2012 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

August 21, 2012: Smallville SuperFest Celebrates the Values of the "Man of Steel"

Smallville SuperFest 2012 Reported by Kimberley Kelly

One look down Main Street in Plano, Illinois, and a stranger to the town would understand Warner Brothers choice for the newest "Smallville, Kansas". Plano is full of friendly people with a strong sense of community pride and the town is set to be a star. "Man of Steel", the next re-incarnation of the Superman story (opening in 2013) will have two blocks of the Plano Main Street portraying the boyhood home of the world's most recognized superhero. Plano Mayor Bob Hausel highlighted the reason Plano was chosen in his opening ceremony speech. "The true Superman spirit lives in the people of Plano - Truth, Justice and the American Way," Mayor Hausel explains. One walk down the two blocks used in filming and the people of Plano will prove to the world he is right.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 The 3-day festival began Friday, August 17, 2012 with an opening ceremony featuring a Color Guard provided by the Plano American Legion, followed by local singer Samantha Tischhause invoking true American pride in all the attendees with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The Inaugural Smallville Superfest was not endorsed by Warner Brothers or DC Comics but that did not stop them from celebrating the values of Superman. Hometown heroes were chosen from 7th and 8th grade students and honored. The ceremony continued by recognizing the people who took part as extras in the film. Sworn to secrecy, all the extras were surprised at the process of film-making and happy to have participated. Vendors were on hand with all types of collectibles and goodies for anyone who loved various superheroes, with a noticeable favoritism to the Man of Steel. Pieces of various sets used during filming were on display in the "Smallville Town Hall", a building the people of Plano know best as the local Amtrak station. The building's surrounding parking lots transformed into a busy thoroughfare of festival attendees. One only needed to walk down the street to find remnants of the August 2011 film shoot that makes their town unique. Business windows still held fictional names like "Smallville Land Surveyors" and "The Hydrant Internet Café". The side of a building still held a painted American flag with the tag "Welcome to Smallville", and a comic book store created for the movie was rented by CMOS owner/curator Jamie Reigle for the duration of the festival to allow festival patrons to get a feel of a real set. Friday night was topped off with appearances by Clark Kent and Lana Lang (portrayed by Charlee Chartrand and Colleen Egan) and various bands adorned the main stage, playing all types of music to entertain the festival.

Smallville SuperFest 2012 Saturday, August 18, 2012, started with the addition of a kid's area with bounce houses and face- painting. Children were airbrushed in one area with various Superman emblems and where wooshed down Main Street on a Super Zipline. Once again, Superman impersonator Charlee Chartrand brought the Superman theme home by portraying Superboy for the children, while Colleen Egan as Lana Lang stood by his side. One could eat a variety of festival foods, including the ever popular funnel cake. The flow of the patrons continued steadily through the entire day and lasted long into the evening. Saturday evenings live entertainment made it an enjoyable night in "Smallville".

Smallville SuperFest 2012 Sunday, August 19, 2012 began with a 5K run/walk benefit to honor Andrew Kuebrich, a Plano resident who had recently lost his life during an accident, and a pancake breakfast put on by the Plano Fire Department. Church services were performed on the Main Stage, followed by more time to browse the various venues used as sets. Plano's townsfolk provided a Super Parade, in which Superboy and Lana Lang (portrayed by Charlee Chartrand and Colleen Egan) led the processional of local businesses and farm equipment down the "Smallville" Main Street. Volunteers, who raised the $10,000 budget for the festival, were recognized during closing ceremonies for the never-ending energy put into making the festival a success. Superman Homepage member Jamie Reigle, friend to Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's family, read a statement prepared by Siegel's daughter Laura to end the festival. In the statement, Jerry's daughter admits the world needs Superman just as much today as when her father and his childhood friend Joe Shuster created Superman in the 30's. "Thank you," Laura says to the people of Plano, "for creating a place where people can be inspired and recapture their sense of wonder."

Smallville SuperFest 2012 Superman may have been born on Krypton but his upbringing in Smallville established the values that make him the ultimate Superhero. All the participants upheld those values in the atmosphere created during the festival. Local vendor Biker's Beef owner Cheryl Struck summed it up in one sentence. "The atmosphere and people were a lot of fun", Struck said Sunday afternoon. The festival did not need the endorsements of Warner Brothers and DC Comics to celebrate what Superman stands for. Next year's festival promises to be more "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" for all who choose to attend!



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