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.  

49 Years Since "The Exorcist" Was Released

It is hard to believe that it was 49 years ago yesterday that William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist opened for general release. The release date was December 26, 1973.

A friend and I went about a week or two later to see it at the Mann National Theater in Westwood near UCLA. The lines for the movie wrapped around the block the theater was on (more like an island). The National opened on March 27,1970 and was demolished in January 2008.

While we stood in line, we met two girls (a blonde and brunette) and we ended up at the Woodland Hills home of one of them after the movie. The brunette was named Sharon. We were in line for about three hours before we saw the movie. The Mann National Theater only had one screen.

I later bought the book version of The Exorcist (I still have it). It was one scary movie and it still holds up well.

Above, the Mann National Theater in Westwood showing The Exorcist.

Back around 1985, my then-girlfriend (and later spouse) and I rode an elevator at work and in the elevator car was Linda Blair. 

Then, in 2016, music from The Exorcist (specifically "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield) was played in the helicopter as we toured Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. I made mention of this and the pilot laughed.

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.

Remembering The Duke On The 40th Anniversary of His Passing

Above, the Duke signing autographs at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in 1975. Photo by Wanda Welsh.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the passing of screen legend John Wayne.

Wayne passed away from stomach cancer on June 11, 1979 at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood (it is now known as the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center).

How this date sticks to my mind is because I began my career as an insurance claims adjuster on the  same day at United Pacific/Reliance Insurance Companies.

Yesterday, I received the above 8 x 10" photo of Wayne signing autographs at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in 1975 from Wanda Welsh, a friend whom I've known since junior high school. She took the photo of Wayne while he was there for a Bob Hope special taping.

It is appropriate to share the photo of Wayne on the 40th anniversary of his death. Thanks to Wanda for the photo!

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.

Chuck McCann, R.I.P.

Above, with Chuck McCann at the Smokehouse. Photo courtesy of Brad Shey.

A memorial service was held at the James Bridges Theatre at UCLA for Jack Larson on December 6, 2015. I, and many other fans and friends, attended.

Following the service, several of us migrated to the Smokehouse Restaurant in Toluca Lake for dinner. While there, we ran into comedian Chuck McCann. Several of us had a photo taken with him.

It has been reported by The Hollywood Reporter that McCann passed away yesterday:

The fun-loving star did lots of voiceover work, was a fine Oliver Hardy impersonator and appeared in 'The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.' 

Chuck McCann, the goofy, good-natured comedian and TV host who was a hero to kids of all ages in and around New York City in the 1960s before he jumped into films, network television and commercials, has died. He was 83. 

McCann died Sunday of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, publicist Edward Lozzi told The Hollywood Reporter.

To read more, go here. 

Hospital Visit

Above, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I headed over to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to see my roommate Jess.

I elected to stay in town rather than go to my cousin's in Wildomar for Christmas Eve.

She had surgery yesterday to stop some internal bleeding. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and she is much better. So much better, in fact, that she called me after I got home giving me a list of things to bring her tomorrow.

On the way, I got a first-hand look at the fire damage from the Skirball Fire in Sepulveda Pass. The hills on the eastern side were denuded of brush and blackened and the western side (where the Getty Museum is) was untouched.

2nd Anniversary of Jack Larson's Passing

Above, Jack Larson addresses the gathering at the Superman plaque dedication in 2014. Photo by Steven Kirk.

Two years ago today (it doesn't seem possible) Jack Larson passed away at home in Brentwood.

We last saw him the year before at the Superman Celebration plaque dedication and luncheon and he looked good despite being 86 at the time.

A memorial service for Jack was held two months later at the James Bridges Theater at UCLA.

It just so happened that last night I watched several 1951 episodes of the Adventures of Superman, most notably "The Haunted Lighthouse", in which Jack (as Jimmy Olsen) was the focus.

Today's the day to raise a glass for a toast to Jack.

The Great Deluge of 2017

Above, yours truly in the car at the market today. 

The heaviest rainstorm this season struck Los Angeles today.

It was predicted that one inch of rain per hour is expected to fall in the area. I believe it! I had to drive to West L.A. and back in it.

