 Steve
Randisi
By Lou Koza
Steve
Randisi acquired an eclectic taste for good film and television at
the incredible age of five. Many programs that are now revered as
classics, such as The Adventures of Superman, were still in
their first run when Steve was growing up in South Philly. He
continued to watch a lot of TV in his early teens (“perhaps too
much,” he admits) and would frequently write fan letters to some of
his favorite stars: Moe Howard and Larry Fine of The Three Stooges;
various members of the Little Rascals troupe; Carol Burnett;
and even the legendary Joan Crawford. “In those days, they would
take the time to answer a letter from a kid,” he fondly recalls.
As a young adult,
Steve began collecting vintage movie posters and photos – things
considered junk at the time, but now regarded as priceless
memorabilia. He joined several film groups, notably Sons of the
Desert, the international Laurel and Hardy appreciation
society. Always an avid writer, he penned and edited the newsletter
for the group’s Philadelphia chapter and served as its president
from 1981 to 1985. As a result of these activities, Steve was
fortunate to meet and interview such luminaries as pioneer producer
Hal Roach; Penny “Blondie” Singleton; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; Gale
Storm; and Lita Grey Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin’s second wife).
In 1996, Steve
presented the Sons’ Entertainer of the Year Award to Jack Larson.
As a young man, Jack was also an admirer of Laurel and Hardy, and
his appearance at the Sons’ annual banquet conclave was an
outstanding success. Before completing his tenure with the Sons,
Steve was called upon to present awards to several show business
legends, including Merv Griffin (The Variety Club Telethon,
1985) and George Burns (An Evening with George Burns,
1987).
Anyone familiar with the genre magazines may recognize Steve’s name
from his numerous articles, or from his photographic contributions
to other authors’ books. In 1997 he contributed The Autograph
World of Superman to the popular magazine Autograph Collector.
But his best remembered work can be found in the November 1998 issue
of Outre magazine: “Jack Larson, TV’s Jimmy Olsen, Speaks
His Mind.” Pictured on the cover of this issue is a stunning
portrait of Jack and George Reeves (in costume as Superman, of
course) by the noted artist Harley Brown. The article was so
popular that it was reprinted in the March 2004 issue of Filmfax
Plus, along with Jan Alan Henderson’s excellent interview with
Noel Neill. It was during his association with Filmfax that Steve
met and became friends with Jan.
 Steve will tell you (and
tell you and tell
you) that George Reeves spawned his life-long interest in the Superman
comic books. (This is evidenced by his letter to the Metropolis Mailbag
in the March 1971 issue of Superman.) And his interest in the actor
extends well beyond the Superman TV series. He never missed George’s
movies whenever they were broadcast on local stations or on the various
cable channels. His favorite Reeves films are: Always a Bride
(1940); Ladies Must Live (1940); So Proudly We Hail
(1943); Jungle Goddess (1948); and The Blue Gardenia
(1953). Jan felt the same way about these movies, so it was no surprise
when the two writers decided to collaborate on a project that would
finally pay tribute to George’s work in film.
In 2004, it was announced
that their book, Behind the Crimson Cape: The Cinema of George Reeves
would soon be released. The project required several years of research
and necessitated the screening of every Reeves film still in existence.
Filled with copious illustrations, Crimson Cape defines George’s
checkered career on the silver screen. It describes, in meticulous
detail, George’s appearances in both A and B films; his supporting roles
in major epics (Gone With the Wind; Blood and Sand; Samson and
Delilah); and all of his seldom seen programmers, short subjects,
and single serial effort (The Adventures of Sir Galahad). Even
his army training films are given equal time!
Like countless other
Reeves devotees, Steve often wonders what George’s life and career might
have been like if the actor had lived beyond 1959. He feels proud to
have co-authored the book which was published by Michael Bifulco in July
2005.
In view of these
accomplishments, it is our honor to include Steve Randisi in the George
Reeves Hall of Fame.
Relevant credits:
AUTOGRAPH COLLECTOR;
Volume 6, No. 1, January 1997: “The Autograph World of Superman.”
FILMFAX PRESENTS OUTRE;
Number 14, November 1998: “Jack Larson, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olson,
Speaks His Mind.”
SAVING GEORGE REEVES; No.
2, 2004: Contributed the epilog to Lou Koza’s second disc compilation.
FILMFAX PLUS; Number 101,
March 2004: Reprint of “Jack Larson, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Speaks
His Mind.”
BEHIND THE CRIMSON CAPE;
THE CINEMA OF GEORGE REEVES; Co-authored with Jan Alan Henderson;
published by Michael Bifulco, July 2005.
 If
you have anyone you would like to nominate,
you can
write us at
carlesglass@aol.com
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