The featured lot in this years Planet Hollywood Online Auction represents a bittersweet full-circle moment for CapedwonderEurope – indeed, Lot 585 is of great sentimental (and now monetary!) value, being a screen-used Superman costume and the first I saw up close in reality.
When I first encountered this breath-taking display in the late 90’s in the Orlando Downtown Disney Planet Hollywood, I was bemused even then how the costume had been suspended from the restaurant ceiling with no apparent means of conservation. Though the outfit appeared to be in great condition, with the floorplan beneath my concern was how vulnerable it may have been to popping champagne corks and airborne spaghetti. What I should have been more concerned about, however, was a threat to the costume’s integrity that couldn’t be seen – dreaded UV rays.
On a later visit to this holiest of grails in 2002, while I might have been happier the suit had been relocated and was now safely encased in a plexiglass tube, I was nonetheless dismayed at how the blue bodysuit had degraded to an almost silver grey. While the new display had taken pride of place in the restaurant lobby, it now contrasted so much to the public perception of it that patrons were stopping to question its authenticity. Of course I knew better, but the inexplicable loss of the once-vibrant colour nonetheless prompted me to start researching the Superman costumes in more detail. What I later discovered – in regard to this costume specifically – was not only fascinating but would set the precedent for what was to become a lifelong obsession.
While the Propstore listing is typically thorough in its description, what’s missing is the colourful history of this particular ensemble and its unique claim to having appeared in two Super-franchises. Though the familiar Bermans & Nathans tags declare the tunic & tights from Superman III, it was possible both pieces could have dated back as far as the original film and had been repeatedly used throughout. After its appearance in pivotal scenes in Superman III, however the costume was finally retired but remained in the possession of Producer Ilya Salkind. By 1988, with their interest in the Superman movie franchise concluded, a number of wardrobe items (including a multitude of expensive wool capes) were retained for use in the Salkind’s new foray into television with Superboy.
In need of a costume for screen-testing potential Superboy’s, Salkind dusted off a complete Reeve suit for John Haymes-Newton’s audition. The release of this footage on the Superboy DVD boxset decades later sent shockwaves out when it appeared to be a 100% match to the Planet Hollywood display. Besides the production being located in Florida, further provenance (and screentime!) was afforded to this conjecture when the same costume appeared (over two episodes) during the series run. The Adventures Of Superboy would run for four seasons and end in 1992. Planet Hollywood opened two years later with the costume ‘Presented by Christopher Reeve’ on a mannequin suspended by wires. The movements of the suit beyond its time in exhibition in the restaurant can be traced to its final public appearance as the centrepiece of the Superman Penthouse Suite on the 28th floor of the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas after being kept in storage for some years.
The new images above from Propstore provide new evidence corroborating this to be a match to all the pictures taken by me throughout the timeline – the first being the scuffing on the belt and visible runs in both shoulders – suggesting the cape was stitched on to the tunic for purposes of display (as opposed to using the straps to tie around the back) besides the obvious match with the chest shield and faded colours. Whilst the lot description declares the cape, belt and boots to be replicas, I concede that, while they may not have been screen-worn accoutrements, they are not merely ‘replicas’ but potentially added by the Superboy Wardrobe Dept. as they all have lineage to a period in time before replicas became prominent (or, indeed, accurate)…
CAPEDWONDER EUROPE WELCOMES YOU TO 2026
– our 16th year online..!
If you’ve not yet seen the latest video on the SUPERMANIA channel, I urge you to do so before I continue gushing about this most magical of pieces and newest addition to the collection. Indeed, only now have I been able to objectively look at this small slice of movie history and proffer up some details without getting dewy-eyed over my first authentic item of wardrobe from Superman: The Movie.
As I mentioned in the video, I was fortunate enough to secure this last of the Krypton extras’ costumes offered individually before the remainder were consigned to Propstore for their winter auction. The shock of seeing these long-thought-lost garments was compounded only by the fact they existed at all. Of course, we had the wonderful designs by Yvonne Blake (some of which now look startlingly contemporary) but the action and editing during the demise of the Planet Krypton in the movie made it nigh-on impossible to positively identify what the background artists were wearing. Even if many of the outfits did not appear on-screen, finally, out of nowhere, there was conclusive proof that famed costume house Bermans & Nathans had indeed produced them.
