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)…
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…
“Battersea Power Station, London, England 1982 –
As shown in the TV Special ‘The Making Of Superman III’, the conclusion of the movie is shot at one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks just before its decommissioning after supplying a fifth of the city’s power for decades.
Swaggering onto set in a bright red towelling robe, star Christopher Reeve meets & greets before being consulted about a new flying rig being trialled for an upcoming shot. Stuntman Mark Stewart is strapped into a seesaw-like contraption that elevates him simply by applying the weight of two men the opposite end. The result is admittedly unimpressive, and Reeve dismisses it as ‘useless.’ Stewart offers that it might be better for landing than taking off and Reeve walks away, literally leaving Stewart hanging. Later, an even more primitive solution of a wooden board is employed to bring Reeve and co-star Richard Pryor back down to Earth.
The highlight of the day, however, overlooked by bemused Power Station staff is Superman’s flight to exit the scene, to be achieved with the assistance of the Flying Unit and a large crane. Tenured SFX technician Bob Harman snaps the hooks onto Reeve’s harness as he’s done so many times previously while cinematographer Robert Paynter (top pic, far right) lines up the shot. Pre-flight checks done, the giant pulley is turned and Reeve gracefully ascends, banking over the skyline before saluting the ground crew. Below, Stunt double and friend Paul Weston shouts “180!” though the megaphone to confirm a successful rehearsal…”
The above was originally intended as an introduction to a page dedicated to the late Bob Harman, whom SUPERMANIA had been in contact with for a year before his sad passing in 2020. Bob was very modest about his incredible contribution to the ‘Super’ series of films but had nonetheless agreed to tell his story – unfortunately we never got the opportunity – however I was glad to offer his family some rare footage and images of Bob in action back in the day from the SUPERMANIA archives.
Its also bittersweet to realise that only the stuntmen (Weston & Stewart) are the only men from this tale to still be with us – hopefully one day we get to share their stories before they are lost to time. Paul Weston is still active in the industry and is a simply wonderful guy – I’ve also made contact with Mark Stewart who is similarly gracious but to date has not gone on record to share his experiences – I ask all Superfans interested in hearing from him to make it known in the comments section below..!
(images courtesy Alexei Lambley-Steel)
What better way to spend World Superman Day than a marathon screening of the original and best Superhero Quadrilogy – still the standard by which all others are judged?
SUPERMANIA admits one and all by way of the latest addition to the collection – these super-rare Japanese tickets issued exclusively for each release. Why not watch a DVD or Blu-Ray tonight to celebrate the ever-enduring Man of Tomorrow?
And if you haven’t already look to your right and click on the all-new SUPERMANIA Scrapbook on Instagram. There you will find an archive of rare and unusual images not found on the site – this will be updated constantly so keep checking back..!
SUPERMANIA celebrates Easter with by bringing you these fascinating, never-before published photos from an old family album.
Taken on what looks like a balmy day in Canada in 1982, April DeJong & family took a road trip to watch filming of a memorable sequence in Superman III and managed to grab the photos above. April picks up the story from here –
“I called my dad, he remembers we were going on a family road trip (we lived in Edmonton) and he and my mom heard they were filming Superman south of Calgary. He found out where they were shooting and we just tried, and found it, and asked if my brother could get a pic with him etc. My dad can’t remember all of the details, just that Mr. Reeve was very gracious to take a few moments during a break to let my brother chat with him and get a picture with him. My brother was over the moon..!”
For a sequence which many fans still hail as one of the best wire-work landings in the series, Christopher Reeve hangs about between takes (top pic) before hiding out in the prop trailer (second pic) and shooting the scene with the emergency services after failing to prevent the crashed truck from falling off the bridge into the lake.
All in a days work for a Superhero however as Reeve later kicks back in the shade for one last pic with April’s lucky brother, who obviously enjoyed his close encounter with the Man of Steel…
(Images © April DeJong 1982/2017)
