV across America? The sights you will see are going to create so many lasting memories! Before you leave, here are 12 things you need to know to avoid making memories of RV catastrophes. As a full-time RVer myself, I’ve learned that many cross country RVing problems can be avoided with a little planning. 

The Top 10 Things to Know Before RVing Across America

Most of your RV trip planning can happen before you get on the road.  Here is where you want to do a little research. My list of ten things to know before taking a cross-country RV road trip can make your planning easier.

 To read more, go here.

Hollywood Reporter On Passing of Phyllis Coates

Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in 2007. Photo by Carl Glass.

The first press report on the passing of actress Phyllis Coates has been posted by the Hollywood Reporter.

It begins with:

Phyllis Coates, the first actress to play Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane on television, only to leave the Adventures of Superman after just one season, has died. She was 96.

Coates, who also appeared in Republic Pictures serials and in such films as I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, died Wednesday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her daughter Laura Press told The Hollywood Reporter.

A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Coates first portrayed the headstrong Lois opposite George Reeves as the Man of Steel in the dark sci-fi movie Superman and the Mole Men (1951).

 To read the full article, go here.

Phyllis Coates, R. I. P.

Above, Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane in 1951.

Sad news has been announced in the world of Superman.

Phyllis Coates, the Adventures of Superman Lois Lane during its first (1951) season, has passed away.

Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates in Superman and the Mole Men.

Jim Nolt posted the following on Twitter (now known as X):

Phyllis Coates, the last of the Superman's regular cast, has passed away at the age of 96.

Above, Phyllis Coates in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I met Phyllis Coates at a Hollywood collectors show in 2007.

I would never post the following while Noel Neill was still alive as she was a friend. Of the two Lois Lanes in the Adventures of Superman, Phyllis Coates was my favorite. Objectively, she portrayed a newspaper reporter with a steel spine and the chemistry between her and George Reeves was unmatched. Noel did an excellent job with the scripts she was given, but I thought Phyllis brought more realism and believability to the role.

Above, Phyllis Coates and yours truly in 2007. Photo by Carl Glass.

While it is sad there's no remaining cast members left, but their work will live on in film for generations to come.

My condolences to the family and friends of Phyllis Coates.

UPDATE:

Jim Nolt posted the following at the Adventures Continue Facebook page:

Bruce Dettman received word early this morning that Phyllis passed away at 1:07pm PT on October 11. I don't have any further information.

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. 

Candlestick Phone

Above, yours truly with the candlestick phone. Photo by Mitch Geriminksky.

While visiting Mitch & Holly Geriminsky in Lake Havasu over the Christmas weekend, I spotted an old-fashioned candlestick telephone on display in their home. A nice little antique!

Right away, it reminded me of scenes from the 1953 Adventures of Superman episode, "Superman In Exile" in which the Man of Steel (George Reeves) becomes radioactive from a nuclear reactor and has to exile himself in the mountains near Metropolis. He communicated with Lois Lane (Noel Neill) and Professor Adams (Joseph Forte) using a candlestick phone in the mountain cabin he was staying in.

Above, Superman (George Reeves) using a candlestick phone in "Superman In Exile".

For the fun of it, I had Mitch take a picture of me with the phone. 

Here's a little history of candlestick telephones from Wikipedia:

The candlestick telephone (or pole telephone) is a style of telephone that was common from the late 1890s to the 1940s. A candlestick telephone is also often referred to as a desk stand, an upright, or a stick phone. Candlestick telephones featured a mouth piece (transmitter) mounted at the top of the stand, and a receiver (ear phone) that was held by the user to the ear during a call. When the telephone was not in use, the receiver rested in the fork of the switch hook protruding to the side of the stand, thereby disconnecting the audio circuit from the telephone network. 

Traci Lords Autograph

Above, Traci Lords autograph.

Back around 1984, Traci Lords caused a bit of a stir when she appeared in Penthouse magazine (the infamous issue that ended the Miss America reign of Vanessa Williams) in a pictorial. The reason for the stir was that she was underage at the time (age 16). Oops!

According to Wikipedia:

Traci Lords (born Nora Louise Kuzma; May 7, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She entered into the adult film industry by using a fake birth certificate to conceal that she was two years under the legal age of eighteen. Lords starred in adult films and was one of the most sought-after actresses in that industry during her career. When the FBI acted on an anonymous tip that Lords was a minor during her time in the industry, and that pornographers were distributing and selling these illegal images and videotapes, the resulting fallout led to prosecution of those responsible for creating and distributing the tapes. In addition, all but the last of her adult films were banned as child pornography.

After leaving the pornography industry two days after turning the legal age of eighteen, Lords enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, where she studied method acting with the intention of becoming a mainstream actress.

