Ben Chapman, the on-land Gill Man ...

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Rapfred		#61	[-]
(02/22/08 1:43 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Turns out BLACK LAGOON wasn't his only excursion into the three-dimensional world. Screened at the last 3-D Expo was the 1954 Universal two-reeler HAWAIIAN NIGHTS, a faux luau variety show featuring comedy by Pinky Lee, hubba hubba by Mamie Van Doren, song stylings by Hawaiian thrush Alfred Apaka, and a surprise appearance by Ben Chapman, decked to the nines in haku lei and wrap-around malo, performing a robust, rafters-shaking hula. Pinky Lee winds up joining the dance, but it's a vain attempt to hog the spotlight. Next to Gentle Ben, he looks like Robert Scott Carey.
Michael Michalski	RIP Ben	#62	[-]
(02/22/08 1:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Having interviewed Ben on a number of occassions for Rue Morgue and Scarlet Street -- and having been fortunate to have called Ben a friend since our first meeting -- if the mods may allow it, I have posted an extended remembrance of Ben in my blog, available at this link: http://www.theglobalcollector.com/index.php/in-memory-of-original-creature-from-black-lagoon -M *BLOG ATTACK!* In memory of Ben Chapman - the Reel Gill-Man
TomWeaver999		#63	[-]
(02/22/08 2:29 PM) Vazec Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	In my interview with Ben, he mentioned playing a spaceman in a made-in-Hawaii episode of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. I guess this is it: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0702109/ I wonder if he's recognizable in it, or if he's under a lot of makeup or costuming or something. It'd be fun to see it if he is.
todmichel		#64	[-]
(02/22/08 3:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Many years ago - more than half a century, in fact - I was reading a French magazine called "Tout Savoir" ("Know Everything"). It was made in the mold of "Selection of the Reader's Digest", but with a larger format. Not at all a "movie magazine" - but among other articles, I found one called "Ces monstres ont fait frémir les spectateurs les plus blasés", which can be translated as "These monsters have thrilled the most jaded spectators". We were in the end of 1953, or the beginning of 1954. This article was illustrated with stills of classic creatures like the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange, in this case), the Wolf Man, Count Dracula... that I had just discovered, all together and only 18 months ago, in "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein"... And when I came to the last page, was a still of the all new Creature, just filmed, and called "the Gill Man". I was totally fascinated. Some months later, in 1955, the movie was released in France and I saw it in theaters, and not only once - believe me. But what I remember, is that the actor credited for the role of the Gill Man in this article was Ben Chapman. And for many years to come, I ignored that another actor, Ricou Browning, shared the character... Apparently, for American audiences it was just the contrary ? So, this name, Ben Chapman, is familiar for me since all these years. I never had the honor to meet him, but the tragic news of his death made me sad all the day. R.I.P., Ben.
Bobtheman		#65	[-]
(02/22/08 3:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I met Ben at the Chiller Convention in 1995. RIP, Gillman.
TomWeaver999		#66	[-]
(02/22/08 3:45 PM) Vazec Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	<< Apparently, for American audiences it was just the contrary ? << For decades, we were aware that Ben and Ricou "shared" the role -- but Ricou was still working in movies and TV and accessible and gave CREATURE-related interviews, while Ben was just a name. All that fans knew about Ben was that you'd occasionally see his name in a book or a magazine as ANOTHER guy who played the Gill Man in CREATURE but who he was, where he came from, where he went -- nada. Then around 1992 he came out of the shadows -- with a vengeance!
capmonte		#67	[-]
(02/22/08 4:27 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Sadly, the sharks are already coming out. There's a guy on ebay selling a signed Chapman Creature photo for $75 -- $125 buy it now price -- proclaiming him deceased. "The important question is not, are there aliens on other worlds? No. The important question is, do they have ray guns?"
TomWeaver999		#68	[-]
(02/22/08 4:45 PM) Vazec Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Ben was such a busy fixture on the convention circuit, UNsigned pictures of the Creature might be more of a collector's item these days!
creepycrawley		#69	[-]
(02/22/08 5:49 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Really tragic. Never met the man. Wish I had the chance. But it sounds like he lived his life just the way he wanted. RIP, Gillman
woody0023		#70	[-]
(02/22/08 7:13 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I met Ben at Fan Expo in Toronto in 2006. He was right, there were a lot of Canadian fans that hadn't met him yet! He told me and probably everyone else that his doctor forbade him to come, but he wouldn't hear of it, saying that he lived for his fans and always would. By the end of the weekend he was getting wheeled around in a wheelchair, but he still had a big smile on his face. A nicer guy I couldn't hope to meet. RIP
Tim Lucas VW		#71	[-]
(02/22/08 7:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Gary's story is so great -- it's exactly why I live for Old Dark Clubhouse visits and reunions. Read Video WatchBlog at www.videowatchdog.com!
