Jim Hambrick, R.I.P.

Above, Jim Hambrick in his younger days. Photo from the Super Museum Facebook page.

Sad news arrived before I left for Christmas in Lake Havasu. 

Super Museum founder Jim Hambrick passed away Sunday at age 70.

According to WPSD:

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Longtime Superman collector and founder of the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Jim Hambrick died on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 70 years old. But his family and community members say his lasting impact will survive for decades to come.

Hambrick died from heart complications after suffering a heart attack in 2016. His daughter, Morgan Siebert, said since his heart attack in 2016, Hambrick grew weaker. However, she said running the museum improved his morale, and it gave him purpose to keep it open for travelers and the Metropolis community. 

Hambrick grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Metropolis in March 1993. His passion for Superman and collecting started when he received his first Superman lunch box at 5-years-old. Siebert said over the years, he became interested in buying comic books and collectibles. When Hambrick reached 19-years-old, he was known as the world's famous Superman collector.

Hambrick's favorite portrayal of Superman is by actor George Reeves.

Above, the Super Museum in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited the Super Museum in 2016 when I attended Noel Neill's memorial service in Metropolis, Illinois.

Above, the Kirk Alyn autographed photo I obtained at Hambrick's
exhibit at Chapman College. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I first met Hambrick around 1982 when he had a traveling Superman memorabilia show, which included an authentic George Reeves Superman costume, at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange County, California. With Hambrick was the original live-action Superman actor, Kirk Alyn. I obtained Alyn's autograph at the exhibit. This was before his move to Metropolis and the founding of the Super Museum.

Above, a George Reeves color Superman costume
at the Super Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

His passing is a big loss to Superman fandom. Thanks to his family, the museum will continue.

To read more, go here.

Book: "With Thanks To Superman"

Today, I finished reading Brian McKernan's new book, With Thanks To Superman (The Parrville Press, ISBN: 979-8-218-05811-1). Actually, the full title is With Thanks To Superman: 40 Years of Interviews, Reports, and Observations. That is exactly what the book contains.

As the introduction of the book states: Just what the world needs right now: Another Superman book. But this one's different.

Let's start with the cover. It has author McKernan with a Superman statue with an outer space background. The face on the Superman figure looks more like Mr. Spock from Star Trek (the ears even look kind of pointy due to the lighting) than Superman. So if one wonders what Leonard Nimoy would look like as Superman, this'll give one a good idea. 

As I said, the book is quite a bit different than other Superman books. It is essentially a fan's "memoirs" of being a Superman fan who attended celebrations, seminars and conducted interviews with stars such as Christopher Reeve, Gerard Christopher and Bob Holiday and collected some Man of Steel related memorabilia. 

Above, yours truly after finishing the book.

In case one has lived in a vacuum over the past 40 years, Christopher Reeve appeared as Superman in four feature movies, Gerard Christopher appeared as Superboy in a syndicated television series and Bob Holiday appeared as Superman in a Broadway musical. 

The book takes a look at several incarnations of Superman (or Superboy) over the years. Along with those, it also looks at how Superman appeared in advertising. The music of Superman gets spotlighted.

The "Golden Anniversary of Superman" in 1988 gets a chapter as does the CBS television special celebrating that anniversary. (I wasn't happy with that special as it was too campy.)

Events celebrating the Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves includes one for the premiere of the show by Nick At Night as well as the 2014 Superman Celebration that included a plaque dedication in Tarzana and a big luncheon in Los Angeles among others. (Yours truly appears in text and photo on pages 146-147.)

The book also focuses on prominent fans who have promoted Superman over the years such as Jim Hambrick, Jim Nolt, Jim Bowers, Fred Shay and others. 

With Thanks To Superman is an enjoyable read for fellow Superman fans. Yes, it's another Superman book, but it is different than the others and would fit in quite nicely with the others in one's collection.

My grade: A.

With Thanks To Superman is available at Amazon ($15.00 paperback).

Chapman College and the Super Museum

Above, the Kirk Alyn autograph I obtained at Chapman College in the 1980s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before Jim Hambrick opened the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois, in 1993, he had a "traveling Superman exhibit" where he would display some items in his vast Superman collection at different venues. According to Roadside America, Hambrick started collecting Superman memorabilia in 1959. 

