June 7th-9th at Planet Krypton
Admission: Free
Coming to Metropolis for an exclusive Illinois engagement is the travelling exhibition of cartoon art called “One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages.” This exhibit, presented in conjunction with the Superman Celebration, features the original art of over 100 different syndicated comic strips and panels, and has visited sixteen states since September 2010. Aside from the extraordinary, unprecedented participation of so many cartoonists, what makes this show so unique is the fact that each and every comic spotlighted was published in newspapers across North America on the same Sunday!
This celebration of the wild variety of cartoon entertainment available in newspapers every day brings together in one place examples of virtually every American strip and panel currently being published, from the longest-running (like “Katzenjammer Kids” and “Gasoline Alley”) to those just recently launched (like “Dustin” and “Brewster Rockit: Space Guy”). Attendees at this year’s Superman Celebration can see the art of their favorites features, be introduced to comics they‘ve never read, and re-introduced to characters they may not have seen in awhile, all while enjoying the wide diversity of styles, themes and genres of “the funny pages!”
The 2013 Superman Celebration has been chosen as the only venue in Illinois to host “One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages,” and this delightful exhibit will only be on display in Metropolis June 7-9!
Friday, June 7th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 8th at 5:00 PM
Baymont Inn Theatre- 203 East Front Street
Admission: Adults- $6, Children (under 12)- $4
Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, June 6th, Friday, June 7th, and Saturday, June 8th- or at the door 30 minutes before the performance.
The Metropolis Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes Keith Howard to the 35th Annual Superman Celebration for a live production of the classic "Adventures of Superman" episode, "The Perils of Superman."
Mr. Howard is known across the country as the "George Reeves Superman" because of his love for the iconic Superman character as portrayed by George Reeves on the popular 1950's television series.
Following the highly successful 2012 production of the "Lucy Meets Superman" episode of "I Love Lucy", Mr. Howard will bring to life the "Perils of Superman" episode of the "Adventures of Superman" in front of a capacity crowd at the Baymont Inn Theatre on Friday, June 7th at 3:00 PM. There will also be an encore performance on Saturday, June 8th at 5:00 PM.
Mr. Howard not only wrote the production's script and built & painted the sets & props, but will also direct and star as Superman in the performance. The production will also feature the acting talents of Ashley Bayles as Lois Lane, Alex Rinaldi as Jimmy Olsen, Joseph Rinaldi as Lead Masked Villain No. 1, Brandon Whitmore as Lead Masked Villain No. 2, Janine Rinaldi as Perry White's Secretary, Kevin Whitmore as Perry White, John Rinaldi as Inspector Henderson, and Juliann Rinaldi as Detective #2.
Honored guests from the "Adventures of Superman" tv series will also be in attendance during the Friday, June 7th performance and include Laurie Mitchell Roberts and Gregory Moffett who had guest roles in the episodes "The Man Who Made Dreams Come True" and "The Stolen Elephant", respectively.
"The Perils of Superman" episode originally aired on April 21, 1958 and starred George Reeves as Superman/Clark Kent, Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen, Noel Neill as Lois Lane, John Hamilton as Perry White, Robert Shayne as Inspector Henderson, Michael Fox as Lead Masked Villain No. 1, and Steve Mitchell as Lead Masked Villain No. 2.
The live production performance will feature many memorable scenes from the classic episode such as Superman saving Perry White from meeting his demise at a remote sawmill, Superman swooping in to save Lois Lane who is tied to a railroad track just seconds before a speeding train arrives, and Jimmy Olsen's car going out of control and off the cliff of a mountain road where Superman saves him as he clings to the face of the cliff.
Click here for a map and directions to the Baymont Inn Theatre.
Saturday, June 8th from 10 AM until 6 PM
Admission: Free
A super occasion calls for a super cake, and we've invited Eric and Patty Woller from MeMe's Cake Studio of Homer, Illinois to create a cake worthy of the Man of Steel to help us celebrate 75 years of Superman.
