By Lou Koza

A true fact: For more than thirty years Jan Alan Henderson has been researching the life of George Reeves.

A native of Los Angeles, California, Jan has had a front row seat to the everyday world of Hollywood studios and stars. To most of the country, the world for that matter, the magic of movies and television is a fascinating place and many are attracted to it for various reasons. To Jan this fascinating part of the country is really, nothing to get all excited about. It’s just home. To Jan, it wasn't unusual for him to catch glimpses of Jimmy Stewart at Sunday church services, or see Steve McQueen or Nick Adams whiz by in their sports cars or just about any film star going about their everyday business. In reality, growing up in the Hollywood Hills was in simple terms, a playground for Jan in his youth.

It should be noted, Jan holds a unique tie to The Adventures of Superman, the 50's television show. Jan is the Godson to Cecil Elliot, better known to TV Superman fans as Elsa, the wheel chair bound woman in the 1951 episode The Evil Three. That may qualify Jan as being a unique fan of TAoS. For any other fan, this would be considered a position of high honor. But the real honor is the unique relationship Jan had with Elsa who he considers to be a wonderful endearing lady.

Jan’s knowledge of Hollywood can be attributed to his many personal experiences and becoming friends with many creative talents throughout the film and music industry. Jan’s expertise is widespread, reaching many areas of the entertainment world. As a result it was only natural Jan would someday be a major influence in preserving the history of George Reeves and the most famous television show of all time. Jan’s work has graced the issues of FilmFax, American Cinematographer and Cult Movies magazine. All three of these magazines worked with Jan to produce dozens of articles, most notably related to George Reeves and The Adventures of Superman. Whether the article leaned heavily on George’s life, effects of the television show or the untimely death of George, Jan would soon combined all the efforts in one calling.

In 1995, Cult Movies published Jan’s work titled George Reeves, the Man, the Myth, the Mystery. Jan’s issue received cover recognition and in fact the cover itself was designed by the very talented, legendary Storyteller / Illustrator, Mr. Dave Stevens. Mr. Stevens is best known for his creation of the popular comic book Rocketeer, turned motion picture. Almost four years later, a more defined, in-depth version of his Cult Movies article appeared in softbound book form, published by Michael Bifulco, another long time fan of George Reeves. It should be noted, Jan has from time to time lent his thoughts and ideas to Jim Nolt’s fan magazine The Adventures Continue. It would be here that Jan would take the stand to protect George’s good name against those who published misguided information. Jan of course is very much into keeping the facts straight.

Speeding Bullet: The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves immediately won the hearts of many fans as the definitive story version of George’s life and the events leading to his mysterious death. Going to great lengths to speak to key individuals, Jan brought many ground breaking facts and information to the forefront. His efforts paid off, shedding light on why so many facets of George’s death looked more like a cover up than a suicide. Once and for all, a reader could get all the facts in one volume and walk away with a greater understanding of the many complications this case holds.

By late 1999, Jan had participated as an expert in an A&E Biography segment titled George Reeves: The Perils of a Superhero. When asked by the interviewer why would someone want to have George killed? Jan would respond, "That’s the $64,000.00 question! Basically, If one could answer that question, one would have solved the case. And we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it."

By the turn of the century, not only did A&E Broadcast their segment, but a friendship was born. Jan and long time George Reeves fan Steve Randisi together agreed to embark on a project that would eventually be published by Michael Bifulco, titled, Behind the Crimson Cape: The Cinema of George Reeves. With the assistance of their respected wives (let’s give credit where credit is due) they worked long hours over a five year period to bring great detailed information of each of George’s theatric releases, including his Superman work. It is a volume of work even Mr. Reeves would have welcomed as a definitive retrospect of his own overall work. It is this work that would someday meld him into a role he is forever most famous for, Superman. Superman and George Reeves would become synonymous. When you thought of Superman you thought of George Reeves and vice versa. The only element missing from the book is Mr. Reeves himself, who sadly is not with us to contribute his own anecdotes and appreciate the work placed before him.

For this, it is our honor to include Jan Alan Henderson into the George Reeves Hall of Fame.

Credits include:

Film Fax No. 11, dated July 1988: The Life and Times of Honest George, the People’s Friend, AKA Col. Reeves.

Film Fax No. 13, Dated Sept. 1988: Director Lee Sholem Interviewed.

American Cinematographer No. 10, Dated Oct. 1991: Still Super After All These Years.

Cult Movies No. 14, Dated June 1995: George Reeves: The Man, The Myth, The Mystery.

Bifulco Publishing, Dated March 1999: Speeding Bullet: The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves.

Film Fax No. 101, Dated March 2004: Noel Neill: The First Lady of Metropolis.

Bifulco Publishing, Dated July 2005: Behind the Crimson Cape: The Cinema of George Reeves.

Bifulco Publishing, Dated December 2006: Speeding Bullet: The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves. Second Edition.