I first had the pleasure of meeting Noel Neil on June 14, 1997 at the Superman Festival in Metropolis, IL. The year before, I had unexpectedly met Jack Larson in the same event. This time I knew Noel would be there, and made sure I had a camera. One of the first things she did was pick a few people from the audience to read parts of "Panic in the Sky" with her. Then she did a question and answer session. I remember telling her it was great to see her there, and asked if she would ever consider writing a book. She said she didn't think she ever would, and commented that Jack Larson had attemped one, but decided against it, telling her "what am I doing this for?" She seemed surprised when a woman hosting the event said Noel would then sign autographs, which makes me think this must have been her first time there. I got in line, and when I met her, I gave her copies of a couple short articles and pictures of her with Kirk Alyn and George Reeves. She seemed touched that I did this for her. I then requested she sign two photos, one for a friend and another for me. I had mailed a group photo of Superman, Perry, Jimmy and Lois to Jack Larson which he promptly signed and returned, so I asked her to sign that for me. She looked at it and smiled, saying "Jack". I asked if I could get a picture with her, and she said yes. My daughter took this picture which I am so happy to have. I've been able to meet her two more times, and she's always a pleasure.

Noel Neill and Steve Baratta, 1997

Over the past thirty-five years, one of my more intense personal hobbies has been the study of films, drama, and special effects. It all began in the early 70's when I read The Making of Star Trek and became intensely fascinated with filmmaking and the nuts and bolts of film special effects. One of my favorite activities related to this hobby has been attending conventions to meet the people who have made the films and TV shows which I have so much enjoyed. My autographed photos spark memories of occasions when I met performers and had the opportunity to compliment them about some aspect of their work. This was an effect to "pay back" for the enjoyment they have provided me and others. Without these memories, an autographed photo would mean very little to me. Fortunately, with my years of study, I have a pretty solid background that enables me to make some mature insightful compliments which are usually well received and appreciated.

The Adventures of Superman was a love of mine which was mostly a memory from childhood. Outside of purchasing and reading with great interest Gary Grossman's Superman: Serial to Cereal in the mid-70's, I had no opportunity to see the show. Therefore I was unable to enjoy and appreciate it with a now more mature viewpoint. So when I met Noel Neill in October 2005 at the Chiller Theatre Convention in New Jersey, I did not have a lot to talk to her about. But I did tell her how well she was doing with all the touring she does (that I found out about on The Adventures Continue website) and how honored and glad I was to meet her. I also told her that my family and I had just taken my first trip to Metropolis, Illinois that August and had seen her plaque with her "Key to the City" in the SuperMuseum. She told me she attends the Superman Week Celebration there every June. She signed a very nice autograph on a photo for me and very graciously signed a second one for a very good friend of mine who was unable to come. (I wanted to surprise him with it and, as a matter of fact, he was extremely delighted with it!)

I have The Adventures Continue website (which I did not discover until the end of last August) to thank for being able to learn so much about Noel Neill, George Reeves, Jack Larson, John Hamilton and Robert Shayne. But it wasn't until after I had met Noel that I was able to begin re-watching the Adventures of Superman with an adult point of view as the DVD sets have come out. I very quickly realized how much I enjoyed Noel's personification over Phyllis Coates'. (I am not sure if I ever saw Phyllis Coates in the role when I was a boy. I think I was too young to see the first season when it first aired.) I also began to see how the things I had learned from the web site about all these performers being such nice caring people were also part of their characters on the show. We all, myself included, responded to these wonderful characters on the show who were nice, caring, compassionate people who cared for one another and others and who shaped our own characters and values with their gentle guidance. Particularly in television, where actors must crank out an episode per week, there is not time to hone a well-crafted character completely separate from themselves. (A feature film actor has usually several months to create a character for a 2 hour film while a TV actor has to create his character in only one week's time for a 30 minute episode equivalent to one quarter of that feature film!) So a lot of what we see on the TV screen is by necessity part of the actor's real personality. So it is no wonder that the wonderful characters we loved and responded to in the show as youngsters are the actual people we admire as adults today. It is a shame that we no longer have the opportunity to personally meet more of the cast, particularly George, who always longed for some adult recognition. But maybe he is looking down from where he is now and smiling!

