Memorial Meet For Sammy C

 

President Trump At Charlie Kirk Memorial

 

Donald Trump Jr. Imitates Dad At Charlie Kirk Memorial

 

Erika Kirk Forgives Assassin

In front of millions of people, Erika Kirk forgave her husbands murderer

That is the power of Christ…

Drop a 🙏 If Christ is KINGhttps://t.co/8KobAcUFUo pic.twitter.com/d0UPpavLWO

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) September 21, 2025

RFK Jr. At Charlie Kirk Memorial

 

RFK Jr. becomes filled with emotion as he shares an unforgettable conversation he had with Charlie Kirk about death.

The long pause at the 22-second mark said it all. You could feel how heavily Kirk’s passing was weighing on him.

“We were talking about the risk that all of us… pic.twitter.com/mXhhMhwuKe

— Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) September 21, 2025

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.

Nakajima Tribute Photo

As I mentioned yesterday, at the tail end of the end credits to Godzilla: King of the Monsters, there was a memorial tribute to Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno and Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima.

During this, my eyes were more focused on the tribute to Nakajima due to a very familiar photo of him taken during the filming of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster. I can't recall any photo used for Banno.

But this is the photo used for Nakajima (as I said before, a classy touch):

As so many have stated, including me, be sure to stay for all of the end credits!

Adam West Honored With Bat Signal

The side of Los Angeles City Hall has its side lit up by the Bat Signal in honor of the late Batman star ,Adam West.

Here's a screen capture from a live video from Fox Channel 13:

John Baker Memorial and Hawthorne

It had been a while since I was last in Hawthorne, California. The last time I was there was when I picked up Sierra from the animal shelter back in 2015.

It had been even longer since I was last in the area of Hawthorne where I lived. But today I went to Hawthorne to attend the celebration of life memorial for Cougartown's John Baker, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home.

Above, the gathering for John Baker at the Hawthorne VFW. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 300 friends and family members attended the memorial at the Hawthorne VFW hall. There were some tears, but primarily, it was people telling happy remembrances of John Baker. The celebration included a slide show.

Above, the Hawthorne VFW. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cougartown, the Hawthorne High School alumni website, was started by Baker in 1999. There was one very well-received announcement made: the Cougartown website will continue! It will be going full throttle "once the dust settles".

I briefly visited with friends Linda Huthmaker and Larry Bach.

Above, with Wayne Dickey (class of 1969). Photo by Dennis Kilroy.

After leaving the memorial, I decided to cruise around to see a few of my former "haunts".

The first was a drive-by of my former residence on 129th Street:

Next, a cruise by Hawthorne High School. It looks vastly different than when I attended there.

After this, I went down to Hawthorne Blvd. There's not too many businesses that operated there during the days I lived in Hawthorne, but one place that is familiar and still in business is Phil's Bike Shop.

Here's Phil's Bike Shop across the street:

After my little tour, I stopped by at a friend Les's house. Fortunately, he was home at the time. We had a very pleasant visit.

Then, it was fighting heavy traffic as I made my way back to the San Fernando Valley.

Photos of John Baker's Celebration of Life can be found here.

Today's Metropolis Planet Front Page

The newspaper of Metropolis (Illinois), the Metropolis Planet, has a front-page article on the upcoming celebration of the life of the "Original Lois Lane", Noel Neill.

Jim Nolt posted the top image and Noel's manager and biographer, Larry Thomas Ward, sent out the full front page as a file. I made a snapshot of the article for your reading pleasure (below).

I will be heading there in The Beast and when I told Larry of this, he said:

Wow, Armand.  That's incredible!  It'll be great to see you again.  Just great.

Larry

Above, Superman adorns the Metropolis Planet masthead.

I am looking forward to seeing Larry and many other friends at the event and, also, the Super Museum.

68th Emmys: In Memoriam

Above, Jack Larson and Noel Neill in 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Noel Neill and Jack Larson are at about the 4:00 mark. Thanks to Steve Brant for the alert!

Road Trip To Metropolis?

With the announcement that there will be a memorial celebration of the life of actress Noel Neill in Metropolis, Illinois, I am considering attending.

I have always wanted to go to Metropolis to see the Super Museum of Jim Hambrick, that plus the memorial celebration is a good reason to go.

Instead of flying, I am thinking on taking a road-trip there in The Beast. Metropolis is 1,908 miles from Los Angeles (roughly a 28 hour drive). The route would mainly be on Interstates 40 and 44.

This route will take me through Springfield, Illinois, the hometown and where the tomb of President Abraham Lincoln is located. That would also be a good stop to make en route. On the way back, I can head south to Memphis, Tennessee. I was planning a trip to Memphis in the spring, but since I would be in the area...

Above, Noel Neill and yours truly at the TV Land Convention.

Going in The Beast would also solve another thing, I would not have to find a motel room in Metropolis or some town nearby. I can stay in The Beast in town.

I don't relish doing this long a drive solo, but I can take my time with plenty of stops and confine my driving to around 300 miles/day. That would make it a six-day drive at that pace.

Election Day is the following Tuesday, but I can vote absentee before going. That would take care of that problem.

I'll check with the Automobile Club of Southern California and get a TripTik from them.

Memorial Celebration of Noel Neill

Biographer Larry Ward has sent out the following news release:

On Saturday, November 5, 2016, we will be honoring
the life and career of the late actress Noel Neill, best known
for her role as "Lois Lane" in the 1950s television
series, The Adventures of Superman.  

The event will be held, appropriately enough, in the
Southern Illinois town of Metropolis, where Noel was
present in 2010 for the dedication of a statue of Lois Lane,
modeled after her likeness.

Miss Neill passed away of natural causes on July 3, 2016,
in Tucson, Arizona.  She was 95.

As of this writing, the scheduled speakers/presenters
include the following:

* Dr. Pam Munter of Palm Desert, CA. She is the author of
     Almost Famous, and When Teens Were Keen.  Pam
     will discuss Noel's life in Hollywood before Lois Lane.
     Website:  pammunter.com

* Jim Nolt of Lancaster, PA, editor of The Adventures
     Continue.   Website:  jimnolt.com

* Jim Bowers of Las Vegas, Nevada: editor of the website
     CapedWonder.com

* Steve Younis, Sydney, Australia, (video contribution),
      editor of the website: supermanhomepage.com

* Larry Blankley of Granite City, Illinois

* John Field of San Diego, CA (video contribution)

* Lisa Gower & Karla Ogle of the Metropolis, Illinois
      Chamber of Commerce

* Terry Ryan of Sydney, Australia

* Stephanie Perrin of Romeo, Michigan

* Angie Sivori of  Lake Charles, Louisiana

* Larry Thomas Ward of Tucson, AZ, author of
      Truth, Justice, & The American Way: The Life &
      Times of Noel Neill, and Beyond Lois Lane.  

Music will be performed by The Melungeons.  

### 

The above poster appeared in the
October 2016 edition of Classic Images magazine.