She did succeed in becoming a mainstream actress and she appeared in a number of movies and television shows. She's now also a singer with the Radioactive record label.

Above, Traci Lords at the TV Land convention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was attending the TV Land convention in Burbank in 2005 with Noel Neill and Lords's table was nearby. We chatted for a bit (we found that we both were residents of the South Bay area of Los Angeles County for a time) and I got her autograph, which I found yesterday while looking for something else.

I found her friendly and easy to chat with.

Gene LeBell As "Mr. Kryptonite"

Above, Gene LeBell's "Mr. Kryptonite" costume on display at the
 Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Gene LeBell, who was nicknamed the "Godfather of Grappling", was a friend of Superman actor George Reeves. It has been reported in various wrestling and martial arts websites that LeBell passed away at age 89 yesterday.

Above, George Reeves, Noel Neill and Gene LeBell in 1957 on the fair tour.

In 1957, Reeves organized a tour to different fairs and LeBell would perform with Reeves and actress Noel Neill. He appeared as "Mr. Kryptonite" to Reeves's Superman and Neill's Lois Lane in a skit during each appearance.

LeBell's "Mr. Kryptonite" costume is currently on display at the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois as is one of Reeves's Superman costumes.

Above, Gene LeBell and yours truly at the Superman Celebration in 2014.

I took a trip to Metropolis in 2016 to attend the memorial service for Noel Neill and toured the Super Museum. While at the museum, I took the accompanying photo of LeBell's "Mr. Kryptonie" costume.

I met Gene LeBell at the Superman Celebration luncheon at the Beverly Garland Hotel in Studio City and we were seated at the same table during the luncheon. He was a very nice and funny guy.

RV Travel: Preparing For An Extended Trip

Above, at the Superman statue in Metropolis, Illinois.

The longest RV road trip I've ever taken was six years ago when I took a three-week trip to Metropolis, Illinois for actress Noel Neill's celebration of life services.

During that trip, I also visited: Memphis, Tennessee; Springfield, Illinois; Topeka, Kansas; Abilene, Kansas; Monument Valley and Grand Canyon National Park.

RV Travel posted an article on preparing for extended RV trips. How extended? Over six months.

It begins it with:

Getting ready to hit the road for an extended period, say anything more than a few weeks, takes different planning and preparation than a simple weekend camping trip.

After living much of my life on the road, this usually annual preparation to leave the comforts of home behind has become second nature. But if you’re new to RV full-timing (or most-timing) there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of.

Some tasks you can do well in advance. Others need to be dealt with at the last minute.

As I am currently planning to start wandering for the next six months or so, I thought I would share my process.

I keep a running to-do list and packing list that I start a month or more before leaving.

This master list, which you should add to anytime you think of something, will keep you organized and make sure you don’t forget anything important.

To read more, go here. 

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.

Happy Birthday Phyllis Coates

Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates in Superman and the Mole Men.

Today actress Phyllis Coates, the last remaining cast member of the Adventures of Superman, is celebrating her 95th birthday today.

I met her once at the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank in 2007. 

Above, Phyllis Coates and yours truly at the Hollywood Collectors Show. Photo by Carl Glass.

A biography (from Wikipedia):

Phyllis Coates is an American actress best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men and in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman.

Coates played Lois Lane in the first season of Adventures of Superman. Noel Neill, who had played Lois Lane in two Columbia Superman serials, in 1948 and 1950, replaced Coates, who was not available for the second season. With the death of Noel Neill on July 3, 2016, Coates became the last surviving regular cast member from the Adventures of Superman TV series.

Coates's Superman fame has obscured the fact that she was one of Hollywood's most consistently employed actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. She freelanced steadily, appearing in numerous low-budget features, many of them westerns, as well as serials and a steady stream of TV appearances, both as a regular in several series and as a guest cast member in others.

A big Happy Birthday to Phyllis Coates!

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.

Noel Neill's 100th Birthday

Today would have been the "Original Lois Lane's" 100th birthday.

Actress Noel Neill was born Noel Darleen Neill on November 25, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the first live-action Lois Lane in the Kirk Alyn Superman serials. She replaced actress Phyllis Coates in the Adventures of Superman television series in 1953 that starred George Reeves. 

She passed away on July 3, 2016.

To commemorate Noel's 100th birthday here are a couple of autographed items she gave me. Both items are larger than my scanner bed, so some parts of the images were not included.

Above, Noel received her "Golden Boot Award" in 2004.