In view of all this, I know I will have much more to say to Noel should I ever get the chance to meet her again (though maybe she herself reads The Adventures Continue website from time to time and will read it all here!) And I wholeheartedly thank Jim Nolt for this wonderful website and for asking me to write this and offering to add it and my photo with Noel. And I thank Noel Neill for being who she is.

Jim Macumber

Noel Neill and Jim Macumber, October, 2005

Jim,

I met Noel Neill at a TV/Movie Memorabilia show in New York City in March 2006. I drove down from Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, to Manhattan on a bitter cold day (about 10 degrees) just to see this beautiful lady. I had to first pick up my brother who lived just a few blocks from the show. When I arrived at his apartment, he was chatting on the phone with someone and smiling. I couldn’t believe this but... IT WAS NOEL NEILL ON THE PHONE!! A friend of my brother's was already there at the show, and he used his cell phone to call us. Noel graciously took the time to say hello and chat with us. What a great lady! We got there 30 minutes later and there she was, in person... and Larry Thomas Ward. It was such a thrill to meet and talk with her, her voice still sounding exactly the same as I’ve heard for years watching the Adventures of Superman on WPIX, Channel 11 in NYC. She was soft-spoken and just so gracious and friendly. It was so worth the trip and I’ll never forget it. THANK YOU NOEL!!

Art Velardi, Poughkeepsie, NY

Noel Neill and Art Velardi, March, 2006

Jim,

I've always liked the TV show Superman since I was young. So one day I started surfing the Internet for some Superman sites. I found many, but there was yours that had a lot
of Lois Lane pictures, so I started reading and noticed that she made personal appearances. That's all the further I had to read before I was on the road to Chiller Theatre in New Jersey, only ten minutes from my house!

I could hardly wait. I went to the show, waited on a long line even though it was freezing outside. But it was all worth it, because as soon as I got in I ran to find Noel Neill, and then... Wow! There she was... in person!

Noel was very nice to me, and let me take a picture with her. She also autographed a color picture of Superman (George Reeves) and herself. I thanked her, gave her a hug and kiss, and told her she made my night. She smiled back and said, "Thank You." It is a day I'll never forget.

Noel Neill and Mark Palermo, October 2005

Hi Jim!
As I write Noel has just this minute (Sat, 9 Jul 2005) left Sydney on her fourteen hour QANTAS flight back to Los Angeles. I spoke with her this morning on the phone, and she was in good spirits. The filming had taken longer than expected, but everyone was very nice to her and she had quite a few TAOS fans on the crew.

I had such an idyllic time with Noel here - more conversations, coffees and phone calls than I could ever have hoped for. It was wonderful to have all that one-on-one time with her, learning about her family and career outside TAOS. By the time she left Australia, we had developed a very easy rapport - and I feel very privileged to feel that warmth. My wife has finally met "the other woman" and - luckily for me - Noel has received her endorsement!

And my little boy can say he has met the real Lois Lane in his own hometown. Such was her friendly and open attitude, that we are all a little sadder that today "our Noel" is no longer sleeping just a few miles away. I asked her about posting the photo and she's happy for you to do so. Anyway Jim - thanks again for your help. Noel has enormous respect for you and we spoke of you often.

Cheers,
Tez

Noel Neill and Terry Ryan (Tez) in Australia, July 2005

Jim,

I have to thank you big time for introducing me to Larry and Noel as today was a day I will soon not forget if never. I had a very nice time and even met some of your fellow group members.

It started out that I met Larry in the morning before the show in the lobby and introduced myself to him. He was warm and friendly and stated he like the picture I sent him of Janet and me in costume.

