The Luncheon

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The highlight of the weekend was a luncheon at The Beverly Garland Hotel. Memorabilia was displayed, including for Broadway Superman Bob Holiday.

Our celebrities from Tarzana, Jack Larson, Stephanie Shayne Parkin, Laura Siegel Larson, and Jacqueline Hamilton (and her parents), spoke again at the luncheon. Even more celebrities abounded: Gene LeBell, stuntman and friend of George Reeves; Beverly Washburn, the little girl who played with the Mole Men; Ruta Lee, who appeared in the 1953 episode “My Friend Superman”; Gregory Moffett, who appeared in “The Stolen Elephant”; Johnny Rockwell, who played Superboy in an unsold pilot; Edward Lozzi, who was mentored by George Reeves’ long-time love Toni Mannix; Gary Grossman, author of Superman: Serial to Cereal; Larry Thomas Ward, Noel “Lois Lane” Neill’s friend and manager; and others.

Greetings were sent by Alejandro Vacio, the son of George Reeves’ best friend Natividad Vacio; by Chuck Weinblatt, nephew of eight-time Adventures of Superman villain Ben Welden; and by our own Bob Holiday.

Here’s what Bob had to say:

A big hello to everyone gathered out there in California. I wish I could be there with you for these three great guys, Joe, Jerry, and George. I have some history with these three.

I grew up reading Superman comics. For that, I owe Joe and Jerry big time. Superman was my hero.

Then, I got the chance to *be* Superman. My mom told me she knew I’d do a good job with the part because I’d always read Superman comics. That was Joe and Jerry. They made me want to be Superman.

Getting ready to be Superman, I got to meet Joe Shuster at the DC Comics studio. He gave me some ideas about how to make myself into Superman. And he sent me a “Happy New Year” card that year. I still have it.

And I watched the George Reeves TV shows. I hadn’t always seen them the first time around because I was working. And I didn’t know then that someday I would share that marvelous privilege, that one day I would be Superman too. So now, I watched re-runs to get ready for the part. So George meant a lot to me.

Being Superman gets into your blood. It changes you as a man, and lives with you for the rest of your life. It’s good to know that there are long-time, loyal Superman fans gathered here today. Thanks for letting me be a part of this.

And let me say this one more time:

Up, Up and Away!

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PART 4

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