Hey there Superfriends!
I gotta say that I am loving the heck out of this Super Event. Vigilantes, Superheroes, Supervillains, bad guys to tap Batman-style, Spiderpig… so much fun. Of course, with lots of new items comes my task to let you know just WHERE all the stuff comes from. For this super where did THAT come from, we’ll take a look at the Burns State Prison.
This lovely building joins our town as the second prize for Issue 1. To find it in our favorite show, we head to “The Seven-Beer Snitch” (S16:E14). When the Simpsons family visits Shelbyville, Marge is aghast to discover that their famous theater district includes a play depicting Springfielders as stupid hicks. The kind of people who know that mirrors are just reversifying glass. Shelbyvillians love to Hoot hoot hoot hoot at Springfield… mean spirited hate hoots.
Marge takes her concerns to the Springfield Cultural Activities Committee for them to figure out how to make Springfield’s image more classy. Her plan is to have architect Frank Gehry build the town a concert hall. You’d think it’d be hard to have Mr. Gehry build a concert hall just like the one he did in Los Angeles but not when you’re Marge Simpson. All she does is write one of her famous letters which turns out to be really inspiring once Frank balls it up. He’s the “bestest architect in the world.” Just the guy to build a 30 million dollar screw you to Shelbyville.
The hall is completed with all its curvy linear forms but unfortunately, Springfield’s citizens aren’t much for symphony. Beethoven just sounds better on phones. The theater quickly is underused, symphony tickets are discounted 50%, it’s used as an “adult” movie venue and finally for “An Evening with David Brenner”. The stupid hicks of Springfield hate classical music. They’d have said something earlier but the hall was designed and built too quickly.
Springfield bankrupted itself with the new building but Mr. Burns steps in to assume the town’s debt. His grand plan, to convert the Frank Gehry masterpiece into a prison.
And that’s the origin for our new prize. Thankfully none of us had to bankrupt our towns to get it and it does look mighty fine next to the Springfield Penitentiary. Of course, I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t point out this building is directly inspired by Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall which was also designed by Frank Gehry. It’s the home of the LA Philharmonic and I like to think my neighbors in the next county over are a bit more cultured than Springfield lol.
For those who aren’t fans of classical music, you might say this real-life building is also a prison. Even if this new building didn’t make me think of home, I’d still like this modern art masterpiece. It’s just the thing to make all of our towns classy… just like us. Keep on tapping in the free world and don’t let those hoots bother you. Shelbville stinks anyways… stupid cousin lovers.
TTFN… Wookiee out!