Thursday, October 8, 2015

The New Mexico Museum of Space honors George Pal


http://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/community/2015/10/06/new-mexico-museum-space-history/73415724/

Last weekend, the New Mexico Museum of Space inducted five visionary filmmakers into its Space Hall of Fame: George Melies, Fritz Lang, George Lucas, Walt Disney, and George Pal. All of these men helped popularize the idea of spaceflight and make it a reality or helped make science fiction a popular and profitable movie genre. I was honored to accept Mr. Pal's award on behalf of his family, and to read an essay by Mr. Pal himself. The keynote speaker was Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, whose own speech coincidentally dovetailed perfectly with Mr. Pal's.

My authorized biography of Mr. Pal is nearing completion. My research for it included interviewing over sixty of Pal's co-workers, family members, and fans in the movie industry. The Pal family has given me unparalleled support and access to Pal's papers and this will be the definitive work on his life and films.