I met Noel Neill on August 17, 2003, at the TV Land Convention.What a day that was! I had previously corresponded with Larry Ward through Dave Shutz's Message Board, and when Leslie and I arrived at the autograph table, I immediately walked up to Ms. Neill and introduced myself. She was a little startled and pointed to Larry Ward. "That's the man you want to see!" Obviously, we were expected, and she knew it, but Larry was expected to take care of the encounter!

After exchanging pleasantries, Larry asked me a question. "How big is your car?" I thought to myself, "Does Larry need a ride home?" Then he pointed to a large poster sized photo of "George and Noel." He said, "After the convention this is yours, and I'll make sure Noel autographs it before you leave." I asked Ms. Neill if Leslie and I could take photos with her after the convention. She happily agreed!

By the way, I forgot to mention, that I had the wonderful opportunity to also meet Jan Alan Henderson, author of Speeding Bullet, The Life And Bizarre Death of George Reeves. What a guy, but that is another story for another time!

As I was waiting for Ms. Neill's autograph session to be over at the end of the convention, Larry, who took my camera said, "Well, we're now ready for some photos. As I sat down next to Ms. Neill, I put my arm around her and said, "Ms. Neill, I have waited for this moment for over forty years!" She smiled so beautifully at me, we both looked into the camera and... click! I proudly display not only the autographed poster which hangs on my wall which says "Carl And Leslie, Best Wishes, Lois Lane, Noel Neill", but also framed photos of Ms. Neill and me, and one also of Leslie and Ms. Neill.

This indeed was a childhood dream come true! I believe that if you dream hard enough, and believe with all your heart, your dreams can come true!
(Carl Glass - Bakersfield, California)

I first met Noel Neill in 1961. Yes, 1961. I saw her in a black and white broadcast of the color episode, "Olsen's Millions." I saw her standing in Clark Kent's office. From across the room where I was perched atop the sofa I could see the lovely features in her face, a striking beauty of a woman with a soft voice generated by a pleasant tone and a gleam in her eye that can be easily described as a "killer twinkle." There I was, in my plaid shirt, torn pants, dirty sneakers from the afternoon adventures in the backyard, a ripe old age of four, thinking to myself, 'Wow. I like her." Wouldn't it be neat to one day actually talk to her, see what she is like? Wouldn't that be something? Well, forty years late, I did indeed find out what she is like.

On July 10, 2001, at the Kenneth Hahn Hall in downtown Los Angeles, I had the incredible privilege, (thanks to the hard work of a couple of fellows who need no introduction) to actually speak to not only Noel, but to Jack Larson as well. At first, as I glanced across the lobby, I had to ask myself, "Am I in an episode of The Adventures of Superman? Would crooks in business suits and fedoras toting guns come rushing in ordering everyone to hand over their valuables? Would I have to dash in front of Noel and Jack, hands on hips, chest out, determined to let no harm come to them like the blue guardian from the planet Krypton? Hopefully, not before placing my mint copy of Gary Grossman's book, Superman:Serial to Cereal underneath my shirt to deflect the bullets off my chest. Yes, such a book could deflect bullets. So many questions, so little time. Perhaps Superman will come crashing through the front lobby doors of this mighty building, this very same building which stands just only a block or two from "The Daily Planet" itself. After dusting himself off he would say to those who would bring danger to the innocent, "The party's over boys." Sadly, there were no crooks on this celebrated day. Well, what I mean to say is, sadly, there were no crooks for Superman to make a most impressive rescue. If such a rescue could have taken place, the visions were of the one and only Superman in the form of Mr. George Reeves. Only in reality, could he have attended the 50th year ceremonies, he would have been dressed in casual light colored clothes, sporting snazzy sunglasses and a mustache. Unfortunately, this was not to be. But the reality was just an arms length away, for there they stood, Noel Neill and Jack Larson. Never seeming to run out of energy, the two graciously met so many people, fascinating everyone with whom they came in contact.

Fast forward, as we were leaving the event and everyone was slowly making their way out of the restaurant, I followed up the rear making small talk with Noel. At that moment, I did think about how so many other actresses have played the part and that although there have been many fine performances, none has been better or more dedicated than Noel Neill. I turned and said to her, "Ms. Neill, you were, you are, and you will always be the one and only Lois Lane." Then came the humble smile of appreciation, the pleasant tone voicing the words "Thank you" and that killer twinkle in her eye. Not even the crooks have a chance against that.

Thank you, Noel, for the infinite number of wonderful memories. Many more are coming. (Lou Koza, West Babylon, New York)

Our benefactor, Jim Nolt, has asked me to write about my in-person encounter with Noel Neill in August 1975. It is a high honor to be invited to compose something for Jim's web site. I hope that the following account does the subject the justice it deserves. Some of this information has appeared on Dave Schutz's message board, so special thanks to Dave for his forum, and to Jim Nolt for his treasure trove of a web site.