By chance, I saw a blurb in a newspaper (this was around 1984, give or take, and before the Internet) that said a collection of Superman memorabilia would be shown at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange County, California.

Above, the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I had nothing going on at the time, I headed down to Chapman College to check it out. As reported, Hambrick had some interesting Superman memorabilia, including a moth-eaten (in some spots) wool Superman color costume worn by George Reeves.

At the exhibit, the first screen Superman, Kirk Alyn was there to meet fans and sign autographs. Alyn had a cameo appearance (with the first screen Lois Lane, Noel Neill) in the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie. I obtained a photo of him as Superman and had him autograph it for me. 

Above, a George Reeves color Superman costume on
display at the Super Museum Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2016, I went to Metropolis, Illinois, touted as the "Hometown of Superman" to attend the memorial service for Noel Neill. I stayed at Fort Massac State Park campground, which is on the outskirts of town on the Ohio River. 

While in Metropolis, I toured the Super Museum Hambrick opened at Superman Square, which features a giant statue of the Man of Steel. It is an impressive museum and one that is worth a trek to. It has just about every Superman relic and collectible one could image along with Supergirl and others. 

Above, yours truly with the Superman statue in Superman Square in Metropolis, Illinois.

If anyone is even remotely interested in Superman or of television, movie or comic book history, the Super Museum is a great place to visit. It also has a gift shop.

The official website for the Super Museum is accessible by going here.

Trekking To Metropolis

Above, Noel Neill and Armand at the TV Land Convention in Burbank.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be heading out for the trek to Metropolis, Illinois for the celebration of life memorial service for the original Lois Lane, Noel Neill.

I'll be driving there in The Beast along with Sierra.

It will be a leisurely trip with stops along the way (and the way back home). I will be posting the trip's progress (campground Wi-Fi permitting as they are notoriously poor).

I will be meeting up with many friends in Metropolis, including:

* Brad Shey.

* Jim Nolt of Lancaster, PA, editor of The Adventures Continue.
Website: jimnolt.com

* Jim Bowers of Las Vegas, Nevada: editor of the website CapedWonder.com.

* Steve Younis, Sydney, Australia, (video contribution), editor of the website: supermanhomepage.com.

* Larry Blankley of Granite City, Illinois.

* John Field of San Diego, CA (video contribution).

* Lisa Gower & Karla Ogle of the Metropolis, Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

* Terry Ryan of Sydney, Australia.

* Stephanie Perrin of Romeo, Michigan.

* Angie Sivori of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

* Larry Thomas Ward of Tucson, AZ, author of Truth, Justice, & The American Way: The Life & Times of Noel Neill, and Beyond Lois Lane.

Of course, while in Metropolis, I will be touring Jim Hambrick's Super Museum.

I don't know when I will be departing Metropolis for Memphis. That depends if there's anything planned for Sunday or not. 

Days Away To Metropolis

It looks like I'll be heading off to Metropolis, Illinois for Noel Neill's celebration of life memorial this coming Sunday or Monday. I'm leaning towards a Sunday departure.

This will give me plenty of time to get there for the November 5 memorial and, also, to makes some tourist stops along the way. I have a preliminary list of stops here. I'll probably stop at other places along the way, if they look interesting.

This looks to be the longest solo (along with my cat Sierra) trip since I drove around the Four Corners area of Southwest United States back in the 1980s. This time, I'll be a lot more comfortable with The Beast.

The weather along the route (mainly Interstate 40) looks to be on the warm side, but that can always change. I will monitor my Weather Channel app on my cell phone and the U.S. weather channels on my citizens band radio. That will also come in hand for traffic and road condition reports.

I am looking to arriving in Metropolis on November 3 or 4 so I can visit the Super Museum and visit with other early arrival friends. Thanks goodness there is a state park with campground in Metropolis, so I'll be staying there. Jim Hambrick of the Super Museum in Metropolis gave me the tip on that.