Eric and Patty, both featured on TLC's Ultimate Cake-Off and Food Network's Challenge, will demonstrate the art of sculpting and decorating a giant cake for this year's Celebration. The public is invited to stop in throughout the day to watch the Wollers in action at Pizza & Dots, located on Superman Square.
To learn more about Eric and Patty Woller, click here.
Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th From 6:00 AM until 9:00 AM In front of the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce
Once again, the Save the Massac Theatre Committee will be selling Mayor Billy's Famous Breakfast Sandwiches, coffee, and juice for fans who are standing in line to get their autograph session tickets. If you're standing in line, we'll come to you bright and early for breakfast! All proceeds go the to restore the Massac Theatre.
For more information on the Massac Theatre and the Save the Massac Theatre Committee, click here.
Sunday June 9th at 3:00 PM at the Superman Statue
Sign-In for Event: 12:00 PM to 2:45 PM at Tent Beside Superman Statue
Metropolis will attempt to bring back a Guinness World Record this year on June 9th. During the 35th Superman Celebration, organizers will once again encourage Superman fans from all over to meet at the Superman Statue to break the record for the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Superman. The Guinness World Record was set by 122 people in 2008 during the 30th Superman Celebration. In August 2010, Goodman Masson, UK’s largest independent financial recruitment company broke the record with 180 people. The title changed hands again when a group of 437 employees with Nexen Inc. located in Calgary Alberta of Canada broke the record for the second time since being set by the Metropolis group.
With Superman standing for Truth, Justice, and the American Way, organizers of the popular festival want to bring the Guinness World Record for The Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Superman back to the United States and more importantly to Metropolis Home of Superman!
Men, Women & Children of all ages are invited to participate in the attempt to be held on Sunday, June 9 around the Superman Statue at Superman Square located in Metropolis Illinois. The attempt will take place at 3:00 and according to the requirements for a Guinness World Record, participants must stand in place for 10 minutes. The attempt must be documented with a roster, photos, video & witnesses in order to be confirmed as a successful record. Participants must be in a full licensed Superman costume. Check-in will start at 12:00pm. (Fan-made costumes are acceptable as long as they contain all of the required design elements. Please see the note below.)
Each participant will receive a certificate of participation and awards will be given to the largest group or organization to participate, the oldest participant, the youngest participant, the largest family represented and the participant that traveled the furthest.
PLEASE NOTE: The costume requirements for participating in this event are as follows:
Any costume must have the blue body suit, the red and yellow "S" shield on the chest, the yellow belt, the red cape, red boots, and the red trunks. Guinness has given us no indication that other costume variations set forth in the comics, films, or books other than the Classic Superman version or the "Superman Returns" version are considered acceptable, so- to be safe- we are limiting it to these two costume styles only. The Rubies-brand Classic Superman and Superman Returns costumes are considered acceptable as they are officially licensed. Fan-made costumes are acceptable as long as they meet the criteria listed above.
Sunday, June 9th at 1:00 PM AT THE METRO TENT
Costume parade begins at 12:30 PM
Entry Fee: $25
New and Improved for 2013!
The competition is always fierce, and the best contestant will walk away with $1000! This year, we've made some changes to our usual format to make the contest more exciting:
There will be new changes in the $1000 Costume Contest at the 35th annual Superman Celebration. Contestants will still enter as individuals or as a group, but will not be separated into categories. All contestants will compete against each other and will be scored by guest judges using a point system with a total possible score of 30 points:
- 10 Points: COSTUME- Accuracy, workmanship, and fit.
- 10 Points: CHARACTER- Does the person know the character and become the character?
- 10 Points: OVERALL STAGE PRESENCE- Overall impression. Does the person work the stage and connect with the audience?
The contestants with the top 10 scores will return to the stage to compete for the top prize. Each will get one more chance to wow the judges. Old scores will be thrown out and contestants will be judged on this final appearance. The the judges' sheets will be tallied and the winners will be announced:
- First Place: $1000
- Second Place: $500
- Third Place: $250
- Fourth Place: $100
- The remaining Top-Ten contestants will receive a prize basket
PLEASE NOTE:
Only hand-held props will be allowed. No set pieces will be allowed on the stage.
