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Sun Sets on the 40th Annual Superman Celebration
by Neil Cole
The Superman Super Site recently traveled to Metropolis, IL for the 40th Annual Superman Celebration which featured four exciting days of festivities, entertainment, and all things Superman.
This year marked our 11th straight trip to the event which kicked off with an opening ceremony on Thursday, June 7th featuring a welcome speech by Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel, the return of the always popular opening skit, and a moment of silence in memory of actress Margot Kidder who passed away last month.
Other first day activities included music under the main tent featuring the Ball Brothers Gospel Quartet, carnival rides, opportunities to visit both the Super Museum & the Americana Hollywood Museum, as well as a special tribute film about Margot Kidder and a screening of "Superman: The Movie".
Friday, June 8th was the first full day of the celebration and saw the arrival of celebrity guests Aaron Smolinski (Baby Clark Kent - "Superman: The Movie"), Jack O'Halloran (Non - "Superman: The Movie" & "Superman: II"), Ilya Salkind (Executive Producer - "Superman: The Movie", "Superman: II", & "Superman: III"), and John Haymes Newton (Superboy/Clark Kent - "Superboy" TV Series - Season One).
Festival attendees also came out once again in large numbers to attend our 9th Annual Superman Super Site Meet & Greet at the always popular Metropolis restaurant, Fat Edd's Roadhouse. A great time was had by all with door prizes including DVD's & Blurays, movie posters, collectible statues, and various contributions from area merchants.
The always popular Artists Alley & Writers Way was once again packed with extremely talented guests including professional film animator Philo Barnhart ("Super Friends"), artist Alex Saviuk ("Superman", "Green Lantern", "The Flash"), comic artist Art Baltazar ("Tiny Titans", "Superman Family Adventures"), Peter Poplaski ("Superman: The Dailies") and writer/editor Michael Eury ("The Krypton Companion).
Other Friday events included a "Superboy- The TV Series" 30th Anniversary Screening, a Superman vs Batman Tug of War, Metro Rock n Retro rock band and classic video game competition, and a 80 Year Celebration Dance Party to close out the days festivities.
Saturday is always the biggest day of the celebration and this year was certainly no different. Fans lined up at various autograph session to meet Brandon Routh (Superman/Clark Kent - "Superman Returns"), Blake Ritson (Brainiac - "Krypton"), and Shaun Sipos (Adam Strange - "Krypton").
Routh was making his second journey to the celebration while both Riston and Sipos were attending for the first time. All three actors were an absolute joy to meet and, in addition to their autograph sessions, huge crowds turned out for a chance to take photos of the three at the world famous 15-foot-tall Superman Statue and see them at two separate and highly entertaining Q&A events under the Metropolis Tent.
Other day-three events included the "Save the Massac Benefit Auction", two screenings of the "Supermen: World War" fan film starring actors Kevin Caliber, Kerri Miller, Scott Michael Dunn, & Charles Soffer, and a Superman Generations 80th Anniversary Photo Shoot which featured various costumes from the Man of Steel's 80 year history. Capping off the day's festivities was a very entertaining concert by extremely talented singer Jamie Kelley.
Sunday was, sadly, the final day of the celebration and kicked off with the annual Rotary Club Car Show at Fort Massac and a "Superfriends of Metropolis" group photo-op at the Superman statue. Next up was Superman Super Site contributing reporter Chris Brockow's popular "Stump the Superman Expert" contest at the main Metropolis Tent which offered the large crowd in attendance the opportunity to win various prizes by answering Superman trivia questions.
The contest was followed shortly thereafter by the always popular MSC Heroes & Villains: Costume & Character Contest which featured numerous fans dressing as their favorite comic book, movie, television, and sci-fi related characters. As opposed to prior years, all contestants competed against each other instead of in separate categories and were awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place.
The celebration officially ended with a closing ceremony at the Superman Statue including "thank-you's" to everyone who had attended the festival and an invitation to return next year.
So ends another wonderfully exciting year of the annual Superman Celebration and thus begins the official count down to next years 41st festival which will take place June 6th - 9th, 2019. Two things are for certain, it will definitely be just as entertaining as all prior celebrations and the Superman Super Site will be there once again for our 12th straight year!
