Superman Homepage

2009 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

Noel Neill Statue Design

June 6, 2009: Breaking Ground for the Noel Neill Statue

Noel Neill to be honored with statue; Groundbreaking is June 11 in Metropolis

The Metropolis Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce that it will hold a ground breaking ceremony for a statue of Noel Neill at the beginning of the Superman Celebration. Neill is well known for her portrayal of Lois Lane in the memorable television series, The Adventures of Superman.

Neill, also known as "The First Lady of Metropolis,' has been a frequent guest of the Superman Celebration. "Noel has been such a wonderful promoter and supporter of the City of Metropolis, that the Chamber wants to honor her with statue," said Clyde Wills, chairman of the statue project. "It will be a life-size bronze likeness of her and will be located just down the street from our famous Superman statue," he added.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be a part of the opening day of the 31st annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois. The ground breaking will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Eighth and Market streets. Neill will be present for the ceremony as well as Mayor Billy McDaniel and other local officials.

The statue idea was presented to Neil as a gift during her 85th birthday party celebration in California a couple years ago. The statue will feature a pedestal that will be constructed of engraved bricks, similar to the Superman Statue. Personalized bricks for the statue may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office. Cost of the bricks will be $75 each. Wills hopes that the statue will be completed and in place for next year's Superman Celebration.

Though she first played Lois Lane in the 1948 movie serial, Superman, with Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill is best known for playing the iconic character on television in The Adventures of Superman with legendary actor George Reeves from 1953 to 1957. So identified is she with this role, that her portrayal of the "girl reporter" set the standard for all Lois Lanes yet to come.

Neill has continued to appear in Superman related productions. She played Lois Lane's mother in a cameo for the 1978 film Superman, with Kirk Alyn as Lois' father. In an episode of the TV series Superboy she appeared alongside her former cast-mate Jack Larson, who had played Jimmy Olsen on TV. Her personal appearance at the Metropolis Superman Celebration was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. As "Aunt Lois" she has a guest appearance in the independent superhero film Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes, and she plays the role of dying widow Gertrude Vanderworth in Superman Returns (2006).

For more information about the Noel Neil statue project, contact the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce at 800-949-5740. A complete schedule of events for the Superman Celebration can be found at www.supermancelebration.net.


2009 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News

Listed below are all the Merchandise & Miscellaneous News items archived for 2009.

Back to the News Archive Contents page.

Back to the Latest News page.

DISCLAIMER: SUPERMAN and all related elements are the property of DC Comics. TM & © 2024

This Superman Homepage is Copyright © Steven Younis 1994-2024
All Rights Reserved

Dedicated to Andrew J Gould - the original keeper of the Superman Homepage!

Since May 2001, the address is www.SupermanHomepage.com

Our Privacy Policy.