From Zombos Closet

Ben Cooper Halloween 1970s
Sturdy Superman Play Suit

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In the 1960s, when George Reeves' Adventures of Superman was the cat's meow for us kids, I'd "fly" around the neighborhood with a red pillowcase safety-pinned to my shoulders, acting as a flowing cape. My best friend Stephen joined me in our great Superman adventures against the enemies of the American Way and liberty. But he moved away too soon and our adventures ended, put to a stop not by those enemies, but by time and change and their ever march forward. After he moved we lost touch and our lives went their separate ways. I wonder what ever became of him. I wonder if he ever wonders whatever became of me? (Seller 3rdflrretro has a memory for sale on eBay.)

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Ben Cooper Halloween 1970s
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The Shadow Collegeville Halloween Costume

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Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! and maybe Lurch1125, who posted this vintage Collegeville costume on eBay. What this needed was a more exciting box to come in, but the costume looks pretty nifty, don't you think? I forget which Phil Seuling comic convention it was back in the 1970s, but there was this scrawny, nerdy, guy who had this weird, slowly building in pitch, laugh he'd do in imitation of the Shadow's trademark sardonic and mocking laughter. For the real deal you need to listen to the old Shadow radio shows with Orson Welles.

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Vintage Halloween Collegeville Hobo Costume

/ Halloween Costume, Halloween Novelty / 2 Comments

Mikestaxidermy listed this Collegeville Halloween Hobo costume on eBay. I see a lot of political correctness and social sensitivity statements and didactics on the Internet regarding the use of a "homeless" person personification for holiday dress up to panhandle candy and party with, but that's part of today's sensibilities and how we perceive things. I tried to find information on the historical background to understand why the Hobo costume has been around for generations. So far I have only found a lot of opinion and repetition of opinion. 

From old photographs, one can see it was in the repertoire of self-made costumers at the very beginning of Halloween's celebration. Perhaps panhandling has something to do with it: hobos would ride the train rails and go from town to town, living a life unfettered by convenient conventions and questionable propriety, and maybe ask for a hand-out now and then. But what do you think? Are hobo costumes still relevant today and acceptable?

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Halloween 1946 Ad for Dessart Brothers
Mask Makers

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Here's an evocative Halloween 1946 paper advert for Dessart Brothers. Note the quaint spelling of "Hallowe'en." Note also this ad is from the March 1946 issue of Playthings, the trade magazine. I repeat, March. So…some may complain Halloween shows up too early in the stores now, but maybe not early enough? Playthings magazine is still published. 

Vintage Halloween Ad Zombos Closet

Noel Neill Remembered

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Noel Neil02bBy Professor Kinema

She was petite, she was pretty, she was sweet and, oh yes, she was fan-friendly. Noel Neill will always be the Lois Lane I will remember from my youth.

Her association with Superman started in the first two Superman serials: Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs Superman (1950). The man of steel in these two serials was Kirk Alyn (who died in 1999). Jimmy Olsen was played by Tommy Bond (who died in 2005) – a grown up Butch from the little rascals. 

When the TV series The Adventures of Superman began its 6 year run in 1952, she wasn't able to repeat her earlier screen role for the show's first season or its unforgettable pilot: Superman and the Mole-Men (1951). She did appear in Invasion USA (1952) along with Phyllis Coates, who did play Lois Lane for the first 26 episodes of the series, although they shared no scenes together in Invasion. When the second season was ready to be filmed, Coates had already committed to another series, allowing Noel Neill to return as Lois.

Watching the reruns over and over, one could glimpse Phyllis Coates' Lois as more plucky, but for the most part, Noel Neill was and is Lois Lane to fans. When the TV series abruptly ended in 1958 because of the death of star George Reeves,  she felt another actor should have been cast and the series continued. That was not to be. John Hamilton as Perry White, who often said "Great Caesar's Ghost!" and "Don't call me Chief!" when flummoxed by Jimmy Olsen, also died that year. Jack Larson, another fan favorite as Jimmy Olsen, who often said "Yes, Chief!" and "Golly Mr Kent!"), died in 2015. For a while, Noel Neill lived in a real town in Illinois named Metropolis (the "official home of Superman"). There is a statue of Lois Lane there in her likeness.

After the television series ended she didn't appear on screen for the next 20 years. In 1978, Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill made uncredited cameo appearances in Superman starring Christopher Reeves. She also appeared in the 1980s Superboy television series, and in the 1990s in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. She did a credited appearance in 2006's Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh.

My only encounter with her was about 8 years ago at a Chiller Convention. She was petite, pretty, sweet, and very fan-friendly.

Zombos Note: I was at that Chiller Convention also, and was about to walk into the room where Noel Neill was signing, but something else came up and I missed my chance. I probably would have bumped into Professor Kinema, though we didn't know each other at the time.

Noel Neill