Fort Massac State Park In Metropolis

Above, The Beast is poised to go to Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to Jim Hambrick, owner/operator of the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois, I know where I'll be staying while in town.

I asked Jim if there's any place to "boondock" in Metropolis and he suggested the Fort Massac State Park instead, which is not too far from the Super Museum and has a campground with electrical hook-ups.

According to Reserve America:

Dedicated the first Illinois state park in 1908 and overlooking the Ohio River at Metropolis Illinois, this park has a military history predating the Revolutionary War. 1802 reconstructed fort, statue of George Rogers Clark, museum and visitor center.

It looks to be an interesting place to camp The Beast at.

Road Trip To Metropolis?

With the announcement that there will be a memorial celebration of the life of actress Noel Neill in Metropolis, Illinois, I am considering attending.

I have always wanted to go to Metropolis to see the Super Museum of Jim Hambrick, that plus the memorial celebration is a good reason to go.

Instead of flying, I am thinking on taking a road-trip there in The Beast. Metropolis is 1,908 miles from Los Angeles (roughly a 28 hour drive). The route would mainly be on Interstates 40 and 44.

This route will take me through Springfield, Illinois, the hometown and where the tomb of President Abraham Lincoln is located. That would also be a good stop to make en route. On the way back, I can head south to Memphis, Tennessee. I was planning a trip to Memphis in the spring, but since I would be in the area...

Above, Noel Neill and yours truly at the TV Land Convention.

Going in The Beast would also solve another thing, I would not have to find a motel room in Metropolis or some town nearby. I can stay in The Beast in town.

I don't relish doing this long a drive solo, but I can take my time with plenty of stops and confine my driving to around 300 miles/day. That would make it a six-day drive at that pace.

Election Day is the following Tuesday, but I can vote absentee before going. That would take care of that problem.

I'll check with the Automobile Club of Southern California and get a TripTik from them.

Super-stuff From The Super Museum

Jim Hambrick, who operates the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois, has unveiled a newly-designed website, Supermanstuff.com, offering Superman-related goods the the Superman fan in your family.

According to Supermanstuff.com:

We are located at 517 Market Street at the Super Museum across from the Superman Statue in Metropolis, Illinois. Everyday hundreds of families and other Superman fans stop in the Super Museum to see the world's largest collection of Superman on the planet.

Jim Hambrick has been an avid fan and collector of Superman since the age of 6. After years of living in southern California Jim took his museum on the road. He traveled all across the country, even bringing along stars like Kirk Alyn, the original Superman, to sign autographs with his traveling museum.

After years of showing his collection, Jim heard about Metropolis, Illinois and began building relationships with local businessmen to build a Superman theme park. Although the park never was built, Jim continues to bring his genuine love of Superman to daily life in Metropolis.

Don’t believe me? You can see us on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Today Show, The O’Reilly Factor, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many other television shows. Don’t forget to stop next time you’re in Southern Illinois and we’ll make sure you get the SUPER treatment.

I saw Hambrick's traveling show back in the early 1980s at Chapman College in Orange County, California. I obtained an autographed photo from Kirk Alyn, the silver screen's first Superman, which still hangs on my wall.

At Supermanstuff.com, one may purchase a wide gamut of items including t-shirts, beach towels, DVDs, stationery, posters, action figures, auto accessories, books and many other Superman goods.

Every June, Metropolis puts on its annual Superman Celebration, a weekend festival featuring actors and actresses from Superman movies and television shows.

To view Supermanstuff.com and make purchases, go here.

Lois Lane Statue Boosts Tourism

Above, the Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue unveiling. Photo courtesy of Bill Dillane.

The new Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue is paying off in increased tourism to Metropolis, Illinois.

According to the Superman Super Site:

METROPOLIS, Ill. — The sculpted image of actress Noel Neill in her fictional role of Superman romantic interest Lois Lane is having a very real effect on tourism.

“During the height of the summer tourism season, before kids were back in school, we were getting anywhere from 25 to 40 people a day in here asking where the Lois Lane statue is,” said merchant Jim Hambrick.

The statue was unveiled and dedicated last June in a ceremony in which Noel Neill participated.

To read the full article, go here.