Janet and Eddie Caro

He was even looking forward to Janet being in red boxers if she was with me. I told her she could not make it but I brought my mother along so she could relax for a day since she is a work alcoholic. I also told him I have a sketch Randy Garret did for me that I would love Noel to sign. I showed him the sketch and he was blown away saying it is the best sketch I ever seen of Noel and he wanted a copy. Larry went to get Noel because the show was to begin in about 25 minutes. When Larry came back he was walking with Noel and he introduced me to her. She was so pleasant... just like I had heard from everyone. Larry then walked ahead, and Noel took my arm for support as we walked down the hotel hallway to the show. I was speechless and wished Janet was around to capture the moment. So here I am walking Noel Neill, and everyone is looking at us as we are making our way down the hall to the Megafest. We then walked to the table where she was going to sign autographs. I waited a few minutes and then showed her the sketch. Her first words were "OH WOW". She then commented on how well the sketch was done and held it looking at it the whole time while making her way to her chair. I told her I asked Randy to do the sketch for me and I wanted one of her as "Noel Neill," not as "Lois Lane." She then signed it and asked again if I wanted her to put "Lois Lane" on it. I said no thank you because I wanted the picture of her as Noel, not as Lois.

I also met Lou Kaza and Steve Randisi (I hoped I spelled the names right), and they were also blown away by Randy's work. Both of them stated that this is the best sketch they ever seen of Noel and they wanted me to send them a copy of it to them also.

Each person that saw it showed great appreciation for Randy's skill on how he did Noel. I stayed with Noel and Larry for a good portion of time and they were very kind to me. I, along with Steve and Lou, offered them drinks and food during the show so they could keep their strength up. Steve, Larry and Noel even invited me to dinner which totally surprised me. Lou had to leave and go back home. So I had dinner with Noel, Larry, Steve, and my mother. It was very nice experience even if my mother had no idea who Noel was(she does not watch a lot of tv as you can see...lol)

Lou brought his daughter Louann along and she was a very nice young lady. She was kind enough to be my photographer for my pictures with Noel and others and showed me around the megafest. Lou showed me some of his personal collection of George Reeve items and Steve is just an encyclopedia of knowledge regarding the Superman show along with Lou. We talked for quite a while and they were very nice to me.

I had many opportunities to talk to Noel and she is as everything everyone said about her. I did not feel like a stranger at all with her or Larry and they did make me feel like I known them for longer then the few hours we were together. I sent them your very best.

So I just wanted to thank you very much, Jim. If you had never introduced me to Larry and Noel I would never have gone to the show and met them. Steve and Lou were also very pleasant and everyone treated me kindly being the newcomer to the group.

Noel Neill, Larry Ward, and Eddie Caro in Boston, November, 2004

All the best,
Eddie

Jim, thanks for the chance to put a small story into the collection that you have of the great stories of meeting Noel.

I was totally shocked when I received the post card annoucing the guest at the local comic convention. Noel Neill! What were the odds I would actually meet one of the stars of Superman? I had to go. I grew up watching her and she was part of my childhood. When I arrived I cut right through all the dealers, comic artists, etc and went right to the "star" section that's set up at every comic show. I had brought my sister along to make sure the moment was captured on disc. We walked up, and there was a line that I thought was for the comic artists. But I was wrong. It was for Noel. There she was... speaking with someone in line. Like someone else said, it was surreal. Her voice is exactly the same as it was fifty years ago, and even though her hair was a little longer and a different color, she was instantly turned into Lois Lane, and I was turned into a six-year-old boy! I bearly heard my sister say, "Its her Rob. I cant believe it" I (like every little kid back then), played Superman, so she knew what a special moment this was. We walked up to the line and waited our turn. While I was choosing the photo to have her sign she spoke to me for a few minutes, and as all the other people have written, she was kind, soft spoken, and took compliments from everyone.

I found myself just standing and looking. After she signed the photo, I had my picture taken with her. I was just in awe and enjoying the memories that were flooding to mind. She was gracious, and it was a great moment I will treasure always. Thanks Noel. Hope to see you in Florida again real soon.

Bob Price and Noel Neill, 2004.