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February 6, 2014: Authentic Superman Cape Signed by Reeve Up for Auction
by Neil Cole
An original, screen worn "Superman - The Movie" costume cape which was personally signed by the late Christopher Reeve is currently up for auction on Ebay.
According to the listing, the cape is the "#6 Walking Cape" from the 1978 film and was released from wardrobe storage at Pinewood Studios by the Salkinds & Warner Brothers for a very unique and creative publicity campaign at the "Movieland Wax Museum" in Buena Park California to promote both "Superman - The Movie" and "Superman: II".
Here is an excerpt from the Ebay listing:
Just a couple of months after the release of "Superman - The Movie" (circa 1978), arrangements were made to create a monumental tribute at the Movieland Wax Museum in Southern California. At that time, "Movieland" was considered to be among the top three wax museums in the world and it was right down the street from the World Famous "Knott's Berry Farm" which didn't hurt one bit.
This was to be a display of "Superman and the Fortress of Solitude" that was second to none. It had the largest budget of any other prior display/set in the history of Movieland which opened in 1962. They wanted this to be "The Jewel of Movieland" with everything about the "American Way!" and the Salkinds & WB wanted it to be a FIRST CLASS tribute that would not soon be forgotten by anyone who visited Movieland.
Derived from original blueprints from the Superman movie archives, they spared no expense to make everything just like in the movie. After almost 6 grueling months, the "Fortress of Solitude" as seen in "Superman - The Movie" was complete with cold air piped in, state-of-the-art lighting, snow glaciers, and the recognizable crystal podium. The final touch was of course the star of this monumental task, a life size wax figure of Christopher Reeve as Superman complete with original costume and spit curl.
As hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors came in from all four corners of the world over the course of the next decade, the display was always touted as being "amazing", "fantastic" and "Super...man!". It went on to be the single most successful exhibit in the history of Movieland; mission accomplished!
This original, screen worn cape is the actual one which was on display at Movieland for ten years as well as the one worn by Christopher Reeve during his portrayal of Superman in the film, "Superman - The Movie".
In 1992, the new owner of the cape completed a four-year tour with his mobile "Superman Museum" and, upon finding out that Christopher Reeve would be in Long Beach, CA to film a commercial for "Southwest Airlines", he was able to obtain Reeve's signature on the white cotton shoulder padding of the cape.
Since that time, the cape has been on display at the "Super Museum" in Superman's official hometown of Metropolis, IL where it has been seen by thousands of visitors and fans.
The started bid is $14,995.00 and bidders are welcome to have the cape looked at by a known Superman Costume expert of THEIR choice. The authenticity of this screen worn Superman cape is guaranteed and the winner will get that in writing.
To place a bid on Ebay or read more about this one-of-a-kind Superman cape, please click here.
