Post by neil6147 on May 17, 2007 0:27:29 GMT 10
Two Scottish towns named Springfield have offered to host the UK premiere of The Simpsons Movie this summer.
Officials in the Fife and South of Scotland towns said if they were approached by 20th Century Fox to stage the event they would be happy to do so.
There are currently 16 US cities named Springfield which have been asked to compete to host the US premiere of the movie in July.
The popular cartoon series is based in its own fictional town of Springfield.
Officials in the two Scottish towns said they hope Fox will now consider a UK competition.
Currently in its 18th year, The Simpsons revolves around the antics of bald, beer-guzzling family man Homer and his spiky-haired son Bart.
Unlike either of its Scottish counterparts, the fictional town boasts several prisons and a monorail.
Despite not having a cinema and a population of less than 1,000, officials at Fife Council said they would jump at the chance to play host to the UK event.
Local authority event co-ordinator Linda Thomson said: "We think the most obvious location to host the UK premiere of the new Simpsons film is Springfield, Cupar, Fife.
"Of course, neither Springfield nor Cupar actually have a cinema, but this would just give us the opportunity to create an American drive-in experience, in either the beautiful Haugh Park or Duffus Park, using our new top of the range outdoor projector.
Common name
Dumfries and Galloway, which boasts a Springfield of its own near Gretna, also said it would throw its hat into the ring, given the chance.
Film commissioner Mark Geddes said: "It all sounds very interesting. I don't know how many UK locations are called Springfield but I wouldn't imagine there are many. It would be daft to miss out."
Simpsons creator Matt Groening said he chose the name Springfield for the cartoon because it was a common US city name.
It is the longest-running prime-time entertainment series on television in the US and a worldwide hit.
A spokesperson for Fox said it currently has no plans to hold a Springfield premiere contest in the UK.
Springfeild in the Dumfries Area of Scotland.
A small village in Dumfries and Galloway, Springfield lies on the right bank of the River Sark, immediately adjacent to the English border and a quarter-mile (0.4 km) east of Gretna Green. The village was established in 1791 when Sir William Maxwell of Springkell divided up one of his farms into small-holdings. The villagers often undertook weaving as well as tending their land.
Today, tourist and marriage-related facilities have spilled over from the better-known Gretna Green to Springfield, including the tourist information centre. Springfield benefits from a hotel, primary school, shop and post office.
Springfeild in Fife Scotland.
A village in the Howe of Fife, situated to the north of the River Eden 3 miles (5 km) south west of Cupar.
Said to take its name from the numerous springs that fed into a small lake that once existed at nearby Stratheden, Springfield originally grew up around a corn mill on the River Eden. The village developed after the arrival of the railway in 1847 and became a prosperous industrial centre at various times producing bricks, tiles and textiles. To the north lies Stratheden Hospital (1850).
Officials in the Fife and South of Scotland towns said if they were approached by 20th Century Fox to stage the event they would be happy to do so.
There are currently 16 US cities named Springfield which have been asked to compete to host the US premiere of the movie in July.
The popular cartoon series is based in its own fictional town of Springfield.
Officials in the two Scottish towns said they hope Fox will now consider a UK competition.
Currently in its 18th year, The Simpsons revolves around the antics of bald, beer-guzzling family man Homer and his spiky-haired son Bart.
Unlike either of its Scottish counterparts, the fictional town boasts several prisons and a monorail.
Despite not having a cinema and a population of less than 1,000, officials at Fife Council said they would jump at the chance to play host to the UK event.
Local authority event co-ordinator Linda Thomson said: "We think the most obvious location to host the UK premiere of the new Simpsons film is Springfield, Cupar, Fife.
"Of course, neither Springfield nor Cupar actually have a cinema, but this would just give us the opportunity to create an American drive-in experience, in either the beautiful Haugh Park or Duffus Park, using our new top of the range outdoor projector.
Common name
Dumfries and Galloway, which boasts a Springfield of its own near Gretna, also said it would throw its hat into the ring, given the chance.
Film commissioner Mark Geddes said: "It all sounds very interesting. I don't know how many UK locations are called Springfield but I wouldn't imagine there are many. It would be daft to miss out."
Simpsons creator Matt Groening said he chose the name Springfield for the cartoon because it was a common US city name.
It is the longest-running prime-time entertainment series on television in the US and a worldwide hit.
A spokesperson for Fox said it currently has no plans to hold a Springfield premiere contest in the UK.
Springfeild in the Dumfries Area of Scotland.
A small village in Dumfries and Galloway, Springfield lies on the right bank of the River Sark, immediately adjacent to the English border and a quarter-mile (0.4 km) east of Gretna Green. The village was established in 1791 when Sir William Maxwell of Springkell divided up one of his farms into small-holdings. The villagers often undertook weaving as well as tending their land.
Today, tourist and marriage-related facilities have spilled over from the better-known Gretna Green to Springfield, including the tourist information centre. Springfield benefits from a hotel, primary school, shop and post office.
Springfeild in Fife Scotland.
A village in the Howe of Fife, situated to the north of the River Eden 3 miles (5 km) south west of Cupar.
Said to take its name from the numerous springs that fed into a small lake that once existed at nearby Stratheden, Springfield originally grew up around a corn mill on the River Eden. The village developed after the arrival of the railway in 1847 and became a prosperous industrial centre at various times producing bricks, tiles and textiles. To the north lies Stratheden Hospital (1850).