Oliver Bodnar In Unsolved Mysteries “Stahl Paintings”

On April 17, 1969, an unknown group of thieves broke into the museum through the fire door and stole the complete series of paintings.

The thieves were very methodical in the crime, removing the paintings tack by tack from their frames.

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings – Stations Of The Cross

14 Stations Of The Cross - Original Paintings By The Distinguished American Artist, Ben Stahl

I was in this episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the title was Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings. I was the “lead” thief who stole the paintings of Ben Stahl. Ben Stahl was an American painter with fifty national awards who created fifteen paintings depicting scenes of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

“Pilgrims in Jerusalem today still retrace Christ’s sorrowful journey to Calvary. This journey is also possible for those who cannot travel to Jerusalem, for in Catholic churches, fourteen ‘stations’ or stopping-places are marked, each commemorating an event in the Passion. Passing from station to station, the faithful look at the picture of the event, meditate on its meaning, and pray for the grace it suggests.

Even one who cannot make the ‘stations’ in a church can follow Christ in spirit by contemplating these scenes and meditating on the events they represent. Artists of all ages have pictured the Passion, but none of the Old Masters seems to have produced a distinguished and complete set of stations. A modern artist, Ben Stahl, therefore undertook to tell the story of Christ’s Passion.

After exhaustive personal research in Jerusalem, he dedicated himself completely to this supreme effort of his career. The result is the most authentic and moving series of stations ever painted. The accompanying prayers are adapted from the way of the Cross of Saint Alphonsus Liguori.”

Stations Of The Cross 1

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 1
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 1

Station 1: Jesus Is Condemned To Death“My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate, it was my sins that condemned Thee to die. I beseech Thee by the merits of this sorrowful journey to assist my soul in its journey towards eternity.”

Born in Chicago in 1910, Ben Stahl was introduced to the world of art by his grandmother. She took him on visits to the Chicago Art Institute and other galleries beginning when he was six years old and continuing until he was fifteen. After these adventures she would buy him oilcloth, brushes, and paints, and he would create “masterpieces” on the front porch of the family home.

Stations Of The Cross 2

Ben Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 2
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 2

Station 2: Jesus Made To Carry The Cross – “My most beloved Jesus, by the merits of the pain Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, give me the necessary help to carry my cross with perfect patience and resignation.”

Stahl also read voraciously, which did not translate into academic excellence. However, when he was in seventh grade, he received a scholarship to attend Saturday morning lectures at the Chicago Art Institute. He would spend his Saturday afternoons drawing live animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo and the stuffed variety at the Field Museum, honing his knowledge of animal anatomy.

Stations Of The Cross 3

Ben Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 3
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 3

Station 3: Jesus Falls The First Time – “My Beloved Jesus, it wasn’t the cross, but my sins that made Thee suffer so much, save me from the great misfortune of ever falling into mortal sin.”

After high school, Stahl got a job as an apprentice at a commercial art studio. One of the partners, realizing Stahl was ambitious and talented, encouraged him to draw and paint to create a portfolio. It was the contents of this portfolio that landed him a job at Chicago’s most prestigious art studio. During his time there and at other studios, plus a stint as a journalist for the Chicago Daily News, Stahl continued to develop a unique style, influenced by the Impressionists, which he felt would carry the mood and the emotional impact of commercial illustrations.

Stations Of The Cross 4

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 4
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 4

Station 4: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother“My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow of this meeting, grant me a devoted Love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my queen, obtain for me a tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son.”

Ironically, Stahl’s first assignment for The Saturday Evening Post was to illustrate a sea story – this for an artist who had never seen either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans! The editors liked his work, and there followed four years of marine-themed assignments. Eventually Stahl asked for a change, so his next assignment was set in the desert – which he had also never seen.

Stations Of The Cross 5

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 5
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 5

Station 5: The Cyrenean Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross “My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the cross, as the Cyrenean did. I accept it; I embrace it. I accept in particular the death destined for me. I unite it to Thy death; I offer it to Thee.”

He was being noticed, however, and eventually he decided to move to New York and become a freelance illustrator. He illustrated over 750 stories for the Post along with a number of other magazines, and he continued to explore new approaches in his easel painting.

Stations Of The Cross 6

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 6
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 6

Station 6: Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus“My Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before; but wounds and blood have disfigured it. My soul was also once beautiful; but my sins have disfigured it. Restore it, my Redeemer, to its former beauty”

In 1951, Stahl was commissioned to paint “The 14 Stations of the Cross” for a special edition Bible published in 1952 by the Catholic Press of Chicago. For this assignment Stahl spent over three months in Jerusalem making preliminary sketches and conducting extensive research before beginning the paintings.

Stations Of The Cross 7

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 7
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 7

Station 7: Jesus Falls The Second Time“My most gentle Jesus, how many times hast Thou Pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again. Oh, by the merits of this new fall, help me to persevere in Thy grace until death.”

These 45 x 34 inch oil on canvas paintings became part of the collection of the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1965, Stahl created another series of mural-sized Stations of the Cross which were housed in the Museum of the Cross, which he designed, in Sarasota, Florida. Four years later, all of the large 9 x 6 feet canvases were stolen – an art theft estimated at $1.5 million ($10 million when adjusted for inflation). The paintings were never recovered.

Stations Of The Cross 8

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 8
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 8

Station 8: Jesus Speaks To The Women Of Jerusalem“My Jesus, I weep for the sins I committed against Thee, because of the pains they have deserved, but more because of the displeasure they have caused Thee, who hast Loved me so much.”

On April 17, 1969, an unknown group of thieves broke into the museum through the fire door and stole the complete series of paintings. The paintings were not insured because of the exorbitant cost and the low probability of possible theft. 

Stations Of The Cross 9

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 9
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 9

Station 9: Jesus Falls A Third Time“My outraged Jesus, by the merits of Thy weakness going to Calvary, give me strength to conquer all human respect, and my wicked passions, which have led me to sin.”

The thieves also stole expensive crucifix jewelry from the display cases, yet left behind two very expensive Macintosh sound systems. The thieves were very methodical in the crime, removing the paintings tack by tack from their frames.
They were never caught, and it is now believed that the artworks could possibly be hidden away in some private collection away from public view, possibly without the owners knowing they are stolen.

Stations Of The Cross 10

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 10
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 10

Station 10: Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments“My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the painful torment Thou hast experienced, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my Love in Thee”

The statute of limitations ran out on the theft. Over the years, rumors have placed the paintings in the Bahamas, South America, Brazil, and different parts of the United States. Sadly, Ben passed away in 1987 without ever finding his paintings. Now, Ben Stahl’s children want to find the paintings to pay tribute to their father.

Stations Of The Cross 11

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 11
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 11

Station 11: Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross“My Jesus loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there, to Love Thee and never to quit Thee again. I Love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee.”

Suspects: No known suspects; police believe at least three people were involved. Witnesses recalled seeing a white van parked at the museum overnight, but no fingerprints were ever found inside, indicating the thieves were very experienced. Although the FBI became involved, their involvement was cursory, and they never kept a record of the stolen artworks.

Stations Of The Cross 12

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 12
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 12

Station 12: Jesus Dies On The Cross“My dear Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which Thou didst die for me. Thy death is my hope. By the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die embracing Thy feet and burning with Love for Thee.”

Six weeks after the theft, investigators received a tip from a man claiming to be a Catholic priest. He claimed that a man had approached him at his church, claiming to be one of the people that had stolen the paintings.The alleged thief demanded $1 million for the paintings. However, the lead did not pan out; the priest did not give his name and eventually stopped contacting investigators.

Stations Of The Cross 13

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 13
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 13

Station 13: Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross“Oh Mother of Sorrow, for the Love of this Son, accept me and pray for Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for me, permit me to Love Thee; I wish but Thee and nothing more.”

Robert Seinstream of the Seinstream Gallery in Boca Raton, Florida claimed to Stahl’s son, David, that he had seen the paintings in storage at the Museum of Fort Lauderdale, but this tip was never followed. The files on the original robbery investigation were reportedly lost in a fire at the sheriff’s department, but another source claimed they were lost by a flood. There are no records of either incident.

Stations Of The Cross 14

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 14
Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings, Stations Of The Cross 14

Station 14: Jesus Is Laid In The Sepulcher“My buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again on the third day. I beseech Thee by Thy resurrection, Jesus, let me rise glorious with Thee on the last day.”

Eventually, David Stahl was linked by a friend he knew to an informant who said the paintings were stolen by a figure known only as “Travis Rausch” aided by two other men. On his own, Stahl has been privately following every lead, but without the assistance of the Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, he is limited in the scope of his investigation. While the FBI sometimes dispose of unsolved cases, several retired FBI agents confide that disposal is not routine and should be suspect.

Extra Notes: This case originally ran on the April 7, 1993 episode. It was also covered on ABC News Primetime Live.

Results: Unsolved. Ben’s children are offering a reward for the safe return of his paintings. Since the statute of limitations has run out on the theft, anyone who might have unknowingly bought the stolen paintings will not face prosecution

Oliver Bodnar Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings – Stealing The Stations Of The Cross Paintings Scene

Oliver Bodnar Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings Stations Of The Cross

A Couple Other Oliver Bodnar Acting Clips

Melrose Place – No Strings Attached

Oliver Bodnar In Melrose Place No Strings
Oliver Bodnar On Melrose Place, No Strings Attached

I played a gas station attendant that helps Jake at the gas station.

Cause ‘N Defect

Oliver Bodnar As Wacko In Cause 'N Defect
Oliver Bodnar As Wacko In Cause ‘N Defect

Oliver Bodnar portraying the character “Wacko” in the movie “Cause ‘N Defect”. Wacko is a long haired homeless man in Los Angeles…yes, that hair is real!

Freddy’s Nightmares – Dust To Dust

Oliver Bodnar in Freddy's Nightmares Dust To Dust
Oliver Bodnar in Freddy’s Nightmares Dust To Dust

I was Freddy Krueger’s Double in A Nightmare On Elm St 5 The Dream Child and in the second season of Freddy’s Nightmares. They put me in two episodes. This one links to my scenes in Dust To Dust.

Peace, Love & Blessings To All!

Oliver

Oliver Bodnar In Freddy’s Nightmares – Dust To Dust

“The cool thing is, I have been a Freddy Krueger fan since the first movie, A Nightmare On Elm St, which came out in 1984, long before I moved to Hollywood.”

“A good example of how we “manifest” things in our lives.”

Oliver Bodnar & Robert “Dog” Thomas, AKA Zippy The Chimp

Oliver Bodnar and Robert "Dog" Thomas on the set of Freddy's Nightmares.
Oliver Bodnar and Robert “Dog” Thomas on the set of Freddy’s Nightmares.

Dust To Dust was the second episode of Freddy’s Nightmares that I was in, both done in the early 90’s. The first one I did was when I got into the Screen Actor’s Guild. I played a Gestapo officer and had one line, “Sieg Hile”. I’m still trying to find that clip, I don’t remember the name of the episode. If any of you Freddy fans know which episode it is, please let me know.

I keep thinking it’s “Dreams That Kill”. The photo to the left is from the set. You’ll recognize the man in the dress as Captain R. D. Thomas from the clip below. His name is Robert “Dog” Thomas, he was the Dolly Grip on the show. A great guy!!!

They asked Dog how he wanted to be listed in the credits and he said “Zippy The Chimp.” When you see him in the clip, you may hear me laughing…I forgot the screen recorder also picks up sound from the laptop mic.

Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger

The picture above is of me and “Zippy”, the day I got into S.A.G. The uniform was pretty authentic, as far as I could tell. Dog is in the dress because he was in that episode as well, in the same scene. I worked on the crew as well. Initially, I started as Freddy Krueger’s (Robert Englund) stand-in/double in A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child. Then when the second season of Freddy’s Nightmares started up, they called me to be his stand in/double for the season.

What’s A Dolly Grip?

Camera Dolly
Camera Dolly

Incase you’re wondering what a Dolly Grip does. He’s in charge of moving the Camera Dolly backward or forward, to follow the actors or some sort of event on a TV or movie set. This isn’t from Freddy’s Nightmares, it’s from some movie set. The guy in the back with his hands on the bar is the Dolly Grip.

That dolly looks homemade, but if it works, it works. The dolly that Dog operated on Freddy’s was more of a standard type of dolly, like the one below.

Professional Camera Dolly
Professional Camera Dolly

The cool thing is, I have been a Freddy Krueger fan since the first movie, A Nightmare On Elm St, which came out in 1984, long before I moved to Hollywood. A good example of how we “manifest” things in our lives. I used to have one of his Fedora’s that was used in a scene where he squeezes his head and green slime would come out. I think that was from the TV show, not the movie. I’m not sure what happened to it.

The first movie came out a little less than a year after I moved to California in 1983…I was 18 years old. Five years later, I moved to Hollywood to start my “Illustrious” acting career.

Christopher Lloyd Had Lunch With Me

Reverend Jim Ignatowski Christopher Lloyd
Reverend Jim Ignatowski Christopher Lloyd

On a different note, one of the coolest and funniest things that happened to me while in Hollywood, is when I was a bartender at The City restaurant before they moved downtown LA, I was working the lunch shift one day and in strolls Christopher Lloyd who played “Reverend Jim” on the TV show “Taxi” and he played “Doc” in the “Back To The Future” series. He came in and sat at the bar and proceeded to polish off a bottle of whiskey…I forget the brand, but it was good whiskey.

He started telling me about a movie he was working on in the San Fernando Valley somewhere. They were filming a night scene and completely wet the street down when all of a sudden this car comes speeding down the street and tries to make the corner, but because it was wet, they spun out and crashed…that was not part of the movie.

Right as he told me they crashed, he started laughing hysterically, which made me start laughing. That was a fun encounter…unfortunately, cell phones weren’t that common and were the size of cinder blocks, so I couldn’t take a selfie with Reverend Jim Ignatowski.

80’s Portable Phone

Motorola Portable Telephone
Motorola Portable Telephone; Circa 1989

I also worked on the pilot for 90210 and I remember one of the producers came on set with a “portable phone.” He had a strap on his shoulder so he could carry it like a bag…the thing was huge comparatively speaking to cell phones today. It was a huge battery pack with a normal phone receiver and cord.

A Nightmare On Elm St 5 The Dream Child

A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child Greta Dies Scene
A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child Greta Dies Scene

This photo is from The Dream Child movie, when Freddy is feeding Gretja her guts…it’s actually me doing it, they just dressed me the same, gave me the Freddy glove and I shoved that goo in her face.

Oliver Bodnar as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child
Oliver Bodnar as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child Credits Oliver Bodnar
A Nightmare On Elm St 5: The Dream Child Credits:
Oliver Bodnar

This shot is at the end of the movie when the souls are coming out of “Freddy’s” back. That was me as well. The set was really cool. The “sound stage” was on Venice blvd, above a U-Haul place…it was a U-Haul back then anyway; we shot it in 1989. We also shot at the old VA Hospital in Westwood, that’s where the shots for the Asylum hallways were done. This last shot is just of the credits of the movie.

Freddy’s Nightmares Dust To Dust

Martha Smith - Playing the character  "Babs" in Animal House
Martha Smith – Playing the
character “Babs” in Animal House

The clip below is from season 2 of Freddy’s Nightmares, the episode is “Dust To Dust”. Tony Dow who played Wally on “Leave It To Beaver” and Sandahl Bergman who was in “All That Jazz” & “Conan The Barbarian”. Martha Smith, who you might recognize as “Babs” from “Animal House” was also in it.

This was a great time in my life, I miss it, but my life got greater…even after my motorcycle accident. It’s good to Live Life!!

A Couple Other Oliver Bodnar Acting Clips

Melrose Place – No Strings Attached

Oliver Bodnar In Melrose Place No Strings
Oliver Bodnar In Melrose Place No Strings

I played a gas station attendant that helps Jake at the gas station.

Cause ‘N Defect

Oliver Bodnar as Wacko in Cause'n Defect
Oliver Bodnar as Wacko in Cause’n Defect

Oliver Bodnar portraying the character “Wacko” in the movie “Cause ‘N Defect”. Wacko is a long haired homeless man in Los Angeles…yes, that hair is real!

Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings

Oliver Bodnar in Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings
Oliver Bodnar in Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings

I was in this episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the title was Unsolved Mysteries Stahl Paintings. I was the “lead” thief who stole the paintings of Ben Stahl. Ben Stahl was an American painter with fifty national awards who created fifteen paintings depicting scenes of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Please, Love &Blessings To All!

Oliver