Yesterday WSIL-TV Channel 3 in Southern Illinois broadcast a report about Jim Hambrick’s “Americana Hollywood Museum” being flooded over the weekend due to a broken pipe. A second report broadcast by KFVS Channel 12 surfaced on the Internet today with similar coverage emphasizing Mr. Hambrick’s report of over $100,000 in damages.
Below is an archive of the televised report broadcast by KFVS (see www.WFVS12.com for source broadcast):
Below is an archive of the accompanying online report on the event by the same news organization (Marilyn Monroe memorabilia damaged at museum after pipe bursts):
Marilyn Monroe memorabilia damaged at museum after pipe bursts
Posted: Jan 21, 2009 03:16 PM
Updated: Jan 21, 2009 06:00 PMBy CJ Cassidy & AP
METROPOLIS, IL (KFVS) – Officials at the Americana Hollywood Museum in southern Illinois are assessing the damage after memorabilia including Marilyn Monroe’s birth and death certificates was soaked by a burst water pipe.Owner Jim Hambrick says the Metropolis museum may remain closed for weeks. He says a pipe broke Saturday on the building’s second floor, in a room dedicated to Monroe.
Hambrick says he found close to three inches of water on the second floor after the frozen pipe burst.
Water gushed for a day and a half as repair crews searched for the source of the leak.
Caught in the deluge were vintage magazines, dresses worn by film stars, and items bearing Monroe’s signature, including a canceled check and original movie posters.
Right now, he’s in the process of cleaning up and airing out some items hoping he can restore them to their original condition.
Hambrick says he expects to put in a super amount of work before he can open up the museum.
He says it will stay closed for the next couple of months.
Hambrick does say he’s glad the incident happened now and not during the Spring when tourist season picks back up.
Hambrick, 55, says he began collecting the memorabilia at age five. He puts the cost of damages at more than $100,000.
Jim Hambrick is also the owner of the “Super Museum” and is very involved with buying, selling, and authenticating Superman costumes and wardrobe pieces, marketed as authentic and original, and attributed to the Christopher Reeve Superman films of the 70s and 80s – see Jim Hambrick for related OPB articles.
Jason De Bord