Music may be used, but must be operated by contestant or assistant off stage. A Superman Celebration Sound Technician will not be available to run music for individual contestants.
Ages for $1000 Costume Contest will be 15 and up. (Contestants must be 15 by the day of the contest. Children under 15 may participate in the Children's Costume Contest held on Friday, June 7th at 4:00 PM at the Smallville Tent.)
For the safety of contestants, if any costume is bulky, uses stilts, or poses a risk when using stairs to enter stage, that contestant may be asked to present themselves in front of the stage.
Crowd favorite:
As soon as contestant has signed in and has received their number, they may walk around & encourage fans to vote for them as the crowd favorite. One ticket equals one vote and tickets are $1 each. The voter must write name & number of their favorite contestant on back of ticket. They may vote as many times as they like. Voting will continue throughout contest. At the end of the contest, Crowd Favorite will be decided by popular vote. Then, one lucky ticket will be drawn at random for a 50/50 drawing of the money received from the voting. The fan with the matching ticket will win ½ of the money raised.
At 12:30, there will be a parade of contestants down Market street to the Man of Steel Tent area and then return to the Metro Tent for the start of the contest.
Saturday, June 8th- 8:00 PM until ?
At Planet Krypton
Admission: Free
A special year deserves a special celebration!
Grab your formal wear, your superhero costume, or whatever special creation you can come up with to wear, because we have a special night in store for you! The Metropolis Smallville Prom will feature a DJ to play your requests and disco lighting to help you shake your groove thing. Plus, we'll be adding a special geek-chic flair to the evening by seeking out the most creative couple of the evening to crown king and queen of the prom!
Visit our Metropolis Smallville Prom Facebook Page today to make your music requests in advance!
Admission: Free
Seating is limited and is on a first-come basis.
Join us for the 2013 Superman Celebration Fan Film Awards, where we'll be presenting the best entries from the Sixth Annual Competition. Three winners will walk away with awards for the Best Drama, Best Comedy, and the Best Animated Feature or Trailer. And one special filmmaker will win the coveted "Crowd Favorite" Award, where you, the audience, will vote for your favorite film by purchasing votes and get a chance to enter a drawing to split the total prize money collected with the winning filmmaker! It will be an afternoon of excitement and entertainment for all ages!
At the Man Of Steel Area
Thursday, June 6th and Friday, June 7th at 9:00 PM
And Saturday, June 8th at 9:00 PM
Admission: Free
Note: Space is limited and is on a first-come basis. Seating begins at 8:30. The films begin after dark.
This year Superman Celebration is pleased to bring back outdoor movie showings of some of your favorite Superman movies and TV Shows! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab a snack and a drink from the vendors on Market Street, kick back, and enjoy the evening air as we present the following entertainment:
Thursday, June 6th and Saturday, June 8th- 8:30 PM
Superman: The Movie
Friday, June 7th at 8:30 PM
Episodes of
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN:
"The Man Who Made Dreams Come True"
Starring Laurie Mitchell Roberts
"The Stolen Elephant"
Starring Gregory Moffett
"The Perils of Superman"
In case of rain, Thursday's and Friday's showings will be moved inside Planet Krypton. Saturday's showing will be canceled in case of rain.
Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th at 2:00 PM at the Superman Statue
Cost: $20
(Certificates can be purchased at the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce- 607 Market Street)
Superman Fans will have the chance to become "Honorary Citizens of Metropolis" during this year's Superman Celebration. Citizenship certificates will be available for purchase for $20 each at the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce during the Celebration.
Owners of these certificates will have the chance to stand at the Superman Statue and be "sworn in" by Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel. "We think that our fans will love the opportunity to be officially sworn in" said Celebration Co-Chairperson Karla Ogle. She says that she is sure that many fans will want to frame their certificates and display them in their homes or add them to their collections.
