2012 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

August 21, 2012: Smallville SuperFest Photos from Plano, Illinois

Superman fan Mike Staley attended the "Smallville SuperFest" in Plano, Illinois on Sunday, August 19 and sent us the following information and photos.

    I met with Jim Martens, the Event Director of the Smallville SuperFest, and he personally gave me a tour of the festival, showing me some of the props left behind from filming of "Man of Steel".

    The photo of the building with the American Flag. In the bottom corner it says "Welcome To Smallville". Apparently those words were added to the flag after production and will not appear in the film. That side of the building, I'm told, is normally used for billboard space, and according to Jim Martens, "someone" has been paying the owner of that building to leave the flag up.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois

    There were several raffles held, and two of the items to be raffled were extremely sought after. One was a teaser poster for the movie that was sent to the town recently, autographed by director Zack Snyder. Second was a bicycle that was purchased by actress Diane Lane, who used the bike to get around town during production. After filming, she donated the bike to the town.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois

    Many of the stores in town have left up the phony window dressings that were set up by the film crew, including "town hall", which is in reality, a train depot. If you look at older photographs from filming, you will remember that a phony "Sears" store was built. That phony store is obviously gone now, but in the movie a train will crash right through it.

    Aaron Smolinski, who played baby Kal-El in "Superman: The Movie", also sent several autographed pictures to the town to be raffled off.

    Inside the train depot, that will serve as the Town Hall in the movie, they had the walls covered in pictures from filming, news articles, and alternate designs for the SuperFest logo. They also had several of the phony store signs left from production, along with foam rubber rocks, and a couple of chunks of styrofoam bricks (which I believe were left over from a scene where Superman is knocked through a bank wall). Interesting note, the original shot of Henry Cavill in the costume, in front of the bank vault, was shot in Plano on the bank set.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois

    The day capped off with the Smallville Parade, with Superman himself (portrayed by Charlee Chartrand) leading the way. There was perfect weather for all three days of the festival, and I'm told it was an incredible success, with thousands of visitors every day. Jim Martens hinted that the town does plan on making this an annual event, which they hope to make even bigger next year.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois

    It's not as big as the annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL but it was a really fun event, and it was great to see SO MANY Superman fans turn out for it.

Mike Staley

Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois
Smallville SuperFest 2012 in Plano, Illinois

Gregory Zonsius captured the following video of Plano's Mayor, Bob Hausler openning the Zipline ride during the "Smallville SuperFest".



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