The cheering crowds and fields of orange garb made it clear: the city of Syracuse loved its taste of Hollywood Friday night, and it was a celebration unlike anything its residents had seen in years.

Despite gray skies and rain showers earlier in the day, the premiere of ‘The Express’ at the Landmark Theatre drew crowds from all over the city. The orange carpet laid out in front of the theater said it all – Syracuse was proud of its colors, its heritage and its newfound celebrity on the big screen.

Julie Asbury, a Syracuse resident for 15 years, said the premiere was one of the most exciting events the city has put on in years.

‘I think it’s good for the morale of Syracuse,’ she said. ‘It’s good to see a lot of people here.’

Dressed in everything from sequins to jeans, those without tickets who attended the premiere huddled around the corners of the barricades around the orange carpet. A constant buzz of chatter and cheering filled the air. A giant television screen was set behind a two-story stage.

Those who arrived early scored seats on the bleachers set up next to the orange carpet. While entering the Landmark, some of the movie’s stars such as Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown addressed the crowds with waving and cheering of their own.

But to Asbury, ‘The Express’ means more to Syracuse than just the celebration and seeing stars. Having a national movie released about Syracuse and the university can help the city out, she said.

‘Everyone’s talking about seeing it on TV, and what we’re going to look like,’ she said. ‘And what this can do for Syracuse – not just the football team but the city itself.’

Many of the attendees, including Syracuse resident Charlie Brown, thought having the city host the event was a good use of taxpayer dollars.

‘We need to see more of this,’ he said. ‘This city is dead most of the time. There’s nothing to do. This is what we need to see.’

Having Syracuse’s history and the story of Ernie Davis told to the nation makes the city more exciting, ‘and should be motivation enough for the football team,’ he said.

‘If this can’t do it, nothing will,’ he said.

When Syracuse football legends like Jim Brown, Art Monk, Floyd Little and the surviving members of the 1959 team walked the carpet, SU football fans cheered their loudest, reliving the glory days of the game. Strangers side by side discussed who they saw play back in the day and shared their stories.

Anthony Bishop, a lifelong Syracuse resident, was grateful and excited to be at the premiere. Bishop first saw Ernie Davis play for Syracuse when he was 9 years old. Seeing ‘The Express’ and hearing Davis’s story told on the silver screen brought back many childhood memories, he said.

‘It was just breathtaking,’ he said after the movie. ‘It just made me feel real good, and it got a little misty in there. It brought back great times, great football teams and great people. And any time you see Syracuse on the big screen it feels real good.’

For SU students, the premiere was an opportunity to get dressed up and go out and exhibit a whole new sense of school pride.

Jordan Upmalis, a senior broadcast journalism major, attended the premiere with three of her friends.

‘I think that the city of Syracuse is so excited,’ Upmalis said. ‘It’s something you don’t see, and tonight everyone’s celebrating.’

Upmalis and her friends agreed that seeing ‘The Express’ made them proud to be SU students. The movie, they said, was ‘amazing’ and Davis’ story would be inspirational to anyone, whether he’s a Syracuse fan or not.

Emily Alber Chase, a junior political philosophy major and director of University Union Cinemas, volunteered at the premiere with UU president Gustavo Melendez.

‘We’re so grateful to be involved in this event,’ Alber Chase said. ‘It’s so exciting. And everything’s orange and blue – other schools don’t have this sense of community, this sense of pride that we got here and we’re all part of this one big unit.’

Melendez agreed.

‘It’s amazing being around all these people, the trustees, the alumni and the 1959 team,’ he said. ‘We’re all from the same place. It’s extremely exciting, and it’s an experience that can’t be matched by any other university.’

mdanie01@syr.edu

Published on September 14, 2008 at 12:00 pm