Superman Statue Press Announcement Cleveland History Center June 20, 2024
Many people don't know that Cleveland Ohio is the home town of Superman, the world's first super hero. He was created by two Cleveland teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who lived in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood and attended Glenville High School.
They created the idea of Superman in 1933 but it took five years and lots of rejections before Superman appeared as the star of Action Comics No. 1 in June 1938.
Superman at Cleveland History Center
Mike Sangiacomo is a self-proclaimed "Comic Book Nerd" and wrote a weekly comic book column for decades in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. His columns bemoaning the lack of recognition for Superman in his home town led to the formation of the Siegel and Shuster Society in 2007.
Their latest project is to create a Superman tribute area in downtown Cleveland that will feature a stainless steel statue of Superman 18' in the air, along with bronze statues of Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Joanne Siegel, the original model for Lois Lane. There will also be a phone booth with Clark Kent's discarded clothes and glasses where he changed into Superman.
The non-profit Siegel and Shuster Society held a press conference on Thursday June 20, 2024 announcing the fundraising campaign for the project which will not use any taxpayer funds.
See more, and donate to the project, at https://www.supermanstatuecleveland.org/
In this video , Sangiacomo began the press announcement and explained the history of the idea and of the project.
Mike Sangiacomo
Next, Siegel and Shuster Society President Gary Kaplan explained more about the family and of the idea and of the project. Gary Kaplan's mother was a first cousin of Jerry Siegel and spent a lot of time at the Siegel house, hearing about their new ideas such as x-ray vision. Cuyahoga County Council President Pernell Jones, who secured the land for the project, added some remarks as to how it came about.
Gary Kaplan
Pernell Jones
Next, Leigh Goldie, a cousin of Joe Shuster, spoke about the Tribute Plaza which will include the statue of Superman as well as bronze statues of Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Joanne Siegel, the original model for Lois Lane. There will also be a phone booth with Clark Kent's discarded clothes and glasses where he changed into Superman.
Leigh Goldie
The final speaker was Superman statue sculptor David Deming who told about the history and progress of the statue.
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