This pair of unassuming tortoiseshell eyeglasses in the style of our favourite mild-mannered Daily Planet journalist was recently discovered by SuperFan Alexei Lambley-Steel –
Closer inspection reveals the familiar crest of his famous alter-ego on the arms and fine print confirming DC Comics endorsement in the year of the release for Superman: The Movie. I can find no other record of this product anywhere nor any other tie-in for eyewear related to the movies so this find is pretty unique…
Fans all over the world recently said a fond farewell to another one of its national treasures. You can read all about Ms. York’s incredible life and career here but to many she will always be remembered as Lara – Wife of Jor-El and Mother of Kal-El in Superman: The Movie, Superman II and Superman IV: the Quest For Peace.
With her role unexpectedly expanded thanks to Marlon Brando’s refusal to appear, her reassuring and sensitive appearance coaching her son in matters of the heart was one of the highlights of Superman II.
The autograph above was obtained for me in person by my good friend Steve Cambden while Ms. York was appearing in a play in London in the mid-2000’s and is a gift very much like the lady herself…
Relics from a bygone pre-Multiplex age when lobby cards adorned walls and merchandise from the Blockbuster of the week would be available in the lobbies of ‘A Cinema near you.’
From the top – UK programme, US Cardbacked Brochure, The Merit Publications Warner Bros. Superman Special (not strictly a programme but nonetheless some of the best imagery and synopses from the movie available to this day!!) and Die-Cut Cast & Crew card, all splendid examples of Cinema as an event…
With the licence for Christopher Reeve’s likeness finally available to toy companies and in great anticipation of Hot Toys reveal of the long-awaited tribute to the classic Superman Movies, shown above is the best action figure representation to date. 100% handmade using cast parts from various 1/6 figure bodies topped with an all-original headsculpt, US artist Kristopher Meadows first submitted his prototype (pictured top) for a custom figure competition in the pages of Tomart’s Action Figure Digest in the mid-nineties. Based on euphoric fan reaction Kris then produced a VERY limited run for a few lucky collectors. From the screen-accurate costume fabric to the real leather boots, this custom has a quality unsurpassed by many of today’s offerings having been produced by a passionate fan with considerable care and attention. Christopher Reeve himself would endorse the artist in the years before his passing by having one of Meadows portraits hanging from the wall of his office…
Exclusive to the UK and released in 1988, Superman; The Collection was one of the first VHS boxsets made available by Warner Bros. under the Hollywood Nites banner.
Assembled from the second run of individually released titles and repackaged as The Superheroes collection (to include Salkind productions Supergirl and Santa Claus: The Movie) the set was limited and expensive (see above ad from the Woolworths Christmas catalogue) at the time and therefore a rarity today.
Contained in a handsome box utilising elements of the shield graphic from Superman: the Movie and Daniel Goozee’s poster art for Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, its interesting to note how many production companies were tied into the distribution deals (WB/Weintraub/Cannon/Hollywood Nites) before Warner’s regained full ownership of the rights in 1993. It would literally be decades before advances in technology would permit them to revisit the titles once again for a more definitive boxset in DVD format…
