Last summer, many Clevelanders noticed that our city was briefly taken over by James Gunn and his production of the newest movie in the Superman universe. Several sites in Cleveland were used as filming locations, including Public Square, Progressive Field and the Leader Building. Various shops and businesses turned from their normal look into a piece of the DC Comic universe for a few weeks.
It made sense, knowing that the creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, called Cleveland home.
The movie hits theaters on July 11, offering Northeast Ohioans a chance to see their city on the big screen. Other events around the film’s release offer Clevelanders a few different ways celebrate Superman.
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“It's an amazing moment where we're really going to honor the legacy of [Siegel and Shuster] who I often say, like, Cleveland was their third partner — and I love the fact that for the film, Cleveland was sort of a partner in the creation of this film,” Valentino Zullo, a board member at the Siegel and Shuster Society, says. “It's coming full circle. Cleveland has always been part of the story, and I don't think this character would have been created without that third partner.”
Here are a few Cleveland events surrounding Superman’s release on July 11.
A Super-City Club Forum
The City Club of Cleveland will be hosting “Cleveland is the New Metropolis – A Superman Forum” featuring Zullo and BIll Garvey of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission as panelists. The outdoor conversation will be led by Ideastream’s Mike McIntyre and will discuss not only the movie but also what it takes to bring production of a blockbuster film to Downtown Cleveland. Free, July 9, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Playhouse Square Plaza, Cleveland, cityclub.org
A Red-Carpet Fan Celebration
Hit the red carpet at Great Northern Mall’s Phoenix Theatre with “Be A Cleveland Film Hero: A Greater Cleveland Film Commission Fan Celebration.” Fans will have the chance to celebrate the release of the film one day early as rare art signed by director James Gunn and cast members will be raffled off to fans while enjoying photo opportunities, music, food and more. All event guests will have tickets to the movie’s premier that night at 7 p.m. $50, July 10, 5 p.m., 450 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, $50, clevelandfilm.com
A Siegel and Shuster Society Party
Celebrate the movie’s official release with a screening of Superman at the Capitol Theatre hosted by The Siegel and Shuster Society. The movie will be shown at 7:10 p.m. and then feature a talk afterwards with Brian Michael Bendis, a native Clevelander and Superman writer. Following the film fun, there will be an afterparty at Superelectric Pinball Parlor in Gordon Square. $9-$12, July 11, 7:10 p.m., 1390 W 65th St, Cleveland, facebook.com/SiegelShusterSociety
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Tower City Movie Party
Though full details haven’t been announced yet, Tower City has slated a Superman movie party at its Skylight Park on the Saturday after the film’s release. Free, July 12, noon-6 p.m., 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, towercitycenter.com
View A Staggering Collection
Swing by the Cleveland Public Library’s Main Library to view a semi-permanent exhibit highlighting the history of the superhero and its history. The library features a superman statue, Jerry Siegel's writing desk and a rotating, extensive Superman memorabilia collection from avid collector Mike Curtis. Free, Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, cpl.org
Visit the Siegel and Shuster Homes
Swing by the city’s Glenville neighborhood to respectfully view the childhood homes of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Siegel’s home, which is still standing and occupied, is adorned with a couple of Superman logos and an informational plaque about the writer’s earliest inspirations. Less than a mile away is the site of Joe Shuster’s childhood apartment — now a vacant lot, with fences adorned with early Action Comics Superman stories and comic book covers. Siegel home: 10622 Kimberly Ave., Cleveland; Shuster site: 998 Parkwood Dr., Cleveland
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