A Superman Theme Park...With Plenty of Parking.

"Things began to happen in the quiet river town. Almost overnight, 'Metropolis' became a nationwide word."

– from The Amazing World of Superman

As we saw yesterday, Action Comics #210 (1955) was DC Comics' not-so-subtle attempt to plant the seeds for Supermanland, their bid to capitalize on the success of a little place out in California called "Disneyland". As it turned out, no serious plans resulted from the story.  That is...until early 1972.

Since its founding in 1839, the town of Metropolis, Illinois had seen plenty of economic ups and downs. Following a brief flourish of activity in the 1950's, the civic leaders of Metropolis once again found themselves searching for new ways to revive their towns' sagging fortunes. When someone realized Metropolis shared the same name as Superman's mythic home, things finally seemed to be coming together.  After getting the blessing of DC Comics, an ambitious multi-phase plan was devised...with its fourth and final phase being "the possible development of a Superman Land". 

Kicking off phase one on January 21st, 1972, Superman Day brought DC Comics publisher Carmine Infantino, unnamed "national dignitaries", and "Superman" himself to Metropolis to celebrate his new designation as a Distinguished Son of Metropolis. Even the public schools were closed for the day!

 

A standing ovation for a (somewhat chubby) Superman, as portrayed by 

Rev. Charles Chandler (who was wearing the actual Superman costume

 worn by George Reeves on the Adventures of Superman TV series).

At one point, illustrator Neal Adams was commissioned to create concept drawings for the proposed Superman Land, now called The Amazing World of Superman. Let's take a look (click on the drawings for a larger view):

Now, that IS one impressive front entrance...and note how Superman's cape melds into the red roof surrounding the park (must be that "infinitely stretchy cape" of that era's Superman).

Upon entering the park, the first section visitors would tour was Smallville, Home of Superboy. Adults and older kids could walk Main Street and tour the Kent home, while "very young children can be left at Bizarro Playground, where everything works in reverse" (an anti-gravity slide?).

 

 

Like the 1955 Supermanland story, this park also included a simulated rocket ride to Krypton.

At the other end of the park, visitors would enter a clear plastic walkway leading to Superman's Fortress of Solitude....

Entering through the keyhole, visitors would see giant statues of Jor-El and Lara, as well as "moving replicas of alien beasts" in the Interplanetary Zoo (and security guards wearing Superman costumes).

Another Fortress display would have featured Superman's Rogues Gallery (all five of 'em).

Other features of the theme park included a movie theatre, skating rink, "craft shops", an unusually large first aid station, a hotel, and a supermarket (get it? "super" market?).

Unfortunately, The Amazing World of Superman would never get farther than the concept stage.  Why?  Well, let's take a closer look at one of the drawings for a telling clue:

 

That's right, as symbolized by this lonely pair of cars in the endless expanse of parking lot, the gasoline crisis of the early 70's dramatically impacted tourism throughout the country....leaving many families unable to afford the long drive to play in the Bizarro Playground and shop for groceries in the Amazing World of Superman supermarket.

However, the people of Metropolis have continued their commitment to the Man of Steel by hosting an annual Superman Celebration each summer. Sure, there's no rocket ride to Krypton, giant Fortress Key, or Interplanetary Zoo....but one aspect of both the 1955 and 1972 park concepts DID manage to become a reality...

UPDATE: My pal Rich informed me that today is the day the 2008 Superman Celebration kicks off in Metropolis! I know I linked to their website above, but I honestly didn't catch the date at the time. Wow....maybe I was being guided by the Spirit of Superman!

To everyone in Metropolis: Have a great time celebrating 70 years of Superman! I sure wish I could've been there this year (and I will get there some day), but I guess my Superman@70 month will be my small contribution the big celebration!

Comments

[Rich]

This year's Superman Celebration in Metropolis starts today, actually. My folks live near there and I hoped to go, but it's not in the cards this year.

Had no idea plans for the theme park were ever that far along.

[Mark Engblom]

Oh, no WAY, Rich! I honestly did not realize the Superman Celebration kicked off today....spooky! I'm being controlled by the spirit of Superman!

I'll add that little fact as an update. Whew. Weird.

[Kyle]

Wow, yet another great Superman fact/story that I knew nothing about. Your "Superman@70" posts are revealing my ignorance-of-steel, I'm afraid. Keep it coming!

I have to admit that while I'm not sure how they'd pull some of that park off, it sure looks cool! I'd have paid to go (or at the very least nagged my mom nonstop for quite a few years for us to take a family vacation to Illinois). Also can't believe I'd never heard of the annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL. I wonder if I'll have any better luck on the wife than I would have on my mom 30 years ago...

"Honey, I've just had a GREAT idea for next year's summer vacation!"

[Mark Engblom]

Having looked through the list of events at the Superman Celebration, it's clear it's small town America at its best (or "worst" depending on your point of view). Having been raised in a fairly small town, I can appreciate the low-wattage events and modest presentation and find them endearing. Others may not be so charitable...especially if they're veterans of, say, the San Diego Comic Con. The Superman Celebration definitely isn't the Comic Con, but in many ways, that's a good thing. What it lacks in polish, the Superman Celebration makes up for in heart.

Me? I just want to see Jim Hambrick's collection of Superman memorabilia, which (as I understand) only shows a fraction of the whole collection at any given time (it's rotated each year for veteran Celebration tourists). Again, it's no Smithsonian, but the raw enthusiasm for the character transends the limitations of the environment.

There are a number of other things to do in that part of the country, so I would definitely like to get down there within the next five years (most likely "flying solo").

[Rich]

Did you see the closing event?

5:00 Attempt at Guinness World Record
“Most People dressed as Superman”

I hope there are lots of cameras on hand. That sounds fascinating and hilarious.

I'm missing out on Allison Mack?! D'oh!

[suedenim]

Where did those theme park drawings appear? I vaguely remember seeing a big map of a Superman theme park in my youth (maybe in a Superman Treasury Edition?), but I think it might have been a *different* park/layout.
Though the "moving sidewalk to the Fortress entrance" does ring a bell in my youthful memory.

[Mark Engblom]

suedenim-

The drawings appeared in the treasury-sized Limited Collector's Edition C31 (1974) (click on the link for a cover image and more info). It's a fantastic cover painting, by the way...although Superman's face in that painting has always reminded me of a young Ronald Reagan (which is weird no matter what your political outlook may be).

[suedenim]

The link's not working, but I googled the cover OK. Yeah, that's the one I had, and it is a gorgeous cover, especially treasury-sized. That might have been my first Superman comic, actually....

[De]

Hi Mark,

I love your blog and came via a recommendation from Siskoid. Superman month has been nothing short of awesome so far.

I know I'm late to the party regarding Metropolis, but I've been there. During August 1995, I traveled via Greyhound bus to Paducah, Kentucky where I took a cab over the bridge to Metropolis, Illinois. It's a very small town, which would probably resemble Smallville if it were located in Kansas.

Hambrick's Superman Museum was quite interesting. How he managed to snag props from Lois & Clark (which was still running at the time), I'll never know. But the sheer amount of memorabilia displayed was positively mind-blowing.

I'd love to go again, but convincing the missus might be a bit of a challenge.

[Mark Engblom]

Hi, De! Glad to hear you like the blog and that you're enjoying Superman month. It's been fun for me, too.

Thanks for the insights into Metropolis. As I've mentioned, I plan to go there someday, and it's good to know ahead of time that it's a pretty small town. With expectations properly in check, I think it could be a good time...especially Hambrick's museum.