Last but certainly not least from the stunning array of designs for men in the ‘Krypton Crowd’ is ‘Sketch 15‘ – as designated on the inventory label and shown in its concept form (and in reality emulating the same pose) – above. A creation of simple yet sophisticated elegance, the only notes from Blake regarding the Tabard’s composition is ‘all reflective if possible’. While I can confirm the fabric selected does have a significant sheen, the only reflective portions are the parallel strips on the front (which have miraculously survived the better part of 50 years unscathed).
Unfortunately I can’t find anything on a ‘Raymond Cronk’ so if anybody out there has any info, I would love to add the provenance. His bloodstains may be on the collar but no, he’s not having it back…
Its been way too long since I posted in general, but what with the continued success of the YouTube Channel, Instagram account and Restore Superman IV campaign, its fair to say Capedwonder Europe has never been busier –
That said, SUPERMANIA is where it all started and its high time I got back to what made the site so unique in the first place, the showcasing of rare and unique artefacts exclusively from the Superman Motion Picture Series. And what a great little addition to the collection the above has proved to be –
While not the original prop, this UK made & sold TIMEX Gold Ladies dress watch is the exact make & model worn by Margot Kidder in her role as Lois Lane (see portrait above courtesy Jim Bowers) Notable for its few seconds of screentime in closeup, this prop opens the pivotal ‘Balcony scene’ where the intrepid journalist is poised to get the story of the century.
Presumably obtained by the Wardrobe Dept. in 1977, this tiny, elegant timepiece was a very popular style at the time, with its pearlescent face, windup feature and metal strap. While specific details are scarce about the watch itself, it seems plenty were manufactured back in the day and can still be obtained in good condition for a reasonable price.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to pair it with the awesome replica Library card replica w/envelope (beautifully rendered by Daniel Sanchez) for the perfect ‘I spent the night with Superman’ display (sans wine & Marlboro’s!). If you can get hold of one, it makes a superb addition to your Superman replica prop collection…
Although SUPERMANIA’s long-standing relationship with Propstore has been going on for some years now, after last years bumper offering of incredible artefacts from all four Superman Movies It seemed there was no chance such a feat could be repeated. Indeed, after 40+ years, how many loft finds and shed discoveries from various former crew and/or family could there possibly be? No, the 2021 auction was surely the pinnacle of what remains of available Superman ephemera. The exquisite miniatures. The hairpieces, the crystals. Even Valerie Perrine’s iconic dress. After the last visit, we all shook hands and drove home with a sense of finality – how lucky were we to see these wonderful pieces before they were scattered across the world to their new custodians?
Well. Turn’s out joke’s on me.
Not content with having just as enviable a selection as last year, Propstore have gone one better by presenting a catalogue of fresh items in this years Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction with a complete costume from the Salkind Superman trilogy as their premiere lot. While Propstore has seen many a Super-garment pass through their hands, rarely does a complete costume (below, on a finished display, no less) become available. And quite the example it is too, with the description revealing it to be a composition of screenworn items from all 3 films, presenting a unique opportunity to own a piece from each in the franchise.
Also for Reeve fans there is the 1:1 in flight model from Superman II, an autographed still and my personal favourite lot, the two Leather-bound scripts personally signed by Reeve and donated as a prize to UK TV show Multicoloured Swapshop, where the provenance on offer is about as comprehensive as can be.
Enjoy the preview video (top) courtesy of the Capedwonder Podcast where Jay Towers and I interview Propstore CEO Stephen Lane and look out for the upcoming video on the SUPERMANIA YouTube channel as we prepare to visit the Propstore office once again at the end of this month. Until then, I will keep any predictions about next years auction firmly in check…
What started out as a field trip to research an upcoming piece on Superman Costumes has ended with a series of unbelievable revelations here at SUPERMANIA. And while I could digress further here, the discovery of the incredible lots in Propstore’s upcoming Entertainment Memorabila Live Auction is probably best shared courtesy of Jim Bowers & Jay Towers in my debut on the Capedwonder Superman Podcast –
Where the experience of viewing so many genuine rare artefacts from the Superman Movie series all at once can be expressed firsthand!
Once more I’d like to thank Propstore CEO Stephen Lane and GM Tim Lawes for their hospitality and wish them every success for the coming auction. For any Superfans wanting to add any of the featured items to their collection the gavel is raised on Sept. 30th. As for the costume article, prepare for even more revelations and the definitive word on the subject coming soon…
