January 5, 1914 ----A hero is born
January 5, 1917----A legend is born
Today would have been George Reeves’ 96th birthday. Of course he will always be remembered as the mighty man of steel but he also had a successful film career in the 1930’s and 40’s. He appeared in such films as Gone with the Wind, So Proudly We Hail!, From Here to Eternity and The Blue Gardenia. In 1951 he stepped into the role that would make him world famous. The feature film Superman and the Mole-Men hit theaters across America in November of 1951. Reeves played the dual role of Superman and his mild mannered alter ego Clark Kent and he was joined by Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. The film was a lead in to a larger project already in production ----a Superman television series for the new kid on the block---television! The show began on September 19, 1952 and would run for six seasons producing 104 episodes before coming to a close on April 28, 1958. The iconic actor set the standards for everyone who would follow him in the role of Superman. Even though it began long before computer generated imagery it still looked great when he "flew." The best moments were when he would come crashing through a wall or when he would crush a villain’s gun in his hand like a piece of clay. His piercing eyes and lantern jaw made it seem as though he were actually lifted from the pages of the comic books. He left us under questionable circumstances on June 16, 1959 at the age of 45. It has been more than fifty years since his passing but thanks to reruns, comic book lovers and DVDs he is anything but forgotten. From now until the day I leave this planet, every time I hear the words "Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird…it’s a plane..it’s…it’s…" I will think of George Reeves.
This also marks the birthday of another screen legend. The mighty Jane Wyman was born on this day in 1917; she would’ve been 93 today. A star if there ever was one she appeared in some of the greatest films of the 20th century. She began in 1932 at the age of 15 and went on to appear in such films as The Lost Weekend, The Yearling, Johnny Belinda, Stage Fright, The Blue Veil, Magnificent Obsession and Pollyanna. Her final film appearance was in 1969’s Hot to Commit Marriage with Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Leslie Nielsen and Tina Louise. On television she appeared on such programs as "My Three Sons", "The Red Skelton Show", "The Love Boat", "Charlie’s Angels" and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." From 1955 to 1958 she hosted her own anthology series "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre." Currently she is one of only three actresses to host their own anthology series. The other two were Loretta Young and June Allyson. 1981 was the year she became known to a generation of "younger" fans when she accepted the role of Angela Gioberti Channing on the prime time soap opera "Falcon Crest." Angela was the ruthless matriarch of the Gioberti/Channing family and she stopped at nothing to protect her legacy and family fortune. She battled her children, husband(s), friends, nieces, nephews and siblings just to name a few. Wyman appeared in 208 of the show’s 227 episodes…age and illness made it impossible for her to appear in more than six episodes during the show’s final season. The actress brought an incredible amount dignity and grace to what could’ve been a monstrous character. Jane Wyman played Angela perfectly…the audience loved to hate her…they didn’t hate her. That can be attributed to Wyman’s portrayal. She played it in such a way that allowed her to be ruthless but also very human. If the other characters on the show just plain hated Angela then the audience would’ve hated her but because the performance was done so perfectly she became a part of television history. Jane Wyman was a woman with a lot of class, grace, style and elegance. She passed away on September 10, 2007...what a sad day that was. In the end the ailments that kept her from "Falcon Crest" season 9 eventually took her life but now she is no longer suffering she has been welcomed to God's Eternal Kingdom in Heaven.
A great man…a great woman…
Today in recognition of their birthdays…
In Memoriam Remembers:
George Reeves & Jane Wyman
January 5, 1914 ----A hero is born
January 5, 1917----A legend is born
Today would have been George Reeves’ 96th birthday. Of course he will always be remembered as the mighty man of steel but he also had a successful film career in the 1930’s and 40’s. He appeared in such films as Gone with the Wind, So Proudly We Hail!, From Here to Eternity and The Blue Gardenia. In 1951 he stepped into the role that would make him world famous. The feature film Superman and the Mole-Men hit theaters across America in November of 1951. Reeves played the dual role of Superman and his mild mannered alter ego Clark Kent and he was joined by Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. The film was a lead in to a larger project already in production ----a Superman television series for the new kid on the block---television! The show began on September 19, 1952 and would run for six seasons producing 104 episodes before coming to a close on April 28, 1958. The iconic actor set the standards for everyone who would follow him in the role of Superman. Even though it began long before computer generated imagery it still looked great when he "flew." The best moments were when he would come crashing through a wall or when he would crush a villain’s gun in his hand like a piece of clay. His piercing eyes and lantern jaw made it seem as though he were actually lifted from the pages of the comic books. He left us under questionable circumstances on June 16, 1959 at the age of 45. It has been more than fifty years since his passing but thanks to reruns, comic book lovers and DVDs he is anything but forgotten. From now until the day I leave this planet, every time I hear the words "Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird…it’s a plane..it’s…it’s…" I will think of George Reeves.
This also marks the birthday of another screen legend. The mighty Jane Wyman was born on this day in 1917; she would’ve been 93 today. A star if there ever was one she appeared in some of the greatest films of the 20th century. She began in 1932 at the age of 15 and went on to appear in such films as The Lost Weekend, The Yearling, Johnny Belinda, Stage Fright, The Blue Veil, Magnificent Obsession and Pollyanna. Her final film appearance was in 1969’s Hot to Commit Marriage with Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Leslie Nielsen and Tina Louise. On television she appeared on such programs as "My Three Sons", "The Red Skelton Show", "The Love Boat", "Charlie’s Angels" and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." From 1955 to 1958 she hosted her own anthology series "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre." Currently she is one of only three actresses to host their own anthology series. The other two were Loretta Young and June Allyson. 1981 was the year she became known to a generation of "younger" fans when she accepted the role of Angela Gioberti Channing on the prime time soap opera "Falcon Crest." Angela was the ruthless matriarch of the Gioberti/Channing family and she stopped at nothing to protect her legacy and family fortune. She battled her children, husband(s), friends, nieces, nephews and siblings just to name a few. Wyman appeared in 208 of the show’s 227 episodes…age and illness made it impossible for her to appear in more than six episodes during the show’s final season. The actress brought an incredible amount dignity and grace to what could’ve been a monstrous character. Jane Wyman played Angela perfectly…the audience loved to hate her…they didn’t hate her. That can be attributed to Wyman’s portrayal. She played it in such a way that allowed her to be ruthless but also very human. If the other characters on the show just plain hated Angela then the audience would’ve hated her but because the performance was done so perfectly she became a part of television history. Jane Wyman was a woman with a lot of class, grace, style and elegance. She passed away on September 10, 2007...what a sad day that was. In the end the ailments that kept her from "Falcon Crest" season 9 eventually took her life but now she is no longer suffering she has been welcomed to God's Eternal Kingdom in Heaven.
A great man…a great woman…
Today in recognition of their birthdays…
In Memoriam Remembers:
George Reeves & Jane Wyman
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