R.I.P. Ben Chapman

[michblk]

Yesterday was such a sad day, oddly that same day in the mail, I received my Frank Dietz poster and a print of the Creature carrying a girl by Dave Nester.

Here is a small write-up I found in the paper

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Feb/22/ln/hawaii802220360.html

BK

[gracebuster]

Here is some more Benny Chapman LOVE!

This is a moment after he saw Mark Alfrey's Creature for the first time!





With the BEAUTIFUL Julie Adams at Monsters in Motion





You could almost hear him tell John Gilbert, "How the F#%K should I know what color the creature was, that was 50 years ago!"




Relaxing with a beautiful homage to The Don Post low line Creature mask by the UBERTALENTED, Dave Katz.





John is getting ready to take a harrowing 5 hour ride to Arizona with his Creature packed snugly.. I'm sure it was like that movie, SORCERER!




Ben and Grant in the old Garage...yechh! Glad that place got cleaned up!




Pinball, anyone?





He was one of a kind.

[typhooforme]

I believe this thread has been the best tribute "site" for Ben in the world--and it's your doing, Dan.  Every photo a story in itself--that one of Julie and Ben and the statue--priceless!

[fmofmpls]

I couldn't agree more Robert! I am very proud of this thread. What an honor it is for the UMA to be part of such an endearing tribute to a wonderful man. Thanks to everyone here who has made this thread the most precious of them all. 

[gillboy13]

Aloha Brothers and Sisters,

  I am so touched by the response from all of you, my father's friends and fans.  I gives me peace to know he has touched so many lives and is receiving so much love, honor, and respect in return.  I was with him in his last moments and assure you that he is now in a better place and is free to watch over those he loves:  family, friends, AND fans.  He loved going to all of the horror conventions and receiving autograph requests through the mail solely because he LOVED his fans.  About a year ago, his cardiologist told us (after looking at his cardiogram) that the only thing keeping him alive was his will to live; i have no doubt that each and every one of you represented another new day in the last few years of my fathers life.  He will be missed heavily.

Rest in peace, Dad. I love you.

Ben Chapman III

P.S.  I have been very busy but when I get time this weekend I will post some family pics on this thread.  Thank you all for keeping his memory alive, especially Danny.  It means the everything to the whole family.

[gillboy13]

Here is a link to a story done in today's Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii largest newspaper) about my father.  God Bless.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/OBITS01/802220360/1187/OBITS01&GID=BDbibR4dtqMRwqn7fi9ovT8h3NZIms7ES90zLQPmC1E%3D

I hope the link works, if not just cut and paste.

Ben III

[MonsterArt]

If there was a Rondo category for "Best Thread On A Horror Message Board," this would win hands down!

Great shots, Danny. Such smiles.

Ben III, thank you for sharing Dad with us.

Frank

[Monsterama2000]

This thread is amazing! A wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. I met Ben a couple of times. The first time was at the FrightVision convention in Cleveland in 2004 where he signed this Creature poster for me.

The second time was at the Monster Bash in 2005.


Rest In Peace Gillman

[typhooforme]

Aloha Brothers and Sisters,

  I am so touched by the response from all of you, my father's friends and fans.  I gives me peace to know he has touched so many lives and is receiving so much love, honor, and respect in return.   About a year ago, his cardiologist told us (after looking at his cardiogram) that the only thing keeping him alive was his will to live; i have no doubt that each and every one of you represented another new day in the last few years of my fathers life.  He will be missed heavily.

Rest in peace, Dad. I love you.

Ben Chapman III

Ben, We can't thank you enough for your kind and immensely touching words--I found myself wiping my eyes yet once again while reading them.  Your dad was a dad (or uncle or grandpa) to so many of the fans, and most of all, he was a FRIEND to each and every man, woman and child who approached him.  Thanks to you and your family for sharing the grandest guy in the world with us.

[fmofmpls]

Thank you Ben for allowing us to share in your father's life. He was a wonderful man, and so many us enjoyed his presence at the various conventions. Always outgoing and ready to talk to anyone at anytime. He will be deeply missed.

[The Drunken Severed Head]

My thanks too; how nice to know our UMA circle of friends could share how we felt about your dad with his family.

I've rarely seen this same level of love for a celebrity before, or this amount of grief at one's passing-- but your father was so warm and funny and friendly with everyone who met him! He charmed everyone.

[The Phantom Creep]

Ben thanks for that link, what a great article.

[Mego73]

He was pretty much our last living Universal Monster RIP

I wish I was as lucky as some of you getting to meet and know him!

[azgillman]

What great posts. So many friends, so many memories. He knew how much he was loved, and he made sure each and every one of us knew of his love for us. He made time for EVERYONE. I witnessed first hand his kindness, generosity and professionalism at a handful of show in which he shared his table with me. In between pedaling my wares, I would give him a hand in pulling stills and gathering the rest of the package which consisted of his contract, "disclaimer" and "gilly bucks". I would get so frustrated watching the line grow behind him as he engaged in conversation with the person he was signing for. But that was his genius. When he was talking to you, you were all that mattered. He rushed no one, and no one was more "important" than another. He especially loved the little ones. They stole his heart and capture his imagination. It's no surprise how they took to him.

"Pop" was the consummate professional, a true entertainer. He was so relaxed in front of the camera and was always on his "A" game when in front of a crowd. Even when he was tired and sore, he would rise to the occasion, giving no indication he was in pain. He took the Gillman character so very seriously- as much as I and some of my cohorts and fellow comedians would do our best to desecrate it for the sake of a laugh. He felt the Gillman character was bigger than he was. But we knew better. He was the heart and sole of the character and brought to us, the human element. He made our relationship with the Gillman personal.

It cracked me up how he would leave his prop Hawaii 5-0 badge and ID on the dresser of whatever hotel room he was staying, to ward of any sticky fingered house keepers. He had the last laugh though when he went to depart for home a few days after being grounded during 9-11. He didn't have any ID on him, and was trying to board. He got on the flight using his prop badge and phony baloney ID! One time Roebuck and I were late picking him up from LAX. We called the airport to keep an eye out for him, but by the time we got there, he had made himself at home in the LAPD airport precinct. He had the entire squad in stitches, winning them over and adopting  "Uncle Benny" as their precinct mascot! And to think were worried about him. He was having coffee and donuts and had the entire room in the palm of his hand.

I'll think of him every time I eat a hamburger. He loved them. I could go on all day. It's crazy, the hodge-podge of emotion, grinning from ear to ear while having a lump in my throat and vision blurred by tears, all at once. That lump in my throat has been ,imgering for 4 days. It's like losing my dad all over again. Ben was my "other" dad, and I love him as such.

Thanks for enriching my life so much, pop and making my (our) world a better place. I can't help but think of a quote from the Wizard of Oz that goes something like, "Measure your heart NOT by the love you have for others, but by how much others have love for YOU." I know he took that love with him.

Aloha pop. See you on the other side.

My love and sympathy goes out to Merillee, Ben III and Grant.

[Mike Scott]

Great post, Johnny and great stories! Nice to see you here, even if under these circumstances.

The quote you were looking for is "A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others."

But another good one from the same scene is "Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable."