Headline: OLD
FANS VISIT THIS METROPOLIS FOR A SUPER TIME
Reporter: By Gregory Freeman
Publication: ST.
LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Tue., Jun. 11, 1996
Section: WAR PAGE, Page: 9B, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT
THE FIRST DEFINITION
of "metropolis" in the American Heritage Dictionary is: "A major
city, especially the chief city of a country or region."
The
second definition is: "A city or an urban area regarded as the center of
a specific activity."
Neither accurately
describes this town near the southernmost tip of Illinois, about 165 miles southeast
of St. Louis.
Most
of the time, this town of four stop signs and a population of 7,200 is a quiet
place, distinguished by the casino riverboat owned by Merv Griffin that floats
along the shores of the Ohio River.
But
once a year, Metropolis holds its annual Superman Celebration.
And
that's what brought me here.
Longtime readers
of this column know that I've been a Superman fan ever since I first saw George
Reeves on TV in a Superman costume.
While
my love for Lassie, the Lone Ranger and Dennis the Menace has long passed, there's
still a little boy in me who loves Superman.
So
it was perhaps inevitable that that little boy and Metropolis would someday
meet.
"Someday"
came over the weekend. My colleague, Bill Smith, is another Superman fan, and
he and I dragged our families with us to see Metropolis.
For those of you
who don't get the connection between Superman and Metropolis, Metropolis was
the city where Superman lived, labored and loved. A fictional city, it resembled
New York in many ways.
Metropolis,
Ill., doesn't look much like New York, but its residents don't care. It's the
only city named Metropolis in the United States, and they've taken full advantage
of it. Since 1979, Metropolis has been the site of the Superman Celebration.
A
huge billboard of Superman, telling us that this was Superman's home, welcomed
us to Metropolis. His visage, in fact, appears on several signs in town, not
to mention buildings and special lights strung for the celebration.
The
biggest regular attraction here is a 15-foot statue of Superman that watches
over Metropolis from the courthouse square.
The biggest special
attraction this weekend was Jack Larson. Larson, 63, portrayed cub reporter
Jimmy Olsen in "The Adventures of Superman, " which originally aired
from 1951-1957.
Larson,
who feels that his acting career was stymied by the role, has stayed away from
Superman conventions and the like.
But he attended the celebration over the weekend to help raise funds
for the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California-Irvine.
The "Reeve" is as in actor Christopher Reeve, who played the movie
Superman.
The
center is a new one dedicated to spinal cord injury research. The center will
get a $1 million grant from philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith, but only if other
donations to the center reach $2 million.
With
an auction of Superman memorabilia and other items, plus various items signed
by Larson, about $12,500 was raised for the center over the weekend. That included
a donation of $5,000 by Larson.
The celebration
draws people from all over the United States. A small but dedicated band of
out-of-towners showed up, buying posters, coffee mugs, comic books, T-shirts
and other items.
I'm
the new owner of a blue T-shirt with the Superman emblem and the words, "Metropolis,
home of Superman."
We checked out
the Super Museum, a must-see for any real fan of the Man of Steel. Owner Jim
Hambrick has been a collector of Superman memorabilia for years, and his museum
includes such items as an original costume worn by Reeves in the old TV show
and Kryptonian "energy crystals" used in the first Superman movie
- not to mention classic books, movie posters, photos, early toys, board games
and more.
Despite
the out-of-towners, the celebration maintained its small-town flavor with a
main street closed to traffic for the sale of arts and crafts, all sorts of
things to eat (what are pork puffs, anyway?) and sidewalk sales. Saturday was
rounded out by an impressive fireworks display.
We
skipped several of the activities, including the "Clark Kent-Lois Lane
Pool Tournament, " the "Super Dog Contest" and the "Little
Miss Supergirl and Mr. Superboy Pageant."
We
did catch part of the "Super Strength Arm Wresting Competition, "
though. Neither Bill nor I wanted to show anyone up, so we just watched.
Some readers may
think I'm a bit old to still be following Superman. But I figure it's better
than chasing women, drinking or some other vice.
Superman's
brought me pleasure over the years. And, just like in the comic books, it looks
like he's done a lot for Metropolis.
Those who would like to contribute to the spinal cord injury research center can send checks to: UCI Reeve-Irvine Research Center, Suite 490, Berkeley Place, Irvine, Calif., 92717-5605 [Note: may no longer be the correct address for contributions, check website].
Gregory Freeman's column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday... <deleted>
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