Halloween — Brian Leno just can’t let it go!
He’s back with another weekend of cinematic signatures appropriate to the horrific holiday.
Take it away, Brian:
This obviously is a signed photo of Julie Adams in Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).
The Creature movies are some of my favorites. When I discovered Ms. Adams had her own website and was selling signed photos I opened up the wallet and purchased a couple pics and her signed autobiography, The Lucky Southern Star: Reflections from the Black Lagoon.
Sadly she is now gone, and there will no longer be any more signed photos.
No one, and I mean no one, ever looked better in a white bathing suit.
Ben Chapman was the man in the suit when the Creature came on land. Back in the late 90s — before I even had a computer — I wrote to him, sending along a very small amount of cash, and he responded mightily. Not only did he send the great photo below but a few other signed items came in the mail to the Leno household.
In the original Creature movie from 1954, Chapman did the honors on land and Ricou Browning took over on the underwater scenes. I have a signed Creature photo of Ricou Browning I just wasn’t able to locate. May have to dip back into the Lagoon again next Halloween. . . .
Browning, I believe, is the only Creature actor still alive. Fortunately I wrote to Julie Adams, Ben Chapman and John Agar (another autograph I couldn’t locate!) before they passed, and all responded with high degrees of class.
