Jim Hambrick, R.I.P.

Above, Jim Hambrick in his younger days. Photo from the Super Museum Facebook page.

Sad news arrived before I left for Christmas in Lake Havasu. 

Super Museum founder Jim Hambrick passed away Sunday at age 70.

According to WPSD:

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Longtime Superman collector and founder of the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Jim Hambrick died on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 70 years old. But his family and community members say his lasting impact will survive for decades to come.

Hambrick died from heart complications after suffering a heart attack in 2016. His daughter, Morgan Siebert, said since his heart attack in 2016, Hambrick grew weaker. However, she said running the museum improved his morale, and it gave him purpose to keep it open for travelers and the Metropolis community. 

Hambrick grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Metropolis in March 1993. His passion for Superman and collecting started when he received his first Superman lunch box at 5-years-old. Siebert said over the years, he became interested in buying comic books and collectibles. When Hambrick reached 19-years-old, he was known as the world's famous Superman collector.

Hambrick's favorite portrayal of Superman is by actor George Reeves.

Above, the Super Museum in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited the Super Museum in 2016 when I attended Noel Neill's memorial service in Metropolis, Illinois.

Above, the Kirk Alyn autographed photo I obtained at Hambrick's
exhibit at Chapman College. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I first met Hambrick around 1982 when he had a traveling Superman memorabilia show, which included an authentic George Reeves Superman costume, at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange County, California. With Hambrick was the original live-action Superman actor, Kirk Alyn. I obtained Alyn's autograph at the exhibit. This was before his move to Metropolis and the founding of the Super Museum.

Above, a George Reeves color Superman costume
at the Super Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

His passing is a big loss to Superman fandom. Thanks to his family, the museum will continue.

To read more, go here.

Chapman College and the Super Museum

Above, the Kirk Alyn autograph I obtained at Chapman College in the 1980s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before Jim Hambrick opened the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois, in 1993, he had a "traveling Superman exhibit" where he would display some items in his vast Superman collection at different venues. According to Roadside America, Hambrick started collecting Superman memorabilia in 1959. 

By chance, I saw a blurb in a newspaper (this was around 1984, give or take, and before the Internet) that said a collection of Superman memorabilia would be shown at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange County, California.

Above, the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I had nothing going on at the time, I headed down to Chapman College to check it out. As reported, Hambrick had some interesting Superman memorabilia, including a moth-eaten (in some spots) wool Superman color costume worn by George Reeves.

At the exhibit, the first screen Superman, Kirk Alyn was there to meet fans and sign autographs. Alyn had a cameo appearance (with the first screen Lois Lane, Noel Neill) in the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie. I obtained a photo of him as Superman and had him autograph it for me. 

Above, a George Reeves color Superman costume on
display at the Super Museum Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2016, I went to Metropolis, Illinois, touted as the "Hometown of Superman" to attend the memorial service for Noel Neill. I stayed at Fort Massac State Park campground, which is on the outskirts of town on the Ohio River. 

While in Metropolis, I toured the Super Museum Hambrick opened at Superman Square, which features a giant statue of the Man of Steel. It is an impressive museum and one that is worth a trek to. It has just about every Superman relic and collectible one could image along with Supergirl and others. 

Above, yours truly with the Superman statue in Superman Square in Metropolis, Illinois.

If anyone is even remotely interested in Superman or of television, movie or comic book history, the Super Museum is a great place to visit. It also has a gift shop.

The official website for the Super Museum is accessible by going here.

Huell Howser Archive At Chapman University

The late travelogue host Huell Howser willed his California Gold and other travel shows to Chapman University in Orange, California.

Howser passed away last January of natural causes at age 67.

Along with his travelogue tapes, he also donated his memorabilia to the university.

The shows are now all available for viewing at HuellHowserArchive.com.