So I鈥檓 sitting here on the front steps of 10622 Kimberley Avenue in Cleveland. This is where Jerry Siegel lived, as a boy. He was a writer full of ideas. One hot summer night, he looked out his window at the moon and stars, and thought of what it鈥檇 be like to fly.
And then the idea struck him of a man who could leap high, high over buildings in a single bound, if you will. The very next morning, Jerry ran half a mile down to the apartment of buddy Joe Shuster, who was an illustrator. And together, those kids came up with the idea of Superman.
鈥淭here鈥檚 only one Cleveland, there鈥檚 only one Superman, and why is it that we don鈥檛 embrace our legacy, our past, our history?鈥�
Mike Olszewski heads the Siegel and Shuster Society which raised $150,000 to fix up this house.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really amazing when you look up and think a child developed this building block for popular culture. And look what it became. We really have to make sure Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and of course, Joanne Siegel, are not forgotten by their own hometown.鈥�
For you non-Supergeeks, JoAnne Siegel was Jerry鈥檚 wife, and the inspiration for Daily Planet reporter, Lois Lane.
As for the Superman House鈥檚 owner, Jefferson Gray says fans from all over the world visit.
鈥淢any peoples now, we鈥檝e had people from Illinois, Kansas City, California鈥an Francisco鈥nd ah, we had one person came here, he鈥檚 from London鈥e flew over here, and they set up on the porch.鈥�
Superman is a global phenomenon, AND a multi-billion dollar franchise.
There are thousands of comic books, numerous TV shows, and dozens of movies鈥�.including the 1978 Superman movie starring Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder. A couple years ago, an Action Comics #1 鈥� the issue released on this date 75 years ago -- sold for $2 million.
Some fans want Cleveland officials to do a better job promoting the city鈥檚 Superman roots.
The region鈥檚 tourism office has also been pushing for that, and Mayor Frank Jackson says today is 鈥淪uperman Day鈥� in the city.
鈥淭he Man of Steel in a steel town, the strength that he had, that鈥檚 all part of what Cleveland is. We鈥檙e a tough community that has overcome many challenges and obstacles, and Superman is a good representative model of Cleveland.鈥�
City libraries and malls will host comic book displays and conventions, while in June, the Capitol Theater will premiere the latest in the Superman movie franchise, the 鈥淢an of Steel鈥�.
Local businesses are also promoting Superman鈥檚 75th birthday. John Dudas of Carol and John鈥檚 Comic Book Shop says they鈥檙e doing commemorative tie-in promotions, and handing out maps of local sites relevant to Superman鈥檚 origins.
鈥淭he Siegel鈥檚 House, Glenville High School, the Schuster鈥檚 House, the Cleveland Institute of Art where Joe attended鈥︹�� Dudas reads, running his finger across the map.
This effort has already attracted visitors to the Superman House.
Today, Jeff Aten poses his teenage son, Alex, next to the big metal red 鈥淪鈥� mounted on the front fence鈥�
鈥淎lright, where do you want to stand, right by the sign? Or do the Superman pose鈥︹�� 鈥淵eah, I鈥檒l stand right here..鈥�
A local resident sees the two and cries out, 鈥淭HE MAN OF STEEL!鈥� as both laugh.
Fans here hope to see a Superman statue, museum, or theme park in Cleveland someday.
In early June, the city will light up its 52-story high Terminal Tower in hues of blue, red, and gold.
It鈥檚 the same building Siegel and Shuster saw when they envisioned their Man of Steel leaping tall buildings 鈥渋n a single bound.鈥