Count Gamula		#72	[-]
(02/22/08 7:47 PM) Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Bob and Kathy Burns wrote these thoughts on the passing of their friend Ben Chapman. Bob asked me to post them here. It's a dark and dull room, crowded, loud, and then, suddenly, the room lights up, people smile, laughter is heard. Of course! Ben Chapman just entered that room. In a world where most celebrities capitalize on their fame for personal gain, there was one special star who was gracious to his fans, appreciated them, and devoted time to listening to them. When he signed an autograph, you not only got an 8-by but a copy of his original contract for his role as the gill man in Creature from the Black Lagoon, a special "gill man dollar" and most importantly, a great, big smile. Every child also got a short lecture about staying in school, ending with Ben securing a promise that the child would do so. Ben had a presence as big as the islands of Hawaii, where he lived. He embraced his friendships and held them as tightly as gold, keeping in touch by E-mail and phone frequently. Ben was a Korean war hero, proud of our country, proud of who he was. He looked at life for positive outcomes, for he believed that would always be true. He loved people, loved to make them laugh. He always had a joke and enjoyed being the recipient of one. His passing has created many heavy hearts and one feels profound sorrow with his loss. He touched many lives, each in a very personal way. The room will be dark again, for it will be a long time before such sunshine reignites our lives. But if we can each take just a little bit of Ben Chapman's philosophy, hope and spirit into ourselves, we can light up the world. Rest in peace my dear friend. Bob Burns
Rakshasa		#73	[-]
(02/22/08 8:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Very nice, Bob & Kathy. Thanks for passing that on, Kerry.
Herteleer		#74	[-]
(02/22/08 9:28 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Thanks for everything Mr.Chapman. RIP
Christopher Drake		#75	[-]
(02/23/08 1:00 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	TomWeaver999 wrote: << I asked him how he felt being the last living Universal Monster... << Welllllllllll ... Ricou Browning and Tom Hennesy (two of the other Gill Men) are still with us. True... but Ben was the "REEL" Gilman. ;-)
Draccenstein		#76	[-]
(02/23/08 2:14 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Rakshasa wrote: Thank you for sharing this. I downloaded the interview clips and look forward to checking them out later today. Cheers ~ Doug you're very welcome Rakshasa, I hope you and others dig it.
Zombie Birdman		#77	[-]
(02/23/08 5:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I'm a bit late here due to my schedule, but I wanted to weigh in as well. I had the chance to meet Mr. Chapman on a couple of occasions, the last being Wonderfest in 2004. Not only did he play the part of one of my favorite monsters of all time, but he was also just a truely kind, and warm, human being. He loved to talk about The Gillman, and really loved to talk about Hawaii! He was so great and down to earth with his fans. It was a great honor to meet him and hear his stories about the production of The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I will have to pull out the DVD and watch it again this weekend. "Fly, my zombie birdmen!" -Mad Monster Party
BixB		#78	[-]
(02/23/08 7:55 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	GaryP11111 wrote: I met Benny inside the Old Dark Clubhouse at the 2000 Monster Bash. A lot of the other guys in the room knew Benny very well, going back many years. Benny was on his way up to the room and the guys were betting what would be the first word out of his mouth. (I'd learn soon enough that Benny's language was pretty colorful.) I think Bob Burns, Dan Roebuck, Johnny Gilbert, my bro Sorko and some others were in the room at the time. Someone insisted the first word would be "S---." "No, no -- it'll definitely be "F---." "No way," someone countered. "It'll be P---." I really didn't care because I was excited that Benny was on his way. Suddenly there's a vibrant knock on the door, I open it and in bounds Benny. He looks at me and says, "S---, f---. man! I gotta take a p---! Where's the can?" Everybody was cracking up. That's our Benny. Me, I was delighted that the Creature From The Black Lagoon was in my bathroom. That was my first time meeting Benny and what a time that was. That was also the first time I met Bob and Kathy. Being in the same room with Benny and Bob for the first time was an experience I'll never forget. At one point things started getting a little crazy and we all wanted our picture taken with them. It almost became a "Dog pile on the Gill Man!" routine. The photo below is one of the calmer moments. Left to right back row. Sorko, Bob, Benny, Johnny Gilbert Left to right front row, Donnie Waddell, Dan Roebuck, Chuck Williams, myself Joe Busam Last Edited By: BixB 02/23/08 10:28 AM. Edited 2 times.
Andrew Kidd		#79	[-]
(02/23/08 11:31 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I love Chuck's expression in the picture. He seems to be saying "Oh man, the wives just walked in! Act mature, guys!" I hope when I get old, I have Ben's attitude towards people and life.
Michael Michalski		#80	[-]
(02/23/08 2:24 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	The outpouring of genuine emotion for Ben is heart-warming. He will definitely be missed by many, many fans. The convention circuit has lost its unofficial Mayor. -M *BLOG ATTACK!* In memory of Ben Chapman - the Reel Gill-Man

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