During the first weekend in August, 1975, the Telefantasy Convention was held at the former Commodore Hotel in New York City. Honored guests and speakers included Noel Neill, Whit Bissell, Gary Grossman and Allan Asherman. Noel brought "The Tomb of Zaharan" with her, and the crowd loved it. Whit Bissell was a very self-effacing actor who was surprised by the eagerness of young fans to meet him. His most recent fame at that point had been for his role in TV's The Time Tunnel. Gary Grossman was working on a book...nudge, nudge...wink, wink....

I had struck up a pen pal relationship with Allan Asherman about five months earlier. I had made a "cold call" to DC Comics seeking information (ANY information) regarding the Superman TV series. Up to that point, the only published article I had found was the infamous New Yorker Magazine review of "Panic in the Sky" by a snide writer named Philip Hamburger. When I placed the call to DC Comics in March of 1975, the operator answered "WARNERS." I asked to speak to someone who could provide info on the old George Reeves TV series, and the receptionist connected me to Allan Asherman. From that encounter, a 29 year friendship was born. I returned to New York four more times over the next ten years, but I regret to say that I have not been back since 1985.

Allan Asherman invited me to accompany him on the cab ride to JFK Airport to pick up Noel for the convention. That was a thrill in itself. I felt privileged beyond words. When we got back to the Commodore Hotel with Noel, we shared a meal in one of the restaurants in the hotel complex. I remember hoping that I didn't act like a country bumpkin in the presence of a real-life movie star. Noel was more than a celebrity to us - she was like royalty. She has also continued to correspond with me since 1975, and for her friendship I am eternally grateful.


Jody McGhee
High Point, NC
May 14, 2004

Saturdays are my main time with our two year old, as well as his mommy's big rest day, so blowing that off for a 6 hour road trip last November seemed problematical, even with the chance to meet Noel Neill as the prize. But my dear wife realized, more than I, how important this was to the resident TAOS fan, and she smiled and said, "Go!'

Traffic on Interstate 95 aside, the drive from Richmond, VA to Towson, MD was a chance to chill and ponder outside the weekly box. I flipped through some of the pictures in Ms. Neill's biography when the traffic came to a stop around DC. It occurred to me that part of the warmth we TAOS fans feel toward Ms. Neill comes from what it would mean to us to be her Superman, or at least her faithful friend, Clark Kent. What a great job Larry Ward has, I thought, escorting her around the country.

I arrived at the Barnes&Noble a good half hour early, yet did not find a seat in the first few rows. This despite the fact that the "Meet the Authors" event was staged in the store's basement children's department, and that when I'd called to confirm the day before, I was put on hold while the employee did some asking around. At least I was early enough to get a seat, as we had 30 or so folks standing by the time Ms. Neill and Larry Ward made their entrance. Two immediate first impressions: Ms. Neil is quite petite, and her smile can light up a very large room!

The Q&A was good-natured and respectful, though this fan had to wince when one inquiring mind couldn't remember the name of the episode "where Clark's in bed without his glasses," as well as when an audience member felt the need to point out that after the baddies' bullets bounced off Supe, "they'd always throw the gun at him." Larry set the record straight on that one. I learned that prior to the publication of her biography, Ms. Neill had seen only one TAOS episode! Larry said he sat her down as they began work on the book and they watched the whole series. It was fun, said Larry, to watch her watch herself. In response to whether she'd ever met Jerry Seinfeld, Ms. Neill said - somewhat mysteriously - "No...but I think I will." Just a few days later, we subsequently learned, she flew west for her shoot with "Seinfeld and Superman."

Ms. Neill graciously signed several photos for me, and included a sweet note to my toddler, pictured in his Superman Halloween get-up. The big thrill, of course, came with her willingness to share a little lens space with your humble correspondent.

I was grateful to see Larry's large and friendly presence as a complement to Ms. Neill's delicate beauty. As I left, I told him "You're her Superman now." Larry laughingly deflected the comment, but I told him I thought it was a great job.

Larry followed up with some friendly email, gently chastising this shy Southern boy for not mentioning my Jim Nolt connection, as he and Ms. Neill enjoy meeting folks from this "group". I hope to catch the tour again this fall, when I'll make amends for that mistake! An email from Ms. Neill has also graced my computer screen - a huge thrill in its own right!

To those frequenting this site who haven't met Ms. Neill (and I may have been the last one), I would urge you to try to make it happen. You will enjoy meeting a genuinely nice lady who is a most unassuming icon!

Alfred Walker

In June, 2004, I was privileged to meet Noel Neill at the Memphis Film Festival. I selected a photo for her to sign (strangely enough it was not a photo of her as Lois Lane, but one from one of her many western roles, wearing a cowgirl outfit... and in color.) I also asked her if she'd consent to have her picture taken with me. And as you can see, she graciously did. I told her, "Stand up straight, you're the only one here that I'm taller than."

Larry Taubler

Still More "Tales of Wonder"

Miss Noel Neill