METROPOLIS SITE OF SUPERMAN EVENT

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Some stars of yesteryear will visit Metropolis this weekend.

Four days of events are scheduled for this Southern Illinois city's annual Superman Celebration Thursday through Sunday, and the schedule of events for the 16th annual extravaganza is more extensive than usual, said Dan Milam. That's because of the "Superman Comes Home Convention" being held during the celebration.

More than 52,000 people visited last year's celebration, and larger crowds are anticipated this year because of the convention. "The schedule is extensive, and there are few things going on all at once," said Milam, news media liaison for the event. "We try to spread events out over the four days."

Superman celebration activities will be held downtown. Over the past few years, events have been held at Fort Massac Park and, or along the riverfront.

The 200th anniversary of the founding of Fort Massac is being celebrated this weekend in the park, and the presence of the Players International riverboat gambling casino and hotel has ruled out use of the riverfront.

"But there is another reason that the celebration has moved downtown -- the new Superman statue on Market Street that replaced an older, outdated version," said Milam.

"We just got the new statue last year," he said. "It's a nice, handsome, 15-foot statue."

Milam said the celebration started in the downtown business district 15 years ago.

Activities start at 9 a.m. Thursday and continue through Sunday afternoon.

Among events will be a four-mile road race, two-mile fund walk, junior Olympics, talent show, country-western line dancing, puppet show, Superman collectibles exhibits, arts and crafts, music concerts, children's games, antique cars show, and the Superman drama where local people act out the roles of their favorite Superman characters.

The "Superman Comes Home Convention" is being hosted by Questar Productions Inc., a Belleville, Ill., promotion company. Although most activities are free, some of the convention events will have admission charges. Tickets ranging in price form $2 to $10 will be required to meet and talk with the stars who will be appearing at the convention.

Stars appearing at various luncheons and meetings include:

-- Kirk Alyn, a movie star who portrayed Superman in 15 film series produced from 1946 to 1948.

-- Tommy Bond, who played Jimmy Olson in the same film series. Bond may more popularly be known for his role as "Butch" in the old "Our Gang" comedies.

-- Phyllis Coates, who played Lois Lane from 1951-1953 on the "Adventures of Superman" series.

-- John Haynes Newton, who played Superboy in the 1980s television series.

Meanwhile, the 200th anniversary of the rebuilding of Fort Massac will be celebrated with parades and historic re-enactments Saturday and Sunday at Fort Massac State Park here.

"Visitors will step back in time to garrison life at Fort Massac," said site superintendent Terry Johnson. "It will be a history lesson visitors are sure to enjoy."

A morning parade will be held each day, and the posting of colors will take place at 10 a.m. at the park. Throughout both days authentically dressed militia and civilians will carry out traditional tasks.

Activities each day will include drills by the military, roll calls, duel of honor, block house defense demonstrations and camp punishments.

A special commemorative ceremony will be held Saturday to honor the 59 men who were garrisoned to Fort Massac in 1794.

Two hundred years ago Washington ordered Gen. Anthony Wayne to dispatch a company of infantry from the Third U.S. Sub-legion, commanded by Maj. Thomas Doyle, to rebuild the fort.