Jes, her mom and I went to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for a meeting that did not take place. Somebody got the information wrong. Well, we get to do it all again this coming Monday. Hopefully, we'll have dry weather that day. At least we had a good lunch at the hospital cafeteria.

The streets in the San Fernando Valley were like rivers. I hadn't seen such flooding in the Valley for a long time. It reminded me of the 1973 special election of a North Hollywood area state senate seat. Alan Robbins and Phil Johnson were in a head-to-head election showdown. It rained heavily on election night and a group of us from the Young Republicans of El Camino College took part in the GOTV that night. It was a lot of fun driving through the rain to get voters to the polls.

Johnson lost the special election. But, at least we had a good spaghetti dinner hosted by the Johnson campaign or the California Republican Party that night in a gymnasium. I later received  a thank-you note from then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, who said we all braved the storm for the GOP.

"Lake Tarzana" re-formed in my apartment's parking lot by the time I got home. My shoes were drenched through by the time I got inside. Looks like I am staying put tonight.

What drought?

Grandfathering

When I paid my former roomie Jessica a visit yesterday at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, her young nurse asked me if I were Jessica's grandfather. This sent Jessica into hysterics (this was good as I hadn't heard her laugh so hard in a long time) over that.

The nurse was also a bit dingy. She couldn't understand when she asked my age when I said I am celebrating the 24th anniversary of my 39th birthday that day. I told her I got that from the hospital's namesake, Ronald Reagan.

It was because my newly-grown goatee that was almost all white (my beard started turning grey about 20 or so years ago). It would be quite a trick for me to be Jes's grandfather since she's three months shy of 37.

That did it! I decided to color the grey out and I did so this morning.

All things considered, I guess grey hair is better than no hair. Why look older than I have to?

[Just got word that Jes is back home.]

The Jack Larson Memorial

The Jack Larson Memorial was held this evening at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus.

The program consisted of remembrances of Larson from members of his family and colleagues during his days as a writer, producer and playwright and through music. There were also stills and film clips of his acting days on the Adventures of Superman television show and more recently. One of the speakers, surprisingly, was actress Debra Winger (Urban Cowboy and An Officer and A Gentleman).

Another surprise, actress Kathleen Nolan (The Real McCoys) also spoke and she detailed her relationship with Jack.

Among the audience members, besides Denise Santos and myself, were Jim Nolt and his daughter Lisa, Stephanie Shayne, Ray Duke, Brad Shey, Mike Goldman, Jim Beaver, Jeff Breslauer, Gary Grossman, Mike Clark and several others.

Prior to the program, refreshments were served.

Following the Memorial, several of us went to dinner at the Smokehouse restaurant in Toluca Lake, where we met comedian Chuck McCann.

Accompanying this blog post are the pages from the memorial booklet that was given out to attendees.

As Jack was always there for us at events, we were there for him.

Jack Larson Memorial On Sunday

Above, Jack Larson with Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Noel Neill in 2001. Photo courtesy of Sup. Antonovich.

The memorial service for actor Jack Larson is this coming Sunday at 5:00. The doors open at 4:00.

The services will be held at the James Bridges Theater in the northeast corner of the UCLA campus.

Parking will be available at Parking Structure 3 that is off of Sunset Blvd. and Hilgard Ave. (green dot with red arrow).

According to UCLA:

Named in honor of film director James Bridges (The China Syndrome, 1979), the theater is one of the outstanding screening venues in Southern California, due to the generous support of the filmmaker’s partner, actor Jack Larson and the Bridges/Larson Foundation.

Jack Larson Memorial Service

Above, Jack Larson addresses the Superman plaque dedication audience last year. Photo by Steve Kirk.

If anyone was wondering about services for Jack Larson, we now know that there will be an upcoming memorial service.

Jim Nolt posted at Facebook:

I was also informed that a memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 6, at 5:00 at the James Bridges Theatre at UCLA in the Film School. 

Parking is at Lot 3. The doors open at 4:00.

I plan to attend.

Also, Jim Nolt also posted:

I've been informed that Jack's remains were put to rest beside his mother at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, CA.