Shel Dorf, founder of the San Diego Comic-Con has passed away

I recently got this email from my old pal Charlie Roberts:

As many of you know, Shel Dorf the founder of Comic-Con International (formerly The San Diego Comic-Con), passed away on Tuesday November 3 after a lengthy illness. Shel's brother Michael Dorf has asked Shel's long time friend Michael Towry to set up the "Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund" in Shel's honor. Michael Towry, along with Richard Alf and several other young comic collectors, were part of the original convention committee and helped Shel with the first several Comic-cons. Richard Alf was Comic-con Chairman in 1971 and Michael was Comic-con Chairman in 1972. If any of you reading this ever went to the San Diego Comic-con/Comic Con International, enjoyed Shel's many columns over the years in "The Comic Buyer's Guide", read the "Steve Canyon" comic strip which Shel lettered for many years, or just plain love comics and the graphics medium this would be a great way to say "Thank You" and help a most worthwhile charity in the process.

Donations may be sent to:

Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund c/o
Michael Towry
PO Box 232497
San Diego, Ca 92193

You might also enjoy checking out Michael's excellent Shel Dorf Tribute website:

WWW.ShelDorfTribute.com

Thanks for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Charlie Roberts

Sounds like a great idea! Do what you can folks!

ETERNAL MOONWALK!

OK, I thought this was a pretty cool tribute to recently-deceased pop superstar Michael Jackson... ETERNAL MOONWALK!

I love it! Go ahead and submit yours!

R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett

Well what can I say? Certainly personal tragedies are more important to us than the deaths of celebrities. That being said, who can't help but feel a bit sad for the passing of a classic '70s icon, American beauty Farrah Fawcett? Like most young men of the mid-to-late 1970s, I was enamored of Farrah's classic wholesome beauty. Her iconic poster was pretty much everywhere back then. (Here's a neat story about that poster and the guys who produced it.) She became a symbol of that era, cemented by her single season (!) appearance on the TV show CHARLIE'S ANGELS. She WAS the '70s, and truly one of it's icons.



Anyway, I was saddened to hear of her struggle with cancer and of her passing yesterday. In memory, I give you this clip from the movie LOGAN'S RUN (1976):



Rest in peace, Farrah.

R.I.P. Grasshopper.

R.I.P. Patrick McGoohan

Sad news today... Patrick McGoohan, the star and writer of my favorite television series ever THE PRISONER, has passed away today. He was 80 and died after a brief illness.


HERE'S his Wikipedia entry.


THE PRISONER was a unique program... if you have never seen it, I encourage you to try it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Here's a nice brief recap from this site:

The Prisoner TV show was one of those rare sci-fi series that was so different, it became a cult classic! A British secret agent resigns from the service and is immediately rendered unconscious and kidnapped! He awakens in a resort village that is isolated from the rest of the world by mountains on one side and ocean on the other. Those in charge of the village interrogate him about why he decided to leave the service. They won't tell him why they want to know or who they work for and he won't co-operate with them unless they do so. Meanwhile, there are hundreds of other villagers who seem to be accepting their "imprisonment" willingly. Well, most of the time anyway. If you like entertainment that keeps you in suspense and you never are sure of what's going on, this is one for you. There really never has been another program that could be compared to this TV show.

Opening credits:

The Prisoner: "Where am I?"
Number Two: "In the Village."
The Prisoner: "What do you want?"
Number Two: "Information."
The Prisoner: "Whose side are you on?"
Number Two: "That would be telling. We want information. Information! Information!"
The Prisoner: "You won't get it!"
Number Two : "By hook or by crook, we will!"
The Prisoner: "Who are you?"
Number Two: "The new number two."
The Prisoner: "Who is number one?"
Number Two: "You are number six."
The Prisoner: "I am not a Number! I am a free man!"
Number Two: (Laughs)



R.I.P. Patrick McGoohan. Thanks for the many many hours of viewing enjoyment.

R.I.P. Bettie Page

I'm sure most of you have heard this news from one source or another, but famous pin-up queen Bettie Page passed away this past Thursday night after suffering from an initial heart attack on December 2nd. She was 85 years old.

To read more on Bettie Page's death, click here.

Who was Bettie Page? CLICK HERE (WARNING: CONTAINS IMAGES NOT MEANT FOR CHILDREN!) for the most comprehensive biography or HERE for a good summary.

The Bettie Page Phenomenon arose from obscurity in the 1980s due mostly to artist Dave Stevens' use of her images as the love interest in his period-piece comic book THE ROCKETEER, which was subsequently made into a movie by Disney Studios, starring as Jennifer Connelly as the Bettie Page character Jenny Blake. Sadly, artist Dave Stevens passed away earlier this year.

Rest in peace, Bettie... you have become an American icon and will remain forever young in my eyes. As my friend said in an email:

If heaven exists, I'd like to think Bettie and Dave Stevens are planning a candlelit Christmas Eve dinner at midnight. They're both 25 years young, together in a perfect world. RIP. Respectfully, Charlie Roberts

R.I.P. The Ackermonster

Sad news... Forrest J. Ackerman has died.


From his Wikipedia entry:

Forrest J Ackerman (November 24, 1916 - December 4, 2008)^[1] was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan. Ackerman, known as "Forry" or "4e" or "4SJ", is influential not only in the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction fandom, but has long also been a key figure in the wider cultural acceptance of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. Ackerman is also known as the editor-writer of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as an occasional author, actor, producer (Vampirella), and literary agent.

Who amongst us hasn't been influenced by Forry? A sad day indeed.

R.I.P. Neal Hefti

You probably know of his work from this:



Read more about him HERE.

(I was surprised to see that he did the score to one of the quirkiest movies I've ever seen, 1966's Lord Love a Duck starring Roddy McDowell, Tuesday Weld, and the ever-wonderful Ruth Gordon. Weird movie.)

Pictures of Bo from me old pal Chollie

I got this email on Tuesday, the day pioneer Rock-N-Roll legend Bo Diddley died:

Bo Diddley R.I. P. Attached are two photos I took at a free Disneyland concert around 1985. The venue was a little area in the park, and the little woman and I were able to get right up front. There were only 35 or 40 of us there for a great intimate show that lasted 45 minutes or so.....even got an autograph backstage (!) Note to surviving members of the Foundation of Rock 'n Roll Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard : Thank you ALL for all you've given us, and .........don't leave the building !!!! Bestest, Charlie

Great photos and thoughts. Thanks, Charlie!

Is there anyone you haven't seen?

(Oh, and all photos Copyright Charlie Roberts Archives 2008)

Actor Heath Ledger found dead

OK, THIS is weird.

NEW YORK -- Oscar-nominated actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a downtown Manhattan residence, police said Tuesday, in what might be a drug-related death.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the SoHo apartment that is believed to be his home. A housekeeper went to let Ledger know the masseuse was there, and found him dead at 3:26 p.m, Browne said.

Ledger was found with a bottle of pills next to him, according to an NYPD spokesman.

What a horrible loss...

(Hat-tip to Mike B. for the heads-up.)