From Wikipedia:

The Golden Boot Awards is an American acknowledgement of achievement honoring actors, actresses, and crew members who have made significant contributions to the genre of Westerns in television and film. The award is sponsored and presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

Above, an autographed reproduction lobby card for Atom Man vs.
Superman  (1950), which is the second Kirk Alyn Superman serial.
Noel is on the lobby card, but it was too large to include that portion.

 

Now In Cortez, Colorado

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe in Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We've reached Cortez, Colorado after about a four-hour drive from Ouray.

We did stop in Silverton for breakfast at the Lone Spur Cafe. The food was good and the decor was right out of the old west.

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe's bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following breakfast, we then headed to Cortez and checked into the KOA Kampground there. After a while, we took a drive into town and stopped at the Antique Corral. It was a big store with lots of stuff to look at (we bought a few things). Outside front of the store, there was a collection of fibreglass horses cows and other animals. The cows reminded me of the one Noel Neill bought a few years before her passing in Arizona.

Above, the front of the Antique Corral in Cortez. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Afterwards, we stopped for dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant (the food was good) and then headed back to camp for the rest of the day. We will be going to Mesa Verde National Park tomorrow.

Noel Neill Autographs

Continuing my digging thorough boxes in my bedroom closet, I found a couple of items autographed by the late, great Noel Neill, "the original Lois Lane".

One is a photograph of Noel with her "Golden Boot Award" she received in 2004. The other is a reproduction lobby card of the second Columbia Pictures serial, Atom Man vs. Superman (1950). Kirk Alyn portrayed the Man of Steel and Clark Kent.

Somewhere around here is a reproduction poster/lobby card of Superman and the Mole Men (1951) signed by one of the mole men, Jerry Maren. I just have to find it.

Here's the ones I found:

Above, Noel Neill with her "Golden Boot Award".

According to Wikipedia:

The Golden Boot Awards is an American acknowledgment of achievement honoring actors, actresses, and crew members who have made significant contributions to the genre of Western television and film. The award is sponsored and presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

Above, the signed reproduction lobby card of Atom Man vs. Superman. The serial
marked the first film appearance of Lex Luthor (Lyle Talbot). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Noel Neill's 98th Birthday

Above, Noel and yours truly in July 2001 at the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

Today marks what would have been Noel Neill's 98th birthday. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago.

But we are lucky to still enjoy her work in film.

Above, George Reeves, Noel Neill and Gene LeBell in 1957.

She and I had a lengthy discussion (via email) around 2002 on the state of the U.S. education system and we were very much in sync on its problems. Someday, I'll find those emails and post them. She was one bright lady.

It was a privilege to know her.

Hollywood Collectors Show, 2005

Above, Noel Neill with a fan who brought his poster for her to sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While going through my photo collection, I came across a set I took at the February 19, 2005 Hollywood Collectors Show that was held at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

I was mainly hanging with Noel Neill, the "original Lois Lane" and her manager Larry Ward at the show, but I did manage to wander around and took a few photos. I scanned them for posting.

I have more photos I took at the show, but I am unsure whose photos I took. One looks like actress Karen Black, but since I was unsure, I'm not posting it.

Here some I was able to identify:

Above, House Peters Jr., the original "Mr. Clean". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jerry Maren. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Marilyn Chambers, the "Ivory Snow" mom. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Tommy Bond, the original screen Jimmy Olsen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a fun time at the show. Carl Glass was also there. It is interesting to note that since this 2005 show, all these celebrities have since passed away.

Oklahoma Route 66 Attractions

Above, The Beast at the Elk City KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago, I took the longest roadtrip (also the longest trip, period) of my life when I went to Metropolis, Illinois for the celebration of life services for actress Noel Neill.

Long the way, I stayed one night in Elk City, Oklahoma at a KOA Kampground. Unfortunately, I had to continue on and the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in nearby Clinton was not yet open for the day (I headed out at about 6:00 that morning). Otherwise, I would have stopped by.

Tulsa World has an article on this and two other Route 66 attractions to see.

They begin with:

There’s always been a certain mystique about Route 66. From the building of the road in the ’20s, to the end of the road in the ’70s, Route 66 brings back memories from one’s youth. Perhaps, it’s a nostalgic adventure, while for another visitor, it’s an entertaining, historical journey of discovery. 

There are numerous fun facts about The Mother Road in Oklahoma, such as the Sooner state has more miles of the original Route 66 than any other state. Many may already know The Round Barn in Arcadia is the most photographed and famous barn along Route 66. But how many know that the Trade Winds Inn on Route 66 in Clinton was a favorite of Elvis Presley’s? Yes, apparently, he was fond of the inn and would stay there whenever he was traveling. 

While there are several iconic destinations along Route 66 in Oklahoma, I want to bring your attention to three.

To read more, go here.