Part One
It's been a few weeks since we lost our beloved Land Creature and I think I was just getting used to the idea that my isalnd Father was gone.
"Used to it" , NOT happy about it.
Anyway, Ben had a wonderful send off in Hawaii few weeks ago. A Celebration of Life hosted by Merillee Kazarian, his companion of the last many years.
This past weekend was a chance for us "haoles" (non Islanaders) to celebrate the man we all loved.
We began on Friday morning.
We got to Universal Studios around 7:45 and walked to the Lagoon. It was about 8:00 am and the sun was still low across the sky. It was beautiful.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008132.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/April2008131.jpg)
The group was very small, dictated mostly by Ben's wishes. It was Merillee, Roberta (Ben's former wife) and Ben's sons, Grant and Ben the third.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008024.jpg)
John Gilbert and myself rounded out the group.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008138.jpg)
We looked around and settled on a place just a few feet away from where Ben, himself, stood a little more then two years ago.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/Febuary2006116.jpg)
We huddled together, discussed how, without the Lagoon, we (John and I ) would have never known such wonderful people. We paid our respects to our great friend and recited a Hail Mary as Ben was Catholic.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008128.jpg)
Then we just took a few moments to enjoy this very special place. Merillee and Roberta had never been there.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008134.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008032.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008033.jpg)
Then, suddenly we heard a SPLASH and it seemed like Benny was swimming out to the center of the lagoon, home again.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008028.jpg)
There is an old Torpedo gag in the water dating back to time when the studio offered a mock miniature naval battle in the Lagoon. It was great timing.
(btw although Ben was the Land Creature, don't be confused, he spent alot of time in this water 54 years ago)
We had a nice walk back to the commisary. Caught the filming of CSI, Hammed it up as Ben would have expected and noticed signs of him, everywhere!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008123.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008148.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008145.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008125.jpg)
At the commisary we were joined by fellow moster fans, Tim Keegan and Steve Christopher.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008035.jpg)
Ths huge poster (6 sheet?) is in the fancier commisary at the studio.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008036.jpg)
It was arranged that we would take the tour of the Studio as the girls had never seen it and we contiinued to see Ben everywhere.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008086.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008159.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008153.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008160.jpg)
There was even a moment on the tour where we could all see the lagoon from Ben's point of view while in the water where he used to go to cool off in the costume.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/April2008098.jpg)
PART TWO
On Sunday, April 13th we all celebrated Ben Chapman's life here in Burbank. We called the party THE CREATURE WALKED AMONG US!
Kelly made Ben's favorite dish, lasagna. It was really Baked Ziti, but he ALWAYS called it "Kelly's lasagna "! The rest of the guests brought along "pot luck" and their wonderful memories of our old pal, Ben.
We decorated the home and yard with Creature and Ben memorabilia.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008174.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008175.jpg)
Nan Butler Beckstrom out did herself with this wonderful homemade fudge watched over by a CANDY CREATURE!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008170.jpg)
Here is Bert (he was Benny's boss when the Ben worked for 7 Up in the 70s. He is standing with Bill (Drac) Edwards.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008172.jpg)
The Creature Kid , Adam Daugherty (he sculpted and painted this bust)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008169.jpg)
The Creature himself showed up...or was it Uncle Gilbert? Anyway Dante Renta made a splash, no doubt about that!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008176.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008179.jpg)
Julie Adams had never seen the display featuring her voice. She loved it. That is her with her wonderful boyfriend, Andrew.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008188.jpg)
Dick (Swamp Thing) Durock with his wife Jane. btw, I kicked Dick's butt once in a Matlock!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008204.jpg)
Johhny Gilbert had been filming Benny for 11 years and he shared a compliation of those tapes.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008197.jpg)
Rob Tharp got to spend some time with his old boss, Don Post.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008191.jpg)
What better way to celebrate the CREATURE then to take a dip in our own BLACK LAGOON!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008202.jpg)
It was a wonderful and informal day.
Frank Dietz and two of the 3 lovely girls he shares his life with.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008200.jpg)
Dee Ankers- Denning (Daughter of Ben's co-star, Richard Denning and the beautiful Evelyn Ankers) and her boyfriend.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008192.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008186.jpg)
Always time to teach some dancing lessons.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008206.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008209.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008210.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008211.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008187.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008195.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008207.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008181.jpg)
Up to NO GOOD!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008216.jpg)
This is how we ALL felt by the end of the Weekend!
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd54/gracebuster/smApril2008221.jpg)
Looks like it was a very nice tribute to Ben's life. Thanks so much for posting pictures for all of us who wish we could have been a part of the celebration.
God bless Ben Chapman. He left this world knowing he was loved and appreciated.
On a side note, I bet I wasn't the only monster kid who grew up believing that Julie Adams was the most beautiful woman in the world. It's great to see her looking so well.
Thank you for sharing that Dan! Sorry I couldn't be there. It was good to see the smiles on your faces. Especially you, Johnny and the rest of the family! Ben had many friends and was loved!
I also enjoyed seeing several of the group dressed like Ben would have!
Take care!
Brian
Wonderful tribute to Ben. Thanks for the photos.
Great photos of a truly wonderful day. I think we could feel Benny's spirit surrounding us. Thanks, Danny, to you and Kelly for hosting such a meaningful event.
Frank
Thanks for letting us in. Seeing those photos helps reaffirm the impact Ben had on all of us.
That was great Dan.Thanks for the photos.
I'd like to offer my own thanks gracebuster, it's very rare that a person's life is so warmly remembered and celebrated!
Thank you, DAN,
... For chronicling, so simply, reverently, and, beautifully, this Joy, amid the sorrow, of loss... your Love, for BEN, radiates from these words and images, which you have provided; it sums up, for us, however near or far, our feelings about a Beloved Soul & Brother, who set a marvelous example, and, then, was called "HOME"... I join you, in that "HAIL MARY"... and, in consolation, can say, of BEN: "Our Brother, who art in Heaven"... May we, all, meet, THERE, in BLISS INDESCRIBABLE & EVERNOW!
EXANIMO EVERNOW,
TIMOTHY FRANCIS HERRON, B.G.G.
Amen.
and thank you.
Beautiful tribute...and a fond rememberence.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride...er, swim.
-Griffin
Wonderful, Dan, as usual. Just as Ben would have loved it to be! Glad to see Julie looking so good, too. I love that "little girl from Arkansas"!
A beautiful memorial, a tribute to a man who made great creature-y memories for all of us. Very well done, everyone.