Pat Bilon in Jersey; E.T. visits The Weekly (01/16/83)

Pat Bilon in Jersey

E.T. visits The Weekly

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - E.T. paid a social visit to The Ukrainian Weekly editorial offices here in the UNA Building on Wednesday, January 5, and while there met with the Ukrainian National Association's supreme executive officers, Svoboda editors and Svoboda Press employees.

E.T., the human model, that is, (as The Weekly readers know well) is 2-foot-10-inch Pat Bilon, a 35-year-old Ukrainian from Youngstown, Ohio.

Since Pat and his father Michael were out East visiting with friends in nearby Perth Amboy, N.J., the two, accompanied by their long-time friend and fellow League of Ukrainian Catholics activist William Lehman, stopped by Jersey City.

Wearing what he said was a "one-of-a-kind" jacket with E.T. emblazoned across the back, and his first name on the front, Pat revealed some good news about Steven Spielberg's sequel to the box-office smash, "E.T." Yes, Pat Bilon will once again play E.T. in the 50 pound, $1.5 million alien outfit. Filming of the movie is currently scheduled to begin sometime in 1984.

Pat also told The Weekly that it was he who appeared in E.T. garb on Atari's commercial for the new E.T. video game as well as on the "E.T. and Friends" television special with Robbin Williams. He will appear on the Cleveland area's "Dave Patterson Show" on January 25.

His agent is working on some other roles and some TV work, Pat said, adding that he also has to make himself available to Universal Studios, which released "E.T.," for promotional work.

Asked if his life had changed in any way since his E.T. role, Pat quickly replied: "I don't get a chance to eat or sleep anymore; I've lost my privacy."

Indeed this is true, for while visiting with Mr. Lehman and his brother Ted Labuza in Perth Amboy for several days during the week following New Year's Day, Pat was interviewed by at least three New Jersey newspapers - The Star-Ledger, News Tribune and Jersey Journal, appeared on WABC-TV's local news program, received the key to the city of Perth Amboy and was hounded by autograph seekers in Atlantic City.

After arriving in Perth Amboy on Tuesday, January 4, he was interviewed at the Lehman home by The Star-Ledger. The News Tribune, too, covered E.T.'s visit to Perth Amboy. The next day he paid a surprise visit to the pupils - kindergarten through grade 8 - of the Assumption Ukrainian Catholic School in Perth Amboy. He was escorted by the Assumption Church's pastor, the Rev. Roman Dubitsky, and taken to all the classrooms, where the children were allowed to pose questions. This visit was covered by a WABC news crew headed by New Jersey correspondent Gloria Rojas.

Then it was on to Perth Amboy City Hall - with a police escort, no less - where Mayor George Otlowski presented Pat with the key to the city.

The Weekly stopover was next on the agenda.

The purpose of the Bilons' visit, as we later found out, was to thank The Weekly editor Roma Sochan Hadzewycz for writing "The real E.T." story that appeared in the paper on July 11, 1982, by presenting her with a pair of ceramic figurines of Ukrainian dancers. The figurines, designed by Michael Bilon, are among the items sold in the Bilons' Youngstown gift shop, which is called Petrush's Ukrainian Arts.

Incidentally, Pat and Michael Bilon revealed that it was their family friend, Mr. Lehman, who had persuaded the Bilons to tell the story of the real E.T. to The Weekly. (Thank you, Mr. Lehman.)

While at the UNA Building, Pat was interviewed over the phone by the Jersey Journal, and the newspaper sent a photographer to capture E.T. at the UNA on film.

The next day the newspaper carried a photo of Pat and Michael Bilon meeting with UNA Supreme President John O. Flis.

Of course, E.T.'s visit to the UNA Building would not have been complete if employees had not had the chance to obtain autographs from Pat, pose for photos for their scrapbooks, and get to meet this extraordinary Ukrainian American in person.

The following day the Bilons traveled to the casinos of Atlantic City, N.J., for some recreation. There, too, Pat was welcomed by autograph seekers and, as a result, was provided with a personal security guard.

Speaking with The Weekly several days later, Pat's mother Esther said, "now Pat needs a vacation from his vacation."

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