MANY CELEBRITIES ATTEND SUPERMAN CELEBRATION

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Two Lois Lanes are in Metropolis this weekend.

Margo Kidder, who starred as Lois Lane in Superman movies 1 through 4 in the late 1970s through late 1980s, will make her first appearance at Metropolis' annual Superman Celebration.

Also appearing at the four-day event that could attract up to 60,000 people will be actress Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in the Superman radio show and television series, "Adventures of Superman," during the 1950s.

This year's celebration, which started Thursday night and runs through Sunday, will feature a number of Superman celebrities.

Another attraction will be a laser light show along the Ohio River front Saturday at 9:30 p.m. The show will feature multicolored lasers set to music.

Superman will be in his traditional costume. In real life he is Scott Cranford of Los Angeles, a 6-foot-1 former professional bodybuilder who has some minor credits in action films. Cranford will receive only $500 for his four-days of work, but he gets the opportunity to play hero to thousands of Superman fans.

Activities started Thursday with a ribbon cutting. A super road race was held at Fort Massac State Park followed by a film festival with the celebrities.

The film festival will be held again today at 6 p.m.

The Saturday scheduled is full with bike rides, a tennis tournament, video game contests, arm wrestling and more. Visitors can meet the celebrities in the main tent at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Superman made his appearance 61 years ago. This marks the 21st year for the event at Metropolis. Superman fans from across the nation pour into the community for the event every year.

Joining Kidder and Neill will be actor Marco McClure, who portrayed Jimmy Olsen in the four Superman movies. McClure also played Olsen in the 1984 movie, "Supergirl."

Other Superman celebrities at the celebration include Mike Carlin, executive of DC Comics; Jeph Loeb, a current writer of Superman; Ed McGuinness, a Superman writer; Doug Hazelwood, who was inker on "Adventures of Superman" and "Superboy" and currently is inking "The Flash" for DC Comics; Tom Nguyen, current inker of "Superman: Man of Steel;" Mike Bifulco, author of "Superman on Television;" and Jan Alan Henderson, author of "Speeding Bullet: The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves."

Superman fans have witnessed an almost complete metamorphosis of Superman since 1992. It was in 1992 that Superman met his match while fighting to protect his beloved Metropolis against his most lethal opponent -- the big, bad Doomsday -- in a battle that ended in the death of both hero and villain. A very different Superman emerged the following year. He was sort of super-charged minus a red cape.

Somewhere along the way he got married but then split into two Supermen: the carefree "Red" character and the more serious "Blue" character.

Then, just in time for the 1997 annual Metropolis celebration, the traditional Superman has suddenly reappeared.

Schedule of Events

Today

All day: Street fair, arts and crafts, Friends of Library book fair, sidewalk sales and carnival rides.

Noon: Supersilly games, Smallville.

2: Pokemon tournament.

5:30: Little cruisers.

6: Film festival, theater.

6:30: Little Miss-Mr. Pageant, Smallville tent.

7: Stevens Sisters, main tent.

8:15: Dan Seals.

Saturday

All day: Street fair, arts and crafts, Friends of Library book fair, sidewalk sales and carnival rides.

8 a.m.: bicycle ride, Fort Massac Park; tennis tournament, Lincoln Park; daylong fishing tournament.

10: Weightlifting, Smallville. video Game contest.

11: Celebrities in main tent for introductions.

Noon; Stunt bike show.

12:30: Arm wrestling, Smallville.

1: Cow ring toss, mini-tractor pull.

1:30-4:30: Autograph session, chamber office.

3: Talent show.

4: All star wrestling.

5: Dog show, bike show.

6: Dinner at theater.

7: George Award; Ray Salke Orchestra.

Sunday

All day: Street fair; car show, Fort Massac.