When I was 12, besides writing to George Pal, I also wrote to Ray. Besides 7th Voyage, I had seen Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, and The Three Worlds of Guliver. Those movies were already influencing many children to be movie directors.

Director John Landis said:

“I saw The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in Westwood when I was eight. I was really excited about it. I went home and asked my mother, 'Who makes movies?' She answered, 'The Director.' That’s when I made up my mind to make movies."   

Two years before 7th Voyage, I saw ‘The Making of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ on Disneyland TV. That's when I decided to make movies. And Ray’s movies kept me excited to continue with my dream.   

I sent a fan letter to Ray addressed in care of Columbia Studios, Hollywood, Ca. I figured I’d never hear from him. But a month later, I received a flat 10X12 carboard envelope.

Inside was a letter from Ray’s secretary and an 8X10 photo montage of Ray’s movies with him in the center.

Click above photo to make it big.

The secretary thanked me for my letter and said, “Here’s a photo that has shots of Ray’s movies.” I was excited for weeks. I carefully protected the letter and photo.

Years later, I befriended Kerwin Mathews, who played Sinbad in Ray’s movie. I hired Kerwin for the opening narration of my movie Ninjabusters and visited him over the years. At one point I showed him Ray’s photo. “What a nice thing for Ray to do for his fans,” Kerwin said.

Forty years later, I went to The Hollywood Collectors Show with my dad and went to Ray’s table. I first asked Ray if he remembered the name of his secretary before showing him the letter. He didn’t. 

Then I showed Ray the letter. But he still didn't recall her. Next, I showed him the photo in perfect condition and told him what Kerwin said about ‘nice of Ray to do that for his fans’.

Ray showed it to his friend who was with him. I had Ray sign it and then I selected a photo of the skeleton fight from Jason and the Argonauts from him table for him to sign as well. My dad knew that skeleton scene and I told him that it took three months for Ray to complete it.

I also told Ray, "That Medusa scene in Clash of the Titans is a masterpiece of not only animation, but lighting and dramatic staging."

"Thank you," Ray said. "I enjoyed working on that sequence.

After saying good-bye, I took the photo to Michael Callan’s table. I had hired him to work on one of my audiobooks and pointed out that he was in one of the photos of the montage. The one where he is attacked by a giant bee in Mysterious Island.

It was a wonderful time to finally meet Ray. I told him the same thing I told George Pal: “You made a 12-year-old boy very happy with that photo.”